Newcastle’s return to the Champions League in the 2023/24 season was a big moment after a 20-year absence, but they won’t be in European competition this year. Injuries and a drop in form led them to finish seventh, raising concerns about whether they can make it back into the top four.
Let’s Take A Look At Last Season
Newcastle struggled, losing six out of seven Premier League games around the same time they were knocked out of the Champions League. Despite being in a tough group with Dortmund, PSG, and AC Milan, they performed admirably. In the second half of the season, with fewer games to play, their form improved significantly, with big wins over Aston Villa and Tottenham. Aleksander Isak was particularly impressive, scoring 14 goals after Christmas as Newcastle edged out Manchester United for seventh place but still missed out on European qualification.
The Manager
Eddie Howe, often praised for his positive, possession-based style, has been Newcastle’s steady leader. As the highest-placing English manager in the Premier League over the past two seasons, he’s been linked to the vacant England job. Howe has built up goodwill for guiding Newcastle into Europe, even though this past season ended without a European spot.
Transfers
Fans are worried about Newcastle’s relatively quiet summer transfer window, partly due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. They’ve added a backup goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos from Nottingham Forest, and made left-back Lewis Hall’s move from Chelsea permanent after a loan spell. To balance the books, young talents like Yankuba Minteh and Elliott Anderson were sold to Brighton and Forest, respectively. Supporters are now hoping that key players like Isak and Anthony Gordon, who has been linked with Liverpool, will remain at the club.
The Strengths and Weaknesses
Newcastle shines when they get players like Gordon and Harvey Barnes involved in the attack, especially in wide areas. Isak’s confidence is high after his strong finish last season, and Bruno Guimaraes can be a game-changer when he’s in form. Howe’s attacking approach helped Newcastle score 85 goals last season, a tally only bettered by the top three teams.
However, their aggressive style can leave them vulnerable defensively. They conceded too many soft goals, often due to individual mistakes or leaving gaps at the back, a problem made worse by injuries to key defenders like Sven Botman.
Overall Outlook
Newcastle’s fourth-place finish in 2022/23 might have been an overachievement, with last season’s seventh place offering a more accurate picture of where the club stands. Financial limitations have restricted their transfer activity, and despite a large squad, there are still areas of concern.
