Newcastle fans can now think about the 2023-2024 Champions League competition right now when they have officially taken their tickets to the tournament. A seemingly endless season has ended. Newcastle "doesn't need" the FA Cup, League Cup or European Cup. All of which are not on par with the Champions League.
Newcastle is known as the richest team in the world when it is owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. However, when they have not had any outstanding achievements, commercial revenue is still low, they have money but cannot buy superstars. With only the existing players, plus the not-so-notable new recruits, the "Magpies" have recreated their history after 20 years.
For The Magpies fans, the team's leadership bringing in Eddie Howe was just as effective as escaping the former owner Mike Ashley - who was always considered a stiff one. The English strategist brought a new tycoon-style form to Newcastle when he did not need famous players to still be able to score in the Top 4 of the Premier League.
In addition to factors considered the main factors such as Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and later Alexander Isak, Howe's promotion of mid-level stars such as Fabian Schär, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock is a remarkable success. Howe is leading the team in the successful direction of Ajax Armsterdam and has not followed the model of Manchester City or PSG. That is a sustainable and very... strange way of doing things for a team with excess money.
The English captain's best point is to breathe fighting spirit into the players. Everyone in the Newcastle squad now knows that if they do not surpass the limit of their qualifications, they will all be eliminated and replaced with other stars, in line with their ambition to compete for titles and compete in the Champions League.
The indifference of the players and especially the members of the coaching staff is no longer there. Previously, many people under the head coach at Newcastle had a mentality of only working worthy of the label of "middle-class football".
That idea was completely eliminated. Howe himself is also a young, inexperienced coach and has not had any outstanding titles. However, it is because the thought of reaching the next level that has helped him and his colleagues have a dream season.
It will take time for Newcastle to truly reach the level and break the dominance of the current Big Six. In particular, they have a long way to go to compete for the Premier League and Champions League titles. Perhaps, by the time he achieves those dream achievements, Howe will no longer be the leader of the "Magpies".
However, as much as they are happy, the current journey of the home team at St. Petersburg is still in good shape. James' Park will be able to leave behind the footsteps of this talented Brother captain.
