Just over a year ago, I watched Tottenham stick five past my team, Newcastle United, in North London. Last Sunday, we put six past them. It’s been an astonishing year for those of us that support the Toon, and it seems there is a lot more to come.
Following the Saudi-backed take-over of the club in October 2021, Newcastle have sprinted into what we were led to believe was a slow but steady, long-term plan of improvement and consolidation.
After a first season of plucky survival from what seemed a doomed position, nailed to the foot of the Premier League table, this season I’d hoped for maybe an eighth-place finish in the league and a bit of a cup run.
Yet nine months later here I am, itching for third place and Champions League qualification, and having enjoyed a stupendous, yet fruitless, trip to Wembley for the League Cup final.
Things are moving faster than any of us could have hoped.
It’s a lazy generalisation to say this is all about the injection of Saudi cash. Sure, it’s had a huge effect on the club.
Not just in the buying of better players but also the improvement of facilities, both at St James Park and the training ground. The woman’s team, the commercial department, investment within the local area and community – all have noticeably improved since we rid ourselves of the disastrous 14-year parsimonious reign of discount sportswear baron Mike Ashley.
But this team is made by Eddie Howe. Nine of the players who thrashed Tottenham preceded him at Newcastle United.
The same players that Steve Bruce had singularly failed to get a tune out of and were hurtling towards relegation just 18 months ago. Perhaps he did get a tune, but it was unlistenable, like a four-year-old screeching through its first recorder lesson. Now we are getting Beethoven.
Howe’s management and coaching skills have utterly transformed players such as Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Jacob Murphy and Miggy Almiron from relegation fodder into Champions League contenders. Howe doesn’t get the plaudits and acclaim he deserves; he’s been transformative.
It’s easy to forget Newcastle have played in the Champions League before, though it’s been a while. Fantastic wins against Juventus and Feynoord in 2002/03, and matching Inter Milan at the San Siro in front of 12,000 travelling Geordies before finally bowing out in Barcelona on a rain-sodden trip to Catalunya.
Then there was 1997, the season of Tino Asprilla’s hat-trick in the beating of Barcelona, and watching Oasis at Newcastle Arena the same evening. As we would say, ‘canny’. Those nights may be just around the corner, just need Noel and Liam to sort out their differences and it’s game on.
Howay the Lads.
Newcastle v Spurs ratings
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope 7: Must have looked on from between Newcastle sticks in disbelief at what was going on at other end of pitch in the first half. Was rarely tested and had no chance with Kane’s quality finish for Spurs' consolation goal. AFP -
Kieran Trippier 8: Up against his former club, Newcastle’s captain was his usual driving force down right. Showed the high standards he expects when chastising teammates after Spurs scored early in second half with Magpies leading 5-1. EPA -
Fabian Schar 7: Fine ball over defence to pick out Joelinton for Brazilian's goal and was his challange on Son that provided Murphy was chance to thunder home his second of game. Skinned too easily by Kane ahead of Spurs striker pulling goal back. Limped off in second half which will be worry for Magpies. Reuters -
Sven Botman 8: Ice-cool at the best of times but barely broke sweat at St James’ Park here. Usual well-timed challenges when called upon and helped keep the dangerous duo of Son and Kane relatively quiet. Reuters -
Dan Burn 7: Hardly troubled defensively even up against the threat of Dejan Kulusevski. Saw goal-bound header off Trippier corner blocked by teammate Longstaff just after half-time. Getty -
Sean Longstaff 8: Midfielder did not start last week’s defeat at Villa due to illness and was one of the main engines to this performance. Provided assist for Isak’s second and Newcastle’s fifth. Had shot deflected just wide just before break. Reuters -
Bruno Guimaraes 9: Has been injury concern in last few weeks with ankle problem and was limping around on one leg at times in first-half – but still provided usual link-up play between midfield and attack. Spurs couldn’t cope with his quality, even when clearly not fully fit. AFP -
Joe Willock 8: Stunning ball with outside of boot to set-up Isak for Newcastle’s fourth goal. Showed impressive quick feet on occasions and his surging runs caused Spurs constant problems. Should have made it 6-0 in first half but fired shot over. Getty -
Joelinton 9: His surging run and shot ended up with Murphy scoring early goal. Perfectly timed run, rounding Lloris before calmly finishing to make it 2-0 after five minutes. His improvement since converting into a midfielder is truly staggering. EPA -
Jacob Murphy 9: In right place to fire rebound into top corner and put team in front after a minute. Drove home a thunderous long-range finish to make it 3-0 within 10 minutes which Lloris didn’t even move for. Probably his best game for the club. EPA -
Alexander Isak 9: A first-half brace, both ruthless low finishes – one from an acute angle - giving Lloris little or no chance. Pace caused chaos in Spurs defence and showed willingness to track back when required. Superb performance from Swede. AFP -
SUBS: Miguel Almiron (On for Murphy 66’) 7: His deflected pass set up Wilson as substitutes combined for sixth goal. Getty -
Callum Wilson (On for Isak 66’) 7: Scored for fourth game in row against Spurs after being on pitch 65 seconds. Getty -
Anthony Gordon (On for Guimaraes 70’) 7: Denied first Newcastle goal when shot was blocked by Forster’s outstretched leg. Reuters -
Javier Manquillo (On for Trippier 70’) 7: Rare appearance for Spanish full-back who slotted in comfortably with the match long since won. PA -
Jamaal Lascelles (On for Schar 73’) 7: Club captain has barely played this season such has been Newcastle’s quality in defence. Not tested here with score at 6-1 and Spurs shellshocked. Reuters -
SPURS RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 3: Saved well from Joelinton only for Murphy to score rebound for first. Rounded by Joelinton for second, didn’t even try to stop Murphy’s shot for the third. No chance with four or five. Captain then came off injured at half-time. EPA -
Pedro Porro 3: Started at right-back and struggled from first whistle. Allowed Joelinton time and space to drift inside and shoot ahead of opening goal. Could not cope with pace and power of Newcastle. Reuters -
Cristian Romero 2: Another at fault for first goal by failing to challenge Joelinton’s run on goal and helpless as hosts ran riot and cut through defence at will in opening half. Should have been booked for reckless foul on Willock on edge of box in first half. Picked up obligatory yellow in second. AFP -
Eric Dier 3: Poor ball out to Son put attacker under pressure that would lead to second goal and couldn’t handle Isak’s pace. Experienced international defender who couldn’t prevent Spurs’ defensive horror show. Getty -
Ivan Perisic 3: Played on left of back four at start but caught napping as Murphy put Magpies in front after a minute. Awful defensively and is not a left-back. Shot chance over bar just after half-time. Getty -
Pape Sarr 2: Started as part of midfield three but overwhelmed by Newcastle’s flying start and hooked before 25-minute mark. Nightmare afternoon for 20-year-old. PA -
Oliver Skipp 4: Good run and cut back to set up chance for Kane in first half only for England captain to miss target. Booked for poor tackle on Guimaraes and failed to stop Brazilian dominating centre of park. Reuters -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 3: Chasing shadows and was nowhere near catching them in first-half horror show from Spurs. Improvement after break but it would have been hard to be worse. -
Dejan Kulusevski 4: Curled shot over bar in 26th minute … but team were already 5-0 down by this point. Booked moments later for nasty high challenge on Willock. Getty -
Harry Kane 6: Should have pulled score back to 3-1 in first half but fired chance wide. Had another half-chance that he could only weakly pass straight to Pope under pressure. Excellent run and left-footed finish to pull one back straight after break. Results like this will only increase summer transfer talk. Getty -
Son Heung-min 3: Anonymous afternoon from South Korean who struggled to make any impact against Newcastle’s well-drilled defence. Had one shot in second half blocked by Botman. EPA -
SUBS: Davinson Sanchez (On for Sarr 23’) 6: Booed off pitch by own fans last week, booed on this this week but with team five down and in disarray. Did OK but damage had already been done. Reuters -
Fraser Forster (On for Lloris 46’) 6: Unexpected introduction at half-time with team five down. One good stop from Gordon and can at least say only one more was added to scoreline after his appearance. Reuters -
Arnaut Danjuma (On for Kulusevski 72’) 5: January loan signing drilled one shot straight at Pope. Getty -
Richarlison (On for Son 83’) N/A. AFP
