Philippe Coutinho and Jeff Hendrick are rarely mentioned in the same breath. Newcastle United’s summer has encompassed talk of signing one of the most expensive players in history. Instead, the first midfielder they brought in was the unglamorous Irishman on a free transfer.
That is not to mock Hendrick, a versatile performer who Burnley had hoped to keep and who, somewhat surreally, had been tipped to join AC Milan, but it is an illustration of the different worlds Newcastle have occupied. Rather than untold millions, they are ending up spending an altogether smaller amount on Hendrick, reserve goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, Callum Wilson and, probably, two players from relegated clubs, in Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis.
Factor in persuading Matty Longstaff to sign a new deal and Steve Bruce seems to have made a comparatively small budget go a long way this summer, just as he made the most of limited resources on the pitch. For months, Newcastle could imagine an alternative world of more lavish outlay and greater ambition, perhaps under a more fashionable manager, but the end of the takeover bid involving the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund rendered it likely Mike Ashley's unpopular ownership will continue. Even if other suitors do succeed in buying United, any deal would be too late to be transformative immediately.
And so Newcastle face another year of life in limbo. Two very different statements were true last season: that Bruce did laudably, perhaps as well as Rafa Benitez had done in the previous two top-flight seasons, and that, for the most part, the football was awful.
They were all but safe by March when, until the shackles came off in summer, Newcastle were the division’s joint lowest scorers. They finished the campaign with the least possession and no one ended with fewer shots from inside the box. Allan Saint-Maximin’s mesmeric solo runs aside, there was little in the way of excitement and, if Newcastle’s reputation as historic entertainers can be exaggerated, their ultra-defensive approach jarred nonetheless. Bruce conjured memorable results – wins over Manchester United and Chelsea and a draw with Manchester City – but they were improbable outcomes, secured against the run of play.
A Geordie’s dream job was a thankless task. If it gets easier now, it will be only be if he has recruited well. Lewis represents a sensible addition at left-back, replacing the older and borrowed Danny Rose. Fraser’s ineffectiveness last season was a reason for Bournemouth’s demise, but only Eden Hazard recorded more assists in 2018/19. Between them, Fraser and Wilson combined for 12 goals then. It is simple to anoint the striker the most significant signing.
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Newcastle season ratings
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2019/20 RATINGS: MANAGER: Steve Bruce - 6 out of 10: A really tough one to mark. Took on the thankless task of replacing the immensely popular Rafa Benitez in the hotseat with the hugely unpopular owner Mike Ashley still in charge. Ultimately, he did exactly what Ashley wants from his managers - he kept the club safely in the top-flight. He also steered Newcastle to their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2006. EPA -
GOALKEEPERS: Martin Dubravka - 8: To say it's been a busy season for the Slovakian would be an understatement. Made the most saves out of any Premier League keeper - 140 - and without many of these stops, Newcastle would be heading back down to the Championship. A few blunders along the way, but to be expected when left exposed so regularly. Named as club's player of the year. AP -
Karl Darlow - 6: Back-up restricted to cup competitions with Dubravka firmly established as No 1. AFP -
DEFENDERS: Fabian Schar - 6: The versatile Swiss endured a miserable restart and struggled badly for any sort of consistency. Shifted into midfield by Bruce which failed to pay off, then saw his season ended by a dislocated shoulder. Getty -
Florian Lejeune - 5: Another injury-ravaged, soul-destroying season for the French centre-half, managing just eight appearances in all competitions. AFP -
Paul Dummett 5: Local lad and another defender whose season has been decimated by injury. Not played since January. AFP -
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Club captain will never give less than 100 per cent and Newcastle certainly felt more organised when he plays but can look slow and cumbersome at times - see lack of footwork for opening West Ham goal in home draw after restart. Could miss the start of next season after undergoing an ankle operation. AFP -
Emil Krafth - 5: Swedish right-back looked completely unsuited for the rough and tumble world of England's top-flight after arriving in a £5 million (Dh23.6m) deal from French side Amiens last summer. Barely played for middle part of season but did OK when brought back into team after restart. Was completely out of his depth when forced to play in a central defensive role due to injuries. AFP -
DeAndre Yedlin - 5: American full-back has started just 12 games in all competitions this season and looks set for the exit after four seasons at the club. AFP -
Ciaran Clark - 6: Another injury-blighted season and another big miss at the back for Newcastle. Just 14 league appearances for the experienced Irish centre-half. AFP -
Jetro Willems - 6: Wing-back on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt saw his time cruelly ended by a serious knee injury in January. Form had been erratic at times but had shown flashes of quality. AFP -
Federico Fernandez - 7: The last fit senior centre-half still standing by the end of the season as his defensive colleagues fell to injuries one after the other. A solid season overall form the Argentine, particularly after restart. EPA -
Javi Manquillo - 6: Spanish full-back has made himself an invaluable player for Newcastle this season - probably his best since joining the club in 2017 - covering ably down both flanks. Another shifted uncomfortably into a central defensive role due to the late season injury avalanche. Getty -
Danny Rose - 6: Signed on loan from Spurs in January and has been solid if unspectacular. Newcastle desperately need a left-back and Jose Mourinho certainly doesn't want him at Tottenham, but at 30-years-old, he would appear to be too old for the Mike Ashley signing criteria. PA -
Jonjo Shelvey - 8: A good season from the midfielder who, embarrassingly for Newcastle, finished as second-top scorer with six goals. A wonderful passer who also puts in a shift for the team. Getty -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 8: A very exciting talent, signed for around £16m last summer, who stepped up a level after the restart. Can be virtually unplayable for opponents when in full flow but needs more consistency, more composure in front of goal and better final product if he wants to reach the very top. Immense potential, though. Getty -
Matt Ritchie - 7: A frustrating season for the winger/wingback due to injury but a whole-hearted player who will always give 100 per cent. Ended his scoring drought with fine goal against Spurs after the restart. Getty -
Isaac Hayden - 7: Newcastle always feel a stronger outfit with Hayden sitting in front of the defence winning tackles and keeping things simple with the ball. Getty -
Christian Atsu - 5: Winger has barely featured under Bruce, barring sporadic substitute appearances, and is set to leave the club this summer. AFP -
Valentino Lazaro - 5: A frustrating time for the January loan signing from Inter Milan who was never given a run in the team by Bruce. Flashes of potential - excellent goal after coming on as substitute in the 4-1 win at Bournemouth, when also cracked the crossbar with a fierce strike - but not clear what is the midfielder's best position. Getty -
Sean Longstaff - 6: Another facing a crucial season in his career. Local boy who has struggled for form and fitness this season but has the potential to become a first-team regular. Getty -
Nabil Bentaleb - 5: The former Spurs midfielder was a huge disappointment after joining on loan from German side Schalke in January. The odd flash of quality but did not do enough to justify a permanent move. Getty -
Matty Longstaff - 6: The 20-year-old brother of Sean looks set for a move to Italy after refusing to sign a new deal at the club, much to the frustration of manager Bruce. Scored fairy-tale winner against Manchester United on his Premier League debut in October but failed to kick-on from that early high. PA -
Miguel Almiron - 7: Pacey midfielder who finally ended his goal drought this season and finished as Newcastle's top scorer with eight. A big season coming up for the Paraguayan - his third in England - where, like Saint-Maximin, needs to show more composure with his final ball. Still unclear what his best position is. Reuters -
ATTACKERS: Andy Carroll - 5: A frustrating return to Tyneside for the big striker. Like the story of his career as a whole, has been hindered by a series of niggling injuries and is still awaiting his first goal since rejoining last summer. Can feel rightly aggrieved, though, that he wasn't given more of a run as Bruce stuck by the misfiring Joelinton. Getty -
Joelinton - 4: An absolute disaster of a first season in England for the club-record signing from Hoffenheim. Given the famous No 9 shirt but is clearly unsuited to lead the line. Four goals all season - and just two in the league in 32 starts - and needs a miraculous change in form and fortune if he join the list of Newcastle attacking greats. Getty -
Dwight Gayle - 6: A prolific striker in the Championship who struggles to repeat the feat at the top level. Still looked a more natural finisher than Joelinton and contributed three goals after the restart. Getty -
Yoshinori Muto - 4: A reminder that poor signings were made under Benitez's reign as well. The £9.5m signing in the summer of 2018 has made two league starts all season and scored one goal - against Leicester in the League Cup. AFP
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His 15-game drought last season was another reason Bournemouth perished but Wilson averaged a Premier League goal every 233 minutes over five seasons for the Cherries. Newcastle can savour such statistics. Joelinton cost £40 million (Dh195m) and delivered two league goals, the same number as no fewer than four of Newcastle’s phalanx of centre-backs who contributed in both boxes. If the Brazilian was starved of service at times and miscast as a striker when he would rather have a supporting role, he was a chastening failure nonetheless.
Newcastle’s negativity felt a consequence of their impotence. A summer switch to 4-2-3-1 offered more intent and feels a more feasible formation if Fraser and Wilson can dovetail with Miguel Almiron and Saint-Maximin.
But last winter’s rearguard actions felt a microcosm of the campaign. No one made more saves in the Premier League last season than Martin Dubravka and no defence made more clearances. It scarcely feels a failsafe formula, but if safety is the prime aim again as Newcastle aim to survive Ashley’s regime, a few more goals would help Bruce win over the sceptics.
