Eddie Howe suggested Newcastle United have lost their bite after beating Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League this week, and there's certainly a case that the Toon's gritty bite has been dulled since the summer.
In many ways, this is only natural. The sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool. Yoane Wissa's injury before he could make his debut, a recovery process he is still going through. Only Nick Woltemade's emphatic introduction to Tyneside has eased the attacking struggles that have spilt over to the flanks.
Nick Woltemade celebrates for Newcastle
Newcastle are in the now, and there's no question that this is something of a transitional period for a club still set on making incremental gains under Howe's wing.
But the hurdles that have sprung up over the past few months will be overcome, with such exciting signings as Woltemade added to the ranks, St. James' Park is well set for the future.
Newcastle's new superstars
If Isak's departure has told us anything, it's that Newcastle have the capacity to rally against a storm and emerge with their core intact.
Woltemade, 23, is one of the most talented strikers in the world, and while he's scored six goals in black and white so far, the German has so much more to offer, and that's an exciting thought.
Against Bilbao, Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier showed off their culture and class down the flanks, but these are hardened veterans of the game, and in Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who impressed off the bench, the Tynesiders have a duo to be reckoned with for years to come.
So much quality, but the older average age of this group of players, starting in the Premier League, does emphasise the need for greater promotion of younger talents at the club.
Premier League 25/26 - Oldest Average XIs
Club
Everton
Aston Villa
Newcastle
Fulham
Burnley
Data via Transfermarkt
Howe understands the need for a blend, though, but someone like Sandro Tonali is really stepping up and proving he can be an all-inspiring leader for the club. The Italian is 25, and he is "the best midfielder in the Premier League", according to division great Paul Scholes.
This is all to say that Newcastle have hit the jackpot more often than not in the transfer market since that fateful PIF takeover, and it is for this reason they will continue to fight against the big six hegemony in the Premier League while pressing for European glory each and every year.
Sandro Tonali for Newcastle
There's another man we haven't yet mentioned, and who perhaps deserves a big handful of praise. After all, this shrewd summer signing has been described as Newcastle's future.
The Newcastle signing who is the future of the club
Newcastle have completed a wave of business in recent years, and while it is the attacking additions who often take the spotlight, we must pay credit to Malick Thiaw's stunning start to life in England's north east.
The German centre-half was signed from AC Milan in August for a fee just shy of £35m. It helped push United forward during a difficult summer transfer window, and he has repaid the faith over the past few months.
Malick Thiaw for Newcastle
Howe eased the 24-year-old into the Premier League, benching him four times in a row to start things off, but he has since started the outfit's past nine fixtures across the top flight and the Champions League, thriving alongside Sven Botman or Fabian Schar and perhaps even outshining the pair of them.
He has even been described as “the future of this club” by Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, and if that doesn't make a conclusive comment on the skillset Howe has added to his ranks, what will?
Malick Thiaw for Newcastle
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Ground duels*
Aerial duels*
Errors made
Data via Sofascore
His success rate in the duel is absurdly high, especially having just stepped into the English game. What's more, Thiaw is a confident distributor and he boasts awareness and intelligence to rival the mightiest defenders across England the the wider European scene.
As per data-led platform FBref, Thiaw ranks among the top 11% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, illustrating his quality on the ball.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
Given that Howe enforces a system rooted in transitional fluency, Thiaw's presence will only enrich the tactical flow. He has, after all, been hailed as an "absolute steal" of a signing by one Magpies content creator, who went on to marvel at his "Saliba-esque" qualities.
To think that Newcastle are only just beginning to enjoy the fruits of this signing is to understand the calibre of player still yet to develop and grow at St. James' Park.
Thiaw is a sensational defender, and he will form the bedrock of Howe's Newcastle for many years to come, perhaps even establishing himself as one of the continent's finest down the line and leading the side to even more illustrious heights than have been reached over the past four years.
Woltemade and Tonali are sensational players, and will define Newcastle's central and offensive thirds throughout this new chapter, but Thiaw is on a level with such stars, and he is very much shining.