It was a pretty disastrous week for Newcastle United, with injuries, defeats and suspensions dampening the mood, although there has been pockets of good news from an off-field perspective.
A trip to Merseyside yielded no real surprise, as the Magpies were routinely beaten 2-0 by an all-conquering Liverpool side now 13 points clear at the summit of the Premier League table.
On Sunday, with a chance to put things right and a place in the FA Cup quarter finals up for grabs, United fell apart in front of groans and grumbles at St James’ Park. **Anthony Gordon** (through an act of stupidity and petulance, it must be said) is set to miss the next three games through suspension, including the Carabao Cup final in the middle of the month.
To make a grim situation even worse, this week has brought news of a season ending foot injury for **Lewis Hall** and confirmation that **Sven Botman** will require surgery on his other knee, meaning both will miss the final.
There is hope, however, that **Alexander Isak** will be fine after he took part in training and media duties this week. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie also reports that he’s in good spirits and moving freely following a media visit to preview the final.
Tightness in his groin as he hobbled off last Sunday is a worry heading into crucial games against West Ham and Liverpool next week, but talk of him being ruled out are clearly nonsense from the ‘ITK’ community on social media.
It’s never dull on Tyneside, so let’s review what’s gone on over the last week. I’m Sam and this is the Toon Review.
**Another loss at Liverpool and FA Cup exit**
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In what could have been seen as a dress rehearsal for the big match at Wembley on the 16th, Newcastle were brushed aside pretty easily by an albeit dominant Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night. Expectations were obviously never high for Howe’s side, but travelling supporters may have expected a little bit more fight from United who seemed to just roll over for the Reds. Liverpool dominated possession and chances, with the Magpies having just 38% of the ball and three shots, none on target. An early strike from Dominik Szoboszlai was consolidated by a late goal from Alex Mac Allister, and it all felt very routine from start to finish. An Isak-less Newcastle attack felt blunt, as Callum Wilson failed to impact the game in any real fashion. B
But still, Newcastle had a relatively straight-forward task in the FA Cup the following Sunday, right?
Wrong. A game which should have been much more straightforward than it was ended in utter disaster, compounded by the fact that Newcastle lost one of their key attacking players to a moment of madness. No one except Anthony Gordon can know for certain what was going through his head that led to the winger raising both arms towards Jan Paul Van Hecke’s head, but it has certainly made the next few weeks much more difficult. Howe will now have to rely on one of Barnes, Willock or Joelinton to fill in on the left, and with the Wembley trip on the horizon, it is far from ideal for Newcastle to be without one of the most electric left-wingers on the continent.
Anyway, back to the match. United failed to build on Isak’s early penalty goal, instead letting Brighton have more and more of the ball until their overall possession share was greater than that of the hosts. You just can’t play that way at home, especially when you’re only a goal up. Just before half-time, former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh levelled proceedings, setting up a nervy second half at St James’.
Not much else happened until the Gordon incident on 83 minutes and, after a stoppage-time dismissal of Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey and a winner by Newcastle’s Fabian Schär ruled out for offside, the sides went into extra-time with ten men apiece. The war of attrition was finally won by Danny Welbeck, the striker converting an impressive finish over Martin Dubravka in the 114th minute of play. That was that. Newcastle’s FA Cup run had come to a bitter end. It was another example of how not to play at home to a non-elite side.
**What Howe Said**
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“The two actions for the goals were really frustrating. That’s the most disappointing thing.”
**On the second goal:** “It was a careless giveaway from our perspective. We did the hard bit and got everybody back, but we just didn’t mark tight enough.”
**On Isak’s absence:** “It was the right decision \[to be cautious\]. He’s too important to lose.”
**Post Brighton**
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“I was devastated to lose in the way that we did.”
**On Gordon’s straight red card:** “We’ll have to let the dust settle and analyse the incident properly. Then we’ll see what our next step is. Either way, we have to support Anthony in this moment.”
**On Schär’s offside winner in regulation time:** “That’s the role that VAR can play in the game. Disappointing experience.”
**On Isak being substituted:** “A little bit of fatigue for Alex. I think he worked incredibly hard for us. Hopefully no injury and just a bit of fatigue.”
Eales’ big interview
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A one-off addition to our Toon Review, but Darren Eales has been speaking to the media this week and discussed a number of important topics.
Courtesy of The Athletic, here is a summary of the main points he got across:
* It would be “crazy” for Newcastle to consider selling their best players
* The club’s intention to offer Alexander Isak a new contract in the summer
* Newcastle are “in a good place” heading into the next transfer window and are “excited” about the business they can conduct
* PIF are “absolutely” committed for the long term
* “Huge investment” will be forthcoming from PIF either for a new-build stadium or a renovation of St James’ Park, and a decision will come “in the near future”
* PIF “know” they have to build a new training ground “to get where we want to get to”
* Eales is “doing well” health-wise and continues to serve his notice, with the search for a new CEO ongoing
* Newcastle are “delighted” Eddie Howe is their head coach and “hope” he is going to stay “for a very long time”
2023/24 accounts
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This week, Newcastle posted their accounts for 2023/24, showing impressive results and signs we are heading int the right direction from a financial point of view. Here’s a summary:
* Revenue is up 28% to £320.3m (an increase from £250.3m)
* ^ £30m of that £70m revenue increase from Champions League football ^
* Losses are down to £11.1m after tax (down from a loss of £71.8m)
* Wages-to-turnover ratio is now 68.3% (down from 74%)
* Commercial income up to £83.6m (an increase from £43.9m)
* Matchday income up to £50.1m (an increase from £37.9m)
* Wages are up to £219m (an increase of 17%)
* Underlying losses come to £69m (an increase of 5%)
* Player sale profits came to £70m
* Player purchases came to £206m
* Player sales came to £91m
* Player amortisation up to £97m
* Total cost of squad sits at £605m
5% increase in 2025/26 season ticket prices
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**The Rumour Mill**
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Newcastle are expecting to sign Burnley stopper **James Trafford** and Malaga’s **Antonio Cordero** on a free, with a centre-back, right-winger and versatile attacker also wanted **(The Mail)**
**Man City** are tracking **Tino Livramento** as they look to replace Kyle Walker following his move to AC Milan **(The Telegraph)**
Newcastle have joined the race to sign Juventus striker **Dusan Vlahovic**, who could be available for £25m this summer **(TV Play)**
Aston Villa are in contact over a summer move for Newcastle target **Tyler Dibling**, who is also wanted by Spurs and RB Leipzig **(The Mail)**
Newcastle are set to be offered the chance to sign Liverpool striker **Darwin Nunez** this summer **(The Chronicle)**
**A Look Ahead to Monday**
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**West Ham (A)**
Newcastle will travel to a location they have been pretty good at for next week’s edition of Monday Night Football, and will be desperate to get back on track in East London. Howe will of course be without the services of Anthony Gordon (sigh) and the fitness of Alexander Isak is being monitored after he limped off against Brighton. There is hope, however, that United’s star Swede will be fit and ready for Monday.
Despite having won their last two league games, West Ham find themselves in 15th place in the Premier League table and should, on paper at least, prove no match for Newcastle if the visitors are up for it.
It’s time to start putting the more mediocre sides to the sword. That’ll make all the difference as United chase that final Champions League spot for next season.
HWTL.
**On This Day**
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Eight years ago this week, United won a pivotal away fixture at Huddersfield, beating the Terriers 3-1 and setting themselves well on the way to lift the Championship trophy at the end of the campaign. With Brighton and Hove Albion waiting on any potential slip-up from the Magpies, it was crucial to keep picking up three points whenever possible.
A penalty from Matt Ritchie and a goal from Daryl Murphy put Newcastle up 2-0 after 32 minutes, before a spot-kick from Aaron Mooy gave the home side some hope mid-way through the second half. However, high-scoring Dwight Gayle eliminated any such hope with a bizarre goal in the 91st minute, ensuring all three points went back to Tyneside. Substitute goalkeeper Joel Coleman was caught in no man’s land, and Gayle effectively walked the ball in to give Newcastle a crucial victory away from home.
**Toon Trivia**
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You’ll have to cast your minds back two weeks for this one! Well done to those of you who got the last trivia question correct. As we were playing Nottingham Forest, **I asked you who they beat in their 1979 European Cup Final Triumph**. Well done to those who correctly said **Mälmo** of Sweden!
With a trip to West Ham on the horizon, let’s see if I can stump any of you with this one. **Former United gaffer Alan Pardew managed both Newcastle and the Hammers, but at which club did he start his managerial career?**
That’ll be all for this week. See you next time!