26/02/23 Manchester United v Newcastle United Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
26/02/23 Manchester United v Newcastle United Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
Walking back down Wembley Way after the 2023 Carabao Cup final was not an unfamiliar feeling as a Newcastle United follower.
They say what goes up must come down, and that has been the case in the more modern visits to Wembley in 1998, 1999, and, of course, 2000 when the Magpies go to the semi-final of the FA Cup under Sir Bobby Robson. Back in 1998 and 1999, it's fair to say that Newcastle were very much the underdogs as they lost consecutive cup finals to the double-winners Arsenal and treble winners Manchester United.
The 2000 defeat at the hands of Chelsea was a closer affair but still no cigar as they say. Let's not forget Cardiff in 2005, when Wembley was being rebuilt and Newcastle were thumped 4-1 in Wales in another FA Cup last four encounter.
But 2023 felt like a genuine chance to end the long trophy drought - only for the awful feeling of emptiness to kick once more as I walked down the famous walkway that was by then strewn with crushed beer cans and the hollow noise of cider bottles being scooped up and put into recycle bins.
By then, we'd watched Newcastle go 2-0 behind in the first half as Casemiro and Marcus Rashford did the damage on 33 and 39 minutes, meaning that Eddie Howe's team had a mountain to climb. The second half was a non-event as Newcastle failed to even grab a consolation goal, and Man United went up to lift their first trophy since 2017.
As the Newcastle players walked around the pitch in a daze, some of them stopped to soak up the amazing support of the 33,000 Geordies that had stayed with their team until the death. The likes of Matt Ritchie and Javier Manquillo took in a bit more of the applause knowing that their numbers at the club may have been up.
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Bruno Guimaraes had tears in his eyes, Joe Willock looked on and just shook his head and Alexander Isak looked like a man who knew he would be back soon for much more. The frustration that day was that a good Newcastle side that went on to qualify for the Champions League had picked the day of a cup final to produce one of their worst performances of the season.
That night Howe told me after the game: "It is a process, we want to be here on a regular basis. There is a long way to go to be the team we want to be." So two years on does Howe have his team closer to that sweet spot?
Unfortunately, Newcastle have been hit by bad luck again in the lead-up to the final with Lewis Hall and Sven Botman injured and Anthony Gordon suspended. But this team has quality throughout its spine with Fabian Schar having a steady season, Bruno still doing his thing and Alexander Isak in decent form - they can hurt Liverpool.
Man United were there for the taking two years ago and just over a month later, Newcastle rolled the Red Devils over easily at St James' Park. This year's final sees the Magpies go in against a classy Liverpool side who are arguably champions-elect, it won't be easy, but impossible? No, in my opinion.
Arne Slot's can still win the Premier League in record time, but they have cracks as Paris St-Germain demonstrated. They were beaten in the FA Cup by Plymouth on a day when they chose to field a weakened side.
But Liverpool have wobbled a little bit lately, dropping points and slipping behind in some games. There could be a chance.
And if Newcastle find their A-game and ruffle the feathers of Liverpool in the same way they did against Arsenal in the semi-finals, or the same way they have against the likes of Tottenham, Man United and Man City this season, you have to give them a fighting chance.
The clash between the two sides at St James' Park ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw on a night that Newcastle led twice and then refused to give up to snatch a point with a last minute equaliser from Schar. Liverpool have plenty of cup final experience and know how to get over the line to lift a trophy.
Twice in the last three years their name has been etched on to the League Cup and the red ribbons were wrapped tightly around the silverware. For Newcastle to change that they must be smart on the day, they must provide Isak with the service he needs to cause havoc and they must give their 33,000 fans something to feed off early in the game.
Can that feeling of walking back down Wembley Way be different this year, there is certainly belief that it can be and if Newcastle shake off the stage fright, it could be a historic day for all concerned with the black and whites.
Hundreds of fans from all over the globe have been leaving personalised messages for Eddie Howe and his players ahead of the Carabao Cup final. You can send your own message of support here through our Cheer Map