The curtain has fallen on the most successful season in Newcastle United’s modern history – a campaign woven with threads of triumph and despair resulted in Bruno Guimarães, the first Newcastle United captain since Bob Moncur, lifting a silver pot above his head **and** qualification for the Champions League.
United taking advantage of the other English teams doing well in European competition this season to take up the extra qualification spot was the icing on the cake – even if we’d all preferred it to be a little more comfortable than it turned out to be.
As St. James’ Park braces itself for a transformational summer, I wanted to distil the 2024/25 season into five defining moments that typified United’s season – but I couldn’t do it – that’s why there are ten and three parts which will be published over the coming days.
Here are my 10 key takeaways from Newcastle United’s 2024/25 season – Part 1 of 3:
1. **“At last, Newcastle United Are Winners”**
I’m sure the many thousands of Geordies in the 100,000-strong crowd at Wembley on 7 May 1955, who watched United win a third FA Cup in just five years, wouldn’t have imagined the wait for the next trophy would be quite so long. Indeed, it took another 14 years for United to lift the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
56 years passed into history as others won silverware. Legends couldn’t do it – McDonald, Keegan, Robson, and Shearer all failed. Memories faded, living on through grainy reels of Jackie Milburn, Bobby Mitchell, and George Hannah’s heroics. Some started to doubt they would ever see it happen, so to break the curse and win a major domestic honour was a special moment, but it wasn’t just about lifting a trophy – it was about reclaiming belief.
And what made it even sweeter was that it was thoroughly deserved. It was no ‘score early and hold on for dear life against a better opponent’ victory. It was a ‘should’ve scored more, complete domination’ victory – Liverpool’s consolation goal felt almost intrusive, so overwhelming was United’s superiority.
Throw in a boy from Blyth fairytale and the day was a magical one. Watching Eddie Howe’s men alongside my dad – one of those wistful fans who’d almost given up hope – and my brother in the stands, I found tears mingling with cheers. Dreams don’t often come true, but that day, mine did.
1. **Tonali Transformation: The Shift to ‘The Six’**
Despite the eventual glory, United’s season was very Jekyll and Hyde. Rewind to 7 December 2024: Newcastle, limp and listless, humbled 4-2 by Brentford, languished in twelfth after 15 games.
Sandro Tonali, fresh from dazzling for Italy, was oddly ‘rested.’ United were plagued by a huge hole in central midfield during 2023/24 – with Tonali banned and injuries crippling the squad – and that hole had started to reappear during the Oct-Nov period, causing atrocious defensive displays.
Enter Eddie Howe’s masterstroke. A week later, Tonali anchored the midfield against Leicester; United won 4-0 and the rest is history. United won nine consecutive games, dismantling Villa, Man Utd and Arsenal (LC) along the way to rise to fourth in the league table and the brink of a League Cup final berth.
Tonali wasn’t merely a deep-lying playmaker. His energy carved through defences, his vision orchestrated attacks, and his defensive recoveries snuffed out danger. Six goals, three assists, and 45 stellar appearances later, Tonali’s role wasn’t just pivotal – it was transformative. It’s reductive to say that it was entirely down to the shift in Sandro’s role and elevation to regular starter that saved the season, but it was certainly one of the ignitors.
It was a breakout season for the 20-year-old as he cemented his place as first-choice. The young left-back dazzled with consistency and flair. Five assists in 27 appearances, coupled with defensive solidity, made him a Player of the Season contender and quelled any angst supporters felt following a quiet first season on Tyneside – until injury cruelly intervened.
At £30 million, Hall’s transfer now feels like daylight robbery. His senior England debut looks likely to be a mere prelude to what’s to come. I cannot wait to have him back in the first team and watch him develop under Howe’s tutelage.
Hall was the player I felt for the most in missing the Carabao Cup final; he more than deserved to line up at Wembley. It will have been a bitter pill to swallow, but his talent ensures there will be many more Wembley appearances for him.
**To be continued…**