Newcastle are finally united and should now push on

Finally, at the third time of asking, it happened for Newcastle United. Since the Saudi Arabian-led takeover in October, everybody has been waiting for a moment where the future could begin, only to be met with a frustrating false dawn.

The Tottenham Hotspur game, their first, was compromised by Steve Bruce’s presence and ultimately ended in defeat. It didn’t get much better when Eddie Howe arrived; after a flood of excitement and expectation, a positive Covid-19 test deflated the atmosphere and his first official outing, a draw with Brentford at St James’ Park, wasn’t what it could have been.

But after a successful if frustrating January transfer window, which saw the newly-flush Magpies sit pretty as Europe’s highest spenders after bringing in five players, it felt like change had to come on Tuesday night against Everton, or else. Given the Toffees’ own predicament — they were four points better off at kick off — failing to build momentum now was not worth thinking about, despite their own sense of freshness in the air with new manager Frank Lampard and two high profile loan signings, Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek.

Three points came Newcastle’s way for the second successive match, following victory at Leeds nearly three weeks ago. Howe’s side battled where Lampard’s withered; the road to solutions was laid bare for one while the true depths of the mess the other had inherited became  just as clear.

It is easy to focus on the difference this time being the new arrivals. Kieran Trippier’s quality has been in evidence ever since he joined from Atletico Madrid at month ago; his new role of talisman fits him like a glove. He is the example, leading in terms of mentality and understanding from right-back.

But his performances have simmered; there have been flashes of quality in a quiet but competent settling in period. This time, though, something clicked; he took control, dominating both in defence and possession, before his freekick provided the perfect ending to a night of awakenings on Tyneside. The future is now.

Matt Targett, the only debutant with Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes enjoying cameos from the bench, complimented him perfectly on the other flank. But a strong factor in Newcastle’s resurgence in the last two games is the rise in performance level and mental strength of the squad already in place; the players who have been struggling so badly that relegation had threatened to become a foregone conclusion, regardless of the ownership change.

At Ellard Road, Newcastle rode their luck, but picked their moments and struck before holding on in a fashion that proved character, and quality, was there. A second clean-sheet of the season leading to a second victory spoke volumes; the problems started from the back, so fixing them had to as well.

Jamaal Lascelles scored at both ends, but after weeks of criticism and doubts being thrown at him, it was imperative that he followed on from Trippier in standing tall and dominant. He was back to his best, and there was spring in the step of Joe Willock, too.

Pressure has been growing on the 22-year-old since he made his loan move from Arsenal permanent for £25m in the summer; although few expected him to continue his record-breaking form from last season, he was the man who appeared the difference between survival and relegation. His struggles this year, with no goals to his name, are indicative of his initial impact; since it stopped, the club has floundered.

But he had a spring in his step this week, he was crucial in executing the pressing traps Howe had set, and became more of an attacking threat than he has been for weeks. Improvements in Jonjo Shelvey, match-winner at Leeds, Joelinton and Ryan Fraser are clear, too, and this is all before acknowledging Allan Saint-Maximin. The Frenchman has been the difference maker for Newcastle ever since he arrived in 2019; there are consistency issues, which have been seen over the past few weeks, but he reached a level which proves he can decide games.

Lampard called him ‘unplayable’ and that arguably doesn’t go far enough. He kept pushing and probing despite being targeted and fouled; his only frustration was not finding the goal which would have topped off a magical evening on a personal level. At full time, he greeted the fans like a Gladiator taking acclaim in the Colosseum; he is the one spark who could ignite the transition from one era to another.

The noise was different. It wasn’t just loud, it was connecting; proof that Newcastle are united. Together, finally. Above anything else, that can be their key to getting through this season unscathed, but on the pitch, the players who faltered before stood tall, and that will make a huge difference.

After the failure to lure Jesse Lingard from Manchester United in January, there were a lot of questions as to whether Newcastle had enough to stay up. Their players have always tried hard, but not performed to their level regularly, and that has been their issue. If this new found form is to continue, those same players’ improvement has to be a driving force.

 

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