Heading into this season, the mood on Tyneside was fairly downbeat. Rather than renewed optimism, Newcastle United had to swallow a difficult transfer window, which, truthfully, meant nothing in the end.
The campaign started slowly, and Howe’s side straggled in mid-table, lacking consistency and motivation to springboard themselves into the top spots.
Of course, without Champions League football this season, the team were able to recover and train properly, and did not suffer the injury issues that had plagued the squad in the previous season.
A catalyst for improvement this season aligned with the proper introduction of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali. Following his return in September, he was slowly introduced into the centre of the pitch for the Toon, but his impact was only felt in the winter months.
Nine wins on the bounce from mid-December to mid-January chucked the Magpies into firm European contention. At the same time, the team also enjoyed progression into the Carabao Cup final after a dominant two-legged affair with Arsenal.
Form dipped in and out ahead of the final against Liverpool, but the team delivered at Wembley in special circumstances. Blyth-born Dan Burn, Swedish striker Alexander Isak. Toon heroes, who delivered a first trophy in 70 years.
Full of confidence, the Magpies sprinted to a Champions League spot to finish an impressive campaign, with Tonali having a hand in important goals to guide Howe’s men to a fifth-place finish despite a loss on the final day to Everton.
Who makes the headlines after this memorable season?
Player of the Year – Sandro Tonali
True, Alexander Isak was runner-up in the Golden Boot race with 23 Premier League goals. But you are remembered for key goals and impact. Isak might be the greatest striker in the world, but Tonali played a hand in so many key goals in the back end of the campaign for Newcastle.
The Italian plays with flair and prowess in midfield, simultaneously chasing like a terrier, and playing with footballing IQ with intelligent runs and striker-like instincts.
His goal of a season contender against Brentford in April summed up his innovation and quality. It might have been met as a cross, but the finish was a crucial one amongst many.
Looking back, the win against Chelsea was the most vital for the Magpies this season. Had they lost, Champions League qualification would have been out the window. Opening the scoring in that game was Sandro Tonali, arriving at the back post to poke home and allow the team to control the lead.
Tonali has Dele-like instincts, and his presence adds a dynamic that was missing in the Newcastle midfield. While Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes bullishly dominate every opposition midfield, Tonali drifts between the midfield and attack, ghosting at times before arriving to capitalise. He may not have had the consistency of Isak, but the big moments belonged to the Italian.
Young Player of the Year – Tino Livramento
Among a pair of superb young full-backs on Tyneside is Tino Livramento.
At 22 years old, Livramento has performed in both right-back and left-back this season, filling in for the injured Lewis Hall in the latter stages of the season.
He has attracted interest from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for his versatility and high work rate. Although not the strongest, he is a battler in defence and often reads the game well to win the ball back against the difficult Premier League wingers.
Livramento could play either side of the full-back position, making him a strong contender for the England squad in the future. With his strong recovery runs and high success rate in duels, his potential is sky-high at such a young age.
The trouble will certainly be to hold onto Livramento, and it is no secret that Newcastle may have to sell to buy - so Livramento could be subject to several bids from elite clubs, though Champions League qualification should help.
Best Signing – Lewis Hall
This is technically Hall’s second season on Tyneside, but his first as a permanent Newcastle United player. Perhaps without the horror window that the club had, this manoeuvre would have been avoided, but either way, the English fullback certainly deserves praise.
Unfortunately, his season ended after ankle surgery in March, but before then, he was easily a contender for Newcastle’s player of the season.
The 20-year-old notched four Premier League assists this season to that point and was a rising influence on the left-hand side for the Magpies.
His crossing abilities are as good as anyone on the planet. An assist to Isak at Old Trafford early in that match is the pick of an impressive bunch of goal contributions, outlining his positional awareness and ability to gallop up and down the pitch with ease.
Ahead of the World Cup next year, Hall will seek a season similar to this one, if he wishes to book his name on Thomas Tuchel’s flight to the USA.
Most Improved Player – Jacob Murphy
Year on year, Jacob Murphy finds a way to improve at Newcastle. Each season, fans have called for a new right-winger to enter Howe’s lineup, but after this campaign, that might not be the case.
Outstandingly, Murphy finished with 12 assists – the second most behind Mohamed Salah in the Premier League. Add eight goals to that, and twenty goal contributions are plenty for the 30-year-old who continues to show quality.
His technical abilities are far from top in the division, but he understands Howe’s system perfectly. Back-post finishing and clinical crosses are his forte, and Murphy does that with ease.
He is now a complete package, as he has added consistency to his game. Murphy does not need replacing in the summer, and will be one of the first names on the team sheet come next year for Eddie Howe. A testament to the improvement of the English attacker over the past few years.
Surprise Package – Harvey Barnes
When Anthony Gordon was suspended for the games leading up to and including the Carabao Cup final, the assumption was that the ex-Everton winger would return instantly to the lineup after serving his suspension.
However, Harvey Barnes delivered. An outcast of sorts in attack alongside the consistent Gordon, Isak and Murphy, the 27-year-old finally earned a consistent run of games to prove his ability. From then until the end of the campaign, Barnes was the consistent name on the team sheet.
He earned six goal contributions (4G, 2A) in the four games following the Carabao Cup victory, including a brace against Manchester United. He therefore played a crucial role in key games leading up to Champions League qualification.
Despite not earning regular gametime, Barnes remains a key figure for Eddie Howe, and with an extra bundle of fixtures next season, his impact will be felt during times of fixture congestion, where his presence will help to keep the squad fresh.
Best Result – Liverpool 0-2 Newcastle United
All those years of hurt, tumultuous results and near misses, rewarded to Newcastle fans when they were triumphant at Wembley in March.
The noise generated by the passionate Toon contingent on that day in Wembley was deafening. A sea of black and white scarves waved to help push their team over the line.
Questions can be asked about Liverpool that day, but the Magpies simply wanted it more.
And no more fitting was a goal scorer than Dan Burn. Not a glamorous footballer, in fact miles from what is described as a Rolls-Royce, but the big figure was there to nod home an emphatic opener at half-time.
The first half was hard work; the second half was complete swagger from Howe’s side. Not too nervous, assuming that this was their time, they walked into a 2-0 lead with elite goal scorer Alexander Isak sending the Newcastle United end into heaven.
These eleven players were built for this moment. Running after every ball, forcing the opposition to move the ball quickly, and smashing the ball into the stands to nullify the opposition's threat. It was as if they were seasoned winners.
This campaign will never be forgotten - thanks to the squad that won a trophy for the first time in a lifetime for most of the fans in the Eastern end at Wembley that day.
