Eddie Howe and Newcastle United shocked the world last season.
After battling relegation the year before, Eddie Howe was immediately able to guide the Magpies into the Champions League. The 2022/23 season was beyond Newcastle United fans’ wildest dreams, and it ended with the Toon Army dusting off their passports.
It was a remarkable achievement to finish in the top four of the Premier League, infiltrating the ‘big six’ and ending the year above the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle United had incredible team spirit last season
There were some special performances last season, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman proving exactly why they cost so much money. There were also moments of magic from club record signing Alexander Isak, who endured an injury-ridden first year on Tyneside.
But the success was just as much about the players who Eddie Howe inherited. He helped take them to new levels, with Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton playing better than anyone could have imagined. You also had Joe Willock and Fabian Schar flying, while Jacob Murphy chipped in with some important moments too.
There was incredible team spirit at St James’ Park, and it culminated in a really special year. They carried on the momentum from that first season, and took it further than anyone could have imagined.
When Eddie Howe realised he had something special at Newcastle United
Even Eddie Howe did not expect it, having spoke to Gary Neville on The Overlap podcast about the success of last season.
He admitted to the former Man United defender that he knew he had a really special group of players when they avoided relegation, but did not expect to achieve so much with them in such a short space of time.
“It was probably the season before in our battle to stay in the league [that he realised he liked what he saw in his Newcastle team],” he said.
“I started to see it towards the end of that season where we were winning games. We had to win a lot of games to stay up, as we had a difficult start. I thought there is a really good feeling about the group, confidence, there is some real ability in the players. I think we could really do something with this group.
“Now I didn’t expect that to happen so quickly the next season but I think there was a feeling we could carry that momentum forward and I really liked some of the players we had and we managed to bring in some really good ones as well so it was more the feeling, I instantly felt at home and happy when I came to Newcastle.”
Newcastle are on the right path with Howe
Last season was a case of lightening in a bottle for Newcastle. The Magpies had so much momentum that just never stopped. The only real low moment of the campaign was the Carabao Cup final, which did not result in Newcastle ending their trophy drought.
This year has been much tougher for Howe, who has come under pressure for the first time in his Newcastle United career.
But he has come out the other side, and is on the brink of another impressive campaign. The team spirit is back after a blip, and Newcastle could even finish as high as fifth. Sixth is probably more likely though, and is where the Magpies find themselves right now.
Considering the volume of games, the calibre of opponents and the injury crisis, finishing sixth would be an incredible achievement for Newcastle United. It is further proof that Howe has something special at St James’ Park, and they are certainly on the right path with him calling the shots.
The post 'I didn't expect': Eddie Howe now shares what has surprised him about the Newcastle United players appeared first on Geordie Boot Boys.