Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has given his honest verdict on how the 2023/24 season went for the Magpies.
It was a gruelling campaign for Newcastle United, and one that ended in disappointment. Eddie Howe’s side missed out on qualifying for Europe, with Manchester United’s FA Cup win robbing the Magpies of a place in the UEFA Conference League.
Newcastle ended the year seventh in the Premier League, whilst they got to two domestic cup quarter finals. There was less progress in the Champions League, with Howe’s men finishing bottom of their group. However, it was the group of death, and one of their opponents could win the entire competition on Saturday night.
When you consider all of the injuries that Newcastle suffered, as well as the Sandro Tonali situation, it has to be viewed as a decent season.
Alan Shearer reflects on ‘decent’ season for Newcastle United
That is the view of Alan Shearer, who was asked to give his verdict on Newcastle United’s 2023/24 campaign on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast.
“It’s been decent,” he said.
“They certainly overachieved last season in coming fourth which puts pressure on them to go again.
“I think it’s going to be a huge summer for them in terms of what can happen. Can they keep their two big hitters in terms of Isak and Bruno? Keep an eye out for what happens to Newcastle in the summer, and you’ll be able to tell where and what they are by the end of August.”
Following the highs of the 2022/23 season, there was always going to be a drop off for the Magpies. They were under pressure to replicate their success, but were unable to.
Now their attention turns towards the summer, when the club will do all they can to keep top stars Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.
They were two of Newcastle’s best players this season, but Shearer’s fellow podcaster Gary Lineker believes that another Toon player deserves a shout out for their efforts in black and white.
Lineker: “A little shout out for Anthony Gordon as well, who absolutely deserves it. Brilliant season.”
Anthony Gordon certainly deserves Gary Lineker praise
While Bruno and Isak were outstanding, Anthony Gordon is the Newcastle United player who deserves the most praise. We knew the other two were elite players, but this has been Gordon’s breakout year.
The 23-year-old has proved so many people wrong with his performances, and has become a player who Eddie Howe can rely on. That was his goal at the start of the campaign, and he certainly achieved it.
Availability was his strongest quality, with Gordon only missing three games during the entire campaign – and only one of those was because of injury.
But he wasn’t just available. He was also decisive. Gordon proved to be a difference-maker in the final third, hitting double figures in goals and assists in the Premier League. Across 48 games in all competitions, he got 12 goals and 11 assists.
And it even looks like he has taken his game to an even greater level in recent months, which is brilliant news for England ahead of Euro 2024. Gordon can be a key player for the Three Lions this summer, as he prepares to bring his Newcastle United form to the international stage.
During what was a decent but not spectacular season for the Magpies, Gordon was the biggest shining light.
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