Can Eddie Howe keep the momentum from the second half of last season at Newcastle United and make a brighter start to the 2022/23 campaign?
What happened last year?
Last season for Newcastle can be split into three distinct parts. First came the disappointing start and, probably overdue, end to Steve Bruce's reign on Tyneside.
Secondly, Eddie Howe came in and initially struggled to turn good performances into positive results; in fact, he still found himself as the favourite in the Premier League sack race after less than three months in the role.
However, the Magpies then turned for home in stunning fashion, taking 38 points from the final 19 games including 12 wins - a second half of the season bettered only by second placed Liverpool and champions Manchester City. They finished in 11th place, sandwiched between Wolves just inside the top half and Crystal Palace in 12th.
Key signings?
Nick Pope
Newcastle fans were probably expecting more signings by this stage. This time last month, we compiled a list of 10 likely additions to Eddie Howe’s side – none of which have subsequently come through the door.
Raphinha, for example, chose the bright lights of Barcelona, Jesse Lingard landed at the City Ground with Nottingham Forest and links with Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta have faded somewhat even though the Brazilian remains a 13/8 best price to make the move.
Nick Pope is perhaps the shrewdest investment of Newcastle’s summer so far. Pope spent six years at Turf Moor, racking up 141 Premier League appearances and collecting eight England caps along the way. But is he much of an upgrade on Slovak stopper Martin Dubravka?
Sven Botman
The Magpies have also secured the services of centre back Sven Botman from Lille. The Dutch 22-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the club having won a Ligue 1 title and French Cup during his two seasons in France.
Botman was actually as short as 3/5 to join Newcastle in January 2022 so it came as no surprise that he eventually secured the move when the transfer window reopened in July.
Matt Targett
But wasn’t he already there last season? Yes, but a successful loan move for Targett has been made permanent by the Magpies on a four-year deal. He made 16 appearances during the second half of last season, more than playing his part in the club’s 11th place finish.
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And who’s headed out?
Isaac Hayden
Quite a decent list to be honest, but Isaac Hayden probably leads the way given he still made 14 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season. Our football expert George Gamble wrote this about Hayden's loan move to Norwich in his season preview for the Canaries.
"Norwich lacked any real bite in the midfield last season and the arrival of Hayden, a player who loves the defensive side of the game, can only be a good thing. It’s a good move and should he meet particular targets, the Canaries will be obligated to sign him on a permanent basis."
Ciaran Clark
The other most notable outgoing is Clark, whose exit makes sense given the arrival of Botman to add to a stock of centre backs which already includes club captain Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn – who has impressed since a £13 million January move from Brighton.
Clark will be plying his trade in the Championship with Sheffield United after five consecutive Premier League seasons with Newcastle.
What can we expect from them in 2022/23?
It’s quite hard to say at this stage, and probably depends most on how many more players come through the door. They look strong in goal, well stocked at centre back and solid at full back with the permanent signing of Targett combined with the set piece threat of Kieran Trippier on the right side.
Bruno Guimarães looks poised to build on his fine season ending form (five Premier League goals), while Joelinton - controversially sent off in a friendly with Benfica yesterday - has made a seamless transition from misfiring striker to box-to-box midfielder, leaving the goalscoring limelight to Callum Wilson and January recruit Chris Wood.
They do, however, look a little light on quality in centre midfield and over reliant on the maverick Allan Saint-Maximin to make something happen from wide forward areas. Lingard seemed like a good fit before choosing Forest, so where does that leave them?
Maxwel Cornet has been linked with a move from Burnley (20/1), Paqueta is still interesting Eddie Howe, while Timo Werner is reportedly on the radar after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea.
Where do the odds project them to finish?
The latest odds available through oddschecker have Newcastle as the seventh favourites for the Premier League title at a best price of 189/1 (worst 66/1). Turning that on its head, they are the 14th favourites for relegation at the longest price of 33/1.
Any recommended bets?
A Leicester City style run to the Premier League title appears fanciful, despite their strong finish to last season and continued investment in the squad from the new owners. It’s hard to make a case for a top six finish given the summer rebuilds at last season’s fifth and sixth placed finishers Arsenal and Manchester United.
So, if you’re looking for a bet, and you think he can stay fit for enough of the season, Callum Wilson at 50/1 in the top goalscorer market with four places could be worth a punt.
