• CleanSheetEPL
  • Posts
  • 24/25 Season Preview 20 in 20 - Newcastle United

24/25 Season Preview 20 in 20 - Newcastle United

9 of 20 - The Magpies

Author

nick lochner
August 03, 2024

The 2024/25 Season kicks off Friday August 16 when Fulham travel to Man United.

For previous team previews and additional content check out our website: CleanSheetEPL.beehiiv.com.

AND….

Know someone who would like to follow the CleanSheet? SHARE this link! Subscribe | CleanSheetEPL (beehiiv.com).

2023/24 Finish - 7th Place

Northern Dominance. Located in the far northeast of England, Newcastle United FC is a medium/big club. The Magpies have been in the top league for 92 seasons and in the second league for 29. 29 of the last 31 years have been in the PL (top). Prior to last two seasons, NU had finished in the lower half of the PL in 10 straight seasons, including 1 relegation and then promotion back. For England standards, it’s a hike to get to Newcastle for most clubs and supporters, and the culture of the area is truly unique. The Magpies have been the dominant club in the area over the years.

SWF.LIV. There have been lots of eyes on Newcastle over the last several years as they are now owned by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia. Think LIV golf. This has brought lots of discussion and differing points of view from fans and non-fans of the club. You can see more on the topic below in the Ownership section. What it has meant to the play on the pitch - player spending has increased significantly - 4th most in the PL.

Load Management. Two years ago, Eddie Howe led Newcastle to a fourth-place finish in the PL (his first with the club as gaffer) and that meant a Champions League spot for last year. Going into last season the question the Magpies had to answer was could they handle the added load. Answer - NO they couldn’t. Newcastle got knocked out in the group stage and struggled to a 7th place finish in the PL. They looked tired at times throughout the season and struggled to overcome the typical injuries teams need to endure. Will be interesting to see what the upcoming year without Europe competition will mean for them.

Up In the Air. Lots of questions on Eddie Howe sticking as manager. When Gareth Southgate stepped down as England National Team manager Eddie was listed on the short list of replacements. In addition, Newcastle is managing a difficult financial situation with Financial Fair Play limiting their ability to be aggressive in the transfer window. The Magpies have been SELLERS this off-season and definitely have needs across their roster. Will be some time before the dust settles and we know the starting XI.

The Club

Located in Newcastle on Tyne (Far NE)

St. James Park, 52,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$370M Annual Revenue (7th in PL)

$120M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • 4 Titles, last in 1927

  • 6 FA Cups, last in 1955

  • No Europe Cups

Sponsorship

Home Shirt

Third Shirt

Ownership

In 2020 Saudi Public Investment Fund put an offer in to acquire NU prompting concern and criticism of sportswashing around human rights. Many politicians and fans called for the deal to be blocked. In July of 2020, SA announced its withdrawal of the offer resulting in widespread criticism by fans the other way. In October Prime Minister Boris Johnson was said to be involved. Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman was said to have gone on record as saying diplomatic relations would be strained. In the end, the deal got done when the PL agreed to the sale saying they had “legally-binding assurances” that the Saudi state would have no control over the club. However, in February 2023 if was determined that Newcastle’s Chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan is “a sitting minister of the Saudi government”. To date, nothing has changed.

Biggest Rival - Sunderland

Tyne-Wear Derby aka Northeast Derby

  • Very even matchup that has been played since 1883.

  • Located just 12 miles apart and both on the North Sea, the cities have been rivals historically taking opposite sides in many conflicts including the English Civil War throughout the 1600s.

  • Newcastle results - 156 matches, 53W 53L 50D

The Culture

The Toon Army - “toon” is derived from the local dialect for “town” and represents Newcastle United fans. Looking for a place to watch NU play a match, don’t search on Newcastle, search on Toon Army and you’ll find a place. Newcastle is a “regionalized club” in the Northeast of England, the largest and most successful in the region. NU had arguably the best striker to ever play, Alan Shearer (1990s), who still holds the record of most PL goals scored at 260. The Toon Army is a blue collar, gritty, group. Think Phili, Buffalo. It is a true road trip for most clubs in the PL, about 300 miles for London clubs and 175 miles for Liverpool clubs. The clubs’ fans typically top the league in costs incurred to travel to away matches. When NU was relegated to The Championship in 2016, the club averaged 51,000 home fans, 20,000 over the average attendance of the league.

Fans are struggling with their current success. They’re happy and still love the club but recognize the success is in part a result of the outside ownerships ability to outspend most other clubs in the world.

Black and white stripes, the club is very proud of their colors. I suspect they will have no problem rooting for their team and players, regardless of what they think of ownership.

Geordie

Geordie is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area in NE England who uses a distinctive dialect, also known as Tyneside English. Not everyone in the NE is a Geordie, but most all Geordie’s are in the NE. While there are different definitions of what it means to be a Geordie, Newcastle United supporters are called Geordie’s and when you order a Newcastle Brown Ale, you get it served in a Geordie Schooner.

Supporters You May Recognize

  • Sting

  • Sam Fender

  • Brian Johnson AC/DC

  • James Bay

Song

Blaydon Races’ is a Geordie folk song, written by Geordie Ridley, here is the Chorus:

“Ah me lads, ye shudda seen us gannin', We pass'd the foaks alang the road just as they wor stannin'; Thor wis lots o' lads an' lassies there, aal wi' smiling faces, Gannin' alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.”

Game Day Pub Guide

Fan Sites

According to the AI tool COPILOT - here is an image of a Newcastle United fan at St James’ Park, based on Wiki’s description of a Magpie Supporter.

Official Twitter

@NUFC

High Follows on Twitter

@ChronicleNUFC (154k)

@toonnews (37k)

@ToonArmy_com (100k)

@AdamP1242

@ToonArmyAmerica

@ComingHomeNUFC

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Eddie Howe (England), 42yo

  • 3rd year at NU

  • Player and manager with Bournemouth for most of career, bringing that small club to the PL and sustaining success. Now bringing that success to NU.

Eddie Howe

ODDS

  • To Win League +3,000

  • To Be Relegated +10,000

  • To Finish Top 4 +200

  • To Finish Top 10 -2000

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

Projected to finish 5th

Americans on the team (as of July 30)

  • None

Interested in playing Fantasy Soccer? Here are the basics. Typical teams have a budget of $100M and 15 players - $6.7M per player.

  • Alexander Isak (FWD) $8.5m

  • Anthony Gordon (MID) $7.5m

  • Bruno Guimaraes (MID) $6.5m

  • Harvey Barnes (MID) $6.5m

  • Kieran Trippier (DEF) $6.0m

  • Fabian Schar (DEF) $5.5m

  • Dan Burn (DEF) – $4.5m

Goalkeeper

  • Nick Pope - Top 15 in PL.

St James’ Park

Reply

or to participate.