Guardian writers’ predicted position: 6th (NB: this is not necessarily Louise Taylor’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 4th
Prospects
Ultimately bright but, following last season’s arguable overachievement in finishing fourth, a Champions League campaign could overstretch Eddie Howe’s squad. Indeed many Newcastle fans would not be surprised were the team to finish in mid-table following a campaign in which, despite the vast wealth of their Saudi Arabian majority owners, the club’s room for transfer market manoeuvre will be restricted by financial fair play. Nonetheless, it would be foolish to dismiss the chances of a side already containing internationals of the calibre of Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali and Nick Pope.
Much hinges on whether individuals including Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almirón can maintain last season’s improvements, not to mention how cleverly Howe manages to introduce an element of rotation to his team selections. Newcastle’s high-energy, high-pressing style can be draining but they remain an extremely fit ensemble who, once again, look to have spent their money wisely this summer. The acquisition of Italy’s Tonali from Milan and the former Leicester winger Harvey Barnes seem two particularly astute pieces of business.
Although further fortifications are needed, most notably on the right of central defence where high-calibre cover, and competition, for Fabian Schär is required, Howe will be anxious not to overly disrupt the chemistry of a committed squad full of good characters in the mould of Kieran Trippier. The manager is also mindful of the need to allow promising young players including Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley opportunities to strut their stuff. Newcastle are on an upward ascent and this is probably the season the climb becomes extremely arduous in places. Long term, though, they are surely headed for the summit.
The manager
Eddie Howe took charge of Newcastle only after Unai Emery changed his mind about accepting the job at the 11th hour but the former Bournemouth manager has proved an excellent choice. After averting relegation in his first season, Howe’s second campaign featured unexpected Champions League qualification. The 45-year-old evidently used a sabbatical between swapping the south coast for Tyneside extremely well and was clearly influenced heavily by time spent shadowing Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid and Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano. Such Iberian stints have transformed a coach long known for producing attractive attacking teams flawed by vulnerabilities at the back into the tactically smart, emotionally intelligent, chief choreographer of a streetwise, hard pressing, defensively mean, Newcastle.
Leading the shirt sales
The 23-year-old Alexander Isak justified last summer’s £60m transfer from Real Sociedad during the second half of last season when, finally recovered from a troublesome hamstring injury, he terrorised rival defenders. By the end of the campaign Isak had registered an impressive 10 goals in 22 Premier League appearances and, handily for Howe, proved equally adept both at centre-forward and on the left wing. Much, much, more than mere cover for Newcastle’s England centre-forward, Callum Wilson, Isak has helped Howe’s cause appreciably by combining intelligently with Wilson. He may not exactly be “the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic” but this most technically accomplished, perfectly balanced Swedish forward is a joy to watch.
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Folk hero
To say Newcastle fans adore Bruno Guimarães is something of an understatement. If choosing Howe’s team ahead of Arsenal swiftly endeared the Brazil playmaker to Tyneside fans, the 25-year-old former Lyon anchor’s ability to elevate his teammates to new heights sealed the love affair. A wonderfully nuanced midfielder supremely comfortable in both the No 6 and No 8 roles, he wears the No 39 shirt in homage to his father, a retired Rio de Janeiro taxi driver who always drove car No 39.
One to watch
Anthony Gordon experienced something of a slow-burn start at St James’ Park following his £40m move from Everton in January but the winger starred for England Under-21s as they became European champions this summer and impressed immensely during Newcastle’s pre-season trip to the United States. The 22-year-old, who can also play as a central striker or in midfield, recently admitted to being “unfit” on joining Newcastle and explained he took time to fathom Howe’s tactics. “I didn’t fully understand the way the team played at first,” he said. “It was difficult. The manager’s tactical detail is on an unbelievable level and he warned me it would take time to grasp.”
