Newcastle United are on the cusp of making Premier League history as the only side to ever stay up after failing to win any of their first 14 games of the season, with Eddie Howe ’s side currently sat in ninth and 14 points above the drop zone.
It represents a remarkable turnaround from the Magpies and highlights the stellar job that Howe has done at the helm since taking over in November. His side have gone from relegation favourites to a team pushing for a top half finish.
The Magpies can now only be mathematically caught by Everton, but depending on this weekend’s results, the north east club could officially be safe after their next game.
When Howe took charge in November 2021, Newcastle were rock bottom of the top flight with five points from 14 games, and as many away from safety. But since then, the former Bournemouth manager has completely changed the club’s fortunes around and can begin looking ahead to another season at the top level.
Since winning their first game of the season against Burnley on December 12, a 1-0 victory at St. James’ Park, the team at the bottom of the table have only lost six of their next 19 Premier League matches, which included a nine game unbeaten run between the end of that same month and March.
Defeats have come at the hands of Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham, which all came away from home besides the 4-0 drubbing from Pep Guardiola’s side. Nonetheless, it is mainly the usual suspects they have struggled against.
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Picking up points against the majority of teams in the bottom half has been crucial to their rise up the league table and the squad from the first half of the season is a complete shadow of what it has become. Howe has transformed the performances of individuals to ensure his whole team is operating at the highest level possible.
There is also, of course, the £95 million spent in the January transfer window, courtesy of becoming the richest club in the world in October, that has undoubtedly played its part. Five new signings arrived at the start of the year, and all of them have had a positive impact.
Besides the £30m marquee signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon, the club opted to sign players with proven experience in the top flight who could get them out of a relegation battle for the remainder of the season. Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Dan Burn and Matt Targett (loan) are the other four names in question.
Trippier, although injured after just four appearances for the club, made an instant impact in his handful of games, helping to keep two clean sheets as well as scoring a match winner as Newcastle won 10 points from a possible 12, while Burn and Targett also deserve their credit for considerably improving a leaky defence.
Wood hasn’t been as prolific as some had hoped after two goals in 14 appearances, but has become a vital part of Howe’s set up by spearheading the attack, while Guimaraes had to be patient before cementing his place in the side, and has since dazzled in black and white with four goals and one assist in his last eight appearances.
But those who were already at the club have played their part by stepping up and turning their seasons around, while Howe’s tactics and man management has been a huge part of the success. The Magpies are just one more win away from officially securing their top flight status, which is a remarkable feat given the position they were in just four months ago.
