Newcastle United were always going to improve and pull away from danger because the club is 'pretty much owned by a country'.
That is the contentious view of Norwich boss Dean Smith after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Magpies at Carrow Road on Saturday. The result leaves Norwich eight points adrift at the foot of the table following a remarkable swing in results since the Canaries previously played Newcastle.
In fact, it was winless Newcastle who were bottom following a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture last November. Eddie Howe's side have since won 11 games to move up to ninth place in the table and only Liverpool have been in better form in the Premier League in the last three months.
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There were no guarantees that Newcastle would spend wisely and bring in the right characters, of course, but the Magpies had access to a mid-season lifeline no relegation-threatened outfit has ever had before and that was the immense wealth at the club's disposal after the takeover last October. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, who own an 80% stake in the club, helped fund the mid-season signings of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett (loan) and Dan Burn, who have all played their part at various points in Newcastle's resurgence.
Norwich, in contrast, did not make any additions last January and Smith instead promoted striker Jon Rowe from the under-23s. That was a point Smith was keen to make after the game as the Norwich boss bemoaned how it 'just shows the levels' after Newcastle spent more than £93m in the mid-season window.
"You just look at the January window they've had," the Norwich boss told BBC Sport. "They spent nigh on £100m and they've improved.
"Eddie's an unbelievable coach - I've said that before - but they're pretty much owned by a country so they're always going to improve."
As much as Howe spent in the mid-season window, it is important to stress that the Newcastle head coach has got so much more out of the players he has inherited, whether it is Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Fraser, Joe Willock or Joelinton. Newcastle had just five points when Howe took over but, remarkably, the Magpies are now flying in ninth place.
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