Back in October, it was a strange night at St. James’ Park. I pondered how the home team would manage when I saw Kylian Mbappe and his teammates warm up in the rain in Newcastle earlier.
Despite being Newcastle’s club captain and a fantastic servant, Jamaal Lascelles would not classify himself as a world-class athlete. It appeared as though Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff would have a difficult night ahead of them against the French champs. Even though it was Saudi Arabia vs Qatar, there was a chance it might be lopsided on the field. It was, heading for Newcastle.
It’s still vivid in my mind. Mbappe’s confused expression as PSG washed away on a tsunami of black and white in the fall. The tremendous magnitude of what was not just a victory for Newcastle but also a declaration of faith and assurance that spoke not only for a city and a region, but also for a football cub. Newcastle 4 PSG 1. Lascelles was outstanding. Longstaff and Burn both had points. the evening that the new Newcastle actually showed up? Very likely in such case.
I bring this up now because things feel different as Eddie Howe and his team get ready to travel to Paris for the rematch next week. Newcastle is at the bottom of their group and may be headed out after failing to build on their success in Europe.
They are currently seventh in the Premier League, have several key players sidelined, and face Chelsea with a performance that may have left them feeling exposed following their crushing loss at Brighton prior to the international break—the worst under a manager who recently celebrated his second anniversary in command.
Thus, it is appropriate to reflect on how far Newcastle has come under Howe and how far they still have to go if he is given the opportunity to build on his first year’s accomplishments.
At moments, it felt like he had finished turning Newcastle from the motley crew Steve Bruce had left behind to a club capable of taking down PSG. Not only is getting his team into the Champions League difficult, but maintaining them there is the true test.
During his trying last years as Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger would often discuss the team’s consistent Champions League qualifying. At the time, we chuckled a little, but looking back, we can see that he was correct: all it takes to be a very big club and make money like one is to sit at the same table with teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and the rest.
Newcastle’s current task is one that is intimidating. It is said that you don’t really grasp something until you are stuck in the middle of it. Playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday (or a variation thereof) when other upwardly mobile clubs are not puts an unrelenting pressure on resources and physical and mental stamina.
Newcastle would have a purpose if they were to withdraw from the Champions League early. That may sound strange, but there is a valid argument that making sure they return the following year is more important than making it through this season. And it would be aided by a spring calendar devoid of European football.
It’s true that there is a delicate balance between where you need to be and where you want to be. On the field, though, Howe and his players have obvious obstacles.
Going this week: United, Chelsea, and PSG. In addition, Newcastle’s January schedule includes away matches against Everton and Tottenham as well as consecutive games against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. This season’s course will be largely determined by how they come out of all of that.
Thus, even as the winter is harsh, Howe might be able to make it through. He accomplished it the previous season, leading his team through a difficult early-spring stretch.
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