Get FREE news about NUFC transfers and acquisitions in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.
After another dubious off-court summer, Newcastle United’s good luck in the 2020/21 season will, however, be decided through recent appointments within the club.
The design of a football club means that your good luck is not only in our minds on the field, but also in keeping relationships off the field.
The relationship between Rafa Benítez and the club’s hierarchy, for example, had deteriorated towards the end of the Spaniard’s tenure and his departure from the club was inevitable towards the end of his last season in command.
Steve Bruce happens to have built a strong relationship, not only with his players, but also with the hierarchy. After months of uncertainty about the failed takeover bid, the 59-year-old technician will rely heavily on the relationships he has next quarter as he seeks to build a first season forged in charge.
Here are five relationships in Newcastle that are over the course of next season:
PCP Capital Partners, Reuben Brothers and Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew their offer to buy Newcastle a week ago last Thursday.
General manager Lee Charnley was quick to deliver a message that, in addition to underlining Mike Ashley’s commitment to promoting the club, he expressed his commitment to supporting Bruce in the moving market and his arrangements for the new campaign.
It’s that the commitment is respected, with Bruce aiming for a frame-to-frame midfielder and a new striker at least absolute this summer.
Bournemouth stars Callum Wilson, David Brooks and Josh King, as well as Liverpool winger Harry Wilson, have been connected to the Magpies for the following week, but all those players are expected to pay a payout of more than 20 million pounds.
But due to the monetary damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Newcastle would have a ‘difficult budget’ with Bruce Scouts navigating the market looking for potential loan firms and loose agents.
Former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick has been introduced to the Magpies and, while buying food in the reduced-price aisles doesn’t seem exciting, it can succeed if done right.
This is where Steve Nickson, Newcastle’s head of recruitment, will have a very important part to play this summer and Bruce will be placing a lot of trust in him to find loan signings as successful as Martin Dubravka was in 2018 or bargain signings like Fabian Schar (£3m) and Federico Fernandez (£6m) who have made positive impacts during their time at the club.
Reflecting on the 2016/17 season for the championship-winning Newcastle, Shelvey shared the chemistry he shared with Gayle with Steven Gerrard’s quotes with Fernando Torres in Liverpool.
“I’ve never had chemistry with someone like Dwighty,” he told the Podcast In The Box. “During the year of the championship, it was like Array … remember that partnership with Gerrard and Torres? That’s how Array is honestly.
“Even now, if you watch all the matches we’ve played or anything else, the first thing I have is in front of me and he runs right away and he knows where I’m going to put the ball. I know where he’s going to run and we just have incredible chemistry.
“It’s a great component of explaining why we were promoted from the league because of the goals he scored. In my opinion, he is a great striker, but he has not had a chance to play in the Premiership week after week. I think he deserves it and I hope he gets it at Newcastle United, but in my opinion it’s unreal.”
After a complicated season with injuries, Gayle had a series of normal games after the lockout and there were flashes of his dates reviving in the Premier League.
The 29-year-old has scored 4 goals in 8 games and if he could rediscover that kind of form next season, he would solve Newcastle’s lack of goals.
Shelvey looked much more creatively alive with Gayle playing in front. The foreign midfielder from England was much more willing to expect a fatal pass and if they play the next quarter in combination, it may be a flowering date.
The saga of the acquisition at Newcastle United has caused a stir on Tyneside in recent months, with Amanda Staveley, the Saudi public investment fund and the reuben brothers now retired.
By subscribing to our newsletter twice a day, get all the latest news about repurchase, and all in black and white, right in your inbox.
We will send special newsletters with the latest news about moves.
It’s simple and it only takes a few seconds.
Just click on this link to our newsletter registration form and NUFC: all you have to do is enter your email and you’re done.
If you make the decision to opt out at any time, simply limit yourself to the abandonment link in one of our newsletters, but we do not believe it is necessary.
Saint-Maximin had a brilliant first season in Newcastle and attributes his successful Adaptation to the Premier League to bruce’s “confidence” this season.
Saint-Maximin joined Newcastle from Nice in a movement of around 20 million pounds and temporarily established himself as the club’s talisman.
The 23-year-old finished the season with 4 goals and seven assists and his speed and on the left flank gave the Premier League defenders nightmares.
His influence has been felt so deeply through Newcastle that he has only won once of the 12 games he missed due to an injury last season. Of the 26 games he has played, Newcastle has won 10 of the first.
The challenge for Saint-Maximin now is to take advantage of the good luck of its first season and its definitive product.
The challenge for Newcastle is to create the environment to do so, while defending itself from the inevitable interests of other places.
Bruce’s quotes to the Frenchman will be the key to this success.
Throughout his time in the Premier League since his rise in 2017, Newcastle’s has been his defensive solidity.
But as Bruce seeks to move away from a fullback and make the Magpies a more competent team in an offensive sense, it will be at the expense of this defensive rear.
Newcastle conceded an average of 1.41 goals consistent with the game before the resumption in June and that rose to 1.89 goals consistent with the game after the Premier League resumed.
Bruce will have to find a way to repair the balance and leadership of Captain Jamaal Lascelles and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will be the key to this success.
It’s fair to say that the $40 million bet paid off in Joelinton’s first season in England.
Four goals in all competitions, just two in the Premier League, that’s not what you’d expect from the signing of The Newcastle United record and the club’s number nine, but time is still on their side.
Bruce remains convinced that the Brazilian can still succeed at St James’ Park and some exhibitions to the left of the top three, a position he played at Hoffenheim, presented promising prospects.
Tension will be on Joelinton until next season and will begin to justify Newcastle’s maximum value for him and it is vital that Bruce maintains his confidence in the 23-year-old.
Bruce likes the way he “rolled up” a complicated first season and is “convinced he’ll get better” next season. Joelinton will have to pay for that religion next season.