Closed on points and target difference in the fourth and fifth, the visit of Chelsea on Sunday is the largest game of Newcastle of the season. Or is it?
Less than two months ago they defeated Liverpool champions in the Carabao Cup final to win their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
The truth is that the Newcastle season is strewn with huge games – it is a barometer of how far they have come lately. This crucial competition in the Champions League race is just the newest.
Eddie Howe was composed as always on Friday; Tell a full press room about his experience watching Bryan Adams in Concert the night before. “I would highly recommend him if you want to see a live performance.” This was an answer to a direct question about what his favorite non-football experience had been this season.
How we had to think hard and left it until he was about to leave the room. But as ever he answered it.
All he would not answer were details about his injury problems prior to the St. James' Park Showdown with Chelsea. He cannot have the blues to even get an advantage of one percent.
But I think it showed where his head is. He is cooled. He has scared his health and he takes care of himself. Show himself a little more love, as he said it fourteen days ago.
He knows that Sunday is huge. But even if Newcastle loses from the Swashbuckling side of Enzo Marseca, they still have two chances – Arsenal and Everton at home.
You would expect them to sweep the last side, and remember that they have already defeated Arsenal three times this season, without giving a goal.
This week I met a player in Newcastle in a restaurant and said, “Beat Chelsea and we did it”.
I replied that I think two victories mean that Newcastle is mathematically safe in the top five. But the way in which the season went for Newcastle, I wouldn't bet they would win all three.
For Howe and the Geordie Faithful, they could sing about the season of '24/25 instead of the summer of '69.
Newcastle players relaxed and confident for Run-in
I spent Thursday morning on the training field while the players were preparing for Chelsea. There is a clear atmosphere of trust in the place, which was helped in March by the cup triumph. Liverpool was the only team that was left of the 'Big Six' that they had not defeated – well, that did with Gusto in the final.
They are in a good place and they know that they can close one of the biggest seasons of the club with qualifying for the Champions League. Who thought that when they were on the bus in the bus at the bus from Brentford (because of the strong wind) in December after a 4-2 defeat? In that result she stood to the 12th and brought how to go with a video that Nasty of the version had to go home on the long journey.
But on Wednesday, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali played tennis with the U9s of Newcastle, Kieran Trippier hung out the window and played practical jokes and then Burned Groups with the children. It is a dressing room that is at a very good time.
What Champions League spot means for transfers
Champions League qualification is extremely important for Newcastle because they try to keep track of the big spenders that are there every year. If they miss two seasons in a row, they hindered themselves further.
I asked Howe if his transfer strategy would be influenced by not reaching the top table in Europe next season. He said they would still focus on the same players, but they would clearly not have the same freedom in the market that would allow an extra £ 40 million plus.
Of course, if they qualified, they would not be able to publish that prize money immediately, because it would appear on the next set of accounts. But they could put forward their expenses, as they did with the signing sessions of Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall in 2023.
Apart from the prize money, it is important that Newcastle is often eligible for the Champions League to be seen as a top table by potential commercial partners. This is how they really grow the club to the level of their competitors.
But until they bring in a turnover that is related to their rivals (Newcastle last year brought less than a third of what Manchester City did), they will always chase shadows. And the participation of the Champions League is an essential gear in this.
And as mentioned earlier on this page, holding on to their own big stars (Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes and Gordon) is considerably easier if they have the attraction of that Champions League theme number for them.
New stadium new
The stadium plans are separated from this. The club knows that they have to expand or move and are plans in the neighborhood. We have been waiting for an update since January. But they know they have to do well, so take their time. This is a decision that is once in a generation.
PIF knows that they have to make a blow to this and the costs are apart from PSR restrictions. Money based on Champions League qualification will be used on transfers, and not in the stadium, which can be redeveloped without the PSR situation.
I will never know what everyone thinks, but I get the feeling that the fans generally seem happier to move, as long as the stadium is not far from their current house. And the disputed plans for a new stadium next to St James' Park, in Readers Park, seem to check with regard to fans.
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