As the dust settles on one of the more eventul seasons we’ve seen on Tyneside, Eddie Howe is set to get to work on recruiting for the 22/23 season where expectations will be higher than this point last year.
Fans, despite how they’re portrayed in mainstream media, aren’t expecting the title next year and are instead hopeful of a campaign free of relegation fears, a top-half finish and a good go at a cup. Anything above that would be considered a bonus.
Joelinton did let it slip, and was later confirmed by Eddie Howe during his pre-Burnley press briefing, that there are intentions to push for a European place, but the plan was to keep that goal internal so as not to increase pressure on the squad. Still, though, it would seem that Eddie Howe and the majority of fans still don’t see that as a marker for success next term and are willing to let this project grow organically. Evolution not revolution is the phrase often quoted.
Summer recruitment is going to be vital with Eddie Howe’s focus not just on talent, but temperament, instilling a policy whereby every player brought in must buy into the “family” ethos and be willing to fight for the team and represent the club in the most positive light. This does limit options somewhat as finding talent is easy enough, but matching the talent with the right character requires much more work.
All that being said, Newcastle can’t bring in new players without a transfer budget, and this is where the media seems to be grasping at straws. Some journalists expecting Newcastle to spend big and others claiming that the outlay will be significantly less than that in January.
Keith Downie’s opinion is the one that makes the most sense: Speaking to Eddy at Tyneside Life, Downie suggested the lowball figures will have been put out there to try and prevent other clubs adding a Saudi tax to their asking prices, and that any money generated by player sales will be reinvested, with the Sky Sports journo stating that he’d be shocked if Howe spends less than £100m over the summer.