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The 2023-24 season has been a rollercoaster ride for Newcastle United, raising questions about whether the club has underachieved despite the significant investments made by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) following their takeover in October 2021.
After a promising start under Eddie Howe, the Magpies find themselves in seventh place in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Champions League group stage – a stark contrast to their achievements in the previous season.
With the Geordies the favorites in the Newcastle vs Forest odds for their crucial Boxing Day clash at St. James’ Park, in which they must pick up all three points, let’s take a look at what has gone on in the northeast so far this season.
Initial success
Howe took the reins from the unpopular Steve Bruce, with the team sitting in 11th place shortly after the takeover, and he quickly made an impact — guiding Newcastle to a respectable sixth-place finish.
Things got even better last campaign when the Magpies finished fourth to secure Champions League football for the first time in two decades, while they also reached the League Cup final — ultimately losing to Manchester United.
However, the trajectory was seemingly upward and Newcastle fans were left with hope of sustained success.
The struggles of this season
Based on the last two years, a lot was expected of Newcastle this season and they were among the favorites for another Champions League spot in the Premier League betting.
However, the current season has perhaps presented challenges that Eddie Howe and the Newcastle board were not rightly prepared for.
At the time of writing, the Magpies sit seventh in the Premier League, a position that may raise eyebrows given the talent and resources at the club’s disposal.
Newcastle were also recently knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage, finishing bottom of the standings behind Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
That means Howe’s men will not even drop down to the Europa League for the knockout stages of Europe’s second-tier competition, which only adds to the disappointment in the northeast.
Injuries and squad depth
It is arguably harsh to brand Newcastle as underachievers at this stage, as one of the major contributing factors to their struggles is the demanding schedule.
They have oftentimes had to juggle two games in a week, and injuries have plagued the squad — with key players like Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman sidelined since September.
The absence of influential figures, coupled with the unavailability of several other first-team players — whether that be through injury or suspension like Sandro Tonali — has been evident, like when they lost to Bournemouth in November without 11 first-teamers.
Good enough investments?
The PIF’s substantial investment in player acquisitions over the last two years has been shrewd and reflects the club’s ambition to compete at the highest level.
However, the current season’s challenges, both in terms of results and the physical toll on the squad, beg the question of whether the funds were spent wisely and if the squad has sufficient depth to cope with the demands of top-flight football.
The most recent example of this is the injury sustained by Nick Pope. Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper appears to be out for the majority of the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder, and Howe is now left with two below-par shot-stoppers in the form of Martin Dúbravka and Loris Karius.
Therefore, more money must be spent in January to improve the options between the sticks.
Newcastle United’s season has undoubtedly been a test of resilience.
While injuries and a congested schedule have played their part, questions arise about whether the club has underachieved given the significant investments made and the high expectations set by the previous season’s success.
As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen whether Howe and his squad can overcome these challenges and prove that this period is just a temporary setback on the road to sustained success.