With the World Cup barely over it’s difficult to believe that the start of the Premier League season is only three weeks away. The transfer merry go round is in full swing and punters are already speculating the ups and downs of the forthcoming campaign.
Now more often than not it will be the same few clubs in the mix for the title and similarly the newly-promoted clubs the favourites to head back from where they came.
Blackpool are odds-on to go down, while West Bromwich Albion’s tendency to yoyo between divisions would suggest they may struggle yet again, but what of the Championship winners Newcastle United?
How will Newcastle fare now they are back in the big time. Should they be aiming for just survival or should they be setting their sights higher?
Sport.co.uk takes a look at why a top ten finish is not out of the grasp of Chris Hughton’s men.
Experience
Although the Magpies suffered the embarrassing fate of going down with a whimper in 2009, they took a wealth of Premier League and international experience with them.
Captain Alan Smith played and scored goals for Manchester United in the Champions League, although granted this was the last time Smudger hit the back of the net. Even the likes of Ameobi and Harper appeared for the Toon in Europe’s premier competition and the former is the club’s second highest goal scorer ever in Europe.
Internationally they had Gutierrez representing Argentina in this summer’s World Cup and duo Enrique and Coloccini have lined up for some of the continent’s top teams.
Added to this Nolan and Barton, both of whom have captained Premier League sides and it would be easy to assume there could be a smooth transition into a familiar league.
Winning Feeling
Undoubtedly one of the hardest feelings to replicate in football, put simply there is no substitute for a winning feeling.
Newcastle has this in abundance after strolling their way to the title last season, and let’s not forget they were the only side in the country with an unbeaten home record last year.
The players were stepping onto the pitch with smiles on their faces, feeling that their invincible streak would continue but can they replicate this in England’s top tier?
Midland Blueprint
Chris Hughton has already outlined what he expects from the season, with a clear mindset of focussing on winnable games. The gaffer also cited examples from last season’s Premier League saying: “We have players from the last time we were in the Premier League who have improved and will be better players. We have to get the right tactics and continue some of the feel we had last season.”
He added:"Birmingham and Wolves did well with the squads largely that got them promoted.”
Furthermore neither of those sides spent masses of money, and Birmingham went on to achieve a more than respectable ninth placed finish.
Still Attract
Even though the club released a statement stating that there is going to be minimal about of capital outlay- transfer gossip is still rife in the North East. With Sol Campbell signing on today, and the likes of Mahamadou Diarra being linked with moves to Tyneside, the Magpies have seemingly not lost their appeal.
Admittedly they will not have the financial clout to pay the transfer fees or the generous wages, but there’s still plenty of plus points. Players are guaranteed to be playing in front of one of the biggest crowds in the country every other week, as well as having the chance to be part of the biggest party on the planet were they to break the club’s trophy voodoo.
Never was this more exemplified in the signing this week of Dan Gosling- a host of other clubs were interested in the youngster and not only were they stable top division clubs, but they could probably offer him a more lucrative deal.
However Gosling chose the Toon and said on joining his new club: “It’s a brilliant move for me. Now the deal is done I just can’t wait to get started.”
He continued: “I’ve played at St James’ park before and know all about the amazing atmosphere. Playing there in a black and white shirt is something I’ve thought about already and it will be a great day when I finally get to walk out in front of 50,000 people.”
The Toon have nothing to fear
For many though the signing of Gosling is unlikely to strike fear into their ranks, and neither is the other summer capture James Perch. But, by the same token, who should be striking fear into Newcastle. The top four from last season are of course light years ahead of them as are the chasing quartet of Liverpool, Everton, Villa and Manchester City.
But after that what else is there? Fulham have been undermined by the loss of Roy Hodgson, Birmingham City face a momumental task in bettering their heroics last season particularly given the now infamous ‘second season syndrome’.
West Ham have a new manager and are obviously a work in a progress following their narrow escape last season and although Steve Bruce is quietly revolutionising the team down the road, but they remain frequently inconsistent. Now this is not to diminish or belittle the other clubs, but the Premier League should hold no fear for a side well endowed with plenty of experience.
Finance
Even though they’ve had a season outside the upper echelon of English football, Newcastle still boast one of the highest turnovers in England and Europe; once again emphasising that they are still amongst the so called big clubs. Regardless of the fact that it was manmade and not built on historical foundations - the Dubai like feel to Newcastle still proves attractive and lucrative. However, much like the man made city, the financial foundations have been a sticking point over recent years and that’s why rather than just saying a target of the top ten is achievable, it’s more likely to be necessary given the reported £800,000 difference in prize money per place in the league.
Criminally the club ‘s wage bill last season was nearly 75% of the turnover and as previously mentioned - with many of the top earners still at the club - this is a stat unlikely to change. Even with no capital outlay on players, Chris Hughton may well still be feeling the pressure from his boss to not only establish Newcastle as a Premier League club, but to really make an impression.
Prediction
Despite once being everyone’s favourite second team and being tagged as the entertainers, the warmth and love towards this club is not as strong as it once was. Maybe it’s the misplaced arrogance demonstrated by players and staff over the years, or the countless unlikeables to pull on the black and white shirt. It’s a strange auld place St James’ but there’s no doubting the Premier League is a better place with it as one of the twenty host venues.
Whether or not ex Tottenham coach Hughton has enough experience to be successful remains to be seen, but having steered them back to the Promised Land of the Premier League and with Championship momentum behind them, the Magpies will relish their return to the big time.
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