Things so different to last time United qualified for Euro place
NEWCASTLE United clinched their place in the Champions League for the 2023/24 season against Leicester City last night. It’s in the bag now – and things are very different to the last time it happened at St James’ Park.
Back then it was a slender 1-0 victory over Birmingham City that assured the Magpies had booked their place at Europe’s top table thanks to a swirling free-kick from Hugo Viana.
There were celebrations from the fans but relief at boardroom level with Newcastle knowing they had to pay off a £55million loan to pay for ground expansions in the early Noughties.
Back then chairman Freddy Shepherd said: “There’s probably not a more excited chairman in football right now.
“Mind you, I’m almost the most relieved chairman because Champions League football next season was essential.”
The relief would be shortlived though as a defeat on penalties to Partizan Belgrade, with Alan Shearer of all people missing a crucial spot-kick, sent United out of the tournament.
It would prove costly with the guaranteed £10.9million prize pot slipping through the club’s fingers.
Newcastle would also be relegated to the old UEFA Cup and while they got to the semi-finals of the competition, losing only to a Didier Drogba-inspired Marseille, something seemed broken after that shattering night against Partizan.
The biggest issue for the Magpies after that night was clearly the financial impact and Sir Bobby Robson’s relationship with the board thereafter. Even after finishing fifth in 2004, Robson was clearing his desk a few months later and a five-year slide to the Championship under soon to arrive former owner Mike Ashley was under way.
Newcastle though had failed to invest long before a game that should have been won over two
legs against Partizan was fluffed.
Just one summer signing arrived as Lee Bowyer came in on a free transfer from Leeds United.
It was nowhere near enough to bolster a squad that had players susceptible to injuries, with Craig Bellamy’s hamstring a worry, and with Shearer edging closer to retirement. But fast forward to the modern day – Eddie Howe has led Newcastle to this point having been backed by the owners but he has also done it by working with players he inherited. Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy, Fabian Schar and Joelinton to name a few.
But now Newcastle will need to tweak their squad to deal with not
only a step up in quality but also the rigours of European football. Three games a week with travel thrown in means that extra quality must come on board.
Howe has made it clear, despite suggestions that the current squad are capable, that he wants to invest.
Difficult decisions will be made in the next few weeks after the club have turned things around from a relegation battle to a Champions League spot with many existing squad members.
Howe has got all his calls at United right so far and is manager of the season material. And unlike the summer of 2003, this one certainly won’t be a false dawn.