2024/25 success rests on these 6 Newcastle United players (and their replacements…) | OneFootball

The Newcastle United players and management are currently having their down time.

The calm before the storm, the period of time before everybody starts preparing for the 2024/25 season.

That is, apart from those Newcastle United players who are involved with their national sides this summer.

No significant transfer activity across the Premier League clubs so far, apart from the lists released of those players coming up to the end of their contracts who aren’t getting offered new ones.

So when we look at the new season, where does success and failure fall on?

For me, we are talking about six Newcastle United players, or you could equally say, six positions.

Whilst obviously you need an overall team, I think to compete for those spots at the top of the Premier League, you need quality in your most forward six positions, midfield and attack.

I believe at the back you can always stand a chance of getting away with it if weaker players have to be drafted in, so long as the attack and midfield are strong. It doesn’t really work the other way though, certainly not to the same degree anyway, as there is no substitute for quality in midfield and attacking positions.

Just look at the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, with their half dozen most forward positions.

Plus of course in modern day football, you then have in-game changes using the power of the bench on a regular basis (as well as rotation at times in team selection, especially when playing a lot of matches in a tight schedule).

So bottom line if you need a very strong six first choice players AND as strong as possible six replacements, as cover.

When it comes to Newcastle United players for next season, this appears to be the NUFC situation:

Best six midfield and attacking players:

Bruno, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes or Joe Willock

With then the following as back up to cover those half dozen first choice options:

Elliot Anderson, Yankuba Minteh, Jacob Murphy, Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Harvey Barnes or Joe Willock

I think it is quite remarkable just how such a seriously impressive squad has been built by Eddie Howe in the space of a couple of years, especially in midfield and attack. It was just incredibly bad luck the sheer number of missing players out for so long this past season, any squad would have had severe problems dealing with so many missing key players.

Then to be able to score so many goals last season despite having to deal with those numerous missing players, was beyond belief.

In their 38 Premier League games, the Newcastle United players scored 85 goals, only three scored more:

91 Arsenal

86 Liverpool

85 Newcastle United

Eddie Howe’s players actually scoring 19 goals more than the 2022/23 season when NUFC ended up fourth top!

At the other end of the pitch, not so good news, as United conceded 62 goals last season, compared to 33 in 2022/23.

It goes without saying that Nick Pope was a huge loss, having conceded 32 goals in 37 Premier League starts in 2022/23, he followed that up with conceding 16 goals in 15 PL starts this past 2023/24 campaign. The problem of course was that without Pope, a shocking 47 goals conceded in the other 23 PL matches. more than two per game on average!

I think with Nick Pope back available, having Tonali and Joelinton playing in front of whatever back four we have, alongside Bruno, will make a huge difference in defence as well, with far few goals conceded as NUFC control games in midfield more often than not.

As for going the other way, that midfield trio will give a seriously good platform for the likes of Isak, Gordon and others to then do their stuff.

I see all kinds of comments about positions desperate for new first choice options in midfield and attack, however, I think for me there is only one position under debate in the attacking half.

Will Eddie Howe go all out for a new first choice signing to play wide right up front, or will he be happy to use his current options?

Isak will obviously start through the middle up front but then when picking our best players with everybody fit next season, I see it as Gordon and either Willock or Barnes to fill the other two main attacking roles. All three of them are versatile and towards the end of this past season, we saw both Barnes and Gordon popping up all across the front line. The trio are all intelligent players with the movement to match.

In terms of covering the front six positions, I listed Elliot Anderson, Yankuba Minteh, Jacob Murphy, Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Harvey Barnes or Joe Willock.

I think that if Eddie Howe goes all out for a new right side option, then to help finance it and especially create the headroom, we would see at least one or two players sold. Miguel Almiron maybe the main one coming to mind, as he most likely to bring in a hefty transfer fee, although I think the likes of Jacob Murphy could possibly go instead, or as well. If a new first choice option is brought in.

One thing many fans fail to put in the equation is that before you can sell anybody, you need a suitable offer to come in. It is easy to say move a certain player on, but much will depend on who offers what for who, if player trading is to be successful this summer.

A massive bonus we are surely set to see added, is the so far out on loan Yankuba Minteh.

He looks sure to come in as another option on the right and provide an exciting option off the bench when the season kicks off. His arrival into the playing squad will massively benefit Eddie Howe, as he can then sell a player and actually even improve the overall strength, before he even spends a penny.

Exciting times ahead I think and that can be driven next season by our strength in midfield and attack, especially with such a high goal threat.

With 85 goals scored and 62 conceded last season, I think the realistic targets for next season are to break through the 90 goals scored and get the goals conceded down to no more than 40. Not easy, but that is what I think would make Newcastle United very competitive next season and guarantee for sure top four as a minimum.

The three clubs that finished directly above Newcastle last season were:

Aston Villa 76 scored and 61 conceded, GD of +15

Tottenham 74 scored and 61 conceded, GD of +13

Chelsea 77 scored and 63 conceded, GD of +14

Newcastle United had a GD (+19) better than all three of these, scored more goals than all three of them, whilst conceded one less than Chelsea and only one more than the other pair.

Again, how Eddie Howe managed that despite all the obstacles thrown in his way, is remarkable.

At the very top we had:

Man City 96 scored and 34 conceded, GD of +62

Arsenal 91 scored and 29 conceded, GD of +62

Liverpool 86 scored and 41 conceded, GD of +45

Still some way to go BUT Newcastle United clearly moving in the right direction.

Challenge one next season is getting top four.

Challenge two is then trying to make inroads on those at the very top.

Having a team/squad capable of scoring a lot of goals is essential and Newcastle United are well on their way on that front.