I’ve decided not to talk too much about the game… | OneFootball

“No one’s going to help us out, we need to do this for ourselves.”

These wise words seemed to ring very true as we approached the biggest game in 70 days.

Weeks of Premier League peers failing to haul back our Champions League rivals, but with United building up enough points to sit in a healthy 4th position, going into a winnable game against an Everton side with nowt to play for.

The Ev were missing three of their first choice back four, which was a stunning positive against a side that had built their season on a strong defence, and the return of Isak to a strong starting XI in front of a beered up, fired up St James’ Park was enough to fill everyone with confidence, that this special season was going to deliver one last time.

I’ve decided not to talk too much about the game.

Early on it became apparent that we were going to be dreadful up front. Isak is clearly not fit, and spent most of this game turning up alarmingly deep on one of the wings. Barnes was sloppy and struggled to get into the game and Anthony Gordon maintained his awful form of last week, enhanced by the apparent pressure of performing against his former club.

Most of our best play came from Tonali, who is unflappable regardless of the occasion and consistently won the ball back, initiated attacks and tried to get things happening to little effect. Unfortunately, his main contender for man of the match was Nick Pope, who had a fine game that was necessitated due to the amount of efforts Everton were having.

Half-time brought nervous glances at the scoreboard, with the usual mobile phone blackout making this impossible to track in real time. Man City were ahead at Fulham, maintaining third spot, but everyone else was goalless. So far so good. Before I got back to my seat for the second half, word got around that Martinez had been sent off for Villa in injury time. Hmm, helpful…

Howe reacted to the pedestrian first half by sending Willock on for Gordon, although he also failed to make a mark on the game. Pope pulled off his best save yet, diving to keep out an effort from Alcaraz, but there was a sense of this not being our day as the game followed a similar pattern to the defeats to Brighton, Fulham etc.

The introduction of Trippier for Botman changed the shape and gave us an additional attacking outlet, but it was to no avail, as moments later Alcaraz had headed the visitors in front, unchallenged in an area Botman would likely have had well marshalled. Absolute disaster.

The ground was like a morgue. 25 minutes to go and we had dropped out of the Champions League places, and despite the attack being bolstered by Wilson and Osula, it was blatantly clear to all that Newcastle were not going to score today, even if triple figures came up on the injury time board.

There was a dream scenario for the mackems this weekend where they won promotion, then professional Wearsider Jordan Pickford denied us Champions League. With Pickford having a stormer, this horrific fantasy was actually looking like playing out, we were sinking and no one was going to help us.

Apart from Man Utd.

Everything turned out OK because the club that has inflicted so much damage on us over the years, came through with the biggest final day favour Newcastle have ever received. Despite our labouring away to no effect, a ripple went around St James’ Park as the few people with some kind of phone reception passed on the news of Amad Diallo’s goal returning us to fifth and the final place in the CL.

Schar, Bruno and Osula all had half chances to rescue the game towards the end but Pickford wasn’t getting beaten. It seemed to become an irrelevance though, as news of Christian Eriksen’s penalty filtered through, Man U 2-0 up heading into injury time.

The whistle blew on a dismal defeat and there were a few moments of bizarre muttering until the big screen fired up a picture of the Champions League logo and played the famous anthem, signalling full time at Old Trafford. The League Cup came out and the traditional lap of honour followed, complete with wives, kids, photo in front of the Gallowgate and the chairman in the middle of it all.

This could be important as Al-Rumayyan needed to see that, despite this being a fine team with brilliant spirit, it lacks the numbers and quality to sustain a challenge over a long season. Isak in particular looked knackered today and if it takes big money to keep him right, then now is the time.

This could all prove transformative. The Champions League will bolster the coffers by a reported £80m, an amount that will increase should we progress into the knockouts (a task made easier by the new format compared to past ventures). The fact there was already a healthy kitty there due to the money management of recent years means we can expect some exciting stuff to happen this summer.

Crucially, Europe’s top tournament also brings the lure. It’s well known that Isak is coveted but muttering of Livramento being tracked and the terrifying thought of losing Tonali would all have more credence were an enemy be able to offer them something we can’t.

As it is, we are Champions League, we are cup winners and there’s absolutely no need to look elsewhere. The match today might have done little to encourage optimism, but I genuinely believe this could be the catalyst for a challenge next season.

The squad upgrade will also necessitate some casualties. Callum Wilson’s solo lap of honour confirmed his contract won’t be extended. This season has been a write off for our number nine, with a single goal against a League One side in another injury-ravaged campaign, but he has been a fine servant for the club and an important part of the Howe renaissance. He is one of a clutch of players that served us well in tough times but had the quality to be part of the good times. I’m pleased he was here to get a winners medal in March.

There will likely be others whose departure brings a tinge. Dubravka, Longstaff, Trippier and Willock are all contenders to turn out elsewhere come August. They would leave with best wishes but that is all part of the evolution.

I believe this was a calculated gamble, to try and succeed without investment, knowing that delivering on the mission would kick the door down for a critical revamp. Eddie Howe has done an astonishing job. Two years without a first team player, with a bench populated with veterans of the relegation battles and we have Champions League and a cup. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of anxiety and alarm, but this has been the best season of my life, hands down. I have to say though, I was very ready for it to end.

There’s going to be a fun summer ahead, with a lot to look forward to – derbies, European travels and heightened ambitions for more silverware. Enjoy your summer lads and lasses, the best is still to come from Eddie’s Mags.

Newcastle 0 Everton 1 – Sunday 25 May 4pm

Newcastle United:

Everton:

Alcaraz 65

Possession was Newcastle 66% Everton 34%

Total shots were Newcastle 17 Everton 14

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Everton 6

Corners were Newcastle 12 Everton 3

Touches in the box Newcastle 28 Everton 13

Newcastle team v Everton:

Pope, Botman (Trippier 63), Schar, Burn, Livramento, Gordon (Willock 46), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Osula 88), Isak, Murphy (Wilson 70)

Unused Subs:

Dubravka, Lascelles, Longstaff, Krafth, Miley

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after Champions League qualification – Read HERE)