Gossip: Magpies could move for 'unhappy' Sanepublished at 07:48 18 September
07:48 18 September
Newcastle and Arsenal could move for Germany winger Leroy Sane, 28, who is reportedly unhappy at Bayern Munich.(Caught Offside), external
The Magpies are among a host of Premier League clubs interested in Lille's 24-year-old England midfielder Angel Gomes, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external
'Grinding out ugly wins is our new identity'published at 12:32 17 September
12:32 17 September
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Take a look at the Premier League table - go on, I'll wait - and tell me what you see. That’s right, it’s Newcastle United sitting pretty at third with an unbeaten start to the season.
Some might say pride comes before a fall and, true though that may be, let us have this. Last season was so hard. Please let me gloat a little.
What is most interesting to me about our unbeaten run and good start to the season is that it actually... hasn’t been that good.
It is our best start on paper since 1995-96 and, of course, ultimately results speak the loudest. But watching Newcastle for the first four games this season (plus one cup game) hasn’t been the easiest.
Are we seeing a pattern? When Eddie Howe took over, it was said that "intensity is our identity". Last season, it felt more like inconsistency was our identity. Now it is looking like grinding out ugly wins is our identity. Definitely a less catchy one, that one.
Even the players are being asked about it. Post-match on Sunday they were asked if they could play better. Yes, was the obvious answer, and that is definitely how the fans feel.
The slight irritation that comes when watching us concede is simply that we know we can do better - we want to see our team cruise this after such a tough season last time.
Perhaps it is more useful to call it frustration as often the performance seems to have come down to team selection in the first place.
We made three substitutions at half time against Wolves - incredibly unusual from Howe - and after that, were able to play in a much more direct way resulting in two beautiful goals.
So, ugly wins but beautiful goals. There’s some poetry in that. I’ll take it, for now.
Gossip: Everton boss Dyche could poach Popepublished at 07:47 17 September
07:47 17 September
Everton boss Sean Dyche is considering a shock move for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to replace fellow England international Jordan Pickford. (Mirror), external
McNulty Q&A: Are Newcastle top-four contenders? published at 17:25 16 September
17:25 16 September
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
Image source, Getty Images
A Newcastle related question was put to chief footballer writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.
Finley asked: Do you believe Newcastle’s early season form, even without playing at their best, suggests they are strong Champions League contenders again this season?
Phil answered: It has been an excellent start for Eddie Howe’s team, Finley, and while I think the top three places will still be Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool (in that order) I do still think there is an opportunity for fourth for the chasing pack – and while I picked Newcastle to finish ninth they can still force their way in there.
There has been lots of talk about what Newcastle haven’t got after a disappointing transfer window when sporting director Paul Mitchell failed to deliver Crystal Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi or any other key signings, but it is also well worth remembering they still have some very fine players.
Alexander Isak is a high-class striker while Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes – who has produced real touches of class to score against Spurs and Wolves – provide genuine quality out wide. The return of Sandro Tonali from suspension is also an upgrade for last season’s squad, when he missed most of the campaign.
I still have Newcastle as outsiders to make the top four, I have a fancy for Aston Villa, but there is absolutely no reason why they should not set their sights on it because there is a little gap in that particular market.
A 'massive' win - Scharpublished at 15:10 16 September
15:10 16 September
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after the Magpies' second-half come-back against Wolves on Sunday.
Schar brought Newcastle back level with Wolves in the 75th minute but it was an outstanding strike from Harvey Barnes that gave Newcastle the three points.
Schar said: "When you're 1-0 down away from home after half-time and come back, it's always a great achievement.
"Big credit to the team. Big win".
This was Schar's first game back having served a three-match suspension.
He said: "I was hungry to play and desperate to be on the pitch again."
And speaking about team-mate Barnes' goal, Schar said: "It was even better than mine, I have to say. Great goal. I'm really pleased for him and the whole team."
Schar described the result as a "massive" win as the Magpies extended their unbeaten start.
"It's been a great start, we're happy with the first few games," he added.
"I think we know that we can perform a lot better, but most important are the results and I think that if we can improve the performances as well, we have lots to achieve. So, we can build on the first four, five games and keep going."
Wolves 1-2 Newcastle - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:44 16 September
08:44 16 September
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Wolves and Newcastle.
Here are some of your comments:
Wolves fans
Duane So full of hope after the first half. We had chances to kill it but were undone by two sucker punches. We really need to find that ability to push on in winning positions. If we don't, by the time the easier matches come we will be totally devoid of confidence.
Chris: I had fears when I saw the teamsheet. I thought that, except for Cunha, Dawson, Semedo and Ait-Nori, our strongest team was on the bench. Schoolboy errors in defending by failing to cover the long-range shooter. This is the result of selling your best players and not giving the new men time to bed in.
John: Far too easy for Newcastle. Get rid of O'Neil before it's too late.
Newcastle fans
Andy: Seemed better in the early stages of the first half that we had played all season. Then the rot set in again and we lost the control and allowed Wolves to cause us problems. Barnes and Tonali changed the game. Longstaff should only ever be a sub - he hasn't got what it takes at the level we need to press forward.
Mark: Early on, we dominated without a clear threat. Lucky only to concede one. Late on, we stretched their defence well, without getting down the sides to feed in crosses. In the end, two well-taken shots from the edge of the box were the difference. The defensive structure is working well for now but may come under pressure against top-four contenders.
Joe: We got lucky. We haven’t been the better team in a single game this season. If Eddie Howe doesn’t sort it before his luck runs out, both he and the club could be in big trouble.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 07:32 16 September
07:32 16 September
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Saturday's games.
Gossip: Newcastle keeping tabs on Sanepublished at 07:09 16 September
07:09 16 September
Newcastle United are tracking 28-year-old Bayern Munich and Germany winger Leroy Sane, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external
Best start to the season helps Newcastle control the narrative published at 20:54 15 September
20:54 15 September
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It is Newcastle's best start to the season in 29 years.
Third in the early Premier League table after Sunday's 2-1 win at Wolves, the start belies any frustrations following a disappointing transfer window.
They were not at their best and there is clearly more to come from a squad which could have done with more quality arrivals over the summer.
Boss Eddie Howe pointed to the fact winning helps the Magpies control the narrative from any talk of discontent - following director of football Paul Mitchell's claims he inherited a transfer strategy which was not fit for purpose.
"Winning is everything," he said. "I’ve never shied away from that. The best way of that it is be unified, the unity between the supporters, players and coaching staff is key. I’ll do everything in my power to keep that unity.
"It’s a great platform for us. Confidence is always the key ingredient in any sporting team.
"Hopefully by winning in the manner we are confidence will continue to grow. There’s not doubting the quality of players we have."
'Leaving players out is difficult, but what you're paid to do'published at 19:06 15 September
19:06 15 September
Image source, Getty Images
Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Newcastle's victory against Wolves: "I do think it is a squad game and we need to use the good players that we have. I'm very prepared to make early changes if I feel something is not right as it was today. There wasn't any hesitation from my view, we need to inject some energy and just a new dynamic into the team. That's not a reflection on the players that came off but thankfully it helped us this time.
On Harvey Barnes: "He's an outstanding finisher, he really is. He's lethal coming in on that right foot. He scores all types of goals, that was a long-range strike which was second to none at a big moment for us so I'm delighted with him."
On selection headaches: "Those are the headaches you want. Leaving Harvey out and other players in this game was very, very difficult but it what you're paid to do. All you want then is when the player enters the pitch to try and prove that he should try and start the next game.
On the impressive start: "The fixture list is never easy, every game in the Premier League is always difficult. Four points from Wolves and Bournemouth is good and we go away to Fulham next."
On unity in the squad: "It's the most important thing. The players, the supporters and ourselves as a group of staff coming together really tightly to win games for an unbelievable football club. We will continue to do that and fight really hard for everyone."
Did you know?published at 18:57 15 September
18:57 15 September
Image source, Getty Images
Harvey Barnes has been directly involved in 11 goals in his 25 Premier League appearances for Newcastle (7 goals, 4 assists), averaging a goal or assist every 87 minutes of league action for the Magpies.
Wolves 1-2 Newcastle - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:28 15 September
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Newcastlepublished at 11:08 15 September
11:08 15 September
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Newcastle are unbeaten in the Premier League so far but their performances have not been there and they have got away with it a little bit up until now.
Wolves, in contrast, are yet to win. They made lots of mistakes when they got hammered 6-2 by Chelsea, but created plenty of chances themselves too.
Is it going to click for Newcastle this time, or will Wolves get it together? You could make a case for both teams and, whoever wins, it would not surprise me.
The safe bet would be a draw here, and you can guarantee that is the result the public will vote for above, but only spineless people would go for that ...
Koleoso's prediction: 1-1
These are both tricky teams to predict. Newcastle don't look good at all, and Wolves kind of gave up against Chelsea.
Ogunjobi prediction: 2-1
Wolves looked good against Chelsea in the first half, then fell apart. I reckon they will take this one.
Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for Newcastle United.
The correct answer is Shay Given - the former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper played 354 games in the competition for the Magpies.
'We love them to bits' - Howe hits backpublished at 11:31 13 September
11:31 13 September
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has defended his transfer spending since joining the club in November 2021, and says "everyone can hold their heads up very high".
In a recent interview, Mitchell spoke at length about trying to fit into the club's pre-existing strategy on transfers and how that had proven "hard"., external
"I'm very, very proud of every single player that we signed in that period," said Howe on Friday. "It is very easy to look back at any transfer window and make a judgement on the players you have signed three years down the line.
"But you have to go back to the situation when we were in those moments, in the relegation zone and trying to recruit players. That is not an easy thing to do.
"You're also recruiting not just for the short term, but for the long term. When you look back, that work was good. Our objective was to stay in the league, so I'm not going to critique every signing, but I'm very, very proud of the body of work that we did and the players that we have now from the legacy of those transfer windows."
Howe brought in Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes in that relegation-battle stretch and further strengthened the squad with Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento, following the appointment of Ashworth.
"We love them to bits, so I think it's about when you're in that moment and the decisions that you made," Howe added. "I think everyone can hold their heads up very high."
Howe on transfers, Tonali and being 'happiest' on the training pitchpublished at 10:07 13 September
10:07 13 September
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game away to Wolves (16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe offered an update on the fitness of Callum Wilson: "He hasn't had a setback but he's a little bit behind where we wanted him to be. We envisaged that he might be training at this moment in preparation for the game but he's probably a little bit behind."
Joe Willock has been seen in training with the group this week which is a "positive for sure" but has not been in "full training".
Howe said he is "delighted" Sandro Tonali is available and started both of Italy's games over the international break: "I think those games will have done him the world of good and he's performed well and been part of a winning team as well."
On Kieran Trippier, who remains at the club despite links with a move away, Howe offered: "Usually he's away with with England, so obviously he's closed that chapter in his career and that's given us an ability now to work with him in different parts of his game. The physical being probably the biggest one for him currently."
Howe said he has been "very happy on the training pitch" over the international break: "Not being too soppy, that's my happiest environment. Coaching, helping the players, being with them, is what this job is all about. I'm enjoying myself."
On sporting director Paul Mitchell's interview on the Magpies' summer transfer window: "I think it's really important there is transparency from the club and the financial situation that we have is not only discussed by me because I'm not a numbers and figures guy. I think it's good that we have different people communicating about those areas."
Despite a quiet window, plans are not yet in place for January, with Howe stating: "No further discussions on anything. It is about unity. And it is about coming together now and making sure we focus on this time at the moment."
Today's trivia challengepublished at 07:50 13 September
07:50 13 September
Who has made the most Premier League appearances for Newcastle?
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST
Gossip: Newcastle keen on Lille duopublished at 07:22 12 September
07:22 12 September
England and Lille midfielder Angel Gomes has become Newcastle's top transfer target, but Liverpool, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in the 24-year-old. (Sun), external
The Magpies, Tottenham and Arsenal lead the race to sign Gomes' team-mate at Lille, Jonathan David, although Juventus are also keen on the Canada striker. (TuttoJuve), external
