Newcastle United

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Radio Newcastle reporter

There are many ways to describe this season but one I used at full time in the BBC Radio Newcastle commentary at Brentford on Sunday was "draining".

They played 51 matches in all competitions and the extra demands of having European football for the first time in a decade took a toll.

A long campaign still isn't over because Eddie Howe and the players are now in Australia where they will play two friendly matches this week.

There are some fans who feel - and perhaps with some justification - that finishing seventh is a disappointment after the highs of last year.

But, while they wait for their European fate to be decided by the outcome of the FA Cup final, it is perhaps worth noting that they have now finished in the top half of the Premier League in consecutive seasons for the first time in 20 years. In my view, that is progress.

Biggest success for club this season?

Anthony Gordon. What a player - and what a season.

By his own admission, the first few months at Newcastle were tough but he is absolutely flying now and is a perfect fit for Eddie Howe's high-energy approach.

Effectively replacing the talented but injury-prone Allan Saint-Maximin, Gordon missed only three league games, and scored 12 goals and created ten for his colleagues across all competitions.

He was deservedly named Newcastle's player of the season but there was some surprise on Tyneside that he wasn't deemed worthy of a place on the Premier League young player of the year shortlist.

He will surely go to the Euros with England.

Biggest let down or frustration?

The injury crisis that lasted several months and regularly saw Howe without more than ten first-team players caused significant disruption - as did the loss of Sandro Tonali, their most expensive signing last summer, who made just 12 appearances before being suspended for breaching the rules around betting.

They were minutes away from extending their European campaign before losing to a late goal against AC Milan, and there is also a real sense of regret over their League Cup quarter final exit on penalties at the hands of Chelsea. Both defeats occurred in the space of a week.

Key item on the summer agenda?

It will be another summer of speculation about their star names, so there needs to be clarity as soon as possible over Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes' futures in black and white. Bruno, remember, has a £100m release clause that is active until 30th June. Eddie Howe wants both to stay.

My view is they need to sign at least one striker plus a right-sided forward, while interest in free agents Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly is unsurprising given PSR concerns and with centre backs Sven Botman are Jamaal Lascelles both out of action with ACL injuries.

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Bobby Robson "was probably the fairest man I have ever met in football," says NUFC host Justin Lockwood.

In the latest episode of the BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast, the radio commentator shares personal anecdotes about the late Magpies boss.

"You could upset him one week, then the following week it would be forgotten and it would be a blank piece of paper again," said Lockwood on Sir Bobby's personality.

"He was just an incredible man. Despite his stature, what he achieved in football and how revered he is across the world, he would still recognise that he was trying to apply his trade in a really tough environment.

"He was a stickler for being late though!

"This one particular day, I was driving home and his PA rang me. It was when Pele came over for an art exhibition at Newcastle University - basically, there was an incredible exhibition with all this artwork of Pele.

"So I had Pele in my car in the morning, as we ferried him around the north east, and then I had Sir Bobby Robson in my car in the afternoon. To cut a long story short, Bobby's PA said: 'You know where the exhibition is - can you take Bobby?' I was on my way home. I think I had picked my wife up at the airport!

"Anyway, he threw his bag in my boot, he sat in and he was brilliant from start to finish, but he was a stickler for being late.

"As we were pulling into the university, the traffic was really busy. There was this guy trying to park in front of us and Sir Bobby had put the window down on his side. This guy was in, out, in, out and he couldn't get this parallel park right. I could see Sir Bobby getting uncomfortable and he was asking: 'What's happening?!'

"He made me stop alongside this man, who had eventually parked into this spaceafter what seemed like an eternity. [Sir Bobby] put his head out of the window and said: 'One out of 10 son, one out of 10!'

"This guy did a double-take, as if to sort of go: 'Oh my god, that is Bobby Robson criticising my parking'. That was a very interesting day."

Listen to the Newcastle United Total Sport podcast on BBC Sounds

NUFC host Justin Lockwood has been telling some tales from the Sir Bobby Robson era on the Newcastle United Total Sport podcast.

Following Ruud Gullit's resignation, the late Sir Bobby became manager in September 1999, taking the Magpies from the bottom of the Premier League to the heights of Champions League and Uefa Cup football.

"When we would go away on the Champions League trips, as soon as he and Alan Shearer got off the bus, they would have hundreds of people waiting in the airport terminals for them to get off," Lockwood revealed.

"It would take an hour, not just to get through customs and everything else, but just to get out of the airport waiting area and on to the bus.

"This happened everywhere you went - it wasn't just isolated to your big footballing areas.

"I remember getting to Sarajevo Airport and it took a good two hours just to get through the airport, purely because of how many people had turned up to see the Newcastle players off the plane."

Listen to more stories in the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Newcastle are closing in on English defensive duo Tosin Adarabioyo, 26, and Lloyd Kelly, 25, who will be free agents when their deals at Fulham and Bournemouth expire this summer, while Eddie Howe also wants Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise, 22, although the France Under-21 international is in high-demand. (Teamtalk, external)

Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, 49, has rejected an offer from Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth in a similar role and will stay with the Eagles. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Simon Stone and Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are vying with Newcastle to sign Fulham central defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 26-year-old is a free agent on 30 June, having opted against extending his contract at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is a known admirer of the former Manchester City youth player and the Magpies were thought to be close to completing a deal to sign him.

However, it is understood Manchester United have not ended their interest in Adarabioyo.

The Old Trafford club are in a tight financial position this summer as they try to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.

And given central defence is one of the areas they are aiming to strengthen this summer, the prospect of signing a player for Adarabioyo’s quality without having to pay a transfer fee holds particular appeal.

Spurs, Liverpool and Italian side AC Milan have also been rumoured to be interested in the former England youth international.

We asked you to select your Newcastle United player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

After voting in your thousands, we can reveal the winner is... Alexander Isak!

Image source, Getty Images

And here's what Pete Davey from LoadedMag NUFC, external had to say about Isak when the shortlist was selected on 15 May...

"He is ICE COLD. Isak has had a sensational first full season at Newcastle. Some 24 goals and counting in a season when he has missed a number of games because of injury is really scary if you think about what he would actually be capable of. He is the complete striker - technically perfect, lightning quick and he has developed a resilience to navigate himself past tricky defensive teams. The ice man will only get better!"

See the breakdown of results

And here is how the votes went for the other 19 Premier League clubs

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle beat Tottenham 5-4 on penalties in a post-season friendly in Australia - just three days after the Premier League ended.

The timing of the match, which was played in front of 78,419 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and finished 1-1 after normal time, had been called "madness" by former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer.

It went ahead despite concerns about the increasing workload being faced by players.

England midfielder James Maddison scored the 32nd-minute opener for Spurs, taking advantage of a poor pass by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and then weaving past the Magpies defence and smashing into the top corner.

Swedish striker Alexander Isak levelled from close range just before half-time.

The game then went straight to penalties with Bryan Gil having Spurs' first spot-kick saved by Mark Gillespie - the only one missed as the remaining nine were converted.

Right-back Harrison Ashby, who spent last season on loan at Swansea, struck the winning penalty for Newcastle.

Both clubs named strong squads for the trip with England defender Kieran Trippier, Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Isak in the Newcastle starting line-up, while Maddison, Dutch defender Micky van de Ven and South Korea captain Son Heung-min in the Spurs ranks.

Trippier, who like Maddison is in England's provisional Euro 2024 squad, came off after 36 minutes, which Newcastle said was "pre-planned".

Speaking before the match, boss Eddie Howe said it was an opportunity to "grow the name of Newcastle".

While Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou accepted the "exposure and revenue" was a key element of the long trip, he acknowledged had his side been in European competition this season he would have blocked it.

Newcastle will also play a second match against an A-League All Star side on Friday.

This summer has the European Championship in Germany, which starts on 14 June, while the Copa America gets under way in the United States six days later.

'These games are not essential'

Dave Lockwood, BBC Sport editorial sustainability lead

Critics say these global games are some of the least sustainable of any football fixtures based on the emissions from the long-haul flights.

Then there is the impact of fan travel – more likely this summer when several Premier League teams head to the United States for their pre-season tours.

More important than the emissions perhaps is the example it sets and the potential it has to undermine positive climate action, these games are not essential and are exactly the kind of emissions that should and could be avoided in any true Net Zero strategy.

Flying also impacts the body, and more games are bad for player welfare and wellbeing in an already overcrowded schedule. Ensuring rest is why clubs say they need to use domestic flights, so it points to double standards there.

They are financially motivated, in a sport with more money than any other. Whether the cost to the environment is worth the financial reward depends on your individual perspective but clubs definitely can’t be championing positive action at home among fans and then expect this kind of behaviour to go unchallenged.

Image source, Getty Images

In an injury-plagued season, Newcastle United finished seventh in the Premier League and will have to wait on their European fate until after Saturday's FA Cup final.

Matty Renton, from The Magpie Channel TV, external, has given his verdict on the 2023-24 campaign.

Season rating: 7/10. Fitting that we finished in seventh place. I could have scored higher because I finishing in seventh, getting European qualification (as long as Manchester City win the FA Cup) after all the injuries, the Sandro Tonali ban and the Champions League group of death is a remarkable achievement. There were also some huge wins, including smashing Paris St-Germain 4-1, and two cup quarter-finals. However, we did finish fourth the season before. Without all the tribulations this year, I think we could have come close again. It is a season of what could have been, but I am still proud of the lads and looking forward to more European adventures.

Happy with your manager? Delighted. Eddie Howe is the man. He has performed miracles again this season. It has been an injury-stricken campaign with many other hurdles to overcome, yet we finished in the top seven. I cannot think of anyone who would have done a better job.

Unsung hero: I would have to go with Fabian Schar. He signed for only £3m a few years ago and is getting better with age (and Howe's coaching). He is a solid and reliable centre-back, who is also silky, and he stayed fit for the majority of a long season.

Player you would most like to sign: Michael Olise. Go all out for the Crystal Palace star. He would be a big-money signing to excite the fans and the thought of him up front with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon is mouth-watering. On another note, it is just as important to keep our stars - Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.

Best away fans: Borussia Dortmund. The Champions League nights were something special and European fans are something else.

See how our other fan writers rated their club's season here

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes says the side "could have done much more" this season if they had had "better luck".

The Magpies returned to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and recorded a memorable win over Ligue 1 champions Paris St-Germain.

However, a lengthy injury list throughout the campaign hindered their progress in the Premier League, where they finished seventh and are relying on Manchester City to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final to secure European football next season.

In a post on X (formerly twitter), external, Guimaraes said: "We've reached the end of another season, and I couldn't let it pass without thanking our fans and sharing my thoughts on everything we've been through this year.

"It has been a huge mix of emotions, but I'm certain that I gave my best at all times, as did the entire team. It was a season full of injuries, and I'm sure we could have done much more if we had been at full strength. Even so, I think we achieved a lot with the little we had this year."

The Brazil international, whose future with the club has been the subject of transfer speculation, added: "Personally, it was a great pleasure to be present in 50 out of 51 games this year. I was the player who covered the most kilometres in the Premier League. Taking the club back to the Champions League after 20 years is something we will never forget, and I'm sure we deserved better luck.

"This is yet another season that will stay in our memories and serve as an example for the ones to come! Thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings and opportunities."

Everton have placed a minimum fee of £80m on 21-year-old England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has attracted interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham. (i Sport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Pete Davey
Fan writer

Wow - what a season! Full of ups and downs, twist and turns. A real rollercoaster of emotions if you were a Newcastle fan but I feel overall this was a positive end to the to the campaign with us securing European football (for now!).

I’ll be honest, I’m shattered. I’ve never seen anything like the constant injuries in my 30 or more years supporting the club. It was draining every week and I think the players (and fans) could do with the rest.

So what is next? Firstly a busy summer. I believe there will be plenty of movement for Eddie Howe with a number of contracts up and of course the big question mark over Bruno Guimaraes' future. We will also need to strengthen this team so we are ready to potentially tackle three games a weeks.

We need to learn from last season. Key decisions are replacing an injured Sven Botman, who is out until 2025 and finding someone for the seemingly departing Miguel Almiron on the right wing. Callum Wilson will also need to be replaced if he leaves for pastures new but that is up in the air at the moment.

I genuinely believe that without the injuries this season we would have challenged again for Champions League qualification. With fifth place again available next year I believe we can achieve it if we have a reasonably injury-free squad to choose from.

Bring it on.

There are about 24 hours to go before Newcastle's player of the season vote closes.

If you are yet to make your choice, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday to decide who has impressed you the most from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Pete Davey from LoadedMag NUFC, external.

Find out the reasons behind his selections and cast your vote here

Wolves will demand a club record £60m for 24-year-old Portugal winger Pedro Neto, who is a summer target for Newcastle United and Manchester City. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Newcastle could move for 25-year-old Lloyd Kelly, with the English defender set to leave Bournemouth as a free agent. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Arsenal want to sign a striker before their pre-season tour, with 24-year-old Newcastle United and Sweden striker Alexander Isak top of the list. (Independent), external

Newcastle want to bring in 23-year-old Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to challenge England international Nick Pope, with the Georgia international likely to cost about £35m. (Times subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Reuters

Goalkeeper Nick Pope has said the character within the Newcastle United squad has "shone through" this season as the Magpies finished in the Premier League's top seven for the second consecutive season.

Newcastle have struggled with injuries for much of the campaign but collected enough points to finish seventh.

If Manchester City beat neighbours Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup final, Newcastle will play in next season's Europa Conference League.

England international Pope told BBC Radio Newcastle: "They've been top drawer and they've put in so much work. The staff as well, we've got to be thankful to everyone. We've stuck together as a team. The good character we have among the squad and staff has shone through, and has stood us in good stead in the end."

Before Sunday's win at Brentford, the 32-year-old had not played at first-team level since December because of a shoulder problem.

"It was amazing, you work long days [recovering] and you have to sacrifice a lot," added the former Burnley goalkeeper.

"To be back on that pitch, I've been thinking about it for a long time and it means a lot to me."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

After victory in their final match of the season at Brentford on Sunday, we asked for your thoughts on Newcastle's 2023-24 campaign.

Here are some of your responses:

Will: In typical fashion, Newcastle don't like to take the easy route. Saying that, the season has to be seen as a success. With the injuries we've had, to still be in contention for Europe is fantastic. Eddie Howe has made the majority of players better under his guidance. Excited for the summer to see who we bring in.

Alan: Sixth place would have been a great achievement given the horrendous injury list and suspension we have had this season. Slightly disappointing we did not go further in the Carabao Cup but the draws have not been kind to us this year. Overall, it's been a decent season with some big performances. If we get European football again, it's not all bad.

Darren: At the start of the season, I would have taken seventh. With the extra fixtures we were always up against it. The injuries played a part and showed the lack of depth. A strong transfer market is needed to push on for fifth or sixth in 2024-25.

Daniel: I am happy with a seventh place finish for a Conference League spot. Considering all we’ve been through with all our suspensions and injuries, it is quite remarkable. I hope that in the summer transfer window, we can sign some more players for squad depth. Overall, I would say the season has been a success.

Andrew: I predicted seventh at the start of the season for Newcastle. While other fans were demanding another top-four finish, poor squad quality of depth and ridiculous PSR rules meant seventh was always going to more realistic. People quickly forget how much we overachieved last year. New owners said it was a long-term project - and it still is.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from the final 10 games of the Premier League season.

If you missed Sunday's Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

Also, listen back to the two BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-1 West Ham

• Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth