Season 2 - Domestic Double? Season Recovery? (Season Finale)

So we come to the end of season 2, and it's safe to say our mid season form has ruined any major push and we find ourselves pushing to just try improve on the Europa Conference League we secured through winning the Carabao Cup. So with that in mind, we have 8 games remaining in the league as well as a semi final against Arsenal in the FA cup to push on with, so let's find out what how we got on and did we make it a season to be happy with on reflection. We will also take a look at the state of the top 5 European leagues, the winners of the cups as well as who has been promoted later on. Then we will take a look at our squad, few people who have won awards within the club as well as plans for the transfer market ahead and what our aims are for next season.

The Matches

Tottenham 1 - 3 Newcastle

We get ourselves off to a good start for the final run in as we take a comfortable win away from home against Spurs. We can keep up the joke that they are the easiest 3 points for us every time we play them as it always seems to happen without ever looking under threat despite them actually doing well within the save. We get ourselves going when Pino comes down the right and plays it into Wirtz who gets to the ball ahead of the defender and goes down as the two players come together. The penalty is given and Isak steps up and sends the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0. Unfortunately the lead was short lived as a few moments later they're able to break down the left and get a low cross which finds Maddison and he taps it in for the equaliser. Just as the half time whistle is coming up Hall plays a one two with Klemens and then fires in a low cross which Gordon is able to meet and restore our lead for the half time break. They come out quickly in the second half and Udogie takes a long range effort which is superbly saved by Mycael as he continues to grow into his more prominent role within the team. As we go into the last 10 minutes we are on the attack and as Bueno goes running forward with the ball he collapses to the floor as his hamstring goes and rather than play the ball out, Spurs try take advantage and go up the other end but Mycael is equal to them again. Disgusting sportsmanship by them! They get their just dessert though as despite us now playing with 10 men, they push more people forward and we hit them on the counter when the speed of Pino gets him going up the pitch and he's able to lay it through for Isak who beats the keeper right at the end to make it 3-1.

Newcastle 2 - 2 Brighton

Up next we have Brighton coming to St James Park and we end up dropping points despite deserving all 3 comfortably. We were so unlucky in the first half, we ended up going in 0-0 despite hitting the bar 3 times and the post twice, and to make matters worse just as the second half kicks off they scramble a chance around the edge of the box and take the lead. We did get an instant reply when Tonali takes a corner and it's headed straight back out to him, he breaks into the box and curls it in to the far corner himself to level it up. Livramento then breaks into the box and plays a cross that goes along the front of goal and Pino arrives at the back to finish it. Shortly after we think we add a third when Wirtz takes a free kick and it's flicked on by Garcia which Miley runs on to and volleys in but the offside flag goes up and rules it out. Then against the run of play as the game is in the closing moments they break down their right and get a low ball in to the box where they're able to get on the end and equalise and steal points from us. Completely undeserved but that seems to be the way it's gone for us a few times this season.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Liverpool

We follow that up with a big win against Liverpool who I think it's safe to say we have started to figure out in this season compared to last year. We were the stronger of the two teams throughout the game and we took the lead when Garcia plays a long ball that splits their defence and Isak runs on to it and beats the keeper to make it 1-0. Unfortunately Wirtz picks up another injury on the 35th minute and Nypan comes on to take his place. We double our lead when Livramento is able to turn his defender and whip in a cross to the back post where Gordon beats Trent in the air to header in for 2-0 at half time. In the second half with gift them a chance to feel like a comeback could be possible when Botman plays an awful pass across the edge of our own box, but gives it straight to Nunez who is able to strike past Mycael to make it 2-1. Nypan almost repeats his goal against them in the cup final when he breaks into the box but this time it gets tipped wide for a corner. We do add our third though shortly afterwards when Gordon plays Isak into the left side of the pitch and he turns provider, as he crosses it over to Pino on the right who takes a touch inside his defender and then smashes it in for 3-1. We thought it was getting even better when Miley played Isak through and he was able to score again but once again the offside flag rules it out. At the end of the game they start applying pressure and Mycael starts making some superb saves from a flurry of corners to keep it at 3-1 and we take the deserved win.

Burnley 2 - 1 Newcastle

Another game where despite being the far better team we do not get the reward we deserve from our play. We did rotate a lot due to the semi final of the FA Cup being next in 3 days and based on the performance of the team we should have won on the day too. We get the lead in the 22nd minute when Le Bris gets a second chance from his corner, and this time his cross is met by Moerstedt who heads home for 1-0. The rest of the first half is one way traffic and it's unbelievable that we don't get more goals to show for it but we go in 1-0 at half time. Shortly in to the second half we're punished for not taking our chances when they send a cross in and it's a free header at the back post to level it up. Then less than 10 minutes later they do the exact same and the same striker is free in the box for a second free header to give them the lead. It goes back to being all us afterwards but again we're unable to take any chances and we end up losing. It's safe to say the newly promoted teams have loved playing us this season.

Arsenal 1 - 3 Newcastle (FA Cup Semi Final)

However we do get a reward for resting the players we did as we then go out and put a very strong performance against Arsenal and comfortably beat them in the end. We took the lead as it was coming up towards the end of the first half when Wirtz gets some space out wide and plays it forward for Pino who is able to make his way into the box and hits it low and hard into the bottom corner for 1-0. It stays that way at half time but it was an even first half so to just be edging it was a good thing. In the second half we had to make an early substitution as Livramento picks up an injury to lose yet another player for us. However as we hit the 70th minute mark Wirtz takes an effort from close range but Arsenal get the bodies back and are able to block it, but the rebound only falls to Bruno on the edge of the box who smashes it on the volley for 2-0. They immediately get one back when Odegaard takes a free kick straight into the top corner but their comeback is ruled out shortly after as we hit them on the break when a long ball releases Pino who is able to help it on even further and Moerstedt finishes under the keeper to restore the 2 goal lead. We are in the FA Cup final where we will be facing Man City.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Crystal Palace

Clearly we were riding the high of making the FA Cup final as we were able to comfortably beat Palace again to keep us a bit of better form at the end of the season in the league. Although it didn't go completely smoothly as in the first half despite being all us, we weren't able to take any chances and the fear of being punished like we were against Burnley was there. However in the 55th minute Hall tries to cross the ball but it comes back out to him, and he heads it first time into the centre where Isak is able to get his head on it to finish the chance and make it 1-0. Shortly afterwards Hall takes a free kick from by the corner flag and this time Klemens gets on the end of it with his head to double our lead. Then 2 minutes later Gordon plays a great through ball for Isak who times his run, meets the ball and with his second touch powers it under the keeper for 3-0. Unfortunately it wasn't a perfect game as the clean sheet was taken away from us right at the end when we clear the ball away from our box, but their right back collects it, brings it forward and then hits a superb long range effort into the far corner.

Newcastle 2 - 3 Wolves

Next up in the league was Wolves who were still down near the bottom in the relegation battle and despite us having the far better chances and controlling the majority of the game we end up losing all together to them. The game was quite quiet to begin with and then 3 goals were struck in a a 3 minute period to really liven it up. We got the first when Pino breaks down his right wing and plays a low cross which is then met by Gordon to tap home for 1-0. A minute later they equalise when a shot from Semedo flies into the top corner and makes it 1-1. Then we restore the lead straight after when we play Miley through straight from kick off and he's brought down by the defender and the penalty is given. Isak steps up and just about beats the keeper who guessed the right way but the important thing is it has gone in and we're back in the lead. Just as the half time whistle is coming up they send in a corner and win the header to level it up for the first half. They then take the lead when they send a free kick to the back post, and the header is won and falls to a player in space who is able to volley it in. Bruno hits a volley on the 85th minute to try level it up for us but it crashes back off the bar and we end up losing the game from a position of dominance. Frustrating as now with just 2 games remaining we're battling it out with Man U and Brentford for 6th place as the best we can do.

Everton 2 - 4 Newcastle

We then had the honour of being the last team to play at Goodison Park as Everton are about to move into their new stadium next season and the game ended up a spectacle. We also went into this with both Pino and Wirtz on 11 assists which matched the record that Wirtz set for us last season so be interesting to see who takes the creative title by the end of the season. It took just 5 minutes for that record to be beaten as Pino gets into the box and cuts it back for Wirtz who beats the keeper and we go 1-0 up. Three minutes later Wirtz tries to bring the ball down in the box and the defender just clatters into him and a penalty is given, Isak steps up and despite the keeper guessing the right way he's able to beat him and double our lead. They get a goal back just before half time when a ball in the box isn't really cleared and it pinballs round a bit before finally they header it goalward and in. As the second half kicks off Wirtz is brought down right on the corner of the box, but after the VAR review the penalty is confirmed and Isak steps up for the second time from the spot. This time he goes the opposite way and the keeper guessing wrong and we go 3-1 up. That's his 20th goal in all competitions for us this season so a milestone hit for him as well considering he's had a lot of time out injured. We secure the win when Frimpong plays in a deep cross from the right and Barnes is able to get a free header after their keeper misses it and it lands in the empty goal for 4-1. They do add one back when Mycael makes a simple save from their shot but the ball comes back out to Ings who is able to finish the rebound to end the game 4-2.

Newcastle 5 - 1 Fulham

So with the final game of the season we are hoping for a bit of help, as even if we win we will need Man U to drop points who are away to Burnley for their last game. We do our bit however, and take the early lead when the ball comes to the edge of the box and Miley is able to volley it into the top corner for 1-0. On the half hour mark though they make it more difficult for us when a low cross gives Muniz a tap in to level it up and it stays that way for half time. Unfortunately at half time it's also 2-0 to Man U so 7th is looking the best we can do. In the second half Pino switches the ball to Barnes who plays a cross over the top of their keeper and Moerstedt is able to head home to restore our lead. A few moments later Wirtz takes a free kick which hits the wall and comes back out to Barnes, who plays the ball over the top and Livramento meets it on the volley to make it 3-1. Shortly after that Wirtz plays it over the top for Moerstedt who finishes under the keeper but this one was disallowed for offside. We did add our fourth however when Miley slides it through for Barnes on the left who unselfishly lays it across for Moerstedt to tap home his second of the game. As we enter the last 15 minutes of the game we play the ball into Kuol in the box who is brought down as he goes to control it and the penalty is given. Moerstedt steps up and sends the keeper the wrong way to secure his hat trick and our victory. Unfortunately as the final whistles blow Man U have also won 3-1 so 7th place is where we finished and only Europa Conference League.

Man City 3 - 2 Newcastle (FA Cup Final)

Unfortunately the domestic double was not meant to be this season for us as Man City ran out deserved winners in the end. We did take our chances when we got them to keep things interesting but they controlled most of the game and we were living off scraps. They took the lead when a corner is met by Rodri and his header goes straight in for 1-0. We got it back level when Frimpong plays it into Wirtz who spins it round the corner for Pino who smashes in the equaliser. They restore their lead before half time though when they move the ball around the edge of our box and eventually find Foden in space who is able to beat Mycael with his long range effort. To make matters worse we end up losing Bruno to injury for the rest of the game just before half time, then at half time we lose Wirtz to injury as well. They then add a third in the second half from another corner, this one being met by Dias to make it 3-1. Pino again breaks down the right wing and plays it centrally where Barnes has found some space and is able to hit a long range effort of his own to make it 3-2 and keep things interesting but there was no other chances created after that and we end up losing 3-2.

The League

So at the end of the season, it is a domestic double sorted in the FA Cup final but it's Man City who claim it with their title win as well. Forest do well and cling on to their 4th place to get Champions League football so it'll be interesting to see how they get on next year. A disappointing league for us however we were only 3 points off Champions League places so I guess it's just a result of how close the top of the league has been this season. Although we have to take responsibility as our form over January, February and March was nowhere near good enough and we gave up too many points to the promoted teams. The teams to be relegated this year are Leeds, Norwich and Everton with their shiny new season now a Championship team. They will be replaced by Leicester, Sheffield United and Luton Town who have all been promoted this year.

Competitions

Champions League

In the end it was Real Madrid who won the Champions League beating Dortmund in the final after overcoming Barcelona, Villa, and their Madrid rivals Atletico Madrid on their path to the final. Dortmund made it to the final after being the English team killers as they knocked out Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City.

Europa League

This year the European competitions are being hogged by the Spanish clubs as Athletic Bilbao win the Europa League by beating Man U on penalties in the final. Their path to the final seen them knocking out Atalanta, Sevilla and RB Salzburg whilst Man U who eventually lost had knocked out Faranese, Strasbourg and Union Berlin.

Europa Conference League

The final European competition which we will be involved in next year was the Conference League and this year it has been won by Stuggart on penalties against Lille so the Germans can claim a trophy this year too. Stuggart made it to the final by beating Lecce, Zurich and Apoel whilst Lille battled through against Trabzonspor, Astana and AEK Athens so judging by most of those teams in the competition, we should be going far in it next year.

La Liga

La Liga was also won by Real Madrid with Europa League winners Athletic Bilbao coming in second place ahead of Barcelona. Real Sociedad finish 4th ahead of Atletico Madrid but all 5 qualify for the Champions League. Valencia and Las Palmas take the Europa League spots whilst Alaves will be joining us in the Conference League. Will Bilbao become a team to watch over the next few years or has it been a fluke season where they'll drop away again afterwards.

Serie A

Serie A has been won once again by Inter Milan for the third time in a row whilst AC Milan, Atalanta and Juventus all qualify for the Champions League. They then have Fiorentina and Roma in the Europa League whilst Bologna will join us in the Conference League so quite a disappointing season for Napoli and Lazio. It's hard to really pick anyone out as a team to watch from this league as it's going pretty much as expected other than a few teams not doing as well as you'd expect, so maybe keep an eye on Napoli and Lazio to see if they can recover next season without European football.

Bundesliga

It looks like for Germany that Bayern are just restarting another run of dominance after Bayer Leverkusen won the league two years ago now which is a shame. They will be joined in the Champions League by RB Leipzig, Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Frankfurt. whilst the Europa League spots go to Freiburg and Stuggart who obviously get it by winning the Conference League this year. The Conference League spot will go to Wolfsburg so that'll be a team to watch next season with us. Only thing to watch from Germany at the moment seems to be if anyone can come close to Bayern again soon.

Ligue 1

France is very much having the same problem as Germany as PSG are clearly dominating the league and have now won it 4 years in a row and comfortably again. However a few different faces in European competitions so could be a couple of teams to watch if they can grow from it. Champions League places go to Marseille, Lille and Lyon, whilst Europa League goes to Strasbourg and Rennes. We will be joined in the Conference League by Lens who were playing in the Champions League a few years ago. Strasbourg seem to be the team to watch in this competition as they made it to the quarter finals in the Europa League this season and finished 5th on joint points with Lyon, so can they made that step up again next year and go further?.

Club Review

Goal Scorers

We ended up with 6 players getting in to double figures with goals this season across all competitions which shows that attacking isn't really a problem for us despite the occasional game where we seem unable to finish chances. Our top scorer was Isak with 20 goals, followed by Gordon (19), Sesko (18), Pino (14), Moerstedt (13) and Barnes (12). I have to say I'm impressed with some of those players getting in there as Sesko, Moerstedt and Barnes weren't starters this season but clearly took advantage of the time they had on the pitch and stepped up when injuries hit the team.

Assists

Assists were a little more spread out but as we mentioned Wirtz previous record of 11 assists in a season was beaten. Wirtz beat it himself with 12 but Pino finished on 13 and sets the new record for us. After that both Bueno and Frimpong got 8 each whilst Hall, Barnes and Bruno all got 7 so again a few players in there that wasn't starters. The stand out for me in there as most surprising is Bueno who is only backup to Wirtz but has progressed so much this season to be a consistent performer when he is on the pitch and seems to have an impact most times.

Fans Player & Young Player of the Season

It is hard to argue with the fans here as Florian Wirtz has once again been a key player for us over the course of the year and made an excellent contribution all round. As mentioned he got 12 assists but he also got 7 goals and 5 man of the match performances over the course of the season. He did miss a chunk of the season injured which makes you wonder how much more could he have added had he been fit all season.

Signing of the Season

There would have been a few up for this but again it's hard to argue with the fans who have picked Pino. As far as debut seasons go, to rack up 14 goals and 13 assists and be pretty consistent the entire time is impressive. He has certainly paid back the £70,000,000 we splashed out to bring him in and looks like he will be a key player for us moving forward for many years. The other players who were probably worth a mention would have been Frimpong, Moerstedt and Sesko as the most impressive signings we made this year.

Plans and Next Time

So looking forward to next season now, there are a few positions we are looking at bringing in and then anything extra than that is luxury. Obviously as the seasons go on this should get less and less but we will always be adding in more youth players to strengthen the under 18's and under 21's to give us more options moving forward from within instead of always having to purchase. I think the main priority will be a new goalkeeper and then potentially loan Mycael out to another top league if possible as Pope is gone, Caprile hasn't been solid enough as backup to claim the number 1 spot and despite Mycael doing well, I feel he's still a little way off being a solid choice for us next season. After that I'll be looking for a new 2nd choice left back as I feel Hackett isn't suitable backup to Hall and we've found ourselves using Livramento there quite a few times. Lastly a third choice right winger to be behind Kuol, as we will be moving Barnes over to the left to rotate with Gordon whilst Kuol steps up to second choice at right wing.

The aims for next season is pretty simple, get back into the Champions League places in the league, win the Europa Conference League and try win one of the two domestic trophies again. Would you agree with these aims? Are there any other players you'd look to improve? How do you think the season went? Is there any of the younger players you'd look to use more that have impressed this season?

Next time we will round up the transfer window and have the start of the season played a little bit as well going over preseason quickly.