The lazy narrative I refuse to accept as Eddie Howe's Mags move into the top four...
If you think this revival at Newcastle United is all about money, you've not been paying attention.
Following Sunday's superb 2-1 win at Spurs - a victory that sent us into the top four - there was a host of bitter and blatantly inaccurate claims swirling around social media, with a flurry of neutrals, esteemed journalists and fans from other 'big six' sides claiming we have money to thank for the recent turnaround on Tyneside.
Sure, we've spent big to sign the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak, but to say Newcastle are only on the up because of spending power is incredibly short-sighted.
As any Newcastle fan will tell you, the key factor behind our meteoric rise in 2022 is Eddie Howe and his ability to get the best out of several pre-takeover players.
Joelinton has been transformed from a £40m flop who looked lost as a lone striker to a destructive, box-to-box midfielder, Miguel Almiron is unrecognisable in the final third, delivering moments of magic many on Tyneside didn't think he was capable of and Fabian Schar has barely put a foot wrong all season, playing the best football of his career after ironing out those moments of madness under Howe.
Of course, there's much more to it than just individual improvement, as the team unit has come on leaps and bounds, developing in ways that money can't buy. We are far more organised now, the team spirit within the group is at an all-time high and fitness levels have rocketed; allowing us to press and play with intensity.
These are basics that Steve Bruce neglected for far too long, but now we are a consistent, motivated and supremely professional football club who strive to do everything right on and off the pitch.
Back to investment, those keen to play down our improvement and the job Eddie Howe has done are quick to forget how fellow Premier League contenders have failed since spending money. Aston Villa have spent £175m since last season and have a wage bill exceeding ours - according to The Telegraph's Luke Edwards - yet they've had an abysmal 2022, lingering around the bottom three before deciding to sack Steven Gerrard last week.
Six of the 11 who started our 2-1 win over Spurs were signed prior to the Saudi takeover, not to mention the fact we've been without Allan Saint-Maximin, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson for large parts of the season, seeing the likes of Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff play in the majority of our seven-game unbeaten run.
Last but certainly not least, I'll leave this brilliant tweet - posted soon after Sunday's win - for those who feel we've already bought our way to form...
