The Toon Review - Cup runs, resurgences and two big tests to end 2024
Merry Christmas and welcome to the beautiful chaos that is the festive football calendar.
Following a huge Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Brentford on Wednesday night, United proved their recent scintillating form to be no fluke, dominating lowly Ipswich Town away from home in League action on Saturday.
The entire team is finally starting to click at a pivotal time, and the struggles of the last couple of months are already beginning to seem far away. So let’s have a chat about it all! As always, my name is Sam and welcome to this week’s edition of the Toon Review!
Moving On and Moving Up
If the Magpies’ win over Leicester City last week was a sign of change on Tyneside, the week that has followed has seen Howe’s side roar back to life. On Wednesday night, Newcastle continued their recent tradition of lengthy League Cup runs by breezing past a disappointing Brentford side. United will face Arsenal in the two-legged semi-final in the new year. On Saturday, they demolished the struggling Ipswich Town in a dominant showing in East Anglia. United head into Christmas day having won three on the bounce, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
The club’s recent on-pitch success has strongly correlated with the resurgence of two key players. Now a world away from his betting issues, Sandro Tonali has ran the midfield in the exact way that we all hoped he would, becoming a general at the base of a three that includes Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton on either side.
Also pivotal to the side’s changing fortunes has been the reliable contributions of Jacob Murphy on the right of an attacking trio. You know that a player has been in fine form when you see social media comments likening him to Lionel Messi, but that is exactly who he resembled in his assist for Alexander Isak’s hat-trick goal at Portman Road on Saturday. Jinking through the defence and riding tackle after tackle from a hapless Ipswich defence, Murphy deftly executed a perfect backheeled cross into the path of a hungry Isak, who duly slotted home. Murphy provided a goal of his own, a slammed finish off the bar in the first half, but his assist is sure to be celebrated as one of the best of the season.
Newcastle are starting to click again. Add these stellar performances of others - Hall and Bruno have also been brilliant - to the already monstrous season that Isak is having and we will be absolutely laughing our way into the new year. Villa is next on Boxing Day, and Eddie Howe would love to knock out the visitors in what’s sure to be an intense fight between two top-six hopefuls on Thursday afternoon.
What Howe Said
Post-Brentford
On Sandro Tonali’s Performance: “Sandro’s first goal was an unbelievable finish from range. He is capable of that. You see it in training all the time.”
“To get that kind of start gave us a really good positive feeling.”
“There was strong motivation for us today and an opportunity to get to another semi-final.”
On second half: “I thought the game was always on. The third goal obviously helps us. I thought we attacked well in the second half and could have scored more goals.”
“There’s always things to improve but overall I think the team’s in a good place.”
Post-Ipswich
“We scored the early goal and never looked back from that moment.”
“It had the feeling of an away game in our Champions League qualification season. We were fluent and confident. Today had that feeling.”
On Isak’s first hat-trick for the club: “I’m really pleased for him individually. It pleases me that he’s in the right position to finish those chances and that the team is creating them for him.”
On Murphy’s performance: “He brings a selfless attitude and wants the team to do well. I could ask Jacob to do any job, whether that’s for half an hour, sixty minutes or for five minutes, and he would do it to the best of his abilities.”
Howe wrapped up his post-match chat by giving a Christmas message to Newcastle supporters: “I want to wish everyone a great time with their families and good health. It’s a privilege to be here today with the away fans and how good they were. Really pleased that they go away happy.”
The Rumour Mill
Newcastle are interested in PAOK and Greece Under-21 international Stefanos Tzimas, 18, who has impressed on loan at Nuremberg. United will battle Chelsea, Aston Villa and Stuttgart for his signature. (ESPN)
Crystal Palace, Leicester and Wolves have emerged in the race to sign Miguel Almiron on loan in January. (The Sun)
Newcastle may have interest in Southampton’s 18-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling if the Saints are to be relegated this season. (Football Insider)
Martin Dubravka, currently filling in for the injured Nick Pope, is attracting interest from Al-Shabab of the Saudi Pro League. (I News)
The Magpies are one of the clubs interested in signing Barcelona’s Eric Garcia, but the former Manchester City defender appears reluctant to leave Camp Nou. (Sport)
Newcastle will allow Callum Wilson to leave on a free when his contract expires at the end of the current season. (Football Insider)
On this Day…
On this day in 2006, a capacity festive crowd was inside St James’ Park to witness United defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1. The visitors came into the match having won each of their last five games, but experienced somewhat of a shock defeat by the Magpies.
The majority of the action occurred solely in the first half of play. Kieron Dyer opened the scoring for Newcastle after just three minutes, and within seven minutes the hosts found themselves two goals to the good after an effort from fan-favourite striker Obafemi Martins. The ever-entertaining (one way or another) defender Steven Taylor found the net, but at the wrong end of the pitch, offering Spurs a lifeline still just after fifteen minutes. United restored their two-goal lead on the 34-minute mark, though, through (then) young midfielder Scott Parker.
Also on this day, in 1983, former Toon striker Michael Chopra was born. Happy Birthday, Michael!
Two big games to end 2024
Aston Villa (H)
Manchester United (A)
Between now and my next Toon Review piece, Howe’s side have to navigate a tricky yet winnable couple of fixtures.
First, they will host Aston Villa at a festive St James’ Park, before hitting the road and taking on Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils on the penultimate day of the calendar year. Let’s see if the Magpies can give us a couple of late Christmas presents!
Now… onto the trivia. Well done to those who answered last week’s question correctly. Brentford beat Swansea City in their Championship Playoff Final at Wembley in 2021.
The Magpies have often fared well at home to Aston Villa. So with the Villains arriving at St James’ Park on Boxing Day, lets see if I can jog your memory with this one. United thumped the Birmingham side 6-0 at home in the 2010/11 season. Can you name the goalscorers from that day? As always, the answer will be revealed next time. No cheating!
We'll catch up next time, hopefully after another two big results for Newcastle United. Until then, take care, and have a happy and healthy Christmas! HWTL.
