Newcastle United Football Club
Nickname: The Magpies
Best Premier League finish: 2nd (1995/96, 1996/97)
Since the takeover of infamous businessman Mike Ashley at St James’ Park over a decade ago, the Magpies have struggled to stay afloat, let alone keep up with the global or domestic transfer market.
Left field acquisitions scouted by Graham Carr and primarily pinched from Ligue 1 began as a success, though rapidly dried up, in turn, providing a series of astounding mishaps. Relegation caused a clear-out, and Rafael Benitez has been subjected to a chaotic recruitment policy ever since. The Spanish manager could be considered a victim of last term’s 10th place finish masking an underwhelming campaign and received Salomon Rondon on loan as a reward for his achievement.
Persistent speculation surrounding Benitez and Ashley’s future at the club has created a fractious atmosphere, while the threat of a third relegation in a decade looms if change fails to occur.
Top 5 Record Transfer Fees (04/02/19)
- Miguel Almiron – £20 million (from Atlanta United – January 2019)
- Michael Owen – £17 million (from Real Madrid – August 2005)
- Alan Shearer – £15 million* (from Blackburn Rovers – July 1996)
- Georginio Wijnaldum – £14.5 million (From PSV Eindhoven – July 2015)
- Aleksandar Mitrovic £13 million (from Anderlecht – July 2015)
*Source given – Archived Telegraph article.
(Figures include initial fees in GBP at the time of the transfer, as reported by the BBC unless specified otherwise)
Biggest Flop – Michael Owen
Hope outweighed logic when Owen arrived from Madrid in the summer of 2005, for £17 million. Reoccurring hamstring and ankle injuries had ravaged the striker in his final term with Liverpool and his season-long spell at Real Madrid. Despite this, Owen made 65 appearances in that time, regularly playing through the pain.
Eventually, Owen’s consistent overuse of his lower limbs caught up with him, and Newcastle had to endure the consequences.
The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner yielded just 14 Premier League appearances in his first two seasons, although a return of seven goals provided hope.
However, when Owen fully recovered from an ACL injury sustained at the 2006 World Cup, despite further thigh issues he was able to make 57 appearances in his final two seasons. They produced just 19 goals and concluded with relegation to the Championship.
Biggest Bargain – Alan Shearer
Shearer was not intended an investment, nor can he be considered the typical bargain at a then world record £15 million, he was a statement. Nonetheless, the England international’s return to his hometown lasted a decade, producing 206 goals in total.
On three occasions Shearer fired Newcastle to the Champions League, as well as two FA Cup finals and a UEFA Cup semi-final, in what was undoubtedly the most successful period of the Magpies recent history. The Geordie marksman was renowned for his unwavering consistency, finishing as the club’s top scorer in every season he spent at St James’ Park.
Sadly, major silverware eluded him during his spell on Tyneside, and the striker retired in 2006 as Newcastle’s record goalscorer synonymous with the club, despite his previous success while at Blackburn Rovers.
More recently Fabricio Coloccini who had an eight-year stay and Martain Dubravka plucked from obscurity at Sparta Prague have perhaps made better bargains, though neither can be considered better value for money.
Records &Trivia
- Newcastle have given Premier League starts to just four English players this season.
- Only four current outfield players have been with the club longer than five years.
- Newcastle’s squad contains three players who all formerly played together at Swansea
