In April 2020, an agreement was reached under which Mike Ashley would end his contentious time as owner of Newcastle United by selling the club to a group led by Amanda Staveley for an amount of more than $300 million USD.
Fans hoped that the change in regime would result in freer spending and a change in fortunes for the club that has flirted with relegation and generally languished in the bottom half of the league under the ex-owner.
The new bosses of the club have done just that and are leaving their imprint at St James’ Park by giving the Magpies the outcomes they have long desired.
With a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, Eddie Howe’s team entered the Champions League spots with 21 points, having lost just once in their first 12 games in the Premier League.
Hugo Lloris’ errors allowed Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron to score in the first half, giving Newcastle the lead after Tottenham had made a strong start.
After 31 minutes, Wilson chipped in the game’s first goal into an open goal, and in the 40th, Almiron struck from a tight angle.
Spurs could not build on Harry Kane’s second-half goal, meaning Antonio Conte’s team is now five points behind leaders and rivals Arsenal, despite having played one more match.
This is their second damaging loss in the past five days.
After his team was completely outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United on Wednesday, Conte dismissed ideas that they would contend for the league title for the first time since 1961.
Third-placed Spurs will now be glancing over their shoulder rather than up as Newcastle closed the gap on them to two points.
The ability of the Saudi-owned club to add to its roster in the January transfer window will make Eddie Howe’s team a serious danger to the established top-six contenders, especially Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
Reports are already suggesting that Newcastle are ready to make big money deals for players like Pulisic to deepen their squad.
The Magpies are developing a reputation of being tough to defeat, as can be seen in the match against Tottenham and Manchester United.
Alongside being the club with the fewest number of defeats (1), they also boast the record of being the club with the fewest number of goals conceded (9).
Their only loss came on August 31 at Anfield, when they gave up a goal in the 98th minute. Unlucky, but still an example of their prowess this year.
The current position will allow them to play in Europe next season, something they haven’t done since 2012-13. For Champions League football, you have to go back further by a decade, to 2002-03.
Yet another effective performance by Howe and his players have their supporters daydreaming of a comeback to Europe’s biggest competition.
There is still a long journey to go and more difficult tests ahead, but Newcastle appears to be deserving of their place among the top four.
Their next big challenge comes on the 12th of November when they battle fellow top-4 contenders Chelsea.
A win over the Blues could signify a turning point in the modern history of the club.
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