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For a club relegated 3 years back, Newcastle United have come a long way. In May 2009, Newcastle United were relegated to the Championship. From relegation to an impressive fifth-place finish ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool, and gaining lucrative European football is a remarkable feat. What was the journey like?
1. Relegation
Newcastle United’s relegation was confirmed on 24 May 2009 after losing out 1-0 to Aston Villa. Their 16 year presence in the top flight ended. The club suffered the typical fate of a relegated club, and it was even considered for sale at 100 million pounds. Players left the club with Micheal Owen, Obafemi Martins, Sebastian Bassong, Habib Beye, David Edgar, Damien Duff and Mark Viduka opting out. No players were signed during the transfer window, and there was no sight of a new manager or owner throughout, with Chris Hughton, the caretaker manager at the helm.
To add to NUFC fans’ worries, former club manager Sir Bobby Robson passed away on 31 July 2009. Newcastle started the season in confusion, with player and manager futures in doubt. T0 everyone’s surprises, Newcastle started the season on a roll with 6 games unbeaten, and a total of just 4 losses in the league helped the club win promotion with record 102 points.
Looking back, relegation was a blessing in disguise for the club. Analysis was done, loyalties were revealed and the club rose to a new challenge .
The best thing for Newcastle was getting relegated. For me, that knocked everyone down to size – club, players, fans, even the media in a way because the expectations seeped away - Steven Taylor
2. Return
With promotion confirmed as League winners, Newcastle United returned to the top flight with only a years absence. They were busy in the transfer market with Dan Gosling, James Perch, Hatem Ben Arfa and Tiote joining in. They had a mixed start to the season but a 5-1 defeat to Bolton, 4-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 3-1 defeat to WBA led to the sacking of Chris Hughton, a move criticised by many. Newcastle’s position at that time was certainly not troubling but the club felt it was time to hand the reins to someone experienced. With this in view, Alan Pardew was appointed manager and he did raise eyebrows with a 3-1 victory against Liverpool on his managerial debut. Newcastle were then involved in the most expensive British player transfer, a 35 million GBP move to Liverpool for number 9 Andy Carroll on deadline day of the January transfer period, a move regretted by fans as well as Pardew.
Pardew led Newcastle to a decent 12th Finish in the league with the season having its highs and lows. The club played its part in one of the most entertaining match of the season, performing “The Great Escape” while drawing 4-4 to Arsenal after being 4-0 down in the first half. The season also featured a shock exit in the FA cup, a 3-1 loss to League Two Stevenage.
3. Rise
2011-12 was their season. They enjoyed an 11-game unbeaten start after the marquee signing of Yohan Cabaye and the arrival of Demba Ba on a free transfer. With Tim Krul being handed the gloves, a youthful Newcastle team awaited the challenge. They started off with a heated draw to Arsenal, but a win in the Tyne-Wear derby and a win against Fulham started them off comfortably. Demba Ba wasn’t in the equation till the last game of September against Blackburn. But then he scored his first..and the second…and the third goal for the club in a 3-1 win.
Demba Ba and Newcastle’s fine run of form continued and the turn of the year saw them win three and easy against Manchester United. The only hitch being a loss to Blackburn in the Carling Cup. The January transfer Window saw the arrival of Papiss Demba Cisse, name sake and strikeforce partner of fellow Senegalese Ba, though both went off to national duty at the Cup Of African Nations.
Life without the top strikers was hard and Newcastle bowed out of the FA cup after a defeat to Brighton. Both Ba and Cisse scored on their return against Villa. Newcastle, at this point, were in the drivers seat for European football. After 1 win in 5 games including a Tyne-Wear Derby, Papiss Cisse stepped up and delivered with goals against Liverpool, West Brom, Norwich, Bolton and Swansea. Newcastle won 5 out of 6 games. Newcastle and Chelsea were battling for the fifth place by then.
A shock defeat to Wigan gave Chelsea the advantage, but Newcastle struck back, defeating Chelsea with Papiss Cisse scoring an impossible goal; a goal which I consider the best I’ve seen till date. A loss to Man City put them in worries, but Chelsea losing 4-1 to Liverpool cemented Newcastle’s 5th place. They missed the fourth place and Champions league football but that would not be a worry as only the top three teams qualified for Champions league and Chelsea returning as champions.
4. Future
Currently the future looks bright for the Magpies. Alan Pardew’s philosophy is creating magic at St.James’ (officially Sports Direct Arena). Vurnon Anita and Curtis Good have joined in for the challenge and the club have started the season with winning ways against Tottenham before tiring out 2-0 to Chelsea.
Well the question is - One Season wonders, or Trophy Challengers?
Only time will tell.
