Pep Guardiola was right. Newcastle United are contenders for the top four. But it was an element of detail from within his assertion that was the most telling.
‘I see the physicality we faced. Imagine this team with one game a week, with no European competition?’ he said last week.
That is why Newcastle should be aiming to gatecrash the Champions League places this season. An opportunity is there to accelerate the club’s journey, and it could be the best they have in the coming years, especially if Europa League or Conference football is achieved instead.
Newcastle United moved into the top four with a 4-0 thumping of Aston Villa on Saturday
Striker Callum Wilson has shone for the Magpies scoring his sixth league goal in Villa win
For now, the absence of midweek matches has two key advantages. Firstly, it allows Newcastle to maintain the intensity Guardiola talked about.
The numbers, including highest turnovers, have them as the most effective pressing team in the division. ‘Intensity is our identity’ is displayed around the training ground for good reason.
Secondly, and this is what Guardiola will be envious of, is the extra time they are afforded on the training pitch. Good coaches such as Eddie Howe can make a difference with a full week of preparation. Bad coaches — and Newcastle have had some of those — can waste such weeks. Howe does not misuse a minute.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has showed he is the right man for the job at St James’ Park
As he left St James’ Park on Saturday evening, he allowed himself to stand pitchside for a few seconds and gaze around the empty stadium, taking in the serene majesty of his surrounds. But even that moment of reflection was eating into his plans to re-watch the full game.
Howe’s work ethic and obsession with improvement has been the driving force behind their ascent from bottom of the table to fourth during his 12 months in charge.
Take this 4-0 rout of a listless and managerless Aston Villa and the identity of the scorers. Callum Wilson, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron were players Howe inherited.
Three players who were part of the squad headed for relegation and repeatedly put down as ‘limited’ by the last manager. They were, on reflection, only limited by the club and those in charge.
Not now. The fact that six of the 10 outfield players on Saturday were at the club pre-takeover is testament to Howe’s work on the training ground.
Look at the second goal, a short-corner routine designed during the week, Kieran Trippier landing the ball on the head of Wilson to nod in from a few yards out. It looked ever so easy.
Miguel Almiron bagged his seventh Premier League goal of the season against Aston Villa
Almiron (left) has proved doubters wrong this season after early struggles at Newcastle
Kieran Trippier won the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid and labelled Howe as ‘unbelievable’
That is what good coaches can achieve and Howe’s assistant, Jason Tindall, was the mastermind behind it. Trippier won La Liga under Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone two seasons ago. So, when he says the following about Howe, you listen.
‘He’s unbelievable,’ said the captain. ‘I know what he demands from training, what he expects in games, off the pitch.
‘He’s certainly up there with the best I’ve ever played under. When I signed, we had long conversations and I believed in what he said, I believe in him. I’m playing the best football of my career.’
Brazilian Bruno Guimarães has been the star of the show for the Magpies so far this season
As for the Champions League? It certainly was not a ‘no’ when pressed on their top-four ambitions.
‘We know our goals inside the changing room,’ said Trippier. ‘We know where we are, we know we deserve to be there, especially given how we’ve performed. The performances speak for themselves at the moment.’
The World Cup break is coming at the wrong time for Newcastle. They have just taken 16 points from 18 in October and would have been third had Tottenham not scored a 92nd-minute winner at Bournemouth.
Manager Howe has what it takes to take Newcastle to the Champions League next season
All of this leaves the owners with a dilemma. Do they, like Guardiola, believe there is a genuine chance of a top-four finish and invest again in January?
Perhaps they do not need to. After all, a table of the calendar year also has Newcastle in fourth. It is starting to feel like that is where they already belong.
