Part 2: How did Newcastle United end up as a top Premier League club?
By Cade Cracas
For years, the Toon Army and countless fans that made their way to St. James Park suffered through immense inconsistencies in the club.
However, out of the blue, Newcastle United has risen to the surface as one of the top teams in the world. Following the Magpies’ fourth-place finish in the Premier League, the team has clinched an appearance in the Champions League for the 2023-24 season. So, what was the journey like to make it to this point?
Part one covers the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons
Part two covers the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons
Part three covers the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons
Part four covers the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons
Part five covers the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons
This five-part series will cover Newcastle United’s journey from the 2012-13 season up until the past 2022-23 campaign.
The 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons were tumultuous and challenging for the Magpies and its supporters as the team rarely found good form.
Newcastle was unable to find much stability within the starting eleven, while also being unable to find consistency inside the Premier League table as they fluctuated frequently.
In part two, we will delve into the league performances of these two seasons while exploring the factors that contributed to Newcastle United’s decline.
2014-2015 Season:
The 2014-15 campaign began with a sense of optimism for Newcastle United after the team finished the previous season with an abysmal 10th-place standing.
Under the management of Alan Pardew, the Magpies were looking to turn things around and get past the slight bump in the road, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
The teams league form was extremely inconsistent, with numerous highs and lows throughout the season.
They managed to secure some impressive victories against some of the top Premier League teams, including a memorable 2-0 win against league champions Chelsea.
However, these triumphs were overshadowed by frustrating defeats and lackluster performances against lower-ranked opponents that ultimately hindered any ability of the team to gain momentum throughout the season.
One of the major issues plaguing the team was a lack of squad depth.
The club’s failure to strengthen the team during the transfer windows left them vulnerable to injuries and fatigue, which hit them drastically.
Additionally, the absence of strong leadership on and off the pitch contributed to a lack of cohesion and discipline.
As the season progressed, tensions between the fans and the club’s hierarchy escalated as Pardew would eventually leave for Crystal Palace in January of the 2015 season.
While the hope was that the managerial change could lead to some changes to make the team better, the team’s fortunes would remain the same.
They would end the campaign with a disappointing 15th-place finish, just five points above the relegation zone and five spots back from their finish the previous season.
2015-2016 Season:
The 2015-2016 season marked a new era for Newcastle with the club appointing Steve McClaren as the new head coach.
As the new coach was introduced, the hopes were high for a fresh start and improved performances from the Toon Army, but unfortunately, the struggles would continue.
While the team was able to bring in some players in the transfer window, they would ultimately shape up into nothing and make very little impact.
Newcastle’s defense was particularly leaky, conceding goals at an alarming rate as they finished the season giving up 65 total goals. That high number was the fourth most allowed in the league.
Even though the defense was shaky, they received no help on the offensive side as they struggled to hold leads and often failed to capitalize on their attacking opportunities. They scored just 44 goals on the season as a team.
Another big issue was the team’s lack of creativity which hindered their ability to control games, often losing the midfield battle against opponents.
Off-field issues also had a negative impact on the team.
The club’s ownership and decision-making came under intense scrutiny, with fans expressing their discontent through protests and boycotts. This atmosphere of unrest only added to the horrific season that ended in relegation to the EFL Championship.
Finishing in 18th place, they were unable to escape the drop, leading to a period of soul-searching and a need for significant changes within the club.
The entirety of these two seasons can be best described as disappointment, inconsistency and supporter unrest.
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So, to put it simply, 10 years ago, Newcastle United had a long way to go until they would be considered as a respected Premier League squad.
Make sure to stay tuned for the remaining three parts of the series, as NewcastleToons goes in-depth on how the Magpies found their current success.