No clouds, just a silver lining for Newcastle United
A strong, attack-minded team challenging at the top end of the table, passionate, loyal fans who cheer them on to the bitter end, and skilled, committed players who give their all for the shirt, on the face of it could be Newcastle United’s ultimately unsuccessful – but very entertaining – Premier League title challenges of 1996 and 1997, except this time they are a level lower. But this time they’ve won it.
Last night’s victory at Plymouth Argyle clinched the Championship crown for United, while simultaneously relegating their hosts – and it was a deserved success for everyone at the club. Now it’s time for celebration, but the hard work will have to kick in soon.
Victory in Saturday afternoon’s home match with Ipswich Town – when a party atmosphere will pervade around St James’ Park – will see Newcastle become the first side to win the Championship with over 100 points since Steve Coppell’s Reading in 2006. They have been the best team in the division by some margin this season, and while it’s true to say that their squad is comfortably more expensive than any other at their level, they still have to be organised correctly. Enter Chris Hughton.
A quiet, unassuming presence, Hughton doesn’t really fit in with the loud, often brash image portrayed by Newcastle during their previous spell in the Premier League, but he faces a tough task to transmit that calmness to others.
Humbled by their experiences this campaign, they should not return to the top flight the same animal that left it. Or at least, they shouldn’t be allowed to.
The temptation now is for supporters to start believing that their good times are back, for the still-hated owner Mike Ashley to overspend and for expectations to sky-rocket. Under Hughton, there’s every chance that won’t happen.
They do have the nucleus of a good Premier League squad. In Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Alan Smith, Fabricio Coloccini, Peter Løvenkrands, Jonás Gutiérrez and José Enrique they have the makings of a decent campaign back in the top level. They’ll add to that too, but they shouldn’t run before they can walk.
They’ll enjoy the celebrations and the trophy presentation at the weekend, they have every right to as bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking is no mean feat, but caution should be urged ahead of their return to rubbing shoulders with the big boys.
Like all promoted teams, simply staying up next season should be the sole aim for Hughton, Ashley, Newcastle United and their devoted supporters.
There’s no doubt that the manager is thinking like that, but are the others?
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