“Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does.”
― James Dashner, The Maze Runner
In the movie, The Maze Runner, the protagonist Thomas arrives from outside ‘The Glade’ to find a set of jaded inhabitants stuck inside the walls of a fiendish maze and he inspires fresh attempts to escape.
Similarly, Steve McClaren arrived at St. James’ Park at a club largely shorn of hope with a refreshing approach, new staff and signings, and immediately injected some passion and optimism.
Its very early days yet Sunday’s pulsating encounter with Southampton was reminiscent of the Arsenal 0-0 draw that opened the 2011/2 season when Alan Pardew’s Magpies eventually finished fifth, narrowly missing out on The Champions League.
That day, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba made their debuts as Newcastle matched a Top Four team. On Sunday, it was the turn of Chancel Mbemba and Gini Wijnaldum to shine, leaving lasting first impressions, even if Aleksandar Mitrovic’s debut will be recalled for different reasons.
The big difference between 2011/2 and 2015/6 is in Newcastle’s early fixture list – back then The Magpies didn’t face any of the previous season’s Top 4 again until November when a run of Chelsea at home, Man City and Man United away halted their 11-game unbeaten start.
Steve McClaren’s ridiculously steep learning curve – its hard to think of it as anything but a FIXture list – means his new side face six of last season’s Top 8 in the first eight games including each of the Top 4 from 2014/5 before October 3rd.
Much like Liverpool’s ludicrous run of opening away fixtures – Stoke, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, Man City then Newcastle – it seems specifically designed to halt early progress.
As Jamie Carragher quipped on Twitter:
“Didn’t think Sky had a say in the fixtures but @GNev2 (Gary Neville) must have been involved in picking Liverpool’s first 7 away games”
If they get it right, Newcastle and Liverpool both represent serious threats to The Champions League status quo and the economic monopoly currently enjoyed by the established Top 4 set-up to minimize competition.
McClaren’s teams have a reputation for doing well against the very best, so what do Newcastle have to do to escape their assigned Fate and challenge The Top 4?
1. Get Off To A Good Start
A point against Southampton, last year’s surprise team and better prepared for a competitive fixture due to the early start of their Europa League campaign, was a very good one. Check.
Newcastle’s previous five opening day fixtures were Man City twice, Man United, Arsenal and Spurs after they’d finish 4th yet next they head to Swansea, also enjoying a golden modern period.
Finishing 8th last season, Gary Monk’s Swans also drew 2-2 in their opening game – away at the Champions Chelsea last Saturday and Newcastle need at least a point if not three.
If Newcastle win at The Liberty Stadium then it makes their trip to Old Trafford the following week very interesting indeed especially if Steve McClaren does the following:
2. Demand A Level Playing Field From Premier League Referees
Two seasons ago, Newcastle travelled to Old Trafford and won 1-0 thanks to a Yohan Cabaye goal as the Theatre of Dreams lost its aura under David Moyes.
Alan Pardew enjoyed a good record at the famous stadium in his tenure at Newcastle, having drawn 1-1 there in the 2011/2 season thanks to a Demba Ba penalty and narrowly lost 4-3 in a memorable encounter against the eventual Champions on Boxing Day, 2012 a season later.
So it was with confidence his side lined up last year again on Boxing Day, 2014 taking the game to Louis Van Gaal’s men and having all of the early play and chances.
Yet when Juan Mata clipped Yoan Gouffran’s heels for a “stonewall penalty” to quote The Metro, and it wasn’t given, the game turned the Red Devils way and Newcastle had to settle for a meaningless late penalty given to cover his tracks by referee Mike Jones at 3-0 down.
Astonishingly, it was the only penalty given to Newcastle in 2014/5 and the club have not an opponent sent off against them or a penalty awarded at St James’ Park since Boxing Day, 2013.
Siem De Jong was hauled down in the dying seconds of Sunday’s game and Newcastle should have had a late chance from the penalty spot to win the game.
This must not become the pattern it was last season as a string of stonewall penalties were turned down and the club must be given the big decisions it deserves.
3. Ride Their Luck With Injuries
Newcastle were the only team in English football last season to beat reigning 2013/4 Champions Man City and incoming 2014/5 Champions Chelsea, ending their 23-game unbeaten streak.
Yet they also topped The Premier League Injury Table and were decimated by injury crises. Down to the bare bones of a squad ill-equipped for much more than survival, they nearly didn’t achieve even that drastically underwhelming goal.
This year, the squad is better stocked with the arrival of a new spine in Chancel Mbemba, Gini Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic plus Ivan Toney so far with hopefully more to come.
They can only hope Newcastle’s seemingly perennial injury problems are solved by world-renowned Geordie conditioning coach Steven Black’s magic.
4. Buy In The January Window
Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson dismissed the January transfer window in December 2012 – funnily enough when his team were top of the League having signed Robin Van Persie in the summer – it has had its value tarnished.
Yet Newcastle’s signing of Papiss Cisse for £9M in January, 2012 followed by 13 of the best bakers’s dozen of goals you will ever see in his first 14 games proved, it has tremendous value in kicking a season on as Newcastle held firm to finish fifth.
Every single transfer window a squad should be freshened up and pressure put on the established first team with new signings to maximise competition.
Achieve these goals, and Newcastle could very well turn into a haven of noise and passion, as it once was. A far cry from last season, perhaps, but as has become cliche in the Premier League; anything’s possible.
