Now that the dust has started to settle on the controversial deal it is clear that despite the Newcastle takeover, numerous problems still exist. Following the sacking of Steve Bruce the club is going after some big names backed by the new owners from Saudi Arabia, PIF. The money is endless, and the possibilities for what players and manager can be brought in are endless. The new owners need to turn this around in a hurry. This takeover will be much more complicated than similar takeovers like PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City have had in the past. Newcastle are toiling in the relegation zone and the unthinkable of being relegated is a possibility. The takeover has provided a quick respite for what has been and will continue to be a long and arduous season for the Magpies and their loyal fans.
Despite Newcastle Takeover Numerous Problems Persist
Position in the Table
Newcastle currently sit second from bottom in the Premier League table with no wins and only three draws to show for their efforts. They also have the second-worst goal difference in the league at -9. The only points picked up have been against other Premier League strugglers Watford, Leeds United, and Southampton. The Magpies have dwelled in the realms of being too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League for far too long but relegation this time around would be catastrophic considering the money the new owners are preparing to pump in.
Current Roster
Much of the current squad is not up to the requisite level needed to be a consistent performer in the Premier League and have the staying power year after year. Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar, and Joe Willock are their best players. The Tyneside club also has longtime club mainstay Jonjo Shelvey in the spine of their team in midfield but he is prone to both injuries and red cards such as one received against Tottenham Hotspur in the first game under the new ownership and is no longer a reliable player. The money will be there from the new owners but the issue is how many of these players are worth keeping? The new owners will want a new crop of players to go along with the manager to execute their vision for the club from now on. It is nearly impossible to sign a completely new team in a year or even two. This team needs between 13 to 18 new players to compete with the other big teams in the division.
The Deep Pockets of More Established Teams
Another issue Newcastle will have is the amount of elite competition in the Premier League alone. Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Arsenal have more established brands and incredibly deep-pocketed owners. This is not a case of the Magpies becoming far and away the wealthiest club in the league. All the mentioned teams boast wealthy owners and have won multiple trophies, except for Tottenham over the last five years and despite being able to offer huge wages, Newcastle will face stiff competition for the elite players in the market, whether that be this January or next summer.
The clubs from outside of England like PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund will have money to spend although Barcelona may be ruled out based on their continuing financial problems. When you get into a player’s mind and decide between all these great teams, you start to wonder if Newcastle will lag behind these other European giants when you consider that each club mentioned has a vastly superior history in recent years. There are Champions League winners, league winners, cup winners, and the best Newcastle has to show are a few mid table finishes at best.
Newcastle need to stay in the league and get into much better form to have any chance of competing with these European behemoths for any player that has numerous options.
The takeover of Newcastle has just begun, and PIF have their hands full to firstly ensure the club remain a Premier League side so they can then try and build for long term and sustained success.
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