Newcastle United’s point away to Brighton could prove a precious one when the Champions League places are finalised, but if they play like this again they will not end up in the top five.
They had lost twice to Brighton already this season – in the league and FA Cup – so coming away with a draw, salvaged late in the game from the penalty spot by Alexander Isak, will be gratefully received by manager Eddie Howe.
The fact Newcastle have never won at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League can also add weight to the argument that it was a decent result in a high-pressure situation, especially after falling behind in the first half.
Champions League qualification remains in Newcastle’s hands, with two home games to come against Chelsea and Everton, either side of a trip to London to take on Arsenal.
This still could be the best season in living memory and probably already is given they ended that 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup, and are assured of European football as a result.
That, though, is not the point. Newcastle are also chasing a Champions League place and access to all the financial benefits and prestige that brings. Landing their top transfer targets will be easier with the Champions League thrown into negotiations. So will keeping their best players.
But the performance against Brighton was difficult to watch as an old problem reared its ugly head. When Howe’s side struggled at the start of the campaign – briefly dropping down to 12th in the autumn – it was the form of their star players that was largely to blame.
It was their star players who were badly out of sorts on the south coast. Captain Bruno Guimaraes was dreadful, repeatedly giving the ball away and wasting promising attacking positions dwelling on the ball. He looked slow and lethargic and arguably lacks the speed to be an attacking midfielder without the pace and power of the injured Joelinton alongside him.
Up front, in a worrying recent trend, Isak looked disinterested, lacking any sort of zip or intent in his game. He was flat-footed, his body language was poor and he did not offer any threat in open play. A second goal from the penalty spot in as many games cannot hide what we saw.
The Sweden international has been playing like this for weeks, ever since that Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool back in March. Privately, Howe must be furious, although he continues to defend his top goalscorer in public.
However, there is a reason Isak signed for Newcastle back in 2022. Scouts from all the top clubs in Europe had seen this version of the player at Real Sociedad and, on top of his long list of injury problems, decided he was far too expensive to bank on him being consistently dangerous.
Newcastle took that chance, paying a club record £63million, and have reaped the benefits. Isak, who has been prolific for three seasons on Tyneside, can be superb; as close to as unplayable as you can get at this level.
But his form fluctuates and when he is not on it, he is a pale imitation. Put it this way, Isak is not playing like a £150million striker and has not been for a while. It begs the question, has all the speculation about other clubs wanting to sign him got into his head?
Newcastle are not going to sell him in the summer, they have made that clear. He has three years left on his contract and will reject any interest in him, but has that created a situation where he thinks he can go through the motions?
Harsh criticism of a player who has scored 27 goals this season, but whatever is going on, Isak needs to snap out of it. Howe needs Isak to be at his best to ensure they are back in Europe’s top competition next season, which in turn means the club can offer him an even more lucrative contract than the one he has already.
It is worth remembering that Isak, Bruno, Tonali and Anthony Gordon all started the campaign badly. In Tonali’s case – although he was also lacklustre against Brighton – that could be excused by the fact he was returning from a 10-month ban. But Bruno, Isak and Gordon had all been heavily linked with moves away last summer.
There was an impression that, to varying degrees, they had their heads turned. Newcastle had just finished a second successive transfer window without signing a first-team-ready player and finished seventh last term, outside of Europe. There was talk of the project, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, losing momentum and interest. Things were in danger of drifting and their best players were at risk of losing their way in the process.
It is to Howe’s enormous credit that he prevented that happening and Bruno and Isak, in particular, have been hugely important to the team’s excellent season.
But this is not the time for them to switch off or lose motivation again. Collectively, they have had a brilliant season, assured of a place in the club’s history by winning a trophy, but there are still important prizes on offer.
And no matter what the excuse, the one thing Newcastle fans will not put up with, it is players who make the mistake of believing they merely have to turn up and wear the shirt to be adored.
Newcastle United’s point away to Brighton could prove a precious one when the Champions League places are finalised, but if they play like this again they will not end up in the top five.
They had lost twice to Brighton already this season – in the league and FA Cup – so coming away with a draw, salvaged late in the game from the penalty spot by Alexander Isak, will be gratefully received by manager Eddie Howe.
The fact Newcastle have never won at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League can also add weight to the argument that it was a decent result in a high-pressure situation, especially after falling behind in the first half.
Champions League qualification remains in Newcastle’s hands, with two home games to come against Chelsea and Everton, either side of a trip to London to take on Arsenal.
This still could be the best season in living memory and probably already is given they ended that 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup, and are assured of European football as a result.
That, though, is not the point. Newcastle are also chasing a Champions League place and access to all the financial benefits and prestige that brings. Landing their top transfer targets will be easier with the Champions League thrown into negotiations. So will keeping their best players.
But the performance against Brighton was difficult to watch as an old problem reared its ugly head. When Howe’s side struggled at the start of the campaign – briefly dropping down to 12th in the autumn – it was the form of their star players that was largely to blame.
It was their star players who were badly out of sorts on the south coast. Captain Bruno Guimaraes was dreadful, repeatedly giving the ball away and wasting promising attacking positions dwelling on the ball. He looked slow and lethargic and arguably lacks the speed to be an attacking midfielder without the pace and power of the injured Joelinton alongside him.
Up front, in a worrying recent trend, Isak looked disinterested, lacking any sort of zip or intent in his game. He was flat-footed, his body language was poor and he did not offer any threat in open play. A second goal from the penalty spot in as many games cannot hide what we saw.
The Sweden international has been playing like this for weeks, ever since that Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool back in March. Privately, Howe must be furious, although he continues to defend his top goalscorer in public.
However, there is a reason Isak signed for Newcastle back in 2022. Scouts from all the top clubs in Europe had seen this version of the player at Real Sociedad and, on top of his long list of injury problems, decided he was far too expensive to bank on him being consistently dangerous.
Newcastle took that chance, paying a club record £63million, and have reaped the benefits. Isak, who has been prolific for three seasons on Tyneside, can be superb; as close to as unplayable as you can get at this level.
But his form fluctuates and when he is not on it, he is a pale imitation. Put it this way, Isak is not playing like a £150million striker and has not been for a while. It begs the question, has all the speculation about other clubs wanting to sign him got into his head?
Newcastle are not going to sell him in the summer, they have made that clear. He has three years left on his contract and will reject any interest in him, but has that created a situation where he thinks he can go through the motions?
Harsh criticism of a player who has scored 27 goals this season, but whatever is going on, Isak needs to snap out of it. Howe needs Isak to be at his best to ensure they are back in Europe’s top competition next season, which in turn means the club can offer him an even more lucrative contract than the one he has already.
It is worth remembering that Isak, Bruno, Tonali and Anthony Gordon all started the campaign badly. In Tonali’s case – although he was also lacklustre against Brighton – that could be excused by the fact he was returning from a 10-month ban. But Bruno, Isak and Gordon had all been heavily linked with moves away last summer.
There was an impression that, to varying degrees, they had their heads turned. Newcastle had just finished a second successive transfer window without signing a first-team-ready player and finished seventh last term, outside of Europe. There was talk of the project, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, losing momentum and interest. Things were in danger of drifting and their best players were at risk of losing their way in the process.
It is to Howe’s enormous credit that he prevented that happening and Bruno and Isak, in particular, have been hugely important to the team’s excellent season.
But this is not the time for them to switch off or lose motivation again. Collectively, they have had a brilliant season, assured of a place in the club’s history by winning a trophy, but there are still important prizes on offer.
And no matter what the excuse, the one thing Newcastle fans will not put up with, it is players who make the mistake of believing they merely have to turn up and wear the shirt to be adored.
