A 'different' but 'important' final day
This will be a very different final day for Newcastle United. There will certainly be no repeat of the jubilant scenes when the Champions League anthem rang out at St James' Park after Eddie Howe's side secured a fifth-placed finish a year ago. The club tackled the most important summer in their recent history without a sporting director and chief executive.
This will be a very different final day for Newcastle United. There will certainly be no repeat of the jubilant scenes when the Champions League anthem rang out at St James' Park after Eddie Howe's side secured a fifth-placed finish a year ago. It felt like the club was ready for lift-off.
But Newcastle missed out on a host of first-choice targets, and ended up doing the bulk of business late in the window. The club tackled the most important summer in their recent history without a sporting director and chief executive. Having held firm for so long, Newcastle ultimately buckled and sold striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day.
Yet the dye was by no means cast. Newcastle still went on to reach the last 16 of the Champions League and a third League Cup semi-final in four years. However, it has been a bruising affair domestically.
Although Newcastle could still end up finishing in ninth - if they defeat Fulham on the final day and results elsewhere swing their way - Howe's men have missed out on a place in Europe. In theory, then, there is little to play for at Craven Cottage on Sunday. But Newcastle will be desperate to finish the campaign with another victory and go into the summer with some positive momentum.