Coming Home Newcastle - All PostsA prudent and measured bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48541/cominghome-fave.png2024-03-19T10:00:00+00:00http://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/rss/current/2024-03-19T10:00:00+00:002024-03-19T10:00:00+00:00Manchester City “prioritizing” Bruno Guimaraes transfer
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<img alt="Newcastle United v Manchester City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KbOjnwXE9swviLwb-oht5_auprI=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73217180/1923324272.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Cityzens will try to snatch the Brazil international from Newcastle.</em></p> <p id="OWjuxZ">According to information obtained by Spanish media outlet <a href="https://as.com/futbol/internacional/plan-city-por-bruno-guimaraes-n/"><em>AS</em></a>, <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com">Manchester City</a> is actively pursuing <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle United</a> midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and “prioritizing” signing the Brazil international to strengthen their midfield lineup next summer.</p>
<p id="Ms5eCr">The report, published on Friday, Mar. 15, ahead of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> quarter-finals match between both Man City and Newcastle, also mentions other targets in the Cityzens’ radar such as <a href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com">Bayern Munich</a>’s Joshua Kimmich and <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com">Aston Villa</a>’s Douglas Luiz.</p>
<p id="QYfYxE">The main reason for this interest is believed to be Pep Guardiola’s intention to find a suitable partner for Rodri, a vital component of Guardiola’s tactics and system of play.</p>
<p id="FJY4Un">Guardiola praised Bruno ahead of last weekend’s matchup, labeling the Magpie as an “exceptional holding midfielder.” Added Guardiola: “[He’s] aggressive but patient in possession of the ball. I’m sure Newcastle wants to grow and they want to keep Bruno for the next few years while building a competitive team.”</p>
<p id="kTYE2G">According to AS, Manchester City have already engaged with Bruno’s representatives in a move that made clear there is in fact a strong interest in acquiring the 26-year-old Brazilian from Newcastle.</p>
<p id="vBkhBB">Man City is prepared to meet the €117m release clause included in Bruno’s contract, and AS revealed that Guardiola’s club is potentially trying to split the payment into three installments of over €39m each. </p>
<p id="CR1etg">That said, AS mentions a few other clubs that might enter the race to sign Bruno and make things difficult for Man City to snatch the player from Tyneside. It’s believed that Manchester City will face competition from <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, Chelsea, <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com">Manchester United</a>, and Paris Saint-Germain, with Bruno also reportedly dreaming of playing for Barcelona—although the Catalans are constrained to an €80m transfer budget that will make the operation nearly impossible for them to complete.</p>
<p id="pKnUzP">Despite only joining the club a year and a half ago, this news of a potential, inevitable exit from Newcastle shouldn’t surprise anyone. Bruno is the best player in the current Magpies squad by a mile and given Newcastle’s need to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) and Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules it is very obvious the Tyneside lads will need to complete some sales next summer, as hinted by NUFC CEO Darren Eales a few weeks ago.</p>
<p id="QzAGXb">Enjoy Bruno while he’s here because it’s looking more and more like his days in Newcastle are accurately numbered.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/19/24102764/manchester-city-prioritizing-bruno-guimaraes-transferchapulana2024-03-18T10:00:00+00:002024-03-18T10:00:00+00:00Newcastle’s owners PIF, the wealthiest among those in the Premier League
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<img alt="Supporters Head to St James’s Park For The First Game After Newcastle United’s Takeover" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vqMvhtYJnFLWCnf-M7bwFYK-qMU=/1x0:4755x3169/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214581/1347087076.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>No-contest win.</em></p> <p id="FFP3eS">In a recent update on the financial standings of Premier League club owners, reported in detail by the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13159833/Premier-League-wealthiest-owners-Sir-Jim-Ratcliffe-Stan-Kroenke-Bloombergs-rich.html"><em>Daily Mail</em></a>, Newcastle’s owners of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund trumped everybody else by a sizable margin indisputably claiming the title of wealthiest Premier League club owners as of 2024.</p>
<p id="hktvxB">Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently became the new co-owner of Manchester United following a £1.3 billion investment, is now sitting just below Arsenal’s owner, Stan Kroenke, on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index when it comes to non-Arab EPL landlords. That, however, is still billions upon billions behind the PIF wealth when it comes to the full list of Premier League club owners.</p>
<p id="xeCMOn">The conglomerate of Public Investment Fund (PIF), RB Sports & Media, and PCP Capital Partners, all of them with shares of Newcastle United’s ownership, boasts an estimated combined worth of £489 billion, per the report referenced above.</p>
<p id="2yyLFA">Obviously, that’s just a guess. Gauging the exact wealth of Newcastle’s primary owner, the Saudi PIF, is simply impossible for many reasons, some of them simply not worth asking before running into trouble. Estimates of the sovereign wealth fund’s value fluctuate, with some sources valuing it at approximately £550 billion ($700 billion). If that makes you dizzy, I feel you.</p>
<p id="uqn46q">The Saudi PIF holds an 80% stake in the club, while RB Sports & Media, owned by the Reuben brothers, has a 14% share, and Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners owns the remaining 6%. Despite the variances in estimated wealth, it’s clear that Newcastle United’s ownership significantly surpasses that of other clubs in the league in terms of financial resources.</p>
<p id="rUZK1U">That said, having so much money these days does not mean having an advantage on the pitch or even the offices, for what’s worth. Long gone are the days of Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich or Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-backed owners boosting their clubs and revamping their squads on their way to winning Premier League and Champions League titles just on brute force by top-dollar infused transfers, etc. Newcastle might top the wealthy chart, but they cannot spend even a tiny percentage of it if they don’t want to suffer Everton’s fate. Alas.</p>
<p id="1Jm7Sq">Following Newcastle, Manchester United rank second with a combined valuation of £22 billion thanks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent acquisition of a 27.7% stake of the club for £1.3 billion and taking over football operations at Old Trafford. The Glazer family, alongside Ratcliffe’s company INEOS is a true powerhouse combo and won’t have any issue ponying up money to sign whoever they want considering the income and the revenue a club of Man Utd status is and will always generate no matter the results on pure football terms.</p>
<p id="XGnDJu">Manchester City, with an ownership value of £17.2 billion, stands third. The club is the flagship of the City Football Group (CFG) and enjoys the support of the Abu Dhabi United Group, which holds an 81% stake, complemented by investments from Silver Lake and a minor share from Chinese investors.</p>
<p id="4lB5NZ">Arsenal clocks in fourth being owned solely by American businessman Stan Kroenke, at an estimated wealth of £13.87 billion. Kroenke’s complete control over Arsenal followed a series of strategic stake acquisitions until he simply got full ownership of the Gunner organization. </p>
<p id="D35Am3">Rounding up the top five is Chelsea’s consortium, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Hansjorg Wyss, and Mark Walter, with a total value of £12.5 billion.</p>
<p id="XtFbES">And even then, the Magpies are a mediocre team as one can be sitting in the middle of the Premier League table and surely not looking like the richest team in the nation. Yikes.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/18/24094212/newcastles-owners-pif-the-wealthiest-among-those-in-the-premier-leaguechapulana2024-03-17T10:00:00+00:002024-03-17T10:00:00+00:00FA Cup - Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle — Match Report: Time to think about next season
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<img alt="Manchester City v Newcastle United - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2uCEU8TXVnE-1wopYmaRMZMW2mU=/366x0:4908x3028/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73212824/2089717197.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>No titles in Tyneside for 55 years and running.</em></p> <p id="ZnGr9n">Newcastle United faced reigning FA Cup champs Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and all they could do was lose 2-0 on the road, suffering another defeat and pretty much wrapping up a season to forget in Tyneside.</p>
<p id="ueEhIs">The Magpies, guided by manager Eddie Howe for the past few years and the next couple of months but maybe not much longer than that, adopted a defensive 3-5-2 formation for the first time since Howe took the reins of Newcastle in 2021.</p>
<p id="9TdESz">Aiming to counter City’s offensive prowess was a reasonable strategy, but if that was Howe’s winning plan—parking the bus in front of an uber-offensively-talented squad—well, that was going to fail 99.9 percent of the time... and that’s exactly what happened.</p>
<p id="75BYEq">Howe’s plan crumbled early setbacks with two goals from Bernardo Silva, both deflecting off Newcastle defenders Dan Burn and Sven Botman at the 13th and 31st-minute marks, respectively.</p>
<p id="guPpYs">The loss means there won’t be title celebrations in Tyneside for 55 years and running, and also that Newcastle will need to play their final 10 games of the season—all of them Premier League fixtures—in a do-or-die type of mindset if they want to finish the years in a respectable, European-football-bound position.</p>
<p id="LSAZtE">Tino Livramento’s absence due to injury forced Howe to adjust his lineup, with Jacob Murphy stepping in as an emergency right wing-back and Burn to fill the left wing-back position, effectively turning the Magpies into a five-defender team on Saturday.</p>
<p id="OxvcX1">Anthony Gordon, who had been questionable due to a knee issue following last weekend’s injury at Chelsea, started the match along with Alexander Isak on the Magpies forward line.</p>
<p id="rH28xg">Manchester City’s dominance in possession and their ability to create scoring opportunities were simply just too much for a Newcastle team that never put the Cityzens in any real trouble. Silva’s goals might have resulted from deflections, but there was never any doubt which team would advance to the semi-finals of the competition.</p>
<p id="LCuK6t">Newcastle’s intent was to press and disrupt Man City’s midfield but with five men at the back that was always going to prove hard to accomplish in advanced positions. Thus, Man City maintaind the ball for the majority of the match logging a freakish 72% possession percentage while limiting Newcastle to a single shot on target through 90 minutes. Sheesh...</p>
<p id="JGgevW">Taking advantage of the international break, Eddie Howe will fly with the player that didn’t receive a call-up to Dubai to recharge the batteries and get ready for the home stretch of the season, one in which the Magpies will need to improve their results a lot if they want to end the year in a respectable top-seven position in the Premier League and at least get to next season’s Conference League.</p>
<p id="nL2nIr">Whether or not Howe will be man leading the team from the touchline when/if that happens, is fairly up for debate following Saturday’s disaster.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/17/24102819/fa-cup-manchester-city-2-0-newcastle-match-report-time-to-think-about-next-seasonchapulana2024-03-16T16:00:00+00:002024-03-16T16:00:00+00:00New report seems to confirm Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s future
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<figcaption>Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Magpies and the English manager have been together for a few seasons already. What’s next?</em></p> <p id="HZZem0">Eddie Howe’s position as the manager of <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle United</a> for the remainder of the season and the start of the 2024/25 campaign is currently stable, with no immediate concerns about his job security according to George Caulkin and Chris Waugh of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F5338097%2F2024%2F03%2F14%2Fnewcastle-united-what-went-wrong%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fcominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com%2F2024%2F3%2F16%2F24100535%2Fnew-report-seems-to-confirm-eddie-howe-and-newcastles-future" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>The Athletic</em></a>.</p>
<p id="CtAokN">Howe’s relationship with Amanda Staveley—a key figure in the club’s ownership after the takeover which happened in Oct. 2021—has been notably strong suggesting her preference for Howe over other options and an eventual, rumored firing.</p>
<p id="5QPlnN">The duo collaborated intensively during the first January <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a> following Howe’s appointment to enhance the team’s roster, something they surely did while ultimately avoiding getting relegated to the Championship in the manager’s first season in Tyneside. </p>
<p id="GofC2T">Staveley has praised Howe publicly of late, describing him as “exceptional” and affirming that the club could not have hoped for a better leader.</p>
<p id="EEUYYv">Despite any outcomes and results earned by the Magpies in the near future—that includes finishing outside of the European football places in the Premier League and not winning the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a>—the notion of considering a change in Newcastle’s bench has been deemed premature by the club’s British-based owners.</p>
<p id="80rytB">The reporters, while making clear that the UK-based part of the staff is the one truly running the club, make sure to also note that the thoughts of Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), who hold an 80 percent majority stake in Newcastle, remain less clear and also bear weight. At the end of the day, nobody knows what PIF truly thinks and if they want to take action and do whatever they please, they surely will be in their right to do it as majority owners of NUFC with massive influence over all-things Newcastle.</p>
<p id="qkMyv4">From the onset of their ownership, Newcastle has nonetheless emphasized the principle of “alignment” in their governance when it comes to the British and Saudi parts working in unison to avoid problems and carry the club as far as possible as quickly as possible.</p>
<p id="M6C9tO">Howe has shown, particularly in his first full season, that with the right resources, he is capable of building a team that can compete with the top clubs. That said, the regression this year compared to last season, when Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League and reached (losing) the Carabao Cup final, is undeniable.</p>
<p id="fX8eow">A spate of injuries and less successful transfer periods because of the Financial Fair Play limitations and the EPL sustainability and profit rules might be the things saving Howe’s head for now, but that’s just a temporary excuse that he cannot be allowed to use for long, let alone next season if the club keeps sinking during the first few months of the campaign.</p>
<p id="1P0HqR">Newcastle truly aspires to be among the big clubs in Europe and across the world, but there is a chance Howe has maximized his talents and what he can add and do in Tyneside. Time for a change? Maybe, although not in the eyes of Newcastle’s brass—for now, at least.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/16/24100535/new-report-seems-to-confirm-eddie-howe-and-newcastles-futurechapulana2024-03-16T10:00:00+00:002024-03-16T10:00:00+00:00FA Cup - Manchester City vs. Newcastle - Eddie Howe: Pre-Match Press Conference
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<img alt="Chelsea FC v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UwW88M9oJQ2TG0EWgBFyS0MasBM=/0x0:5022x3348/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73211246/2076547572.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>Golden nuggets from Howe before Newcastle visits Manchester trying to make it to Wembley!</em></p> <p id="Gn0YYU">Newcastle United will face Manchester City on the road at the Etihad Stadium for an FA Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday evening that can be seen as a true make-or-break point in the Magpies season.</p>
<p id="RsYjPw">The match comes on the heels of City’s 6-2 victory over Luton Town in the fifth round, propelled by Erling Haaland’s five goals, and Newcastle’s penalty shootout win against Blackburn Rovers.</p>
<p id="LWZBy7">In their most recent Premier League matchups, City maintained their title hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool, extending their unbeaten streak to 21 games across all competitions.</p>
<p id="V5GCTm">Newcastle, however, has put together a mediocre campaign in the Premier League, sitting 10th in the standings with their European qualification hopes still there but shrinking each passing week.</p>
<p id="gwDZsL">The Magpies' last major trophy win was the 1955 FA Cup, and they haven’t reached the semi-finals of the competition since the 2004-05 season. It’s worth noting Newcastle already managed to beat Man City in the other national cup this season, defeating the Cityzens 1-0 in the third round of the EFL Cup.</p>
<p id="BLc7Yn">There are significant injury concerns for both sides entering the weekend. Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne due to a groin issue, with Jack Grealish and Ederson also expected to be sidelined. Stefan Ortega is expected to replace Ederson in the goal.</p>
<p id="0Hv3ct">Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn are both doubtful after sustaining injuries against Chelsea, with Valentino Livramento or Matt Targett potentially filling in. Harvey Barnes, Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope, Callum Wilson, Joelinton, and Sandro Tonali, among others, won’t be available for NUFC.</p>
<p id="6hW58I">Here are some of Howe’s Wisdom Nuggets, courtesy of <a href="http://NUFC.co.uk"><em>NUFC.co.uk</em></a></p>
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<p id="7jCOXh"><em><strong>On Anthony Gordon being named in the senior England squad on Thursday ahead of the Three Lions’ friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month:</strong></em></p>
<p id="GIvJp7">“(I’m) delighted for him. I know it’s been a big and ambition of his since he was a little boy. He fully deserves it in my opinion. I think he’s been outstanding this year and he’s continued grow week on week. I’m delighted that’s been recognised and he’s worked so hard.</p>
<p id="io4sXW">“From the first day of pre-season after coming back from the (Under-21) Euros with his country and doing so well there, he didn’t stop. He’s scored and created goals, doing brilliantly for the team.”</p>
<p id="5jUm0e"><em><strong>On Gordon’s injury status, with the Liverpool-born winger forced off during the first-half of the Magpies’ 3-2 defeat away at Chelsea on Monday:</strong></em></p>
<p id="JrrOxc">“It was a strange one. Initially, when you see a player come off like that, you do fear there’s a serious injury but he partly trained yesterday.</p>
<p id="Q1v9U4">“He joined in, seemed okay and I don’t think he did anything serious which is great news for us. We train again today and we’ll do a full session. We’ll make a judgement after that.</p>
<p id="do6GKg">“There was a feeling of relief regarding him. It’s been a rare feeling for us that we’ve had one go that way. Most of the time, it has gone the other way when things don’t look serious and it’s turned out to be more complicated than we first thought so I’m delighted because he has been integral to our success.”</p>
<p id="hlhFz2"><em><strong>On Harvey Barnes, who missed the trip to Stamford Bridge earlier this week after sustaining a hamstring injury:</strong></em></p>
<p id="FN2Smg">“Harvey won’t make the squad (for tomorrow) but we hope he’ll be back for West Ham. He was very down after the Wolves game because he knew he’d just felt something in his hamstring which is going to take a period of time to get right.</p>
<p id="fNQ5Ri">“He’s desperate to do well for Newcastle. You saw his quality when he came on against Luton and scored instantly. He is a goalscorer. We’ve missed him when he’s not been available. I know the qualities he has and I’m desperate for him to show that to everybody on a consistent basis.</p>
<p id="cCQzRH">“He is back on the grass already so we hope he can be back and have a positive impact towards the end of the season.”</p>
<p id="5EAs2y"><em><strong>On Nick Pope’s potential return to playing action after the goalkeeper suffered a shoulder injury during the Magpies’ 1-0 win against Manchester United in December:</strong></em></p>
<p id="Nq7llY">“April is his target. Now, I think that will be more towards the end of April than the beginning. He’s making good solid progress.</p>
<p id="OTH13t">“He is out on the grass but not necessarily diving but he’s doing lots of other little bits. Diving is a big test for his shoulder and that’s probably the next stage of where he’ll start implementing that back into his game and he’s got to get his sharpness back.</p>
<p id="3nR1EO">“I think he’s entering the final furlong in terms of his comeback. He’s pleased with where he’s at but he’s still got a lot of hurdles to go through.”</p>
<p id="QpzhfX"><em><strong>On Newcastle’s last-eight tie against Pep Guardiola’s reigning FA Cup winners:</strong></em></p>
<p id="0OOgEz">“We’ll have a right go. We’ll attack it and try to progress to the next round. We can do it. I’ve got no doubt about that.</p>
<p id="hYZS39">“Of course, we’ve got to get our game plan right, execute it to the highest level and we probably need a bit of luck along the way as well but we’ll go there in a positive mood and give it our very best.</p>
<p id="JjA1fq">“I’ve watched all of (City’s) recent games in depth, which is always a very interesting thing because you understand how good they are when you watch them forensically. They’re an incredible football team and they have been so consistent.</p>
<p id="R1uws1">“The way they play is unique to them and they have the best manager that’s, arguably, ever been and elite players.”</p>
<p id="6NJVyO"><em><strong>Howay!</strong></em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="ZwAUCp">
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<strong>Date</strong>: Saturday, Mar. 16th</li>
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<strong>Kick-off</strong>: 17:30 BST / 13:30 EST</li>
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<strong>Location</strong>: Etihad Stadium, Manchester (England)</li>
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https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/16/24100448/fa-cup-manchester-city-vs-newcastle-eddie-howe-pre-match-press-conferencechapulana2024-03-15T16:00:00+00:002024-03-15T16:00:00+00:00Anthony Gordon called up for England friendlies ahead of Euro 2024
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<img alt="Anthony Gordon First England Call Up" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X79xwOTrwPyu-8hKXjnDZjYfzMg=/63x0:7395x4888/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73209708/2083731301.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="A8HYPW"><a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle United</a>’s Anthony Gordon has been selected for the England senior squad by manager Gareth Southgate for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Brazil, the final matches to be played before the start of the EURO 2024 scheduled for June and July.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here we go then.<br><br>Your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThreeLions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThreeLions</a> for March camp! </p>— England (@England) <a href="https://twitter.com/England/status/1768275936011513971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a>
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<p id="9sgxYB">Even though Gordon suffered an injury of late and his presence in England’s March camp wasn’t guaranteed, this news speaks volumes of Gordon’s performance both at the club level and during last summer’s U21 EURO, where he was named MVP of the tourney.</p>
<p id="zYu8v7">The 23-year-old winger, formerly of <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a> and presently of Newcastle, earned his first senior call-up following a campaign that has seen the little blond Scouser hit 10 goals and five assists across all competitions.</p>
<p id="Yc2cAH">Gordon’s call-up comes despite the knee injury he suffered during Newcastle’s 3-2 defeat at Chelsea last Monday, which bodes well for a quick recovery ahead of the games against Brazil (Mar. 23rd) and Belgium (Mar. 26th).</p>
<p id="8ypTNM">Initial concerns suggested a major injury, possibly even a torn ACL, but further examinations revealed no significant damage. Gordon’s participation in the Magpies upcoming <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> quarter-final match against <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com">Manchester City</a> scheduled for Saturday, however, remains doubtful if only so he avoids the risk of re-injury and Eddie Howe doesn’t lose one more player in a season that has already seen many bodies go down with different ailments.</p>
<p id="KDyyQP">Assuming he doesn’t play at Man City in the FA Cup clash, Gordon will arrive at England’s camp having appeared in 39 of the club’s 40 matches this season, the only one missed because of a suspension and not an injury.</p>
<p id="qKeZkN">Gordon won’t be joined by club teammate Kieran Trippier in the England squad as the latter is currently injured (how surprising...), though that won’t matter that much for the young lad as long as he can make his official, senior-level debut in any of the two upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> ️ "It's what I've been working my whole life for."<br><br>So well deserved, <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonygordon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anthonygordon</a>! <a href="https://t.co/hSBDnvXgY7">pic.twitter.com/hSBDnvXgY7</a></p>— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1768289803429196277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a>
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<p id="AC9ahF"><em>Howay, Anthony!</em></p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/15/24101615/anthony-gordon-called-up-for-england-friendlies-ahead-of-euro-2024chapulana2024-03-15T10:00:00+00:002024-03-15T10:00:00+00:00UEFA announces new competitions format starting 2024/25
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<img alt="FBL-EUR-C1-DRAW" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/joy4YKiZUZgixChgV3kIDAAMOlI=/0x0:5220x3480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73208848/1242709061.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>Can we cram more games and teams into this thing?</em></p> <p id="AXaoBl">UEFA <a href="https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0268-12157d69ce2d-9f011c70f6fa-1000--new-format-for-champions-league-post-2024-everything-you-ne/">announced</a> a comprehensive overhaul of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> format, as well as the other two competitions under their umbrella—the Europa League and the Conference League—on Tuesday, March 12th, ahead of the introduction of the changes in time for the 2024/25 season.</p>
<p id="UcnfZd">The most impactful change is that from now on, the tournament will expand to include 36 teams competing in a single league instead of featuring a group stage in which clubs were split into eight four-team groups as was the case earlier this season and for the past few years.</p>
<p id="IvpbJf">The reform includes the introduction of a single “Champions League match week,” featuring games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during a specific week in September with the final dates still to be decided.</p>
<p id="k7vXsN">In the new structure, each participating team will play eight matches against eight different teams—four matches at home and four away. These fixtures will involve two teams from each of the four seeding pots. The teams will be grouped based on their UEFA coefficients.</p>
<p id="Bf8k4t">Teams from the same national association will not play against each other in the “league” stage. However, exceptions may be made for leagues with four or more clubs—such as the Premier League—potentially allowing for domestic matchups.</p>
<p id="612dxL">Speaking of the English top-flight division, this change in the seeding and the number of participants could see up to seven teams from the Premier League participating in the Champions League, with a total of 11 English clubs competing in European tournaments annually including the UCL, Europa League, and Conference League competitions.</p>
<p id="dolk60">The top eight teams in the league phase automatically advance to the knockout stages, which will follow a playoff format based on seeding, such as the one used in most American professional leagues, to determine matchups.</p>
<p id="q139XL">UEFA also confirmed that all games on the last matchday of the league phase will kick-off simultaneously in order to maintain integrity across the competition.</p>
<p id="5Um2tB">Finally, the organization dismissed the idea of <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle</a>’s owner Amanda Staveley, who recently said she would love for Saudi teams to participate in the UCL and that she envisioned it happening soon. UEFA also made clear the Champions League final won’t be played outside Europe for the time being.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/15/24099332/uefa-announces-new-competitions-format-starting-2024-25chapulana2024-03-14T16:00:00+00:002024-03-14T16:00:00+00:00Report: Eddie Howe won’t be sacked before next season
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<img alt="Chelsea FC v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G77jx4wwfuDtSPpq_7HmA7NxABw=/0x0:5022x3348/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73206900/2076547572.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>No matter how the Magpies season ends, Howe will manage the team at the start of next season.</em></p> <p id="yvjsgK">Eddie Howe is set to continue as <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle United</a>’s manager into the next season, with the club’s Saudi Arabian owners affirming their confidence in his leadership despite the team’s struggles this season, per Luke Edwards of <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/eddie-howe-safe-now-newcastle-105402149.html"><em>The Telegraph</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p id="SGCD59">Edwards shared this report on Tuesday, following the loss of Newcastle at Chelsea, 3-2, on Monday that left the Magpies sitting in 10th place in the Premier League table and facing a steep hill climb toward a top-seven finish that would at least have the club playing low-level continental football next season.</p>
<p id="RAzxyg">Under Howe’s management, Newcastle first avoided relegation and then surged all the way through the Premier League last season to finish in fourth position and clinch a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> berth for the first time in 20 years. This season, however, the regression has been massive with NUFC already out of all competitions except the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> (quarter-finals matchup at Man City on Saturday) and struggling to get past the middle of the table in the league in a rather mediocre campaign.</p>
<p id="PN0ePC">Even then, however, it looks like PIF and the board of Newcastle are still in full support of Howe, who reportedly won’t be sacked ahead of next season and will instead retain his position for the start of the next campaign. It’s worth noting that Howe signed an undisclosed “long-term contract” in 2022, and it feels like his security as the manager of Newcastle is not linked to the team’s qualification for European competitions at all, per Edwards.</p>
<p id="TkXP86">Most recently, Howe dismissed rumors of potentially being replaced by Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, labeling them “speculative” while affirming those whispers were “not distracting” to him. </p>
<p id="z7jVao">The club’s ownership, according to Edwards’s information, is reportedly planning a significant revamp of the first-team squad during the summer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a> to improve the performance on the pitch and the results next season, although they are also expected to sell some players—most probably Bruno and also Joelinton if the latter cannot agree to terms for a contract extension through next August.</p>
<p id="hlk4HE">Newcastle’s aspirations for European football this season are still alive, mind you, although more than clinching it by finishing in the top seven of the Premier League, it might be more feasible for the Magpies to focus on making a winning FA Cup run to get there. They are already in the quarter-finals but they will have to beat <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com">Manchester City</a> on Saturday to punch a ticket for the one-game semi-finals that will be played at Wembley Stadium in London.</p>
<p id="039qs9">The main criticism of Howe this season is linked to the team’s underwhelming play and unresolved defensive issues, mostly in games played away from Newcastle. That said, it sounds like the owners of NUFC also consider the many injuries impacting the first-team squad since the start of the season as a reason for the team’s struggles, which might be giving Howe some credit in their eyes.</p>
<p id="2fxgkg">According to Edwards, it’s probable that longstanding Magpies such as Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron, and Jacob Murphy get sold next summer to balance the books, while the sale of Bruno (who has a €100 million release clause that will most certainly get triggered by some European club) is also likely.</p>
<p id="maaGGD">Howe, however, will certainly welcome back suspended Sandro Tonali. The Italy international won’t be allowed to play for his nation in the Euro 2024 tournament but he will be back training with the club in August and getting ready for next season. That, along with a healthy squad and a few transfers arriving in Tyneside should be enough for Howe to improve on this year’s results.</p>
<p id="eE2dX9">If he hasn’t done that by December, however, PIF might start to run out of patience and a sacking could come before Christmas next winter.</p>
https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/2024/3/14/24099331/report-eddie-howe-wont-be-sacked-before-next-seasonchapulana