
<p>As Newcastle completely <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/newcastle-put-three-past-leicester-to-go-second-20221226-WST-413415.html">demolished a Leicester City side</a> missing multiple first-team regulars in James Maddison and James Justin, the thought of Premier League contention became more plausible than it was merely possible.</p>



<p>Of course, at first glance, the idea seems way too hopeful and optimistic. It’s Newcastle we’re talking about here, the mid-table team that has not finished above tenth place in the Premier League since 2012. Yet, surprisingly, Newcastle look better than ever.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Newcastle United v. Manchester City | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | 8/21/2022 | NBC Sports" width="500" height="281" src="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/embed/B6HQSEz2ZDg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>They’re creative and play very entertaining soccer. Led by the goalscoring prowess of Miguel Almiron and the creativity of Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes, they have put together one of the best offenses in the league. And, as their romp over Leicester showed, they can use it effectively.</p>



<p>But, what changed from the mediocre Newcastle team two years ago to the overachieving squad today? And do they have a chance to win it all for the first time in nearly a century?</p>



<h5>Planting the seeds</h5>



<p>To properly explain Newcastle’s excellence in 2022, turn the dial all the way back to 2018. The Toon was just months removed from a Championship title, and their biggest claim to fame was its success in the late 90s and early 2000s. After returning to the Premier League, Newcastle broke the bank by signing <a href="https:\/\/www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11622048/newcastle-sign-miguel-almiron-from-atlanta-united-for-club-record-fee">Almiron from Atlanta United for over $25 million</a>, their most expensive capture since the days of Michael Owen.</p>



<p>At the time, Almiron was seen as a flop. The Paraguayan striker had just 12 goal contributions across 100 total Premier League appearances. Some pessimistic Newcastle fans figured that the promising talent would just be a way to make a quick profit, like the club did with Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Moussa Sissoko. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Miguel Almirón in his first 110 apps in Premier League: 9 goals.<br><br>Miguel Almirón in 16 Premier League games this season: 9 goals.<br><br>Eddie Howe changed his life ⭐️🇵🇾<br><br>Newcastle will discuss a new deal for Almirón in the next months, current one expires in June 2024. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/VRocGQ38ct">pic.twitter.com/VRocGQ38ct</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1607406228371537921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>But the signing somehow sent Newcastle on an unforeseen spending spree in an attempt to bolster its squad and fend off relegation. After spending $63 million and ending up in 13th, Newcastle would spend over $77 million on now-important players like Joelinton and <a href="https:\/\/www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20221225-disaster-for-newcastle-not-to-have-unique-saint-maximin">Allan Saint-Maximin</a>. They, again, finished 13th that season.</p>



<p>After cutting costs and spending around $41 million on Callum Wilson and more, Newcastle finished 13th yet again. Not only frustrated with the increasingly-hostile fanbase, Mike Ashley faced pressure to step down as Newcastle’s owner. </p>



<h5>A Newcastle takeover</h5>



<p>Ashley’s resignation <a href="https:\/\/www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/newcastle-united-takeover-what-to-know-about-the-historic-saudi-arabian-backed-deal-for-premier-league-club/">invited</a> a Saudi-backed consortium to take control of Newcastle. It’s unknown why Saudi Arabia PM Mohammed bin Salman wanted to buy a football club, much less <em>Newcastle. </em></p>



<p>Maybe it’s because Newcastle-upon-Tyne is arguably the most well-known town in the north of England and it’s a relatively significant city in the grand scheme of things. Maybe it’s a desire to compete with Qatar (PSG) and the UAE (City) in a strange sort of proxy war. Or maybe it’s just a strange way of getting honor and pride. Regardless, Saudi Arabia completed the financial takeover amid some controversy.</p>



<p>The first action? spend. Newcastle had its most expensive transfer window of all time in 2020, spending over $115 million in the winter transfer window alone. Their January haul included Guimaraes, Wood, Trippier and key defender Dan Burn. </p>



<p>It improved their Premier League standing from 19th place in 20 games played to 11th by the end of the season. If only the second half of the Premier League counted, Newcastle would finish 4th, ahead of Liverpool, United, and Chelsea.  After spending even more money, $144 million, to be exact, on Sven Botman, Matt Targett, Nick Pope, and Alexander Isak. Now, Newcastle is second in the league.</p>



<p>The whole sequence of events; from winning the Championship to potentially challenging for the Premier League in just five years; feels like a fever dream to the Newcastle faithful. Yet, just like Newcastle’s chances of making it to European soccer for the first time in a decade, it is real.</p>



<h5>It’s not just money</h5>



<p>It’s easy to dismiss Newcastle’s success as just from money. Unsurprisingly, all signs point to it. Newcastle had a huge surge of success when the new owners pumped tons of cash into the club, allowing the team to make some big transfers. But the managerial signing of Eddie Howe is arguably what really set Newcastle into motion.</p>



<p>When Steve Bruce and the consortium parted ways, St. James Park was on fire; and not in a good way. The club was in 19th and tipped to suffer relegation when he left. </p>



<p>On the field, Newcastle offered nothing new despite its attempts to keep up with the rest of the league with its new signings. The attack was mundane and the defense was porous. Off the field, <a href="https:\/\/www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/17/steve-bruce-newcastle-manager">locker room tensions plagued Newcastle</a>, and fans regularly criticized Bruce’s “negative football.”</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>We’ve played a certain way in the past to try to make sure we get the results we need. I’ve let them be comfortable. But, like I say, the gloves are off now. I’m going to do things the way I see fit. We’ll do it my way.</p><cite>Steve Bruce talks to the <em>Guardian</em> after a 1-0 loss to Sheffield United in 2021</cite></blockquote>



<h5>A difference maker on the bench</h5>



<p>The signing of Eddie Howe helped Newcastle gain some sort of consistency. Their 4-3-3 shape was robust and fluid, allowing them not only to defend firmly and frustrate opponents, but to also attack with pace.</p>



<p>Howe is a match made in heaven for a Newcastle team with lots of attacking depth and playmakers in the squad. His formation focuses on attacking brilliance and defensive flexibility, allowing the quality of the Newcastle stars to shine through.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 – Eddie Howe is only the third English manager to win more than 20 Premier League matches in a single year (21 in 2022 so far), after Kevin Keegan (24 in 1994, 23 in 1995 with Newcastle) and Roy Evans (22 in 1996 with Liverpool). Significant. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/GJHIADtnHS">pic.twitter.com/GJHIADtnHS</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1607425312836534274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Trippier and Joe Willock have provided dangerous crosses. Trippier also provided an added layer of playmaking along Bruno Guimaraes. Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson give that vital finishing that contending teams need. The defense is equally as imposing as the offense. </p>



<p>Nick Pope, arguably the best keeper in the league at the moment, has the highest save percentage and the seventh-most saves. Trippier is a solid wall on defense, and so is Joelinton when he plays as a midfielder. Howe has put all of these players and qualities together, with drastic effects.</p>



<h2>What to expect from Newcastle in the Premier League going forward</h2>



<p>With new players and a new manager, Newcastle look like they can forge a deep run in the league. And they showed it in their recent win against mid-table team Leicester. </p>



<p>They were incisive, creative, solid; everything that a Premier League winner can be. And although dreams of winning the Premier League might be farfetched, they have the results to back it up. A 3-3 shootout with City, a 2-1 victory over Tottenham, and a 1-0 thriller against Chelsea all affirm Newcastle’s newfound rise to the top.</p>



<p>If they cannot find the points to get past <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/arsenal-extend-lead-at-the-top-after-stunning-second-half-comeback-20221226-WST-413488.html">first-place Arsenal</a>, Newcastle still look like a favorite to make it to the top seven and qualify for European football. Although blaming the consortium and massive investment of money is easy to do, it disrespects the valiant efforts of a Newcastle side that has rebuilt itself both tactically and mentally. Look forward to a New Year’s Eve fixture against relegation candidates Leeds where Newcastle can definitely strut their stuff.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto</em></p>


Newcastle was not among the frontrunners to win the Premier League this season. However, the Magpies' form says otherwise.

Why Newcastle could contend for the Premier League

destacadas


<p>Rumors of a possible Saudi Arabia <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> bid for 2030 surfaced in recent days. The speculation started to swirl after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was seen sitting next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the opening match of the tournament. <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/saudi-arabia-national-team-tv-schedule/">Saudi Arabia</a> was obviously not playing a match at that particular time.</p>



<p>These rumors also suggest that other nations could join Saudi Arabia as co-hosts. Egypt and Greece could possibly team up with Saudi Arabia to bid for the 2030 World Cup. This is despite the fact that the capital of Greece (Athens) and the Saudi Arabia capital (Riyadh) are separated by over 2,000 miles. </p>



<h2>Expert says Saudi World Cup possible in 2030</h2>



<p>Nevertheless, sports and geopolitical economy expert Simon Chadwick claims that the scenario could very well happen. “This rumor, which is unsubstantiated at the moment, does have legs,” Chadwick told <a href="https:\/\/www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2022/saudi-arabia-world-cup-2030-1234696963/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sportico</a>.</p>



<p>“[Hosting] is entirely consistent with what Saudi Arabia has been trying to do in football and more generally in policy terms over the last seven years. It is realistic to think that Saudi Arabia and two partners are a genuine possibility for 2030.”</p>



<p>There has only been three official bids for the 2030 World Cup so far. Two of the three involve multiple countries per bid. These three possible choices include: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay; Portugal, Spain, and Ukraine, and Morocco. FIFA does not vote on a host until 2024.</p>



<h5>Conflicting reports from Saudi officials</h5>



<p>However, freelance journalist Seamus Malekafzali as poured cold water on the potential idea. The journalist reported on recent comments made by Saudi officials. A Tourism Ministry spokesperson told Bloomberg that the Middle Eastern country does not have a bid for the 2030 World Cup. </p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There will be no joint Greece-Egypt-Saudi Arabia joint World Cup bid for 2030 after all. My hopes to see what ghastly creation would be the inevitable Neom World Cup stadium, dashed. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/5J1Sagjbr2">pic.twitter.com/5J1Sagjbr2</a></p>— Séamus Malekafzali (@Seamus_Malek) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Seamus_Malek/status/1597914979356712960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>There is still plenty of time for Saudi Arabia, or any other nation, to submit a formal bid to host the tournament. However, the group led by Uruguay likely has the upper hand in host selection. Uruguay previously hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 and it could be fitting to honor this anniversary.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>


The 2030 World Cup could be headed to Saudi Arabia. However, any possibility of a bid could include other nations as co-hosts.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Saudi Arabia" - Page 12

Eddie Howe

Why Newcastle could contend for the Premier League

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia could host World Cup 2030, says expert