Newcastle battles to avoid season of missed opportunities
The HinduAfter exceeding expectations for much of the season, Newcastle is now fighting to avoid another campaign of disappointment. Failure to finish in the top four, along with the setback in the League Cup final, could shift focus to what Newcastle has lost, rather than the gains made by Howe and his players. Newcastle hasn’t scored more than one in a league game since a 3-0 win over Leicester on December 26 and Howe’s team has lost its last three without finding the back of the net. The Champions League could speed up Newcastle’s bid to join the elite of the game, increasing its spending power and making it more attractive to the best players. Even if few expected Howe to qualify for club football’s biggest tournament at the start of the season, failure to finish in the top four now would feel like a chance missed.