The core of the team that swept Newcastle into the Champions League has been stripped out, the most successful manager of a generation is gone and there have been more brutal knockbacks in the transfer market this summer.
There’s no dressing it up – it was not supposed to be like this. It’s a club that has been forced into the harshest of resets.
And yet the situation can be salvaged. Fans might be enthused that finally some hard decisions have been taken. And with the right combination of messaging and action, Newcastle have an opportunity to salvage this season.
Matthias Jaissle’s arrival
How’s this for a neat summary of the blurred lines on Tyneside this summer? Losing Eddie Howe puts Newcastle in a place of danger but also in a position of maximum opportunity.
