There's been a bit of upheaval in the directorial department at Newcastle United over the past year, but Ross Wilson has forged a ...
There's been a bit of upheaval in the directorial department at Newcastle United over the past year, but Ross Wilson has forged a neat working relationship with Eddie Howe, and the pair are looking to make improvements at St. James' Park.
Last year, Howe and his squad defied many odds to lift the Carabao Cup and restore a place in the Champions League. It all came together, and while the sale of talisman Alexander Isak this summer threatened to knock things out of kilter, United have made progress in recent weeks, with new heroes emerging.
Bruno Guimaraes remains the Magpies' all-inspiring leader, but Malick Thiaw has risen to the occasion since arriving in the Premier League this year, becoming a different kind of driving force for the Tynesiders.
Howe's new leaders at Newcastle
Isak was never a vocal talisman in Howe's Newcastle squad, but, before the summer transfer window, he led by example on the field, scoring 27 goals across all competitions last season and notching in the Carabao Cup final.
However, Newcastle banked a record fee for his signature, and Guimaraes has only raised his game this term, both from a technical and leadership standpoint.
Though a new forward focal point has yet to properly establish himself, Thiaw has taken to life in the Premier League seamlessly, and Bruno has actually remarked that the imperious German defender is “the future of this club”.
It says something of his character and technical quality that he has arrived from AC Milan for around £35m and swiftly stepped higher than Sven Botman. As per Sofascore, Thiaw, 24, has won 74% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, completing 88% of his passes and yet to make an error.
He's some player, and Bruno is too, but United may actually have a younger member of their squad who is shooting through the form rankings in the English game, starting to prove he could be the pick of the bunch.
Newcastle made a better signing than Bruno & Thiaw
When Newcastle signed Lewis Hall from Chelsea for £28m (after a season-long loan move throughout the 2023/24 campaign), they knew they had struck a bargain for a young full-back with a wealth of potential.
However, injuries have damaged the 21-year-old's chances of establishing fluency since that move became permanent, and so it's interesting to see him playing so well in recent weeks, finally building toward the elite player he could, should, become.
Described as "the best player on the field" by reporter Andy Sixsmith after his monstrous display against Tottenham, Hall has overcome his injury problems and is now reminding the Premier League that he is one of the best in the business. Indeed, with more performances like these, it won't just be those of a Toon persuasion advocating for him to be on the Three Lions plane across the pond next summer.
Lewis Hall vs Tottenham | |
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Match Stats | # |
Data via Sofascore | |
As per FBref, Hall actually ranks among the top 7% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 5% for through balls and tackles won per 90.
This is a frighteningly rounded player, his formative career as a centre-midfielder fostering a dynamic skillset that is charging his journey to the top. If the England international can keep fitness levels on his side, then he will only get better and better on Tyneside, potentially even becoming Howe's main man.
In this, he might become one of the best signings of the PIF era. Already, it is clear that his name belongs in such a conversation, but Hall needs consistency now. Who knows, maybe he could climb up to loftier ground than the likes of Bruno and Thiaw stand on.
There's also the matter of him arriving from Chelsea after being awarded the Cobham side's Academy Player of the Year award. Pinched from a direct rival, Hall is developing into a player who will rival the likes of Marc Cucurella for the left-back crown down the line.
With so much room still for growth, there's every chance that Hall could be Howe's main man in the not-too-distant future.
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