Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has become the latest big-six spokesman to show concern over Newcastle United's potential in the coming years.
Last week, it was Jurgen Klopp who bemoaned the lack of a “ceiling” on Tyneside since the £300million takeover. Over a decade of underinvestment under Mike Ashley saw the Magpies stagnate into a Premier League also-ran. His reign of apathy plagued St James' Park for 14 years and deteriorated one of English football’s greatest clubs into a vessel-like advertising arm of Sports Direct.
Supporters who had bled black and white from birth turned their backs on the club; not due to the lack of silverware - it was never about success - but because they had been repeatedly treated with contempt by the man serving as club custodian.
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If it was all about trophies, then why on earth would three generations of supporters still flock to support Newcastle in their droves? After all, the Magpies have not won a domestic honour for almost seven decades yet the Toon Army still travel far and wide to support their team.
However, the Saudi-backed takeover promised to upset the apple cart and the so called big six are coming to terms with the fact they could well be faced with becoming a big seven.
“You have to consider Newcastle for the present and future as a danger,” Conte told reporters ahead of the Magpies’ trip to North London. “As a dangerous team for the first position, for the Champions League position (and) fighting to win trophies.
“For sure Newcastle also need time but they have the potential to go into the market and they did this (in the) summer to become one of the best teams in England.
“For this reason, many clubs have to pay attention because, in my opinion, I see Newcastle in the future becoming really, really dangerous for a place in the Champions League and to win trophies.”
The fiery Italian - unemployed at the time - was an outside bet to take the Newcastle job after Steve Bruce’s sacking last year. In reality, a manager of his prestige would never take charge at a club sitting 19th in the Premier League.
Back then, there were national sceptics doubting whether Newcastle’s new owners were serious - few would dispute that claim now given the dramatic turnaround under Eddie Howe.
Tottenham, a club lacking the stature of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, or the wealth and might of Manchester City or Chelsea, are the natural favourites to drop out of the “big six” once the Magpies seize their place among the elite. It is no surprise, then, that Conte is already signalling the alarm about Newcastle’s lofty ambitions.
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