The past 12 months may have brought about a monumental takeover and the subsequent removal of a tumultuous owner, marquee additions and stellar signings, and the type of performances that suddenly have the Magpies dubbed as 'contenders'. Yet, on the first anniversary of his St James' Park tenure, it is Eddie Howe managing Newcastle United that deserves to be celebrated above anything else.
For a man who has spent most his life at the other end of the country, Howe has taken to life on Tyneside in remarkably quick fashion. Ever since his first press conference at the club, there was a feeling the incoming manager understood exactly what he had signed up for in replacing Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
Alan Pardew tried hard to muster the same standing with the fanbase, while Rafa Benitez achieved it to an extent - but there is a feeling Howe just *gets* it. The former Bournemouth boss has made no secret of his desire to use the club's heroes of yesteryear as motivation for his current crop of stars.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe's rousing words Yasir Al-Rumayyan will love after Newcastle owner revealed objective
Howe has immersed himself in north east life and already feels like an honorary Geordie just one year into life on Tyneside. "It's been different but a healthy different," the Newcastle boss told reporters on Tuesday. "It was part of the reason I wanted to come to something new and vibrant and a totally different challenge.
"I feel like I'm Newcastle through and through but I feel like I have a lot more to prove and a lot more to educate myself on. It's been a really healthy dynamic for me to come into an amazing football club and try take on the challenge of managing Newcastle. It's an amazing thing to do."
Taking over a relegation-threatened side 12 months ago, Howe has admitted the first order of business was sorting out Newcastle's leaky defence. Stereotypically known more for his free-flowing attacking football at Bournemouth, the 44-year-old's appointment was questioned by sections of the media and fanbase due to the Magpies' record at the back under Steve Bruce.
One year on and Newcastle boast the best defence in the Premier League statically. Fabian Schar, who was put on the scrapheap under the previous boss, is now enjoying arguably his best spell in a black and white shirt.
Of course, defensive reinforcements have significantly bolstered Howe's options when it comes to keeping the ball out. However, with each passing day the fees paid for Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Sven Botman look like shrewd pieces of business.
Trippier has added a steeliness to Newcastle's XI, constantly barking instructions at his fellow co-stars, as well as proving lethal at the opposite end when it comes to chance creation. The former Atletico man feels like the absolute ideal first signing made under the new regime.
Pope hasn't faced a shot on target in over 180 minutes of football and Howe's entire defence costs less than Manchester United's £80m acquisition of Harry Maguire. Credit where it is due.
But Newcastle fans, as we all know, care more about what happens at the other end. Fast, free-flowing, attacking, dangerous, electric football is what the St James' Park faithful wants - and has received in recent months. A 3-3 draw with Manchester City and a combined tally of 17 goals put beyond Fulham, Aston Villa, Brentford and Southampton recent weeks tells the story.
While Howe's first-team are flying at present, he has fringe players itching to pull on that famous shirt at any given opportunity. The boss' mantra being that each member of the squad needs to feel loved.
“I can’t treat all 25 players the same," Howe told the High Performance Podcast this week. "Different backgrounds, from different countries, their experiences in life and sport are so different.
"Their personalities are different. You want them to feel safe in your environment. Being a dad myself helps that challenge. You have empathy and understanding.”
The likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser and Chris Wood are just a few who have shown resilience this season, despite struggling for game time. Players who have left the club also have nothing but positive things to say about Howe's appointment.
"I knew the club would be in very good hands with the manager. He feels like the right manager at the right time," Isaac Hayden told Chronicle Live after his loan move. "Although I've left, the manager was very, very good to me. In terms of our relationship, he called me [when I left] even though he is on his holidays. We still speak regularly and I don't think it was anything personal from his side."
Howe has the city dreaming once more. Dreaming of European nights, huge footballing scalps and even the distinct possibility of silverware in the not-too-distant future.
"I said very early on here that my dream is to try and win something for Newcastle and that hasn't changed," Howe told reporters this week. The league form is so important to us as well but in every competition we enter we want to give the best representation of ourselves."
It remains to be seen whether Howe's ambitious Newcastle dream comes true - but regardless how the rest of his tenure plays out, he will always be remembered fondly for the man who dared the dream after years of stifled ambition on Tyneside.
READ NEXT
Eddie Howe's rousing words Yasir Al-Rumayyan will love after Newcastle owner revealed objective
Everything Eddie Howe said at Newcastle United press conference ahead of Crystal Palace clash
World Cup heartache for Joelinton as Bruno Guimaraes earns place in Brazil squad
Ralph Hasenhuttl changes Newcastle United tune in final press conference as Southampton boss
Bruno's message home, Wilson reply spotted, Pope warning - Newcastle moments you may have missed
