There was once a time when Leicester City were example that most would have liked Newcastle United to follow. Ambitious ownership with real aims of upsetting the established order at the top of the Premier League, a willingness to back a manager to do so, and a board that seemingly understood the fans at the heart of the club were the most important thing.
Under Mike Ashley, this approach was something that Newcastle fans could only dream about. More envious eyes were cast when Leicester City announced plans for a state-of-the-art training complex - while Ashley afforded the previous manager Rafa Benitez nothing more than a lick of paint for the office walls. Leicester City were the benchmark for teams with long-term ambitions for European football.
Top four challenges for Leicester came - and arguably were wasted - but few of the Foxes faithful are left wondering 'what if' given the FA Cup triumph in 2021. The hope of Newcastle following in similar footsteps - spending to achieve, and always looking to improve, was fanciful under Ashley but now things have changed thanks to the October 2021 takeover.
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The consortium that has come in, has that ambition that fans thought may never shine again at St James' Park. The Boxing Day clash against Leicester shows just how far United have come in just over 12 months whilst also highlighting the importance of achieving the goals set.
When the buyout of Newcastle finally went through - for many Leicester, was still the example to follow. Fast forward 14 months, and it will be Leicester fans looking enviously up the table at the Magpies.
Leicester, still a squad of talent, have suffered for failing to qualify for the Champions League after looking likely in 2019-20 and 2020-21, only slipping out of the top four in the final few weeks of the season. It is now Newcastle who sit in a similar position to that of Leicester for the majority of those two seasons.
Leicester fans and other critics may point to United's funds but as the blue side of the East Midlands know, it's one thing to have funds and another to spend them wisely. Like Leicester for a large part of Rodgers' reign, Newcastle have spent the money on solid additions that offer the building blocks for the foundation of the side. Leicester are paying the price for some errors of judgment in recent windows and missing out on the prize of the top four, and the hope from Tyneside is that Newcastle doesn't suffer a similar fate.
Of course, United's rise to the top of the table has come well before even the most optimistic fan would have predicted and their presence in the top four is certainly starting to rattle the 'established' big sides around them - a feeling Leicester once stirred amongst the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham.
Plenty has been said about United's recruitment - the genius of Bruno Guimaraes in the middle, the leadership of Kieron Trippier, and the safe hands of Nick Pope, but it is decisions off the field that are also starting to get noticed - and a sign of the fear that Newcastle, a club that has barely begun its new era, is striking into the heart of Premier League clubs.
Rodgers in his pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle's visit to The King Power praised Eddie Howe for the work he's done with the club's players before adding: "I look at Newcastle and I think off the field as well, bringing in Dan Ashworth who is a top operator in the game as sporting director and Darren Eales is another guy who has come into the background into an executive role and he is outstanding at his work.
"They're trying to build something there, do it the right way, and implement a style of football that is exciting and aggressive, and on and off the field I think they're only going to improve and get better."
It's a quote that is refreshing as it is a sign that Newcastle - throughout the club - is starting to get noticed by its top-flight rivals. It's a nod to the ownership of the club who have gone out and secured the very best people in the right positions to help the club grow and improve.
From Ashworth to Eales to Peter Silverstone - United now have the foundations away from the pitch to make sure the club can become a global force. It's in stark contrast to what went before under Ashley. Even the training ground is getting more upgrades than just a few pictures hung on the walls.
Why is it so important? A successful football club off the pitch provides the funds for a successful team on the pitch. Bringing in much-needed funds, and growing the brand. United now have the right people in place to achieve this.
Rodgers' observation of United - praising the work away from the pitch - is not something you always hear or read at the top level but rest assured if Rodgers has noticed it, those battling to keep Newcastle out of the top four, have so too.
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