With the season over and Newcastle having secured a very impressive 11th place, it is worth reflecting on the contributions made by individuals which made it happen.
Starting with a couple of new arrivals at Newcastle United, Matt Targett came in on loan from Aston Villa in January and reminded everyone how useful it is to have a left-back play at left-back. At the same time, in came Dan Burn, a Geordie who finally achieved his ambition of playing for his home club.
On the other side of the defence, Kieran Trippier arrived, somewhat surprisingly, from Champions League contenders Atletico Madrid. His arrival seemed to lift the whole team's standards, not least Emil Krafth.
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Krafth was far from the only player who was transformed by the arrival of new players and a new boss in Eddie Howe though. Another was Fabian Schar, who was justly rewarded with a new contract.
The biggest transformation though was Joelinton of course, going from an awkwardly ineffective striker, to a very effective midfielder. Jonjo Shelvey was another midfielder who suddenly got a taste for winning.
Then there were the other top performers of the season: newly arrived Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock and Martin Dubravka. All of them fought for vital points.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles had a hard season at times due to the changes. However, rather than reveal any negativity, he showed an incredible attitude that was rewarded by Eddie Howe come the end of the season.
Other important contributions were made by Sean Longstaff, whose future is currently unclear, Jacob Murphy and another new signing Chris Wood. The latter was pivotal in turning results around in the absence of Callum Wilson, who ended the season as the club’s top scorer despite a long-term injury.
Finally, it cannot be overlooked the contribution from players who fell out of favour come the end of the season such as Javier Manquillo and Matt Ritchie. Others who are important to remember are Ciaran Clark, Jamal Lewis and Isaac Hayden, who lost their places in the squad but bit their tongues for the sake of the team.
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