Danny Murphy says Newcastle have been missing something they were so good at last season

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Danny Murphy thinks Newcastle have been missing something this season that was so integral to their successes during the previous campaign.

It’s fair to say that Newcastle have been somewhat underwhelming this year after the unbelievable achievement of finishing top four and qualifying for the Champions League last season.

Speaking on commentary for the BBC during their penalty win against Blackburn, Murphy claimed that Newcastle have lacked that energy and intensity that was so key for them last year.

Murphy thinks this looks like a different Newcastle team

From the moment he came in as Newcastle manager Eddie Howe would pride himself and his team on playing with such a high intensity and pressing high up the pitch to make it difficult for opposition defenders.

The Magpies utilised that during the entirety of last season to their advantage, going toe to toe with some of the biggest teams in the Premier League and earning a lot of respect on their way to a top four finish.

This year, however, it’s been like a completely different team and while injuries can be used as an excuse for the drop off in form at the end of 2023, it’s not been a persisting issue as of late.

In the defeat against Arsenal Newcastle saw the return of Joe Willock and Alexander Isak and still had a strong starting 11 out on the field, but they were ultimately embarrassed by a top quality team.

On commentary, Murphy said: “I think that’s been one of the big differences with Newcastle, that athleticism, that energy. It was so pivotal for them last season with their success.

“Not quite seen that, they’ve played a lot of games some of these players. Also the inability to rotate when they had all the injuries.”

Questions had been raised about Howe’s position at Newcastle

As Newcastle have been dropping down the Premier League table and exited Europe at the earliest stage, Howe’s position at Newcastle has been called into question and it still will even after tonight’s victory.

A win in the quarter final and another trip to Wembley would obviously ease some of that pressure, but it is their league position and the poor performances that has been the cause of concern.

Draws to Luton and Bournemouth at home is nowhere near good enough if they want to have ambitions of being one of the best teams in England, and Howe has to find a way to rectify that soon.

Having said that, should he win the FA Cup for Newcastle it would give him legendary status in the North East and buy him a lot more time in the job even if their league position doesn’t pick up.