Some football insiders now have a theory over why Newcastle did so well last season

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It goes without saying that Newcastle United overperformed last season.

At the beginning of the campaign, no one expected the Magpies to reach a cup final and finish in the top four. Fast forward to the present day and Toon fans continue to reminisce about their trip to Wembley, while Eddie Howe is preparing his players for Champions League football.

It was a remarkable season for Newcastle, who defied expectations and broke into the top four, finishing ahead of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

And the most impressive thing was that the Magpies deserved it. Howe’s side were so consistent throughout the entire season, rarely showing any signs of dropping off. Meanwhile, the aforementioned big hitters struggled to hit their stride, falling well below their expected levels.

That created an opportunity for Newcastle, and they took it. Now a new report from the Independent has hinted at why someone people within the game believe that Howe’s side, and others, did so well during the 2022/23 campaign.

Why people within football think Newcastle did so well last season

According to the Independent, some people within the game believe that the likes of Newcastle overperformed last season because of the amount of players that were at the World Cup in Qatar, which took place during the middle of the campaign.

The other ‘overachievers’ named are Arsenal, Napoli, Feyenoord and Osasuna.

It is an interesting theory, but one that probably does not check out. There weren’t many teams that were not affected by the mid-season World Cup. Newcastle had five players out in Qatar, with Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar all taking part. They were key players for the Magpies last season.

It actually felt like the World Cup hindered us at the time, as we struggled for goals following the return of domestic football.

The winter World Cup posed a new challenge for every team, but whether or not it actually helped Newcastle is difficult to say. It didn’t feel like it at the time, and it was hardly the sole reason why the Magpies thrived where others failed.

This season will be more traditional, while Newcastle have the added challenge of competing in the Champions League. That could make it difficult for Howe’s side to repeat last season’s feat.