Roy Keane uses one word to sum up Newcastle United’s season
The word hung in the air with perfect simplicity – “Fantastic.” Roy Keane’s blunt assessment of Newcastle United’s campaign, delivered during Sky Sports’ season review, captured the essence of a transformative year on Tyneside.
Few pundits possess Keane’s economy of praise, making his single-word verdict all the more significant for a club that has rewritten its modern history over nine extraordinary months.
Newcastle’s 2023/24 season will be remembered as the year they shattered multiple curses. The Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley didn’t just end a 70-year trophy drought; it exorcised the ghosts of countless painful finals past.
Their subsequent Champions League qualification – secured despite Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Everton thanks to Manchester United’s controversial win over Aston Villa – completed a redemption arc few saw coming after last summer’s transfer inactivity.
The statistics tell only part of the story. Eddie Howe’s side amassed 66 points (W20 D6 L12) with a +21 goal difference, narrowly pipping Villa to fifth place. Yet the numbers barely reflect the obstacles overcome:
- No major summer signings following the £55m arrival of Sandro Tonali
- Injury crises that regularly deprived Howe of key players
- European football’s draining effect on a thin squad
Keane’s praise carries particular weight given his historical reluctance to lavish compliments. The Irishman recognized what this campaign represents beyond mere league positions – a cultural reset for a club that had grown accustomed to disappointment.
Standout Performers Behind the Success
Alexander Isak emerged as the talisman Newcastle desperately needed, his 24 goals across all competitions providing the cutting edge in crucial moments.
The Swedish striker formed a devastating partnership with Anthony Gordon, whose transformation from Everton outcast to England international epitomizes Howe’s coaching prowess.
In midfield, Bruno Guimarães continued to pull strings with Brazilian flair, while Joelinton’s physicality gave Newcastle their trademark steel. Defensively, Dan Burn exceeded expectations at center-back, and Tino Livramento’s emergence softened the blow of Kieran Trippier’s midseason dip in form.
The Everton Reality Check
Sunday’s performance at Goodison Park served as a sobering reminder of work still required. Newcastle managed just one shot on target against an Everton side with nothing to play for, their European hangover evident in sluggish passing and defensive lapses.
Yet even this disappointment couldn’t dampen the overarching achievement – Champions League football returns to St James’ Park after a one-year absence.
What Makes This Season “Fantastic”
- Trophy Drought Ended – First major domestic honor since 1955
- European Football Secured – Back-to-back Champions League qualifications
- Identity Established – Clear playing philosophy under Howe
- Youth Integration – Livramento, Hall, and Miley’s development
- Resilience Demonstrated – Overcoming squad limitations
As the Magpies prepare for another summer of rebuilding, Keane’s assessment rings true. This was never about perfection – the Everton performance proved that – but about progress.
Newcastle have transformed from plucky overachievers to genuine contenders, their trophy cabinet no longer empty, their ambitions no longer theoretical.
The challenge now becomes sustaining this success. With Champions League revenue and the pull of European football, Howe can finally address squad depth issues that hampered their Premier League consistency.
But for now, as the Toon Army celebrates long into the summer, Keane’s one-word eulogy perfectly captures a season that exceeded all reasonable expectations. Fantastic, indeed.