HOWE DID IT TURN INTO SUCH A MESS?

Questions must be raised over how Eddie and Toon handled Isak saga

- patdolan

THE Toon Army look like they've turned into the Loon Army.

Last season was painted by the Eddie Howe fan club in the English media as The Miracle on Tyneside.

I'm not so sure.

The club was taken over by the Private Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia in October 2021.

The PIF is globally one of the largest wealth funds, worth nearly eltn.

It is expected to double over the next five years.

After 14 years of Mike Ashley it led to unprecedented hope and joy in Newcastle - amongst their magnificent and loyal fans.

A big city club in a place with no rivals and a town totally consumed with THEIR club, though one that had not won the league since 1927.

In fact, the most recent trophy that Newcastle had won was the FA Cup in 1955.

Arguably their most loved centre-forward, the great Jackie Milburn who is famously celebrated as 'Wor Jackie', scored the opening goal after just a minute in a 3-1 win against Manchester City at Wembley.

The city of Newcastle celebrated like it was going out of fashion for the whole summer.

However it was silverware that then went out of fashion up there.

That's why last season felt like the start of something, Under the much loved 'Steady Eddie', they won a first trophy since that day 70 years ago - the League Cup.

That was followed sneaking into the Champions League by finishing fifth in the Premier League ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.

Newcastle benefited from the Premier League's improved.

UEFA co-efficient and securing of an extra place, which was confirmed when Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

They are now four years into being at least on paper - the richest football club in the world.