Newcastle give Trippier and Krafth fitting send off – but what next for those left behind? – The Athletic
For Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth and, in all probability, Anthony Gordon, this marked a defined Newcastle United ending.
There were three very different forms of farewell — from all-out adoration for the “legend” Trippier (as Wor Flags’ banner hailed him), to warm gratitude shown towards the injured Krafth during a half-time on-field presentation, and a conspicuous non-appearance (or even brief cheerio) for Gordon, who was once again an overlooked substitute — but the goodbyes were real and dominated Newcastle’s final home game of a testing season.
The question for the man who is now Newcastle’s most successful Premier League head coach (when it comes to wins) is whether this represented the start of something new.
Eddie Howe has overseen 178 top-flight matches as Newcastle head coach, the second-most in the Premier League behind Sir Bobby Robson (188 games). The 48-year-old had already eclipsed every other Newcastle manager in the past half-century by lifting the Carabao Cup last season, and this 3-1 triumph over a sorry, seemingly Championship-bound West Ham United at St James’ Park represented his 84th league victory, taking Howe beyond Robson and the transformative Kevin Keegan (both 83).
For four years, while success under Howe was not always linear, it was real and progress was palpable. Conviction that Howe was the right head coach for Newcastle was almost universal.
Newcastle’s players celebrate against West Ham (Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
After an exhausting and turbulent 2025-26 — which featured genuine high moments in the Champions League especially, but also chastening periods — doubts surrounding Howe’s suitability to take Newcastle forward have emerged and then grown.
But a three-game unbeaten run, which has included successive home wins, and an encouraging, if belated, upturn in Newcastle’s attacking performances has reinforced the case for the club to continue to back Howe to oversee the significant rebuild which is required this summer.
That was always Newcastle’s starting point, but that required affirmation in the form of wins and general displays. Rather than the feeling of staleness and decline that pervaded Newcastle during a run of nine defeats in 13 Premier League games between January and April, there are signs that Howe has the energy and ideas to begin afresh.
“It was really important we didn’t end on a negative,” Howe told reporters afterwards. “I want to produce a team the supporters really identify with, that they love coming to see. We’ve pretty much been that, although there have been times this season where we’ve dropped below that. The big thing is for the supporters to love the players and the players to love the supporters.”
That final point is critical. Howe requires the buy-in of his players but also of fans.
Unity has provided the bedrock for Howe’s success and, were he to actually lose the crowd, then visualising a path ahead would have become increasingly difficult. While he was not quite serenaded in the manner Trippier was, “Eddie Howe’s black-and-white army” was chanted as he waved to fans afterwards.
Newcastle fans salute Trippier (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
“The connection with the supporters was really strong and that gives me real hope for the future because that is number one,” Howe said. “I’m very grateful and it’s never taken for granted because we know this season’s been a challenge.”
In September, few would have envisaged Will Osula ending the campaign as Newcastle’s first-choice centre-forward following an £119million ($158.6m) outlay on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Howe included.
But the 22-year-old Dane has grasped his opportunity during the run-in, with his well-taken brace against West Ham taking his tally to five goals in his last six Premier League outings. His pace, unpredictability and ability to press have added a fresh dimension to a forward line which has lacked an energetic focal point (Gordon’s stint as No 9 aside).
Woltemade, meanwhile, scored his first league goal since December 20 and his first in 17 top-flight outings.
The Germany international appears more comfortable in the No 10/second-striker role he was deployed in and has been the obvious beneficiary of the tweak to a 4-2-3-1/4-1-4-1 system. That setup has also further liberated Bruno Guimaraes, allowing the Brazilian to dictate play and move Newcastle forward in a swift and direct fashion, far more reminiscent of the Howe sides of previous campaigns.
Guimaraes is irreplaceable — but Osula and, to a lesser extent, Woltemade are presenting increasingly strong arguments to be regular starters next season.
“It’s unknown,” Howe said of how the squad will look come 2026-27, while stressing that Alexander Isak’s departure last summer had already dramatically changed the team’s make-up. “But the big thing is we need to try and improve. If people do leave, we need to bring in better players. The team and squad can’t get weaker. That’s my big thing.”
Howe applauds the fans at the end (Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)
That is the huge challenge which Ross Wilson faces during his first summer as Newcastle’s sporting director.
Experienced leaders like Trippier, Krafth and Fabian Schar (in all likelihood) are leaving, while Sandro Tonali could be sold and Gordon appears destined to depart, with Bayern Munich favourites for his signature. Quality additions — and big personalities — are required to replace them.
“This club’s an absolute powerhouse, the manager’s top,” Trippier told reporters afterwards. “We’ve only gone higher and higher, so fans are going to demand higher and higher. I’ve said many times, ‘pressure is a privilege’, but you’ve got to handle that pressure.”
For the third successive match, Gordon was an unused replacement and he struck an awkward figure on the pitch afterwards. While the squad and their families walked round and applauded the fans, Gordon seemed to stay back, kicking a ball around with children, including his own daughter Aurelia. Even when the squad-and-their-families photo was taken, Gordon stood at the very end.
He did then turn and quietly applaud the Gallowgate End, but it was noticeable that the chants for Gordon were less frequent and quieter than they were for Trippier, Krafth, Schar and even Tonali.
Change is proving emotional for Newcastle, but Howe and the club must find a way to ensure that is not allowed to evolve into something more traumatic.
The glorious first iteration of Howe’s Newcastle has reached its endpoint. New beginnings and Howe’s Newcastle 2.0 awaits.
