The view from Saudi: a year of momentous change at Newcastle United

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Newcastle United takeover, club Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan delivered a special open letter to the club’s fans.

“The first game after the takeover will live long in my memory,” he said recalling the home game against Tottenham on Oct. 17, 2021 and the “feeling of pride at holding the black and white scarf entering the stadium.”

So much has happened since that day, and I was lucky to experience many of those moments both in Newcastle and at home in Saudi Arabia.

Here are my main takes from a memorable year.

Hope returns

When Keith Patterson, a popular Newcastle fan who helped push the takeover, was asked about the biggest change at the club after the Saudi-backed purchase, he replied simply: “Hope.”

That there is the hope of winning a trophy — something that could not be envisioned a year ago — is a sign of just how ambitious Newcastle United, both the club and its fans, have become.

It might not come this season, but now there is real hope that a first trophy since the 1969 Fairs Cup is on the way.

Pre-season sets tone for new campaign

Winning the Premier League is not the target for Newcastle right now, and supporters know that a far more realistic target is winning a domestic cup at Wembley or reaching Europe next season.

The club’s intentions were clear from the pre-season camps in Austria and Portugal, which saw impressive displays against Benfica and Atlanta in particular.

With an improved, settled squad in place, the feel-good factor of the summer has carried over into the season.

Intelligent recruitment

The January transfer window set a high bar for Newcastle’s recruitment, with Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes and Chris Wood joining on a full-time