Newcastle United have finalised the appointment of Nottingham Forest technical director Ross Wilson, who has overseen the City Ground side’s meteoric rise to European football.
Familiar and on good terms with Eddie Howe, Wilson is the ultimate replacement to Paul Mitchell, who left his directorial post unceremoniously, less than one year after replacing Dan Ashworth.
Journalist Ben Jacobs said, “Newcastle have been keeping tabs on Wilson since he was at Rangers”, and it is regarded as a promising move for the Tyneside outfit.
Why Newcastle appointed Ross Wilson
Recognised for establishing deep-rooted and identifiable cultures, Wilson will cater to Howe’s managerial needs. His is the hand that wields ultimate power on the transfer front, but he will listen to the manager and make decisions in line with Howe’s wants and needs.
To put that another way, it highlights that Howe is the most influential person at St. James’ Park. This is something that wasn’t quite established with Ashworth and then Mitchell in the boardroom.
However, this certainly isn’t to say Wilson will be powerless. Moreover, his connections at Nottingham Forest suggest an already approachable relationship with the Tricky Trees could be strengthened, and that’s interesting when considering Howe’s recent comments about bringing Elliot Anderson back home at some stage.
However, Wilson’s arrival might also spell the end for one or two Newcastle first-teamers, and Nick Pope could be among those to receive the chop.
Why Wilson could boldly axe Newcastle hero
In the summer of 2022, Newcastle signed Pope from Burnley for about £10m following their relegation from the Premier League. He had stood against the tide of the drop for several years and was regarded as a good shot-stopper.
He has made 104 appearances for the club, conceding only 100 goals.
Over three years on, he’s still going between the sticks for the Toon, and Pope has recently been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month after keeping two clean sheets and making five saves during the defeat against Arsenal.
In fact, the England international has shut up shop five times from seven fixtures all told, and United’s backline is once again the bedrock of Howe’s tactical vision.
Despite this, Wilson might be inclined to replace the 33-year-old, who Howe has previously described as “one of the best shot-stoppers” he has worked with.
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Pope has been in fine fettle this season, but he’s never quite maintained the shot-saving skills to rival the best of the best. Moreover, his distribution leaves something to be desired, and since Howe employs such emphasis on Newcastle’s transitional play, this is something a new keeper could help advance, shaping a new chapter.
When Gabriel Magalhaes, contentiously still on the field, scored a last-minute winner for Arsenal the other week, questions were then asked of Pope and his lack of control in dealing with the inswing.
He’s not getting any younger, and while Ramsdale is already in the ranks, on loan, James Trafford’s unfortunate situation over at Manchester City suggests he might be on the move once again down the line. Gianluigi Donnarumma is not so easily displaced, after all.
Pope, hailed as a “phenomenal goalkeeper” in the past by Shay Given, reaches the end of his £60k-per-week contract next summer, and renewing the ageing star’s terms might not be the best move. Wilson will assess the situation, for sure, and it’s quite possible he will opt for change.