We haven’t seen many pundits be too positive about Newcastle for this season, after we seemed to have a strong transfer window, spent a net of £52.6M and brought in four good first team players in Gini Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba and Florian Thauvin.
Last season was an absolute nightmare for Newcastle fans, after we had a very poor start with just four draws and four points in our first 7 league games – and that was after we had lost seven of our last eight games in the previous season.
🙁
Paul Merson – Sky Sports pundit
We then went on a six game winning streak and seemed to be OK, but then Alan Pardew left the club in early January, and John Carver took over.
But John wasn’t up to the job, and we couldn’t seem to win a game in the last three months of the season.
We got just 10 points from the first 18 league games Carver was in charge but those 3 points against West Ham on the very last day of the season lifted us up to 15th place, and we only just avoided relegation.
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson doesn’t think we will improve on that position this season, as he had this to say on the Sky Sports web-site:
“Newcastle are about the same as West Ham,” “I like Steve McClaren, he’s a good manager, and I think they will just consolidate this year and don’t want to be in a relegation battle.”
But Paul picks 15th as the position Newcastle will finish in – 6th bottom – same as last year – that’s not good.
I’m not sure how 15th position would be a consolidation this season?
We haven’t made a great start, but then again we’ve played four clubs who finished in the top eight last season including Manchester United and Arsenal.
But we’ll need to start picking up some points soon.
If Paul is right, then this will not be a good season for the club – who have set Steve McClaren the goals of finishing in the top eight and winning a cup.
If we finish in the same position as last year that says to us we will be fighting relegation again this season, and that’s not good.
If that happens, it will be the third time in four years we have struggled with relegation.
It’s something everybody associated with Newcastle does not want to see this season – which is one reason the Newcastle Board spent £52.6M in transfers over the summer.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
toonbrother
Sep 5, 2015 at 8:45 AM
Comment #1he is spot on
it will take mclaren till half way through the season to realise colocinni is a disaster
by that time we’d be mired in a relegation battle
Harley
Sep 5, 2015 at 8:57 AM
Comment #2Not related to this article but just caught up with things and can’t believe Ian Wright yestrrday.
Who the hell does he think he is? This is the scumbag who told a 1 arm linesman to get his arm up, although he protested innocence everyone knew what he meant.
He was as dirty a player youre going to find and to come from Arsenal who over the years have been crucified for surrounding refs is just laughable.
What a little nob.
ToonMatt
Sep 5, 2015 at 9:16 AM
Comment #3Harley, Don’t forget his filthy tackle on Peter Schmeichel! The Man is an absolute scumbag!
ToonFly
Sep 5, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Comment #4Harley et al
What did Ian Wright do/say yesterday?
Mickalonius
Sep 5, 2015 at 9:34 AM
Comment #5I wish there was an ignore button for Toon Brother…
LambethMag
Sep 5, 2015 at 9:51 AM
Comment #6Wrighty said that the FA should take action against the club for the disgusting treatment of Andre Marriner last week.
He’d wouldn’t have said a thing if we hadn’t been playing his beloved Arsenal. P***k!
Yes, take the passion out football, and out of the ground!!!
He was one of the most passionate players I’ve ever witnessed play the game. So I can’t really understand where he’s coming from.
Passion on the terraces is exactly what is required at St. James’. We need to roll the clock back to the 70’s when opposing players were terrified when they walked out onto the pitch.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Sep 5, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #7Lambeth
I wrote yesterday what the F**k are the FA going to do to appease IaN D**kheed Wright:
Oh because the fans made St James’s a hostile environment (about bloody time)
The Fa in Their wisdom:
Ban TOON fans from next three home games.
Fine the club.
Deduct points.
If the likes of COCKolin or how ever you spell him didn’t roll around in agony every time he was tackled then I don’t think the crowd would of been as vitriolic and Mariner instead of getting his card out every time – gave Arsenal a free kick and had a word with the TOON’a players on their fouls like what he did with Arsenal’s players.