If you just look at Newcastle’s results in the eight games we have played so far this season we have only one win, against a League Two Side and five defeats, and in five of those games we haven’t scored.
So nothing much seems to have changed from last season when in our last eleven league games we had one win and nine defeats under John Carver, and we failed to score in five of those games.
Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley shown on May 24th against West Ham
We still find it very difficult to score goals and in the final third of the field we are powder puff and just cannot put the ball into the back of the net
In defense, we are still too porous and opposing teams find it too easy to score goals against us.
We are also starting to lose games in the first half and concede early goals like we did against West Ham and Watford.
There are some good signs this season and our performances at Manchester United and Arsenal are better than any we gave in the second half of last season in terms of a defensive performance.
But in our last three games, which have been against weaker opponents we have hardly looked resilient and have found it difficult to score goals.
In the last two seasons – the first two under the three year £3.1B deal – we have received around £80M from the Premier League and are likely to receive a similar amount next May – wherever we finally finish up in the league.
Then the total Premier League money goes up to £5B for the next three years, an increase of 70% and we are likely to start to receive around £136M for the three years after next May.
That’s assuming we stay in the Premier League.
Mike Ashley is not going to take kindly to a relegation next May, especially after he gave out £52M to Lee Charnley and the Board to bring in new players this summer to strengthen the squad.
It’s hard to say Charnley has done his job and got the best bang for the buck with the players we have brought in over the summer – not yet anyway.
So we have to assume that if things don’t improve fairly soon, Ashley will helicopter into Newcastle and have a high-level meeting and try to find out exactly what’s wrong at Newcastle.
Ashley will also want to ensure that Charnley and the Board have identified players we can bring in during the January transfer window to strengthen the squad.
Of the four players we have brought in over the summer only Mbemba and Wijnaldum have performed anywhere near their potential and Thauvin and Mitrovic have struggled so far.
It’s not quite a crisis right now at Newcastle, but defeats against Chelsea and Manchester City will mean one win in our first ten games and seven defeats.
That’s not good and that’s a crisis.
Comments welcome.
92 comments so far
Mag52
Sep 24, 2015 at 1:51 PM
Comment #81Hibbitt.
We have a squad with the addition of two seriously decent players (Mbemba and Gini) and two the jury is still out on, plus a fit again De Jong as compared to that which we had when Pardew left.
We were sitting in 9th. place when he left. Is it really so far fetched to imagine he would have got this team into the top 8 ? I don’t think so.
BandB
Sep 24, 2015 at 1:54 PM
Comment #82Ashley has one plan.
That is to get his money back and get the club lean and fit to cash in on a sale when the market comes to its apex.
All he wants in the meantime is to stay in the league with the minimum possible sweat. Not a penny will be invested that does not serve those ends.
stjp5
Sep 24, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Comment #83I never said Pardew was a great manager or even terribly successful. I did say the players under him worked hard and that this year’s team has more talent than last’s.
Yes Pardew’s record at this time last season was awful but they turned it around decent enough. If SM is a good manager this team can get out of the hole.
I understand fans want the club to as successful as it is big. However, I think NUFC is in real danger of relegation and that the demands of “Ashley Out” will make relegation more likely by making the atmosphere more negative for all.
I feel for you as you seem to be in a catch-22. You demand real long-term changes (not undeservedly), while short-term you’re team is in danger. Good luck.
G
Sep 24, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Comment #84Some depressing reading copied from f365:
1 – Shots on target against Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday evening.
1 and 2 – Last season’s league positions of Newcastle’s next two opponents. If you thought Sheffield Wednesday was bad, wait for Chelsea and Manchester City.
2 – Points picked up from their last nine league away games
3 – League goals this season. The lowest in the country.
4 – Wins in all competitions in 2015. Those beaten sides – Hull City, Aston Villa, West Ham and Northampton Town.
4 – Consecutive defeats
6 – Matches won by Steve McClaren since the beginning of February. Derby fell from second position on February 7 to eighth by the end of the season.
8 – The league position McClaren publicly declared as the club’s ambition for the season. That and to win a trophy. It better be the FA Cup.
10 – Changes made by Sheffield Wednesday for their Capital One Cup victory at St James’ Park.
10 – League games since Newcastle last scored more than twice.
12.5 – McClaren’s win percentage. That’s the worst in Newcastle’s history and 2.5% worse than John Carver’s record.
14 – League points since Alan Pardew left.
40 – League points picked up by Alan Pardew since he left.
15 – League shots on target. The lowest in the Premier League.
37 – Chances created in the Premier League. Not only is that the lowest in the division, it’s 45 fewer than Southampton.
54 – League games since Newcastle last scored more than three times in a match.
32,222 – Average weekly wage of a Newcastle player (estimated in May).
46,700,000 – Amount spent in pounds on new players this summer. Newcastle have already spent more this season than in any other season in their history.
jimmysmith
Sep 24, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Comment #85They didn’t appear anywhere near as second rate or cowardly when he was the gaffer, although admittedly the derby record is difficult to reconcile. So many of the losses suffered under Pardew came as a result of imbalance and lack of depth in the squad, and players having little to play for past Christmas thanks to the clubs attitude to the Cups.
This group is undone by the legacy of the second half of last season, the tough start to this, and working under a new coaching set up, with 4 new and relatively inexperienced players in the mix
I think McClaren will do in two years with this squad and the money mooted, that Pardew would achieve in one, although McClaren may prove the better coach over time, as he comes to better grips with it. He might also take us down this year, which would be highly unlikely under Pardew with the same group.
Reyantoon
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:02 PM
Comment #86Malackay…..It’s Liverpool.They are preparing to sack Brendan Rodgers soon.McLaren is lucky he will not be the first one!!
lesh
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Comment #87Folks hoping that Mitro might just return and start scoring should bear in mind that Citeh, Chelski and other clubs will have the players who cam rattle him to the point where he’s sent off.
Let’s hope that officials bear that in mind and keep an eye open for Mitro being provoked into a dismissible offence.
jayphoto
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Comment #88nee chance of McClaren getting sacked. He’d walk long before it came to that. Reckon he’d have to go past Christmas without a win to get the sack.
Can’t see us getting owt against Chelsea or Man City but it’s glaringly obvious the whole team and game plan is based around Mitrovic. Nearly 50 crosses against Watford and nearly all our play was focused wide.
was a big fan of thauvin at Bastia, but he needs to sit on the bench and be introduced gradually with cameos. In the last 3 games he’s offered less than Obertan would have given (which is an achievement in itself.)
Must admit I would have tried Gouffran upfront against sheff wed, he was a striker his whole career before Newcastle signed him. Perez and De Jong are #10’s and look lost up top alone
Malackay
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:18 PM
Comment #89Reyantoon – I’m aware of the Liverpool link but I’m allowed to dream 🙂
lesh
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:20 PM
Comment #90Malackey
You reckon you’ve got a better CV than Charnley?
Well, he got his GCSE in General Studies – what can you offer to better his qualifications for the job.
Malackay
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:26 PM
Comment #91An A* in RE …… I’d have god on my side which would be useful as we need a miracle!
Ian Toon
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:27 PM
Comment #92Jimmy ( Jinky) Smith- There’s much truth in what you have said about Pardew and his leaving. Any long time supporter will tell you that the year 2015 is one of the very poorest in our history. Pardew was an average manager and one of the lowest paid managers in the league. He was far more competent than he ever given credit for. He worked within a ridiculously small budget which somehow was held against him. He left us in ninth position and the Ashley appointed Carver and the wheels fell off.
We had games under Pardew when we played well above ourselves and matched and beat the best of the PL. the only side I recall not beating in that category was Arsenal but who will forget the 4-4, draw coming back from a seemingly hopeless position. Tiote wasn’t the only player motivated by Pardew on that ocassion. We showed we could match the best in finishing 5th and we’re having are at season until Cabaye left without being replaced and again the wheels fell off.
The defence has been a major weakness for seasons but again before Pardew left we had five shutouts which proved defensive capability. In fact prior to Pardew’s departure we had to operate with a third choice keeper in the side. He was highly respected by the players just as he is at Palace. The side he has fashioned there has pace, power and no small measure of skill.
I agree with Jimmy we wouldn’t be in the dire state were in now. Be careful what you wish for!