Newcastle were due to play Manchester City at home on Sunday 28th February but with City reaching the final of the League Cup by beating Everton 3-1 that game will have to be rescheduled and therefore we will have time on our hands after playing at Chelsea on 13th February and having to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on March 2nd.
Manchester City will play Liverpool in the final after the Reds scraped past Stoke City on penalties.
Steve McClaren – will have chance to integrate new players into the team
Here is the current schedule of our remaining 15 league games, the results of which will ultimately decide whether we get relegated this season:
February Wed 03 19:45 A Everton Sat 06 15:00 H WBA Sat 13 17:30 A Chelsea Sun 28 12:00 H Manchester City March Wed 02 19:45 A Stoke City Sat 05 15:00 H Bournemouth Mon 14 20:00 A Leicester City Sun 20 13:30 H Sunderland April Sat 02 15:00 A Norwich City Sat 09 15:00 A Southampton Sat 16 15:00 H Swansea City Sat 23 15:00 A Liverpool Sat 30 15:00 H Crystal Palace May Sat 07 15:00 A Aston Villa Sun 15 15:00 H Tottenham
Newcastle are already out of the FA Cup, which means we also have a free weekend on February 20th.
The extra time will allow for at least a couple of things beneficial to Newcastle.
- It will give Steve McClaren and the coaching staff time to integrate our new players into the side and how he wants the new Newcastle to play.
- It will also give time for any injuries we pick up to start clearing up so hopefully we can field near our strongest side in a lot of the remaining fixtures.
There will also be intense pressure on Steve McClaren to show with the new reinforcements coming in he can start getting some results from the next three games.
If he cannot then owner Mike Ashley may start thinking about possibly bringing in a replacement like David Moyes, but it would be best if Steve can start getting results.
If we do badly in the next three games, we will remain near the bottom of the league table which would not be good for morale at all, but if we can can pick up some points against Everton, West Brom and Chelsea we could be on our way.
Here’s hoping for the latter scenario.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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15 comments so far
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:16 AM
Comment #1Alternatively if we lose the next three it will give a new manager an opportunity to step in and galvanise the squad.
sing in the corner
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:16 AM
Comment #2Yeah 18 day break = 18 day unbeaten run. Champion! 🙂
Take a Chancel on me
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:19 AM
Comment #3Lilo
I can’t see Macca getting the boot tbh
hibbitt
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:24 AM
Comment #4more chance of him walking if the pressure gets to him
firebug666
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Comment #5Chancel
Ashley maybe naive when it’s comes to running a football club, but he is not stupid, his ruthless streak will have Macca out the door if our PL status looks certain to fail, and he will appoint a new idiot… err head coach to try and save his PL windfall.. err club from relegation.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:26 AM
Comment #6Chancel,
Nor can I really, but it will be the last role of the dice and that would be the best opportunity.
Personally I’d move him upstairs to a permanent role on the board and charge him with overseeing the youth development program at the club. I think he is better suited there.
firebug666
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:27 AM
Comment #7Lilongwe
I agree, Macca would be better suited there, and maybe the sooner the better.
Take a Chancel on me
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:30 AM
Comment #8Lilo
That would make more sense
Take a Chancel on me
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Comment #9Sod it not really a fan of Tennis but I’ll put Eurosport on and see how Murray does
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Comment #10Firebug/Chancel,
The worry is who they would look to appoint to replace him.
browny1107
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Comment #11I think arranging a friendly in this 18 day gap would be a steller idea. But who do we play? Hmmmm.
NoahJ
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:35 AM
Comment #12I’m worried we will lose a couple of matches before then, and then have to fester for nearly 3 weeks whilst other teams get more points. The gap could widen beyond what the team’s confidence levels could take. Would much rather be on par with rivals with 0 games in hand, than 7 points behind them with a few games in hand
will die for the toon army
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:39 AM
Comment #13Mcca will b ok. Let’s get him a striker
The players look like they play for him and love him. Dont know his relationship with the back up players
catchy in norway
Jan 29, 2016 at 8:44 AM
Comment #14Lil
What has he done wrong in your opinion.
Jib
Jan 29, 2016 at 9:01 AM
Comment #15Any potential England player who is not getting regular footy at his club is a potential loan target for us , as Hodgson will be taking in Toon matches to watch Shelvey and Townsend until seasons end.