Yes, it’s a very tough first eight games for Newcastle, but then through the end of the year, we have a much easier time of it – at least on paper.
That’s the good news.
The only top six side we play before the end of the year after the first 8 games is Liverpool – at Anfield on Boxing Day.
There are different ways to look at it.
If we can get a decent points total after the first eight games, we could do really well before the end of the year.
Mauricio Pochettino – Magpies play at home to Spurs in the first game – again
But things very rarely turn out the way you expect them to.
Apart from Liverpool, the Christmas fixtures are relatively easy although we do have Manchester United at home on New Year’s Day.
Hopefully, we can get a second successive win in that fixture.
And in the final six games of the season, we only play one top six side – Liverpool at home – so the run-in looks a reasonably easy one – on paper.
Rafa will now be looking through the fixture list, and we should be hearing from the manager shortly.
The tough start should get the Newcastle hierarchy hard at work this summer supporting Rafa so he can strengthen the Newcastle side for next season.
The very last thing we want is another fight against relegation.
That would be too depressing for words.
Newcastle must have a good season and better than last season.
Here’s the fixture list.
2018
August 11 – Tottenham Hotspur (H)
August 18 – Cardiff City (A)
August 25 – Chelsea (H)
September 1 – Manchester City (A)
September 15 – Arsenal (H)
September 22 – Crystal Palace (A)
September 29 – Leicester City (H)
October 6 – Manchester United (A)
October 20 – Brighton (H)
October 27 – Southampton (A)
November 3 – Watford (H)
November 10 – Bournemouth (H)
November 24 – Burnley (A)
December 1 – West Ham United (H)
December 5 – Everton (A)
December 8 – Wolves (H)
December 15 – Huddersfield Town (A)
December 22 – Fulham (H)
December 26 – Liverpool (A)
December 29 – Watford (A)
2019
January 1 – Manchester United (H)
January 12 – Chelsea (A)
January 19 – Cardiff City (H)
January 30 – Manchester City (H)
February 2 – Tottenham Hotspur (A)
February 9 – Wolves (A)
February 23 – Huddersfield Town (H)
February 27 – Burnley (H)
March 2 – West Ham United (A)
March 9 – Everton (H)
March 16 – Bournemouth (A)
March 30 – Arsenal (A)
April 6 – Crystal Palace (H)
April 13 – Leicester City (A)
April 20 – Southampton (H)
April 27 – Brighton (A
May 4 – Liverpool (H)
May 12 – Fulham (A)
10 comments so far
nufcursed
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Comment #1Guys, i’ve got a solution to the Mike Asshley problem: since he won’t sell up, won’t back Rafa, won’t buy decent players,… there’s not much we can do. EXCEPT: every Newcastle fan should try to steal as much from sports direct as possible or take a marker and destroy or ruin as much items there are in his shops. Maybe tag it under a name related to Newcastle! And if he starts seeing his profits decrease, maybe just maybe we can get to him.
Newcastle shirts aren’t even sold in Sports Direct in Belgium, that shows you how ‘PROUD’ he is for owning our beloved club.
I’m starting my mission to destroy SD this weekend, i’m hoping Newcastle fans all over the world will do the same and bring down Sports Direct!!
NEWCASTLE IS BIGGER THAN ASSHLEY (i guess)
Oldgit1
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Comment #2@ nutcursed, the bible says you must not steal but says nothing about a swap, take some stock and replace with soiled underpants.
Is it too early for this.
Mr Funk
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #3@ Veltman
An alternative to the Lille midfielder Maia could be Carlos Benavidez – plays in Uruguay as a DCM 20 yrs old seems to be well thought of and according to Transfermarkt has Italian ancestory (no worries about work permit). Could be bought for less than Maia.
Mr Funk
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #4Also how do we know that Ashely has not made a bid for anyone – the link for Maia seem to come from a reliable source (well at least according to Get French Football)
DaveD1000
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #5Cursed you forgot to take your meds again
Mr Funk
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #6The problem is at the moment is that there is too many rumours and no signings
dig-n-dig22
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Comment #7The fact we have a good keeper gives me a lot more confidence than it did to the start of last season. I am confident Rafa can bring in 5 decent players, adding strength to what we already have, I am sure Rafa will have the team fired up and hitting the ground running, if we intend improving on 10th place then we have to do well against the top 6, lets hope there are no banana skins before the opening day kick off, or even better, lets hope we are under new management.
Mag52
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:40 PM
Comment #8AO.
Mag52
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:43 PM
Comment #9The fact that we play most of the likely top clubs early might not be such a bad thing. If we can catch them before they have settled into a winning rhythm we could produce some upsets.
JohnJ
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:49 PM
Comment #10Cursed @No 1
As much as I disagree with the way Mr Ashley is running or should that be ruining our club resorting to the tactics that you suggest is not the way to get him to come to heel. I’ve noted the substantial increases in season ticket renewals and would suggest that anyone due to renew should refrain from doing so until things have been made clearer with regard to Mr Benitez and his buying power.
I undertstand that many fans have been sitting in the same seat for many years but perhaps it would be worth losing a particular seat in order to get the point over to the owner. The other thing is for all Newcastle United fans to cease buying any goods from his shops and stop spending money inside the ground. The more we the fans chose to “hit him in the pocket” The more Mr Ashley will feel it.
As a matter of principle I’ve never spent a penny or in the ground for many seasons – perhaps if more fans didn’t “buy” from him he would get the point – reduce his impossible value of the club and move on!