Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is refusing to set a points total for this season for Newcastle, but he knows very well the points that have gained automatic promotion over the last several seasons, and Newcastle must be in reach of those.
Calderwood and Hughton – aware of points totals
Newcastle are hoping to get their first away win in eight attempts tomorrow at Vicarage Road, and a win would put Newcastle on 69 points, with just 13 games to go.
Newcastle have 66 points and are currently 5 points ahead of Nottingham Forest, 6 points ahead of WBA and a massive 13 points ahead of 4th placed Swansea.
Why aren’t the top three automatically promoted like in the days of old?
We suppose the clubs make money from the playoffs – so it’s a money thing – surprise, surprise.
Over the last 10 years, automatic promotion has been achieved with points totals from a low of 76 points to a high of 88 points.
So Newcastle would need 22 points in their last 14 games to get to the maximum needed for automatic promotion in the last 10 seasons.
Chris talked this morning:
“What we are aware of is what points have got a team promotion over the last five, 10 years,”
“We are aware of that, but if you start heading towards a figure, what then happens when you get to that figure?”
“We have had targets. We have had targets for games, how many games we could win over a certain period.”
“But it’s about getting results and how quickly you can bounce back from a poor result and how many runs you can put together, and that we have been able to do.”
We don’t think Chris should set any points targets – but simply concentrate on how to win the next game – one at a time.
Doing that will keep the lads concentrating on what’s important – and that’s playing well and trying to win every single one of the remaining 14 games.
So be it.
6 comments so far
cupiddstunt
Feb 26, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Comment #1There is only one points target to set and that is the next game and three points.
One game at a time and maximise the points per game and the rest takes care of itself.
At the end of the day as long as we match WBA and NF then we do not need to count points.
Points are immaterial it is position that we must concentrate on as long as we stay in front of 2nd and 3rd even if only just by goal average then job done.
Captain Beefheart
Feb 26, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Comment #2I think Chris is making a grave error here. We went though a very wasteful ‘unbeaten run’ in which we threw away a 12 point lead with useless draws left right and centre.
FACT: To secure a 95% chance of automatic promotion we will need 90 points this season, no ifs, no buts. It’s a 3 horse race, and all three teams are more than capable of a 90 point final total if they keep up recent form (and both Forest and WBA have better recent form than we do).
Simply staying ‘at the top’ is a fool’s paradise. Chris should be hammering this fact into the player’s skulls at every opportunity. I despair of education, whatever happened to basic maths???
Whumpie
Feb 26, 2010 at 4:11 PM
Comment #3Beefheart – unless I’m mistaken, it’s you who has ignored basic maths. The two numbers you’ve quoted are total guesses, right?
CH and Cupid have it right: just keep going for the wins and beat what’s in front of you each time.
Win more than they do.
Cunning tactics like that.
steved66
Feb 26, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Comment #4Beefheart you need to check your stats and facts on recent form I think you will find that Forests is worse than ours and WBA is just a couple of points better.
steved66
Feb 26, 2010 at 8:52 PM
Comment #5Also what are you using for current form, last six games? or more? last six games WBA are best then us then Forest. I am curious what you have used. Bottom line is we are top and they are not.
steved66
Feb 26, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Comment #6Beefheart just exactly why is it a fact that we will need 90 points to be certain of a 95 % chance of automatic promotion. have you seen the future or something!!!! I think not. You need to calm down fella. Enjoy where we are and beieve