BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has given his predictions for the next round of Premier League fixtures. He has Newcastle only managing a 1-1 draw against struggling Aston Villa.
Here is his prediction in full:
I’ve said before that I think Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has done a really good job and his side know how to play his system. That’s why they are safe already.
Sunday’s win over Sheffield United essentially secured the Magpies’ survival – they are 13th, 11 points above the bottom three with eight games to go.
Villa, meanwhile, are still in deep trouble. They have had a bit of a nightmare in their first two games back, and I think they will have to wait a little bit longer for their first win since January.
After Sunday’s performance, a draw would be a disappointment in our book. Villa are in loads of trouble at the moment and haven’t played very well in their two games back since the league returned.
However, they are fighting for their Premier League lives which makes them a dangerous opponent. A win against the Magpies could see them escape the dreaded drop zone.
Newcastle seem to have something about them. They were outstanding on Sunday and look primed to shoot up the table. There’s an air of confidence permeating through the team and they look like such a close-knit group at the moment.
We expect Bruce to keep the same team he deployed against the Blades, with a slight chance he’ll make one or two changes.
A win will see Newcastle surpass that magical 40 point threshold, though as Lawro states, we are almost certainly safe now.
Lawrenson had his streak of five straight predictions snapped after going for a draw on Sunday. So let’s hope he wrong this time as well, and we capture all three points at home against Aston Villa.
After all, Bruce and the lads want to finish as high as possible. Lawrenson seems to think we’ll take the foot off the gas now that we are in all likelihood safe from the drop.
78 comments so far
fairscup
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Comment #41Vegan
Where did you learn to type?
If you can’t type you must have one hell of a sore finger.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Comment #42Munster
At no point have I said it’s not happening mate. I think it’s unlikely, and if it happens I’ll happily admit that I am surprised as there is a lot of cause for concern for me at this point.
Munster Mag
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Comment #43Re BT tomorrow, can anyone help.
I dont have BT and obviously the pubs are closed etc
Will there be half decent streams that I can watch it on laptop?
Pat On The Heed
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:48 PM
Comment #44“If you look at his body of work and the football his teams generally play, we can do better.”
I imagine that’s true. I’m sure we can sign a better right back than Manquillo, but putting pressure on to have him replaced isn’t the right way to go either.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:49 PM
Comment #45@munster
“I think whatever happens “we need to put pressure on” to have him replaced”.
I hope you’ve got quite a big pump in your yard 🙂
Australian Pie
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Comment #46Munster
There is hundreds of streams for every PL game, just come on here prior to the game and follow links people put up
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Comment #47Munster
If you know a season ticket holder, they all got sent a free day pass for BT Sport tomorrow so if they already had BT at home they could give it to you for free as they wouldnt need it.
Otherwise streams yes
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Comment #48Fairscup
I studied literature and journalism at degree and masters level and the workload for typing was insane. Essays every week, also writing fiction on the side. Had to write a 16,000 word dissertation at one point, too. You just pick it up through muscle memory. There are people who are much faster than me.
Australian Pie
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:51 PM
Comment #49If a top 10 manager becomes available they will get him for next season but I don’t think they will throw stupid buy outs and wages to get them, will be interesting to see
Australian Pie
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:52 PM
Comment #50Might be our last 6 weeks with Brucey, get behind him for at least the rest of the season!
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:52 PM
Comment #51Kev is not one to show loyalty to our manager who put on better display of fluid 4 4 2 than anything Rafa managed imo, so Build or Buy?
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:53 PM
Comment #52Pat
I think that’s one place the club can spend a modest amount of money for a hige return. We have some decent players already, need a few positions strengthening but we’re mostly solid. A quality manager would cost us much less than a top class player and bring us much greater benefits. It would also attract better players to the club. Ultimately I think Bruce will hold us back, but as long as MA is in charge, he won’t be the worst offender.
Pat On The Heed
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Comment #53Kev – “I studied literature and journalism at degree and masters level ”
Have you thought about offering to write some articles for this blog? You said you started doing that on a previous site. You’d have to soften your stance on Bruce to get my vote – it might take a bit more to get Mund on board.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:57 PM
Comment #54It has taken him month to teach the squad how to play football again – and you want rid?
Very results driven Kev, you are ideal for sales like I said 😉
So how do imagine the players feel?
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 12:58 PM
Comment #55Masters lol . . . Year 9 😉
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:01 PM
Comment #56Archaeomag,
3-0, but only turned it on after they went down to 10 men and started making mistakes all over the pitch. We hadn’t threatened much before that and the first goal was from a massive defensive error, last one was sloppy too. We were good, but compared to the 3-0 at Chelsea, 4-0 against Fulham or a couple of others under Benitez I would still say that Bruce has a little way to go.
I also think that it’s better to judge these things on a manager’s wider body of work rather than one game. Also, never mentioned Rafa and while I do prefer him to Bruce, I would probably look elsehwhere.
Pat On The Heed
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Comment #57KV – My point is there are always upgrades available, but let’s not become a bunch of spoilt brats – applying collective pressure to get our way. That’s how gooners went about achieving worse and worse results. 70m spunked on Pepe to appease the mob.
As for Bruce holding us back. That would depend on your opinion of this squad. We are clearly overachieving based on any median expectations at the beginning of the season.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:03 PM
Comment #58Pat,
Not sure Ed would have the approval of the blog and those guys do a great job without me, but if they asked I’d happily write something.
Jib
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:03 PM
Comment #59Kev had better learn how to spell huge first
Lindisfarne
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Comment #60cleveleysbob
One Swallow does not a Summer make, is all I am saying. We certainly played better after the first 15-20mins, had about 4-5 shots I think but the quality was not exactly amazing. Bruce is doing alright and the players are also doing alright, but scoring three in the second half does not equate to finishing the season in the top 6, or top half. Would be great if we did though.
TheJimBelow
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:07 PM
Comment #61Archaeomag re the bass player
It was devastating yes but the show must go on, it’s what Paul would have wanted, and the V-Man has settled into the 9 nicely 😉
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:09 PM
Comment #62@kev
Can’t have been watch live in your tent, they passing out of defence, and nutmeging attackers from the get go,
I kept shouting “Get rid” & “FFS hoof it out” – as in traditional on these occasions – but would not listen
Did you see they swapped sides without being formally instructed to do so the manager, all very worrying.
So who would you buy for the shirt sales – especially with names being sold by the letter?
Mad Frog Boom 22
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:10 PM
Comment #63Who’s owner?
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:11 PM
Comment #64Pat
Our expectations were low because we had just lost Rafa, who was making clear improvements. Bruce has come in for one of the stragest seasons I can remember, even before we get to talking about lockdown. The title has never been more of a one horse race, and a few of the usual top 6/7 have had very shaky seasons. This has benefitted us along the way, but a top 7 spot is there for the taking from one of the usual suspects. Burnley, Palace, Wolves and Sheffield United have shown that the smaller teams could be competing. Bruce has done better than expected, but with a fair bit of luck and some very unusual circumstances to help along the way.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:14 PM
Comment #65the jim
It’s life reflecting art ~ thinking of the Spinal Tap’s drummers riff ~ lets hope he makes it.
Rotonda heights
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:15 PM
Comment #66Munster
If we had a manager who won a single trophy, let alone 13 major ones (say that slowly), would fans not think he was a demi-god. I think the point Ledge is making is you can not compare rafa with bruce based on 1 incomplete season, rather than over a 20 year career.
Rafa was incrementally transitioning and stabilizing a squad that had come up. I think rafa would have progressed us this season.
Its all subjective, pulis + pardew couldn’t get goals out of rondon. Bruce has had 8 good players added. People are surprised that bruce has us away from the relegation spots. That’s quite a damning indictment of bruce’s previous cv that people are surprised, albeit pleasantly at the moment and long may it continue.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:16 PM
Comment #67“One Swallow does not a Summer make, is all I am saying”
lol dead give away, . . .especially in a game of two half’s 😉
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:16 PM
Comment #68Jib,
Oh another criticism because I made a simple typo. Nobody cares, Jib. Try making sure your own “facts” are accurate rather than worrying about my spelling.
Pat On The Heed
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:18 PM
Comment #69“Rafa was incrementally transitioning and stabilizing a squad that had come up.”
!? We dropped three places.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:18 PM
Comment #70Archaeomag,
No on Sunday I only had the stats and the write-up on BBC sport (hence being so certain about how much possession we’d had when that topic came up yesterday) but I watched it after I got back.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:21 PM
Comment #71Kev – Ok forgiven,
So why (?) & not [?], why the extra SHIFT – what sort of Keyboard you on?
I know can’t talk{!}
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:22 PM
Comment #72Pat,
He overachieved first season back IMO. Got a bit more luck and some of the closer results went our way. If you look at the two seasons, they were very similar. Only finished 1 point lower in the season we came 13th.
The table isn’t a great measure of growth IMO. What I want to see is the the performances improving. We’ll have times where we get some luck and a few things go our way and the results will improve without the team improving. Stability and success come from having a side that regularly performs well. Hence that expression about form being temporary, but class being permanent.
Pat On The Heed
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:23 PM
Comment #73This “8 good players added” is rot. They are either prospects bought for their future resale value or gap pluggers frozen out of their current teams.
Ashley has denied every manager the chance to build any momentum.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:24 PM
Comment #74Archaeomag
Are you asking why I use round brackets rather than square ones? That was how we were told to do it for essays. Square brackets were only used for referencing generally, for example [sic] for misspellings, […] for ommissions, and so on.
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:24 PM
Comment #75@kev
“What I want to see is the the performances improving ” . .well don’t fcuk camping – you missed you chance – it’s not like you married or something 🙂
Kevin Vegan
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:25 PM
Comment #76And not on keyboard, on my phone…
#cans
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:27 PM
Comment #77Ultimately under Ashley no manager would do very well, a bit of luck or a dogged defensive approach is the only way – unless this changes for an owner willing to take the club forward we’ll forever be flirting with relegation and mid table seen as a good finish by both fans and pundits alike
archaeomag
Jun 23, 2020 at 1:31 PM
Comment #78@kev
I am so jealous of people who can types quickly and consistently, it’s a shame @EDs cut the no of characters down, we won’t get a chance to analyse some of longer comments.
I have over 12,000 words of articles on line,( although about 2000 of them were added later by editor in Oregon), I have to construct each sentence like a child with lego, it’s so time consuming – which is why I’ve moved to video.
Have you ever worked with an real editor?