Newcastle jetted off to Dubai straight after the 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest. After a somewhat low-key week, The Magpies flew back on Friday. With the weekend over, the countdown to Sunday’s pivotal match against Manchester United begins.
The two clubs are vying for a Champions League place with Newcastle in fifth just three points behind the third-placed Red Devils. Sandwiched in between are Spurs who announced last night that Antonio Conte has left the club by mutual consent.
Tottenham have decided to keep the change as streamlined as possible. Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini will serve as interim manager for the remainder of the campaign aided by Ryan Mason as assistant head coach.
Here is a look at the league table for the final stretch of the campaign.
| Club | Matches | Goal Diff. | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 38 | 61 | 89 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 38 | 45 | 84 |
| 3 | Man United | 38 | 15 | 75 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 38 | 35 | 71 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 38 | 28 | 67 |
| 6 | Brighton | 38 | 19 | 62 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 38 | 5 | 61 |
| 8 | Tottenham | 38 | 7 | 60 |
| 9 | Brentford | 38 | 12 | 59 |
| 10 | Fulham | 38 | 2 | 52 |
Newcastle are in decent shape with a superior goal difference to everyone surrounding them. Only Arsenal and Man City top Newcaslte’s goal difference of 20. The Toon also have two matches in hand on Tottenham.
Newcastle hold their destiny in their hands and will eclipse Spurs by winning one of their matches in hand. Though Liverpool are a club to watch as they have shot up the table in recent weeks and are now in 6th.
April is a congested month with 7 fixtures. It begins on Sunday with Man United coming to St. James’ Park. A win and Newcastle will jump them in the table and return to the top four.
61 comments so far
Small World
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:42 AM
Comment #1boo !
Digger54
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:42 AM
Comment #2First eva 1st
Small World
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:42 AM
Comment #31- 0 the Toon on Sunday !
Digger54
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:43 AM
Comment #4Crying emoji
Transfer Sage
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:44 AM
Comment #5Man Utd have dropped points recently and losing Casemeiro to a 4 game ban won’t help the situation, especially with Erikson still out.
Spurs have sacked their manager and despite people talking about a new manager bounce, a recent study found that was mainly a myth. Spurs do not have a great quality defence or midfield, so are very reliant on attackers, mainly Kane to win them games. Nothing to suggest they’ll suddenly improve.
Liverpool keep looking as if they’ve turned a corner then go backwards again. There’s every chance we can stay clear of them.
April is a busy month with some difficult but very winnable games. Crucial games against Man Utd and Spurs. We could really cement our top four place if we have a strong month.
Digger54
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:44 AM
Comment #6Back to lurking
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:49 AM
Comment #7I’m having a tenner of my Bruce money on 3-0
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #8Just a little injury for Kane to keep him out for a few weeks please…I’d like him back and fully fit for any England games though..,
JohnJ
Mar 27, 2023 at 10:55 AM
Comment #9Jail,
I’d be delighted with 3 points – whatever the final score – just us to win and I’d be as happy as a sand dancer!
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Comment #10I’m going with a win at the weekend. We seem to get a little bounce from warm weather camps and Man Utd are without the one player who made the difference in the final.
The fact it’s at home too I think plays to our advantage.
It’ll be another 2-1.
Pottsclock
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:14 AM
Comment #11Unfortunately I think the Spurs squad will be highly motivated to prove that the issue was indeed Conte. That’s not to say they’ll finish above us but I expect them to be more competitive in the remaining matches.
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:17 AM
Comment #12Potts,
I think it will depend on whether they get a new manager now or at the end of the season.
I can see any new manager coming in (or indeed the caretaker) and getting them up the pitch more, which I think could cost them, since I don’t particularly rate their defence.
Spurs coming here and trying to take the game to us could work for us. Assuming Nick Pope doesn’t sprint 50 yards up the pitch to catch the ball near the halfway line again 😀
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:17 AM
Comment #13Morning lads and lasses, how are we all?
I was personally of the opinion that Conte staying at Spurs was better for us as it was clear he had lost the dressing room. How the dressing room respond will be key to the rest of their season. Will Conte leaving be like a black cloud clearing, and the likes of Richarlison and Son feel revitalised? Possibly. They have enough quality and firepower to end the season strongly.
Conversely, it may prove to be yet another distraction which further unsettles already unsettled players. Kane is a consummate professional so any notion that he has one eye on the door should be knocked on the head – even if he may be moving on come summer.
One thing’s for sure, Tottenham at SJP is a bloody massive game, and I’ll be as bold as to say that should we beat them, top 4 is very much firmly on track.
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:28 AM
Comment #14Aren’t we normally a bogey team for Spurs at SJP? I could be having a Mandela Effect moment here, but in my head we always seem to do well against them at home. Even during the dark times.
G
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:30 AM
Comment #15dazzler, Bruce’s last game against them you wouldn’t have thought so? We started well, but fell to pieces after we went up.
Novocastrian66
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Comment #16We need to win on Sunday. We have 3 away games in a row following Sunday, which will be a tough schedule.
Apex Predator
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Comment #17Is it 1800 extra fans or just 1800 existing fans who will be allowed to stand?
Apex Predator
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #18I see only digger and raj had a go at Rob. Trying too hard to be obvious 😀
sing in the corner
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #19I think I might have to change my name to ‘stand in the corner’
For more than one reason..
That’s if I can get a ticket by then!
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #20G,
Valid point. I am probably remembering that one time we thumped 5 past them on our way to the championship and mis-remembering that this was a regular occurrence 😀
G
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:33 AM
Comment #21To be fair, that was a far more enjoyable match against them!
sing in the corner
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:34 AM
Comment #22Novocastrian
Look at it this way – 3 opportunities in a row for those brilliant squad photos after away wins in their dressing rooms 🙂
Apex Predator
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:35 AM
Comment #23Weird conte assistant staying on
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:50 AM
Comment #24Man says Kane is a shite footballer.
Two people disagree. The combined brain cells of Mort, Jedi and Años Predator make wild assumption 😮
Swablr
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:52 AM
Comment #25I wonder if they’ll publish a glossy magazine of those “Win” photos at the end of the season?
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:52 AM
Comment #26We’re definitely a bogey team for Spurs away, I’d say our results at home are a mixed bag, I’d hazard a guess and say a similar number of wins, draws and losses at home.
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:53 AM
Comment #27Raj,
In fairness, Rob also said we should go for Gavi as if there is any hope in hell of us getting him. (although I so agree with his assessment of how good a player he is).
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:56 AM
Comment #28Raj,
Then it’s definitely a Mandela Effect moment from me. I do think we’ll beat them this time around though.
Kind Regards,
Daryll
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:57 AM
Comment #29Fkn hell, was writing that and sending an email at the same time and got confused 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:58 AM
Comment #30dazzler,
Gave is valued at £90M and is under contract till 2026 so insert any £90M rated player and say we should get him, even if he was an unscouted gem, saying Kane is sh!te is either a wind or completely negates any sense you previously spoke.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 11:59 AM
Comment #31dazzler,
At least no kisses 😀
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:01 PM
Comment #32Raj,
I don’t get where anyone could get Kane is shite from. As if he wouldn’t walk into our club on crutches and still be the best striker in the dressing room 😀
Nb. That’s not to take away from Isak, who I think is going to be phenomenal (and has been great so far). But Kane is surely top 3 – 5 out and out strikers in the world today up there with Haaland and Lewandowski. I added the top 5 in case I have missed someone.
dazzler
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:02 PM
Comment #33Raj,
Of course not – I am a professional!
magscar
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:08 PM
Comment #34Seem to recall that Spurs results had a bit of a lift whilst Conte was recuperating a few weeks back?
This stage of the season is not the best time to expect to get a top mananger so maybe they will hope Asst steers them through
Whatever it’s still in our hands and we need to keep up form of last 2 games
If i remember correctly our 2 games in hand are Hammers away and Brighton at home
Davas
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:08 PM
Comment #35Isn’t there some sort of legal dispute where Gavi may be able to go on a free transfer
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:09 PM
Comment #36Davas,
Ahh, possibly and that’s why he’s being talked up.
G
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:11 PM
Comment #37Davas, don’t know about a free, but due to Barca’s financial embarrassment he was removed from their player registration? I think its down to a dispute with La Liga, and if I remember correctly its being resolved now.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Comment #38I just assume someone saying Kane is a bad footballer is a troll. Simply not possible for a single football fan to believe that, even my Arsenal supporting friends would acknowledge he’s an amazing striker.
Hoping he goes to Barcelona this summer and not Man Utd. I think he’d be amazing for either.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Comment #39Gavi isn’t going on a free. He’s one of the very top prospects in world football, there’s no way Barcelona are screwing that one up so badly that he’ll go for free.
magscar
Mar 27, 2023 at 12:15 PM
Comment #40April will be tough and probably a defining month ( as most Easters are at Top and Bottom)
3 consecutive away games bracketed by home games against Man U and Spurs then Southampton at home to finish April should gave us an idea how likely top 4 is
We need a fit squad with key players bang in form to get us through