Yesterday’s result against second-top Arsenal at home was a huge disappointment for Newcastle fans – although the game was great for the neutral fan.
But who cares for the neutral fan?
Arsenal were so much better than they were in last season’s fixture, and this time were ready to fight tooth and nail for the win – and that’s what they did.
We were unlucky early in the game as Murphy, who now has an eye for goal, was unlucky to hit the post after only the first minute.
But Arsenal came into the game and Nick Pope came to Newcastle’s aid 4 times in that first half with a one-on-one situation – but managed to block all four shots.
We were not at our best yesterday, but if we are going to get what looks like a minimum of 6 points to get Champions League qualification, we must be at our best in our final four fixtures of the season.
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| 13th May - 12:30pm | Leeds (A) |
| 18th May - 2:30pm | Brighton (H) |
| 22nd May - 3:00pm | Leicester (H) |
| 28th May - 4:30pm | Chelsea (A) |
And here is the current table after yesterday’s games.
| 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 |
The most Manchester United can get are 75 points if they win all 4 games.
The most Liverpool can get are 71 points if they win all 3 games.
The most Spurs can get are 66 points if they win their final 3 games.
The most Brighton can get are 73 points if they win their final 6 games.
Two wins from our final 4 games will see Newcastle on 71 points and since we have the best goal difference of all the above clubs we would finish above Liverpool and Spurs and get top four.
The sleeper is Brighton, who we play in our third last game of the season – a win there would mean we finish above them in the league table, though not technically – but by then the Seasides could have dropped some points on the way.
So it looks like if we can get 2 wins in our final 4 games, we could very well finish in the top 4 (71 points) – 3 wins would make that a definite top-four position on 74 points.
That would be the best points total since the famous 1995-1996 when we finished with 78 points in second place to Manchester United and a gold difference of +29 (we currently have a +32 goal difference).
So if we can do that we’re at some heady heights after only 18 months with our new owners and the brilliant Eddie Howe and his staff.
Indeed, if we can win 3 of our last 4 games, huge celebrations are in order for what will be one of our best-ever Premier League seasons.
Let us know what you think of this quick analysis.
It’s still all to play for.
Comments welcome.
1,150 comments so far
jane
May 8, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Comment #1top
Toon_Barmy
May 8, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Comment #2We play Brighton 3rd last game, not 2nd. Wouldn’t bet on 2 wins being enough as goal difference could fast change. Personally, I reckon we will get 2 wins and a draw. Here’s hoping
Toon fans bad
May 8, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #3Good 1st that Jane, quite alert for a bank holiday pal 😆
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Comment #4A even more desperate Leicester might be good against Liverpool…….
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 3:42 PM
Comment #5I said ages ago that I thought Isak & Wilson starting together would be a rare thing and I still think that. Just because we didn’t get the win yesterday doesn’t mean that Howe won’t start them both again at some point. Depends on the opposition and also the state of our own players.
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #6Ty21 – I didn’t think you said that Gordon was a bad player, I just didn’t fully understand why you were saying we should have signed Paqueta instead of Gordon, considering Paqueta joined West Ham last summer but we didn’t sign Gordon until January, and Paqueta is a central midfielder predominantly whereas Gordon is really a left winger.
If we’d have signed Paqueta and played him regularly, that would have hindered Longstaff’s development. Or maybe Longstaff would have stayed in the team after a good start and Paqueta wouldn’t have been happy about not getting enough starts.
I just don’t see a relevant connection between those 2 players to be honest, it seems like comparing apples to orange almost.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #7Millwall just scored 2 quick consecutive goals in 2 mins to make it 3-1 looks like whatever the mackems do they have another year in the championship. Next season will be more difficult in that league as Watford and Norwich will come good, and there will be 3 very very strong EPL gets relegated this season. It’s gonna be a while when we play the inbred’s next.
Unless we get them in a cup game. I’d love a pop at them in the FA cup. Play a full strength team and absolutely smash them senseless.
Dr. Ed Harrison
May 8, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #8Toon_Barmy – whoops – thanks – I corrected it – it’s the 3rd last game of the season against Brighton.
martoon
May 8, 2023 at 3:47 PM
Comment #9Ty21 @4 – Desperate is one thing but quality is another and to be honest Leicester are looking pretty ordinary against a Fulham team missing 3 of their best players!
jimiley
May 8, 2023 at 3:48 PM
Comment #10Dippers are the danger but they have a tricky game away to Leicester next Monday. Maddison to play a blinder to deny Dippers before joining us in CL?
We were 10 points clear of them with 8 games to go. If they overtake us it would put Kevs implosion in the shade. It cannot happen. This team is not flaky and will take us over the line. We will win the next game and the dippers will give up chasing at Leicester.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 8, 2023 at 3:54 PM
Comment #11I might be a tad thick but the ball hit the arm, OK it may have deflected off the thigh, had it not hit the arm it may have gone in for a goal, so I still cannot see why it wasn’t a pen.
I’d bet that the decision to give a pen would be given 9 out 10 every time, why us?
The Taco Taker
May 8, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Comment #12I think an interesting match will be Man U vs Fulham on the last day. Mitro completed his ban today.
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Comment #13Don’t ever apologise Ed…..just keep the blog going and no harm no foul 😉
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #14Taco – you’ll be glad to know I’m almost certain to lose my FPL H2H. My traitorous opponent picked several Arsenal players…he also used his triple captain against me this week which makes me think he doesn’t like me very much…
Ty21
May 8, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Comment #15ToonDarnSarf
Nah, not you. Was some others. The problem is you kept emphasize on the player’s specialized position. I was trying to give an opinion on the overall value the players bring to the team. You do realise I never compare Gordon and Paqueta stats, instead I said Paqueta’s output is almost as good as Newcastle’s central midfielders and surely he is more creative. Without any insider knowledge, I would say Newcastle “MIGHT” have signed Paqueta and not gone for Gordon in the Wimter window.
The Taco Taker
May 8, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #16To weigh in on this Paqueta vs Gordon debate…
They are different players and were linked at different times (linked to both in summer) but by Jan Paqueta had already gone to WH.
Personally I thought the links to Paqueta were purely based on Brunos comments and not any factual interest NUFC had in Paqueta and this seems to be correct because as far as I am aware there were no reports we ever put in a bid for Paqueta.
As for Gordon I was dead against us siging him in summer and in Jan. But I trust EH knows more than I do so I have high hopes for Gordon now he is here.
Also, if we had signed Paqueta then we probably would not be looking at Szoboszlai now given Paqueta is primarily a CAM.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #17Good to see Ed posting articles and a good one at that…
NUFC have it in them to win all of their final 4 games. The most difficult for me is Brighton and I actually thought it was even more difficult than yesterdays game. The Leeds game is absolutely critical that we get a really good win and strong performance under our wings.
It’s the first time in donkeys years where we will be going to Chelsea not fearing them. They will have their flip flops on and dreaming of the beach. So I can see another London win for the toon. Keep us unbeaten in the smoke all season. Wonder when we last ever achieved that stat (be unbeaten in London for a whole season in the EPL?) have we ever managed it before. Howay all you stat people dig it up 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
May 8, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Comment #18Brighton to draw today would be a good result for us and keep Everton in the sh!te.
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 4:06 PM
Comment #19Ty21 – glad you didn’t think it was me saying that. The issue there for me is that we had Bruno, Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton, Shelvey, and Anderson to play the central midfield roles at the time. We had Joelinton and ASM for left wing really. I’d you’d asked me last summer would I have preferred we sign a central midfielders or a winger, I’d have said the latter. And if we were going to sign a central midfielder, I’d have wanted it to be someone like Maddison.
Paqueta is a decent player but we can’t sign everyone. I’m delighted seeing the progress of Longstaff and Willock this season too.
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 4:08 PM
Comment #20Good to see you well enough to write an article Ed! Long may it continue!
The Taco Taker
May 8, 2023 at 4:11 PM
Comment #21TDS,
I know.
I benched all Arsenal players, my game is on a knife edge.
If it makes you feel better No one around us is guaranteed a win though. The table won’t change much.
jane
May 8, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Comment #22“looks like whatever the mackems do they have another year in the championship.”
need Coventry not to slip up at Boro
Novocastrian66
May 8, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Comment #23The appointment of Dean Smith was a mind blowing decision. How the Leicester City owners came to the conclusion that they had a better chance of security with Smith, instead of Rodgers, is baffling.
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:15 PM
Comment #24Mackems score
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 4:19 PM
Comment #25Great sign for NUFC that Leicester have absolutely crashed and burned against Fulham. Leicester have folded like a pack of cards. Good for when we play them, they won’t be looking forward to that game that’s for sure and Maddison will have a good first hand experience as to what he could be playing in front of next season in the UCL.
The Taco Taker
May 8, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Comment #26Agree Novo,
To me getting rid of Rodgers and Bielsa were awful decisions by those clubs. Neither team were going to get a better Manager so accept that is it a roll of the dice if they keep them up instead of rolling the dice for something that is worse.
jane
May 8, 2023 at 4:21 PM
Comment #27worst fears
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:21 PM
Comment #28And again
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 4:23 PM
Comment #29Taco – it was either going to be win win or lose lose for me yesterday. Sadly it was the latter! Still hoping I can hold onto top 5 anyway…
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 4:24 PM
Comment #30It’s Millwall 3 – 2 Blackburn. As it stands Millwall are keeping the mackems out the play off places. Millwall need to get another goal though from somewhere to put the game to bed and keep the vermin from pi$$ing in Trafalgar Square fountain again and decimating the place.
ToonDarnSarf
May 8, 2023 at 4:24 PM
Comment #31Opponent is on 54 once his automatic subs come in. I’m on 41. Need 14 points from Mitoma and March this evening! Rather slim chance but not impossible…
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM
Comment #32Millwall conceded
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM
Comment #33Oh dear me and Blackburn score. Twists and turns all over
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM
Comment #34Sunderland in the play off places
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:26 PM
Comment #35If it stays like this I’d like to see an all north east final
Fenham to Chalfont
May 8, 2023 at 4:30 PM
Comment #36Millwall have bottled it being 3-1 up.
Darnik,
I can’t see the mackems getting past Luton Town if they face them in the play off as they will as it stands (unless Millwall don’t score) they’ve had a very strong campaign and I can see them getting promotion to the EPL. Mind you my choice would be the Boro.
jane
May 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #37“Twists and turns all over”
surely there will be 1 more
Darnik
May 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #38Fenham
Neither can I, but would be better for our fans to have a short away trip
Pottsclock
May 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #39Anyone else watching the Fulham-Leicester match and thinking, “We’ll comfortably get three points at home against that Leceister defence.” ?
Novocastrian66
May 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #40TTT; Leeds dumoed Bielsa ages ago but Leeds have not improved since Marsch was sacked and are probably worse.