Newcastle have performed miracles since the takeover in early October 2021.
As well as avoiding relegation rather easily last season, Newcastle are now miraculously in 3rd place in the Premier League and have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Who would have thought that last August?
Not many.
But there seems to be a renaissance happening in the Premier League, with Brighton and Aston Villa both having excellent seasons, also under new managers – much like Newcastle.
Brighton under the very impressive Roberto De Zerbi are in sixth position and have qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history.
The Seasiders should be able to maintain their presence near the top of the league as long as they can hold onto their top Italian manager.
We expect some big clubs to be inquiring about the 43-year-old manager in the summer.
And Newcastle’s first choice as manager 18 months ago – Unai Emery – the 51 year-old – has had an excellent season since taking over Aston Villa from Steven Gerrard last October.
Emery has already managed some big clubs like Valencia, Spartak Moscow, Seville, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Villarreal, and now Aston Villa.
Emery has also already won the Europa League 4 times.
He was appointed as head coach of Aston Villa on 24 October last year, and Villa paid a buyout fee of around €6 million (£5.2M) to Spanish club Villarreal.
The team has climbed the Premier League since then and are currently in 7th position.
They should be a lot better next season and, like Brighton and Newcastle, should remain a power in the Premier League.
It really is a breath of fresh air with new clubs like Newcastle, Brighton and Aston Villa upsetting the apple cart (and big money) of the top six clubs, the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.
We love it.
Here’s the current league table with our final game on Sunday afternoon.
| 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 |
Comments welcome.
166 comments so far
Mickey G
May 25, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Comment #1There is a new order coming to the Premier League. Ed
dazzler
May 25, 2023 at 2:20 PM
Comment #2Shameless repost:
TTT,
If we somehow get one of the Scottish teams then I will be confident of at least third, as both Celtic and Rangers are woeful in the grand scheme of things IMO. I agree about going to places that will ruin the spectacle of it all because the opposing fans are complete mental cases – I’d stick Roma / Lazio in that mix of hostile places to avoid, they get a bit stabby when they get wound up.
We’re getting at least one “giant” club to play – Barca, Real, PSG etc which will be a spectacle to have that kind of club at SJP again.
Mondziu,
Aye, exactly that – Anyone can beat anyone and we already have a team of athletic monsters that fear no one and our high pressing will scare most teams that aren’t used to it – add a bit of extra quality to what we already have in the summer and we could well surprise quite a few teams.
dazzler
May 25, 2023 at 2:29 PM
Comment #3Villa will fall away a bit next season IMO – They will be top 10 but can’t see them bettering this season at this stage. The Grealish money is gone, and the teams already above them will at least have a level playing field in terms of money for recruitment. Poch will have Chelsea challenging near the top again (probably).
Brighton could well continue to improve though. They have already shown that when they lose a talented person they already have an unknown upgrade lined up for a fraction of the cost of the person leaving – including at a management level. There’s a lot to be admired about their rise up the league.
Brentford are fked without Toney – No one will even buy him to allow them to replace him since he’s banned for ages.
Fulham will also slip further down IMO.
Burnley under Kompany are my bet to have a Fulham style season next year.
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 2:36 PM
Comment #4The way I measure our potential CL performances is by comparing us with City.
By all accounts we are a long way behind them, but managed to give them 2 very competitive games this season.
City appear head a shoulders above every team in Europe right now, so if we can be competitive against them, we’ve a chance against anyone.
This is called Boblogic.
This is the way. 🙂
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 2:38 PM
Comment #5Isn’t it fudging great to be talking about us v Europe again? It’s magic. 😀
The Taco Taker
May 25, 2023 at 2:44 PM
Comment #6Some of the NUFC Hong Kong supporters club ahead of our soccer 7’s tour there:
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/far-eastern-fans-meet-united-youngsters-ahead-of-soccer-sevens/
We are defending champions of the HK soccer 7’s having won the last tour in 2019. We also won this tournament in 2018 and 2012. This year we face Villa, Brighton, Fulham, Leicester, QPR, Rangers & Hong Kong Football Club.
More on the HK soccer 7’s (including squads) here:
https://hksoccersevens.com/
DKillers
May 25, 2023 at 2:50 PM
Comment #7My view on the Champions League is that I see no reason that we should fear getting roughed up by anyone. The EPL gauntlet gives us plenty of practice for facing top teams in Europe. Who is better than Man City? Arsenal may have fallen off the pace, but they are a top team. Even ManU, while inconsistent, are a very good team. The depth of the EPL is unmatched in any other league in Europe. I think right now, we could give some top teams difficulty just based on our style of play. If we add two-three top class players……
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 2:52 PM
Comment #8@mondziu
He’s a good lad and about financial concerns, yes, it’s probably feasible.
But he’s 27 years old and frankly, not sure he would be any improvement for either Trippier or Schär.
The fact is he’s regulary considered as the weak point of the french defense when he play with les bleus.
We seen him several time totaly outmatched by good wingers and he doesn’t bring much from an offensive point of view.
Seem however he made a descent job with Bayern, but not a top player for sure.
mondziu
May 25, 2023 at 3:02 PM
Comment #9@Niafron
I hear you, but France’s starting eleven is a pretty high bar, to be fair to him 😉
Had he been an outstanding performer at THAT level, we wouldn’t be talking about him joining Toon to improve our squad depth and not breaking the bank 😉
The Taco Taker
May 25, 2023 at 3:02 PM
Comment #10Dazzler,
Yeah you a probably right about Lazio and Roma. Of the pot 1 teams I want us to get PSG or Inter if we are going to get one of the really big boys in that pot. Otherwise Feyenoord or Sevilla as they would offer the least resistance IMO.
On the PL I mostly agree but I think our only real competition will be Citeh, Liverpool and Man U. I think Villa, Fulham and Brentford have all reached their ceiling, and Brighton will struggle to match this season after losing a couple of key players. Spurs don’t look like improving and Chelsea have to much to do to fix everything in one season. To me it is stupid that Poch didn’t already start work as soon as he got the job so he assess the squad and start implementing how he wants to play while the pressure is off. Waiting till the summer is a pointless mistake.
Novocastrian66
May 25, 2023 at 3:03 PM
Comment #11Rangers have to play in the the 3rd round of the qualifiers.
The biggest concern we have with the Champions League is the I’m pact it will have on our domestic performance.
The Champions League is a bonus. Eddie has said we don’t want to just make up the numbers, which is great to hear.
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Comment #12@TTT
If it’s PSG… well, would be a chance for Mbappé to visit St James’Park…
Novocastrian66
May 25, 2023 at 3:09 PM
Comment #13Next year’s final is at Wembley.
The Taco Taker
May 25, 2023 at 3:14 PM
Comment #14* and Arsenal
The Taco Taker
May 25, 2023 at 3:20 PM
Comment #15Niafron,
I want PSG or Inter because of the prestigious pot 1 teams they are the most beatable ones IMO.
I cant see us ever realistically signing Mbappe.
Hibbit
May 25, 2023 at 3:22 PM
Comment #16“You’ve got to be in it to win it,”
personally i don’t care who draw it’s the CL and i’m just going to lap every minute of it up,
it’s been a long time coming,
dazzler
May 25, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #17TTT,
Aye, Poch could have had a few games with the players to assess who he wants and needs. They have so much dead wood to clear out and he could be making those decisions now and rotating life out of his squad to see who will and won’t work in his system. I still think Poch will have them back near (or in) the top 6 next year but it will hinge on him having a focal point up top which they are still lacking IMO.
Spurs will be even weaker next season with Kane likely off, Son doesn’t look happy and Kulusevski’s loan comes to an end. They could need an entire new set of attacking players this summer and Levy is never going to spend all of the Kane/Son money when he still has a stadium to pay for (and even if he didn’t have a stadium to pay for). Spurs could easily be back to the mid-table club they always were before Bale burst onto the scene and gifted them a load of money by joining RM (same with Villa / Grealish tbf).
I think Brighton are a bit of an outlier in truth. They seem to get better whenever there is turnover in their players / manager – it might peak now Ashworth is no longer there dealing out masterstroke after masterstroke though.
Raj of Hailsley
May 25, 2023 at 3:29 PM
Comment #18niafron,
No, we just arrived, staying in an apartment in Charanton ecole neighbourhood.
The Taco Taker
May 25, 2023 at 3:32 PM
Comment #19Reports that NUFC, PSG & Chelsea are all ready to pay the €60m (£52M) for release clause for for Manuel Ugarte.
Why play in Ligue 1 or for a non-CL side when you can come to Newcastle!!
DKillers
May 25, 2023 at 3:39 PM
Comment #20TTT, just read the same on Ugarte. That would be a nice first signing.
Pottsclock
May 25, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Comment #21I am just stunned that Chelsea have any money to spend at all, given their purchasing over the last 12 months. They’re linked with a number of players, even before the new manager has arrived and assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the squad.
Special attention should be given to beating Chelsea next season.
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #22@Raj
0k cool! So send me a mail and we will see that.
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 3:49 PM
Comment #23@TTT
Cause PSG will offer him twice the wages?
Raj of Hailsley
May 25, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Comment #24niafron,
Will do and we can watch the match on Sunday.
dazzler
May 25, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Comment #25Potts,
Exactly, and it’s not like another midfielder would be high on Poch’s list of priorities when they are woefully short of a striker – silly season is well and truly upon us 🙂
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Comment #26@Raj
Unlikely unfortunatly, will be alone with my daughters on Sunday.
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #27@Raj
The game is at 5:30 PM french time, will see if i can liberate myself.
dazzler
May 25, 2023 at 3:58 PM
Comment #28Most of the press has Ugarte pretty much nailed on to join PSG in the summer that I have read. I don’t think he’ll be coming here unfortunately.
“Do you want to play for NUFC for around £150k per week or PSG for £400k per week?”
I know the answer to the above unless he’s a secret toon fan.
niafron
May 25, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Comment #29@dazzler
Same in french media, most of them consider it almost a done deal.
Pottsclock
May 25, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #30As we say in English, it’s a “fait accompli”
DKillers
May 25, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Comment #31Dazzler, do you really think Ugarte is worth a contract like that? PSG would have to be out of their minds.
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 4:16 PM
Comment #32Fabrizio Romano has it as virtually done too. Background work all discussed and sorted.
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 4:17 PM
Comment #33DKillers, if they’re paying anything near that they’re dafter than any of us thought previously, and that was pretty damned daft to start with. 😉
CLINT FLICK
May 25, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Comment #34I’m with hibbit on the CL, just excellent to be back in among in, where we belong!
Don’t care who we have to play…the PL is more important, anyway!
That’s what we should be going for, full steam ahead, imv…using CL as a smoke screen for the media to think we can’t compete on multiple levels.
Which means we can relax a bit, about the CL and just see what happens.
HTL!
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 4:21 PM
Comment #35Just to wind Jail up – sorry mate. 😀
At this time of year we’re going to miss Mund’s daily 20 links to players we are most likely not going to buy. Always fun, and keeps the convo going.
Don’t mention ITK’s. Aargh!! 😆
cleveleysbob
May 25, 2023 at 4:23 PM
Comment #36Eddies already said that his top priority will be trying to maintain a top4 or very least top6 finish again next Season + try to win a trophy. So CL may be a jolly distraction.
CLINT FLICK
May 25, 2023 at 4:25 PM
Comment #37If a player is more interested in money than football, don’t come to NUFC!
the crown princes nashers
May 25, 2023 at 4:26 PM
Comment #38I dont care who we get in the champions league, remember barcelona and they thought they would grab the points got that wrong didnt they, it was the same with juventus as well, st james is not an easy ground to come to and win, all the teams in the pots all know that
Bills Son Is Back
May 25, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Comment #39On a new order at the top of the Prem…
I’m not so sure about that.
WH and Leicester (apart from their title win) have challenged to become a top 6 club over the past few years and both have failed.
De Zerbi and will lose Mac Allister and Caicedo and both he and Emery will lose the new manager motivation that often comes in the first season. They both have to prove they can keep the same standard next season, history is on the side that they won’t.
Plus…
Lpool are in a midfield transition but sparked up when Alexander Arnold went into midfield and Chelsea have class players who will come good under Poch + both will be splashing the cash in the summer as will City, MU and Arsenal.
There is probably only one top 6 team spot vacant, that left by Spurs.
If we recruit well I can’t see us finishing lower than 6th next season even with the extra games in the CL.
IMO Brighton and Villa will be challenging to be the best side outside of the top 6, but although unlikely I wouldn’t be surprised if either of then finished outside of the top 10. That’s how strong the Prem can be.
CLINT FLICK
May 25, 2023 at 4:29 PM
Comment #40If a player wants to inflict his ego on a ‘prestigious/big name’ club… don’t come to NUFC!