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The Perennial Top Six Will Have Other Clubs To Worry About Other Than Newcastle Next Season



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.

ClubMatchesGoal Diff.Points
1Man City386189
2Arsenal384584
3Man United381575
4Newcastle383571
5Liverpool382867
6Brighton381962
7Aston Villa38561
8Tottenham38760
9Brentford381259
10Fulham38252

Comments welcome.


166 comments so far

  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 7:31 PM

    Comment #81

    Taco – I’d be surprised if Rashford is fit enough for the bench but doesn’t come on too.

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 7:33 PM

    Comment #82

    Exactly Uncertain they do automatically lose Silva, Chilwell and Kante as they are out of contract but then means no fees in just some wages off the books. LIKE I said they actually have a lot to do to shift the amount of players they need to and bring players in and then for Poch to instill the right system into them. That is why I think they will struggle and qiote frankly Boehly could easily throw a spanner in the work and go off and sign Neymar on whim!!

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 7:37 PM

    Comment #83

    loch,
    No way they can charge for extra letters!!

    😀

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 7:52 PM

    Comment #84

    Taco – it’s literally de Gea v Shaw for my H2H assuming Rashford comes on. I’ve got a 1 point advantage so I’m basically screwed if Shaw scores or gets an assist.

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 7:52 PM

    Comment #85

    In yet further news Man Utd have a thread on their main forum dedicated to when we will challenge Citeh for the title. Here it is:

    https://www.redcafe.net/threads/how-close-are-newcastle-to-a-title-challenge.477240/

    In summary opinion range from:
    – next season
    – only when we get rid of Howe and replace him with a “proper manager” (WTF)
    – before they will (I hope so)
    – only when Pep leaves Citeh
    – within 3-5 years
    – Never

    They are quite an odd bunch.

    5
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 7:55 PM

    Comment #86

    I forgot about Shaw TDS, I know you are screwed if Rashford does not play as Anytoon brings Trips on. I am still hoping Kepa saves a pen or something and gets me a win anyway.

    0
  • Essex Geordie Bill

    May 25, 2023 at 7:59 PM

    Comment #87

    TTT

    I reckon that a lot of those comments are from people who who not understand who our owners are. Or their ambitions and commitment.

    They will eventually though.

    1
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 8:02 PM

    Comment #88

    EGB,
    True they do have some right idiots on there like.

    2
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:10 PM

    Comment #89

    I’m trying to give TDS a run for his money Taco 😉

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:12 PM

    Comment #90

    I’m at -4 too so it will come down to a game of inches…. although I am have been known to hit the post more than any other team this year 🙂

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 8:16 PM

    Comment #91

    Nice one Anytoon. I am fully supporting your team tonight!!!

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:17 PM

    Comment #92

    I mean I still think I have you on total points Taco… But hey Manure find a way to finish where they are with their goal differential as well. 🙂

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:19 PM

    Comment #93

    Not sure why I ended up leaving Tripp on the bench though this week. My days blur together quite often with working many in a row then having off for a bit and sometimes I realize that was the week before when I made those changes. Poor example of a manager I am…

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 8:21 PM

    Comment #94

    Pts are just GD in FPL though. I won both H2H vs you if I recall correctly and TDS and Adam etc etc. The only person who beat me twice is Ben – the Man City of our division.

    😉

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 8:21 PM

    Comment #95

    Bit of a weird gameweek with Man City winning the league and resting players.

    1
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 8:23 PM

    Comment #96

    Yeah Pep resting players killed me this GW.

    0
  • Nicky the ball tosser

    May 25, 2023 at 8:25 PM

    Comment #97

    Casemiro is an anagram of “I am score”……….not very good English but he’s trying!

    2
  • Uncertain Toon

    May 25, 2023 at 8:26 PM

    Comment #98

    Taco,

    I think Poch is a very good manager mate. Not sure what happened at PSG, but when you have Neymar, Messi and Mbappe et al and you’re not a serial winner as a manager you’re up against it from minute one.

    I think he’ll do better at the Chelsea

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:26 PM

    Comment #99

    and there you have it….Rashford warming up….will definitely come on at some point if not now

    0
  • Pat Mania

    May 25, 2023 at 8:26 PM

    Comment #100

    Not impressed with Gallagher here.

    0
  • Nicky the ball tosser

    May 25, 2023 at 8:27 PM

    Comment #101

    That’s from the Guardian MBM, and obviously too clever to be the result of my own thinking.

    2
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 8:28 PM

    Comment #102

    I’ve been trying to compete on multiple fronts. Winning my points league with friends too so haven’t been able to take hits purely for H2H. Goal achieved though, promotion in this H2H and looking likely to win my points league too.

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 8:30 PM

    Comment #103

    AnyToon – it’s very likely to come down to Shaw v de Gea. You need 1 extra point from Shaw for a draw and 2 for a win.

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:32 PM

    Comment #104

    I have had a few draws this season too so that wouldn’t surprise me

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:35 PM

    Comment #105

    Just settling for mid-table mediocrity again 😉 Only second year doing this though as I always made fun of my friends doing the fantasy NFL stuff over here. The H2H here makes it pretty fun on a weekly basis.

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 8:36 PM

    Comment #106

    Right. Now it’s definitely de Gea v Shaw! A penalty to Chelsea leaves me in a no lose situation I think. Make it 4 penalties and they can score 3 of them. 🙂

    0
  • The Taco Taker

    May 25, 2023 at 8:37 PM

    Comment #107

    Uncertain, I agree that Poch is a good manager but there are so many unknowns with Chelsea right now that I think it will take time for him to sort it out and no-one knows what Boehly might do.

    I am firmly of the opinion that for Poch to have the best chance he should have relieved Lampard of his duties weeks ago and got started on the job. Summer aint long once all the players start sodding off on holiday (especially this season)

    1
  • Pat Mania

    May 25, 2023 at 8:41 PM

    Comment #108

    Didn’t Poch lose a league with PSG?

    0
  • Nicky the ball tosser

    May 25, 2023 at 8:43 PM

    Comment #109

    Chelsea will prune their squad, add one or two that Poch wants, and he will then whip them into shape, but who cares. We have definitely arrived and will take on all comers.

    2
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:43 PM

    Comment #110

    It is going to be a very short summer it seems especially those going to play for Euro qualifiers as well. Really only about 4-6 weeks max. Hopefully that is actually enough time for some of the nagging injuries to heal properly without being aggravated early on again.

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    May 25, 2023 at 8:44 PM

    Comment #111

    A good manager should figure out what to do with Chelsea’s squad. Got to be the basis of a decent team there but there will have to be some good decisions this summer to sort it out.

    0
  • dazzler

    May 25, 2023 at 8:45 PM

    Comment #112

    TTT,

    I love the fact they are saying we are rubbish to watch. Saying first half of the season we were just hard to beat and nicked results – even though we went on a run of battering teams. We play great football IMO, and better footy than Man Utd have served up this year under the kind of fancy foreign manager they think we ought to replace Howe with. The jealousy is truly astounding 😀

    2
  • dazzler

    May 25, 2023 at 8:45 PM

    Comment #113

    Pat,

    Did he not lose two? Or did he win the second one?

    0
  • dazzler

    May 25, 2023 at 8:46 PM

    Comment #114

    Ah no they won the league the second season under him.

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:47 PM

    Comment #115

    and no to Gallagher….

    1
  • Arthur Romsdale

    May 25, 2023 at 8:51 PM

    Comment #116

    Hard to judge Gallagher in such a poor Chelsea side. He certainly hasn’t stood out. We could get much better on the continent for a fraction of the price. If he’s needed to fill a home grown quota so be it.

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:52 PM

    Comment #117

    was starting to look like a draw might have been possible here and hope for some of the younger lads to be able to maybe secure the 3rd place and do themselves well but not looking likely now.

    0
  • AnyToon in Indiana

    May 25, 2023 at 8:56 PM

    Comment #118

    sad thing is….I have never changed the position of my substitutes. Just realized i should have been doing that too. 🙂

    1
  • niafron

    May 25, 2023 at 8:56 PM

    Comment #119

    Poch came to PSG in January 21 after Tuchel.

    He didn’t won the first year but wasn’t entirely responsible, the club was quiet in a bad mood when he came.

    He won the second year.

    2
  • check the toastie

    May 25, 2023 at 8:59 PM

    Comment #120

    Just thinking about how everything is about the appointment of Super Eddie Howe.

    What team’s in the prem would have finished in the top 4 this season if Eddie had took over with their existing squad last xmas.

    These existing squads then clearly added Pope, Trips, Burn, Botman, Targett, Bruno, Isak.

    Absolutely would have had, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Villa, Brighton in top 4, with existing squads plus these additions in top4.

    All about Eddie and the top quality recruitment. Only just started.

    4


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