I thought this Morning might be a good time to evaluate where people's hopes are for the rest of this season. It's only early December and Newcastle had lost the same number of games (5) they lost in the entire 22/23 season, meanwhile they're struggling with an injury crisis that shows now signs of improving. I don't think Newcastle will finish in the top 8 this season..I predict the next few weeks will see Newcastle fall to around 8th to 12th in the league, dive out the league cup and out of Europe entirely which may help. If Newcastle finish 9th I think that's probably a good season and I'd be more than happy with that. How is everyone feeling? What are your predictions now we're almost half way through the season.
Not worried at all and just enjoying the ride. We are in all cups and it's still to play for in the champions league. Think we all knew that it was going to be difficult, half our squad are over performing the other half are injured. End of the day we are a team that's changing and for the better. We are going to have games like last night and shouldn't be comparing to last season which in sure you'll agree was outstanding considering where we were
Was a right last night ? Surely you being wrong saying it was going to be an easy game indicates this is an unfair comment. Can't you just provide your thoughts?
We comprehensively outplayed Man U and Chelsea in the last 2 weeks. We looked knackered against Bournemouth and Everton, but this is clearly not the case every game. Saying 8th-12th is proper trolling, you may as well just say City are out of the title race cos they're in 4th and 6 points off first.
We're 7th You don't think West Ham Brighton are going well without our injury crisis? I'm happy with my prediction ,but this me asking yours so please you're free to give it.
Giving a revised prediction after every game seems a bit reactionary. We're 7th and 1 point off 5th. You can look at Brighton and West Ham below us as doing well, but you can also look at Man U and Spurs, both 1 point above us and playing terribly.. We're only just over a third of the way into the season, so I don't see any point in writing us off now, especially as we've been doing exceptionally well in terms of results despite the injuries.
Not every game its nearly half way through the season hence that being part of the question which you've still not answered mate. This is merely an opportunity for you to tell us all your predictions and expectations for the rest of the season now we've seen enough to make a decent judgement. You don't have to answer of course.
I have a prediction yesterday, I'm not doing a revised one after one game. Honestly, next few weeks will be tough, end of Dec/Jan things should improve will players coming back and new signings. All to play for imo.
I have you down as top 4 and our bet which is what I assume you mean. There's an assumption there that more players won't get injuries ( pope and lascelles the latest)and remember it takes a good 5 weeks to get upto speed once available.
All the mistakes have already been made and the confidence is now taking a hit. We should never have got to this position, squad rotation should have happened along with better in game management. Here's the troubling stat - we've played ONE LESS than Aston Villa this season. On top of that, we spent about £50m MORE on players (they signed Diaby and Torres, Tielemans was free, then Lenglet/Zaniolo on loan). The difference? Emery and Howe. Eddie's been amazing, but I agree with Jordan when you look at the direct comparison with Villa - or Brighton, who've only played one less and spent about £20m this Summer, or West Ham, who've played the same and spent less - then I think Howe has questions to answer. As does anyone involved in recruitment. FFP only goes so far. There's three years to cover off and we had guaranteed CL revenues, sponsorship on the way, and a relatively low wage bill. So again the moneymen at the club aren't doing their job either when they think what we needed was to swap ASM for Barnes, bring in a third LB and obviously the Tonali thing has been a disaster (and he didn't even look great, or bothered, when he was available - plus keeping Miley away from games). I get this sounds fickle - in the grand "oh, don't forget Ashley" scheme of things we're in dreamland, of course. But I'm still irked by the fact we qual'd for the UCL and were still starting with Burn and ****ing Murphy. It still irks me that our injury list is - coincidentally enough, given we don't rotate or use subs - is the worst. We have no idea what's gone on behind the scenes - maybe Howe's admitted the mistakes and has made clear plans to rectify it. Maybe he hasn't. Time - and decisions - will tell.
Pope's ok, the rest are mid-table backup GK's. Trippier + Livramento is great at RB, plus Krafth as third choice. Burn is not good enough, Targett's average, Livramento (RB) is a better LB than both. Hall for £30m was a stupid decision. Schar's hit and miss, should be backup to a decent player (like Pau Torres, Aguerd, etc.) Botman's great. Lascelles ok for fourth choice. Longstaff, Miley, Bruno, Willock, Joelinton and Anderson. Who looked at that and thought "let's spend £55m on a backup for Bruno"? Almiron and Murphy are both utter crap. Isak's decent (if you play to his strengths), Wilson's a crock. We have literally nobody else. Gordon's decent, but Barnes has been pointless when fit. ASM was fine for backup here, stupid transfer.
Is Howe picking the players ? I suspect last season has given him final say on everything and could be why all of a sudden recruitment has turned sour. Early days it was the likes of Guimareas Botman and isak , but since then it's been pretty **** actually. I find myself reading about Phillips thinking when will this approach change? They appear to require some guile not more graft.
BTW if Newcastle finish 8th it's worth mentioning that rafa Benitez got 10th with a side worth about 50p.
