What "hole" do you mean mate? We are now just 4 points off European places. It's all very congested below Arsenal - only 8 points divide 2nd place - 15th. So a couple of good / bad games in succession changes things for any team.
The number of teams ahead... It means Newcastle would have to win another 4 on the bounce to get any we're close. Won 2 in a row to get to 13th.
Still early days. Like I say, a couple of wins on the bounce and it could suddenly look very different, as not many points dividing most of the clubs ahead of us.
Let's review it all again in a month. December is a very busy period, with 8 games (6 in the PL). A lot can happen when the games are that close together.
Exactly so the number of clubs between 4th and 13th is a big factor. Hopefully Newcastle aren't still bottom half in January
I was really concerned, and to a point still am should Hall or Tino be injured again. But Howe's been mostly excellent and it cannot be lost on him how big the drop off is to the likes of Burn and Trippier, so is surely going to address that if it happens again - we absolutely have to get that fixed, whatever it looks like. Two key issues are this, then our ability to break down teams who sit deeper. Sometimes I think managers - Moyes being the latest, greatest example - who struggle when expected to get into a possession based style. Spurs are finding this as well, and it's why the league has been blown so wide open. FWIW I think things will start to calm down and even out a bit for Newcastle now, we no longer have to be afraid of an away fixture, are doing great at home and have big, big players coming back and a Jan window to go at.
I'm not sure about January, because we spent 250 million in the summer. I mean, they might sell a player and wheel and deal a bit if they can do something, but this idea selling Isak means we've got loads I'm not down with. I think they spent it, and the fans calculations over the years have never been accurate.
We spent £50m, and received £130m. We may not need to spend, but the money is very much there. We need to get much, much better cover at full back, and a first choice goalkeeper. Maybe not in Jan, but that's the priorities.
