Need to win v Luton and Forest really to take the pressure off the others a bit. Then we can just play with a bit more freedom and see what comes of it.
Top 4 is gone I think top 5 is set and Newcastle are now fighting for 6th to 10th which is exactly where I expected. Luton are actually a very difficult side to beat at home and from what we're seeing this Newcastle side is actually weak mentally and physically this season. There's only so many games, so many injuries, last minute goals and painful defeats a side can take before it becomes a habit and I fully expect another Bournemouth away result. Howe will do nothing to change this unfortunately that's standard with all these managers who basically ride waves.
Massive festive period for us. Luton and Forrest should be 6 points and we need them urgently if we are to push for CL this season... Man U (6th) and West Ham (7th) have each other next up and then Villa and Arsenal respectively. We could be 4-6 points clear of 6th and 6-8 points clear of 7th come the new year (and the latter stretch of that run of games) sitting pretty in 5th place. Even Brighton (8th) have Palace and Spurs so not easy games for them either and they are already 3 points back while Spurs (4th) are 4 points ahead of us but have a resurgent Everton and Brighton to play... Really need to open up a gap to Brighton before the Liverpool, City, Villa run!
I think everyone does pay too much attention to 'runs' of games. It's all about how you do relative to your rivals over the course of the season. I'm less fussed about what happens against City and Liverpool, anything is a bonus. I think they are both locked on for top 3. It's Villa we want to take something from. Given we beat them at ours if we take points of some sort there we have done our job on them. Of course if either Luton or Forest put a spanner in the works, being they are not our rivals as such we need to make that up elsewhere. We should expect to take minum of 4 points from them across the home and away fixtures.
The injury crisis has ended the flirt with the top 6 and unfortunately no amount of mental gymnastics or run if games will heal the squad.
I’ve gone for 8. Luton and Forest are crucial but somehow I don’t think we’ll lose all three of the games after that. We’ll see. Newcastle have always been predictably unpredictable
Because only mentally and physically weak teams beat Man City, Man Utd, and PSG. Yep, see where you’re going with this.
Man city beat Newcastle psg qualified and Man United are not known for their character and won the final btw
