With 9 games to go, Newcastle enter the business end of the season in a strong position, sitting top of the pile in the Sky Bet Championship.
While our league position suggests our season has gone swimmingly, Saturday delivered a convincing and untimely 1-3 defeat to Fulham, marking the clubs 5th home defeat this season, creating cause for concern amongst the St.James’ Park faithful. It’s fair to say Newcastle’s away form has been nothing short of outstanding but concerns remain over the teams frailties at St.James’ Park as we approach the finish line.
This contrast is illustrated perfectly below. Newcastle United would in fact be OUTSIDE the play off places in 7th place if the league table was based on home form. Should the table be based on away form however, NUFC would be a whopping 10 points clear at the top with a far superior goal difference to boot!
This credits our performance on the road but exposes our short comings at St.James’ Park, suggesting Newcastle United are destined for a return to the top flight should our home form improve over the final stages of the campaign. Lets keep our fingers crossed & get right behind the boys!
Welcome to the blog Olly, good piece . So Brighton and Huddersfield both top 4 on home and away form, interesting and kind of backs up why many fans are getting squeaky bottoms. Our home form has to pick up and hope our good away form continues or we are in danger.
kimtoon(Quote)
Afternoon folks,
New writer joining the ranks, Olly – say hello everyone!
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Well written Olly. Our home form is a big worry. It’s not clear why the home losses happen. It seems to come after we play well away. Something for Rafa to focus on. Still, I think we’ll get at least 15 points from the remaining matches and finish with at least 92 points. That should get us first or second place and automatic promotion.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Evening all. It’s great to be onboard! Thank you for the warm welcome and positive feedback. I hope you continue to enjoy my articles.
Stay tuned for an article coming tomorrow morning where i’ll be focusing on the atmosphere at St.James’ Park this season.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
OLLY welcome to the mad house,well does help if your a little mad
Icedog(Quote)
ERIC from last thread,aye your right I wouldn’t give Colback a game in the Sunday lge he’s not good enough for that even
Icedog(Quote)
Funny old game this footy in the past we were not to bad at home but couldn’t even get hardly a point away from home,it’s turned right round now pity we couldn’t hit a happy medium
Icedog(Quote)
Good start Olly. Very illuminating
Groucho(Quote)
Ello all,
Long time no speak!
Not think our away form is class because our travelling support are….but at home…if we don’t score within the first half hour then the crowd get edgy and the atmosphere changes?
Asking rather than telling as I haven’t been back home much in a while…
My guess is I’m right looking at the half time/full time score stats.
A lot shout ‘our home form will improve if we get behind the lads!’
I say ‘our home form will
Improve if we get off their fookin backs at home’
Slight twist on it!
Is Troy still about?
Moreno(Quote)
Olly – welcome aboard mate. Cracking piece & great to see the form tables – just highlights how bizarrely inconsistent our home & away form has been.
Mad that we can be 10pts better than 2nd place on away form – yet 7th in home form.
We will be fine I’m sure, but always great to see a new ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nice to see you back on mate,long time no hear,keep it up mate
Icedog(Quote)
Moreno – where the heck have you been hiding ?.
Good to see you back on too buddy, hope you are well ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/dc/dcb8fac9dd1e4b6a1ae3ae43da0d3bfff53d3cdcc83395cb8fb4df770e302287.jpg
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Been in London too long now guys, don’t really have my ear to the street or knowledge of the inner workings at the club to kick off.
Always reading but still pissed off with the regime.
Just another false dawn I reckon. Get promotion, get the windfall and then cut costs. Tara Rafa. I’d love to be wrong but form is temporary and where Ashley is concerned…gash is permanent
Moreno(Quote)
Welcome back Moreno, been a fair while! My gut instinct is that you are right regarding Ashley. The winter window was a big indicator in my opinion. Can see a big splurge this summer when we go up. We will stay up and then he will get cocky and comfortable and we will be back to square 1. No investment, no ambition and no Rafa.
Hope I’m wrong.
shamrock(Quote)
Hey Guys,
Gaz posted something over here – https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/03/14/happy-anniversary-rafa/
This is still the main thread but feel free to head over and comment on his thoughts.
New thread from Ollie will be up tomorrow.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Andy: if you put up too many threads where we can comment simultaneously it will end up like Ed’s where nobody knows whether they are coming or going. Just saying….
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree
Icedog(Quote)
Don’t worry this was a one off mate.
It got uploaded by Gaz who didn’t realise there was already a new thread whilst I was out so when I got back, figured I may as well leave it up.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
You make a very interesting point at the end there and i’d lend myself to saying you’re right in what you say, unfortunately!
I’ve just written an article on the atmosphere at SJP this season, which i’m sure you’d be interested to read. It will be published today – be sure to check it out.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I’m glad you guys are confident … I’m not.
If there is any team that is going to choke, it looks more like it’ll be us. This group of players will have to find some way of coping with the pressure of playing at home if they want to last the distance – they haven’t done very well at that so far, whereas both our rivals have much more consistency.
From what I’ve seen of Huddersfield and Brighton, they look to be much more accomplished footballers. Sure, we’ve got results, but we’ve also blown it in some games – mainly the home losses.
It’s that combination of erratic results, home pressure and some quite tedious football, as opposed to our rivals’ good football, confidence on the ball and consistent results home and away, that has me questioning our capacity to survive the run-in.
I’m not saying it will happen or that I expect it happen, but we look like the team most likely to choke.
Brisvegas(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/03/15/st-james-park-this-season-outstanding-attendances-expectant-and-edgy-atmospheres/
New thread y’all
Andy The Magpie(Quote)