Revealed: Where NUFC would be in the table based on Merson & Lawro’s weekly predictions

After regularly predicting misery for Newcastle week in week out, it has been revealed that we would be JOINT bottom of the league if Paul Merson and Mark Lawrenson’s weekly predictions had come to life so far this season.

Eight games in, we sit 9th in the table on 11 points, however both pundits have so far failed to predict a single win for Newcastle.

Both Sky’s Merson and the BBC’s Lawrenson have had us down to draw three and lose FIVE of our opening eight games, meaning had their predictions come true, we would be rooted to the bottom of the Premier League on just THREE POINTS alongside Crystal Palace.

As highlighted in The Chronicle, here’s how both pundits have predicted our games thus far up against how each result has actually panned out:

Spurs – (L 2-0)

Merson – (3-0 L)

Lawrenson (2-0 L)

Huddersfield – (1-0 L)

Merson – (1-1 D)

Lawrenson (1-1 D)

West Ham – (3-0 W)

Merson – (2-0 L)

Lawrenson – (1-1 D)

Swansea City – (1-0 W)

Merson – (2-0 L)

Lawrenson – (2-0 L)

Stoke City – (2-1 W)

Merson – (1-1 D)

Lawrenson (1-1 D)

Brighton – (1-0 L)

Merson – (1-1 D)

Lawrenson (2-1 L)

Liverpool – (1-1)

Merson – (3-1 L)

Lawrenson – (2-0 L)

Southampton – (2-2)

Merson – (2-0 L)

Lawrenson – (2-1 L)

 

What’s also strange is how poor they’ve continually expected us to be defensively, despite stats suggesting we have one of the meanest defences outside the top 6.

Merson has predicted us to concede 16 goals this season, whilst Lawrenson, 13 and it turns out we have conceded HALF the amount Merson’s forecasted, conceding 8 goals in 8 games – a tally only FOUR Premier League teams have bettered.

As pundits, they’re entitled to their opinion, but it is quite shocking how regularly they have dismissed our chances, ignoring some of our promising results and the fact we have the pretty capable Rafa Benitez at the helm.

It will be interested to what the pair predict for Saturday’s game against Palace. For once, this one sounds like a fixture they may fancy us in, but I’m not holding my breath!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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