Three at home and one tough away trip – How many points will NUFC pick up in January?

With no news on the takeover saga still, attention has to turn to efforts on the pitch for Newcastle. Quality reinforcements are looking unlikely (again) so our next run of games appear even more important to the outcome of our season.

After a brilliant 1-0 win in Stoke on New Years Day, who do NUFC take on over the remainder of January and what would be a good points haul to stay on track?

Luton Town (H) FA Cup

Newcastle will undoubtedly rotate the squad and perhaps give the likes of Woodman, Saivet and Lejeune some minutes on the pitch. Survival is our key aim this season but it is important to keep momentum following the excellent win at Stoke and a cup run will give the fans something to cheer.

Danger man: Danny Hylton – The 28 year old striker has 16 goals in all completions this season and although at a lower level, knows where the goal is. He will be desperate to make a name for himself and cause a famous FA Cup upset.

Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Luton

Luton are top of League 2 so have some form and it will be an emotional day for the Lee family, with former Toon hero Rob Lee having his two sons Olly and Elliot play at SJP first time. It is a potential banana skin for us but our quality should shine through in the end, even if it is our second string.

 

Swansea City (H)

Next up in the league sees arguably the biggest game of our season so far. Despite being 13th currently, we are only six points above bottom side Swansea. This game is an ideal opportunity to put some distance between us and the relegation zone and condemn a rival further towards the relegation trap door. Swansea grabbed a surprise win at Watford under new management so it won’t be easy but you sense this is a key battle for us.

Danger man: Tammy Abraham – Their top scorer with just four goals it would be written on the wall if he scores against Newcastle after Rafa fought so hard to bring him to Newcastle on a season long loan this summer, before losing out to the Swans for his signature.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 Swansea

It is such a tense game but we have an excellent record against teams in and around us this season. Swansea aren’t a very good side and I am backing us to match the victory we secured in Wales earlier in the season, even if it going to be an edgy game at times.

 

Manchester City (A)

After wrongly getting a tirade of abuse for being too defensively in our 1-0 defeat at home to City last month, it will be interesting to see how the return ties goes. In truth, it is a free hit for NUFC with nobody expecting us to get anything – after all they have dropped four points all season.

Danger man: Sergio Aguero – Could have been anyone of five players here but with Jesus out Aguero will take centre stage and always scores against Newcastle. At the Etihad it will be hard to keep him at bay.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle

Never nice backing against Newcastle and by such a margin but in all likelihood anything other than a comfortable victory for City isn’t realistic. Our season won’t be define by this game either way. Our goal difference is one of the best in the bottom half so it would be good to keep it that way.

 

Burnley (H)

On paper a home game to Burnley always appears a very winnable fixture but this season they have started to change that perception. Away from home they have been outstanding, winning at Chelsea and securing draws at Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal. They are 7th in the table and this will be a real tough test.

Danger man: Chris Wood – The New Zealand hitman will be back from injury then and scored a good goal at SJP for Leeds United in the Championship last season. He is a physical threat and their focal point up front; Lascelles and co will have their hands full keeping him quiet.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Burnley

Providing we beat Swansea a point wouldn’t be too harmful for us and would mean we would be on 26 points after 25 games. We have a poor home record after all so four points from these games would be progress.

 

If my prediction rung true, we’d move into the next round of the Cup and collect 4 points in the league, seeing us move up to 26 points with 13 games to play.

It’d be a great return, but what results do you predict this month? Let us know!

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

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

51 thoughts on “Three at home and one tough away trip – How many points will NUFC pick up in January?

  1. 4-6 points is a must out of the 2 home games. Man city game will be a defeat. Like the last game tho just try keep the score down

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  2. I reckon a 6/7 point haul will be a good one from the next four games.

    On a far funnier note, Sky are reporting Rafa wants four players this window. I didn’t know he’d taken up comedy! 🙂

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  3. Stuart79:
    I reckon a 6/7 point haul will be a good one from the next four games.

    On a far funnier note, Sky are reporting Rafa wants four players this window. I didn’t know he’d taken up comedy!?

    What Rafa wants and what Rafa ends up with will likely be about 4 players difference I reckon.

    Though talk is Chelsea have agreed Barkley deal so that could free up Kennedy.

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  4. The man still doesn’t know what his budget is. It’s seriously laughable now. Personally as long as Jabba owns the club I couldn’t give two fleas dicks what division we play in

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  5. Anyone who can criticise Rafa’s transfers working under this unbelievably pathetic and amateur regime is beyond me.

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  6. My info; Shelvey wants to go to a West Ham and Rafa is willing to sell Mitro and Gayle to buy a £25m striker. Big risk that. If he gets injured we’re knacked.

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  7. Stuart79:
    My info; Shelvey wants to go to a West Ham and Rafa is willing to sell Mitro and Gayle to buy a £25m striker. Big risk that. If he gets injured we’re knacked.

    Whether it is Rafa’s unwillingness to play them or loss of form I am not sure that a combined 3 goal haul justifies keeping them. However, Gayle has looked sharp recently. BUT, Rafa doesn’t seem to trust either so that sharpness should add to Gayle’s value and bring in a few more buyers. Any team with ambition in the Championship should be in the market for Gayle at 15 million.

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  8. Stuart I think we should just stick to the team we have now. The last thing we need is players that need a certain period of adjustment being so close to the relegation zone.

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  9. Stuart79:
    My info; Shelvey wants to go to a West Ham and Rafa is willing to sell Mitro and Gayle to buy a £25m striker. Big risk that. If he gets injured we’re knacked.

    Who do you think the 25 mil striker is? Deeney?

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  10. I think Rafa is good enough to keep us up the last thing we need is selling our best players for average ones on 5 year contracts. Under this regrime if Rafa keeps the team up thats a heck of achievement. I really am putting all my eggs in one basket hoping the take over will happen.

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  11. Eric Sykes: Who do you think the 25 mil striker is? Deeney?

    Don’t know, Eric. He’s been told he can leave though. £25m for him? Sounds a lot but these days it’s nothing to clubs apart from us.

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  12. The only thing I’m not sure about is selling a Shelvey to a competitor down at the bottom. WBA are reported to be in for Mitro too. I wouldn’t do that either. But Rafa is a stubborn guy…

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  13. The only possible takers for Mitro are probably fellow relegation strugglers and possibly Besiktas to replace Tosun. Maybe someone in the Bundesliga like Liepsig but I doubt they are desperate to do business in January unless the price is right – say 15 million euros?

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  14. Rafa says:
    He had a meeting with Charnley last week about targets, budgets etc.

    He is still waiting for an answer on those.

    Rafa says on transfers so far;
    There has been NO movement and we will not talk about names.

    Great.

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  15. Read that Luton have scored 76 goals this season, second only to Man City and are on course for promotion. This is probably why Neville is predicting an upset – or it could be that he just hates NUFC or Rafa!

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  16. Why the hell would we sell Shelvey in January? On his day he is a matchwinner and we really only need a few wins to stay up. If you assume Mereno starts then who do you play next to him? Diame has one good game and someone assumes that now Shelvey is off? Madness. If he goes, who else do we have – Saivet? Hayden? If that’s the case I might have a trip down the bookies for a bet against us staying up, even with Rafa.

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  17. I don’t get why Gary’s little brother gets to be a commentator. He makes absolutely no sense, is obviously wildly biased in favour of Man U and some of his comments are farcical.

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  18. I hear ‘Lil Phil here in the US sometimes and he acts like Man U have some divine right to be 4 nil up at half time.

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  19. Oh, and where are all the journalists and pundits criticizing West Ham for playing 9 at the back yesterday? Nowhere to be found. Is that “the West Ham way”? Hypocrites.

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  20. And I wonder what they will say tonight? I have a sneaking suspicion that Allardyce will at least start with 9 at the back.

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  21. Is anybody bothered about this FA Cup tie? Are you all assuming we will win or are you thinking that the first decent team we play, we will be out? I find myself strangely disinterested because there are much bigger issues to think about and I am feeling we have no chance of getting past the quarter finals anyway, even though Southampton made the final just last year and even Arrogant Alan did his happy Dad dance the year before.

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  22. Not bothered. Dont need the extra games whennwe are battling relegation and we will indeed be turfed out innthe quarters or semi’s anywat. So what’s the point?

    Play the kids I say – give them so exposure and you never know, might find a rough diamond that can move into the first team squad.

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  23. Stuart79:
    The only thing I’m not sure about is selling a Shelvey to a competitor down at the bottom. WBA are reported to be in for Mitro too. I wouldn’t do that either. But Rafa is a stubborn guy…

    I’d swap Mitrovic with Rondon at WBA personally. I don’t think he’s the long term answer – but at least he’d be a striker coming in with PL experience. I think Rondon would be more effective than Joselu and would probably score around the same amount as Gayle would get us.

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  24. Icedog:
    Tweet from Quinn he’s.heard from 3people that tha sale is done and dusted

    Could explain why he ain’t getting a budget from Ashley I suppose.

    Mind you, it’s the legend that is Micky Quinn – he could actually be talking about the DFS summer sale.

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  25. As long as The Chronic don’t refer to him as a legend I have nothing against Quinn. He does speak his mind in his column for them which is more than you can say for most who seem afraid of another backlash from the Fat Man.

    Great news if true !!!

    Seems with the Barkley deal done it may open up a loan of a forward from Chelsea, either Kenedy or Batshuai?

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  26. Well, Everton started OK but now have gone to the famed 9-0-1 formation. I wonder what Carra and Neville will say? Of course, it is away from home so it is allowed 🙂 Any excuse will do.

    Will it change after the pen?

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  27. kimtoon:
    Don’t know for the life of me how Holgate is still on that pitch, strange decision

    Kim – I wonder if by not booking either player they can now review the incident and give retrospective bans. It seemed Firmino said something to Holgate which caused him to react as well.
    Maybe if it’s put in the refs report they can have that lip read & slap them both with bans

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  28. Sham – you may need to change him buddy, coz if he’s seen to have used racist language he could be in big trouble.

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  29. The Ref was right there though. So you think he would have heard what he said as long as his hearing is better than his eyesight.

    Yet another Ref who left his white cane and guide dog at home.

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  30. I wonder if that means Sam doesn’t want Sandro now then?.
    I know he’s struggled at Everton, but he was excellent at Malaga and has Barca roots.
    Rafa does like a Spanish player as well.

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  31. Watching Inter/Fiorentina and noticed an NUFC old boy at left back. Someone explain to me how Santon is good enough to play for the leaders of Serie A but not a team that was relegated and just promoted to the PL?

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  32. I bet we could get Debuchy back from **** on a free. Not sure if we would want him, but I bet we could get him.

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  33. I watched a few games with Tosun in the Turkish League and he has been brilliant. Not sure how he will do in the PL, as some don’t adapt like Thauvin who tore up League Un when he returned. Still, I think we should have moved heaven and earth and Mitro and Colback to get him.

    On that subject, someone must want Colback. He is not a bad player but I can see how those niggly fouls on the edge of the box would drive Rafa mad. I think Icedog said he also fell out with Rafa. Given that, surely a top 10 Championship team would have him. Weren’t Villa sniffing around at some point?

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  34. Raffa knows what his budget is.. just playing dumb I reckon. Bit of cloak and dagger stuff going on in regards to transfer money.
    Time will tell though.

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  35. Must beat Swansea. The other two league games are probably beyond us but a draw v Burnley would help. Be good to beat Luton so that the sky doesn’t fall in on Newcastle fans again.

    I would imagine that Rafa has a ballpark figure for the transfer window, but he isn’t going to reveal that now is he? I also reckon the takeover won’t be announced until the window closes, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised for more rumours of a takeover collapse doing the rounds. Play your cards close to your chest.

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