Comparing NUFC's run-in with our relegation rivals – predicted points totals & our 3 to go down
It is getting to crunch time this season and a win at St.James’ against Huddersfield could move us within touching distance of safety. With our rivals having some tough games this weekend, it's a huge chance to give us some real daylight in the fight against the drop.
Looking at the graphic below, here's our verdict on each and every team's fixtures between 13-20th, assessing how we think they'll get on in the big relegation run-in.
13th - Newcastle United - (32 pts)
Huddersfield and West Brom are two home games that offer great chances for getting all three points. We also have games away at teams who will have little to play for this time of the season, at Watford, Everton and Leicester. Those five games alone should give us enough scope to get the 6-9 points we likely need. We have free swings against the likes of Spurs, Chelsea and with them coming from a Europa Clash in Russia, the visit of Arsenal will be interesting too. It would be classic Newcastle to beat one of the big boys and stumble in the ‘easier’ games but we have the advantage over our rivals of more points already in the bag and a superior goal difference.
Predicted total – 39 points (7 more)
14th - Swansea City – (31 pts)
Swansea have been flying after a change of manager and have momentum on their side. They have some tricky games against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea which will be tough, but you get the feeling their trip to West Brom and last two games of the season will define their season. Hosting both Southampton and Stoke will be preverbal six pointers and I think Swansea will have enough to stay up come May.
Predicted total – 38 points (7 more)
15th - Huddersfield - (31 pts)
Huddersfield have been on the slide after a great start and they will be looking at the game against NUFC this weekend as key to their survival hopes. One thing is for sure, they will need points in the bag before May as their last three games are Chelsea, Arsenal and City. They won’t want to play those games knowing they need something to stay up. I fear for them and think they could be in deep trouble; providing we do our job and beat them this weekend of course!
Predicted total – 35 points (4 more)
16th - Crystal Palace - (30 pts)
Crystal Palace have actually done remarkably well to get into this position considering they lost their first seven games on the bounce. Palace have some quality players like Townsend, Cabaye, Loftus Cheek, Sako, Zaha etc and looking at their fixtures I think there are games there for them to pick up what they need. Home games against Brighton and Leicester will help but ending at home to West Brom is great from them, as WBA will likely already be relegated. I expect Palace to get plenty wins and climb to safety quite comfortably in the end.
Predicted total – 40 pts (10 more)
17th - West Ham United - (30 pts)
West Ham have some good players but they remind me a lot of the Newcastle teams who went down in the past; an aging squad past its best on high wages, problems off the pitch and being easy to play against. Moyes is under pressure and playing under fan unrest/pitch invasions isn’t going to help their cause. They have tricky games too, with Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Man.Utd all to play. The key for them is this weekend’s game against Southampton, which is huge. A draw doesn’t help either side and a win would plunge the other into deep trouble. It will be tight for the Hammers.
Predicted total – 37 points (7 more)
18th Southampton – (28 pts)
The revolving door of managers continued with Southampton hiring Mark Hughes (a guy not deemed good enough for Stoke who are no better off in the table) to try and get a new managerial bounce like Swansea. It is tough for the Saints as they do have good players, but they looked woeful at SJP and are in huge need of a lift. Game against West Ham, Bournemouth and Swansea hold the key but other than that they have a hard run of fixtures. Tough to predict as they have some good players but no fight. Hughes has a big job on his hands, but I think he'll just about keep them up.
Predicted total – 36 pts (8 more)
19th - Stoke City - (27 pts)
Paul Lambert has not had the desired effect at Stoke - a side who lack firepower and are extremely leaky at the back. An awful mix. Their run-in looks really tough so it's hard to see how they get out the mess they are in. Arsenal and Spurs await them next and they also have to go to Anfield. Swansea the last game of the season could be the difference, but I don’t quite know how they'll stay up given form, awful goal difference and the fact they're 3 points adrift already. Shaqiri has ability but isn’t consistent enough to single handedly keep them up.
Predicted total – 32 points (5 more)
20th - West Brom – (20 pts)
West Brom are surely dead and buried and it is a little amusing as a NUFC seeing Pardew doing so badly. It has been a nightmare for them ever since they hired him – from the taxi gate abroad, one win in fifteen games and now the board saying they don’t have money for wages; they surely are heading down. They even have a tough run in but realistically the only role they will have is when other relegation teams play them, they will be looking to take advantage of WBA’s light and get all three points. I wonder if Pardew will still be in charge to return to SJP…
Predicted total – 24 points (4 more)
So, who do we think is going down? Here's our predicted Premier League table based on the predictions above for each club between now and the end of the season:
13th - Crystal Palace - 40 pts
14th - Newcastle - 39 pts
15th - Swansea - 38 pts
16th - West Ham - 37 pts
17th - Southampton - 36 pts
18th - Huddersfield - 35 pts
19th - Stoke - 32 pts
20th - West Brom - 24 pts
I am sure Newcastle fans would be delighted with this; one thing is for sure with all these teams playing each other is that it's going to be tight with many twists and turns yet.
After all, it would be typical Newcastle to lose at the weekend and throw us way back into danger.
Who do you think will go down?
