Following the highs of the 2022-23 season, Newcastle find themselves in a peculiar situation in 2023-24. The Magpies are on the brink of dropping into the bottom half of the standings, and expectations at the start of the campaign have fallen flat at the mid-way point.
Newcastle have already exited the Champions League, and it appears unlikely that they will be challenging for a second straight finish in the top four positions.
Like when assessing the live horse racing betting markets, Newcastle must now assess what move they can make to gain the best possible outcome this season. But, what could be assessed as a productive second half of the season?
Europa League Push
A Champions League finish already appears to be out of reach for the Magpies this term, as they sit eleven points off Arsenal, having played a game more. However, given the injury issues that Eddie Howe has needed to contend with this term, as finish in either a Europa League or Europa Conference League spot would be considered a decent enough finish to 2023-24.
Newcastle will need to get their league campaign back on track to achieve that target, as they have five points to find on sixth-placed West Ham at this stage. In fact, the Magpies could kick off their next Premier League fixture outside of the top half should Wolves claim victory in their game in hand.
Restore Defensive Record
Much of Newcastle’s success in the 2022-23 season was built on their ability to be hard to breakdown throughout the season. The Magpies suffered just five defeat in their push to gain Champions League qualification, and they allowed just 33 goals, which was the joint-best defensive record in the competition.
However, that defensive solidity has been missing throughout the 2023-24 campaign. The Magpies have already suffered double the number of defeats that they managed throughout the entirety of the previous season, and they have already let in one less goal than they managed in 38 matches last term.
Injuries have played a role in the defensive backbone becoming unsettled, with the long-term absence of Nick Pope being a major concern. However, Howe will need to ensure that Newcastle can restore their excellent defensive record between now and the end of the season to ensure that he can highlight that he is the man to take the club forward into 2024-25.
Target FA Cup Glory
It has been a long wait for Newcastle fans to celebrate a domestic honour, with their most recent success coming in the FA Cup in 1955. That wait almost came to an end in 2022-23, but the Magpies were eventually beaten in the EFL Cup final by Manchester United. However, extra attention could be placed on the FA Cup this term given the club’s standing in the Premier League, and they could be set to go far.
One of Newcastle’s best performances of the season so far was secured in the third round of the competition against Sunderland, and that win was rewarded with a fourth round trip to Fulham. Success in the next round would see them rank among the front-runners for FA Cup glory this year given that many of the top teams will be squaring off against each other.
