With three wins and a draw in our four games following the recent international break, Newcastle United are flying, up to sixth in the Premier League and finding form at the perfect time.
We leapfrogged Man Utd on Saturday and moved two clear of West Ham – who lost 2-0 at home to Fulham and have played a game more – but Chelsea are just three points behind us with a game in hand after they battered Everton 6-0 on Monday night.
It feels like a four-horse race for sixth. Here are the remaining fixtures for all of the above:
Newcastle (50pts) fixtures – Palace (A), Sheffield Utd (H), Burnley (A), Brighton (H), Man Utd (A), Brentford (A)
Man Utd (50pts) fixtures – Sheffield Utd (H), Burnley (H), Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle (H), Brighton (A)
Chelsea (47pts) fixtures – Arsenal (A), Villa (A), Spurs (H), West Ham (H), Forest (A), Brighton (A), Bournemouth (H)
West Ham (48pts) fixtures – Palace (A), Liverpool (H), Chelsea (A), Luton (H), Man City (A)
Firstly, I can’t see West Ham causing us problems. We are two points clear, have far superior goal difference, much better fixtures and a game in hand.
Chelsea are showing signs of finding form and they do have a game in hand, but they have some really tough fixtures against Arsenal, Villa and Spurs. West Ham at home, Forest away (while fighting to stay up) and Brighton away are also tricky.
I look at our remaining fixtures and can make a case for us winning all six. That’s unlikely, I know, but we look a far better side than Man Utd; who could easily lose any of their final four games, in my opinion.
Let’s hope we can get the business done over the coming weeks – we have four very winnable games to come – and then avoid defeat at Old Trafford in our penultimate game of 2023/24.
For anyone hoping we might be able to catch Tottenham in fifth, here’s their remaining six games:
Tottenham (60pts) fixtures – Arsenal (H), Chelsea (A), Liverpool (A), Burnley (H), Man City (H), Sheffield Utd (A)
Do we want it????
Hear me out.
Yes European football is where we want to be, but we saw just how under equipped our squad was for it this season – and that was the more forgiving fixture schedule of the Champions League.
We have a chance of Europa football which we know is a more taxing schedule altogether.
Is there a bonus to forgo European football next season to focus on the league?!.
I expect Man Utd to strengthen with their new owners. I expect Chelsea to invest in forwards – and if we get European football this season that would most likely mean they have missed out – so they would focus on the league having strengthened this summer.
Do we abandon our pursue of Europe and allow Man Utd, WHU or Chelsea to take 6th and have that demand next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Now here I totally disagree with you.
You face every game in front of you with the intention to win. The result is a different matter.
What you are suggesting is that we throw games because we want to lose.
we have to grab every opportunity and cope with the consequences.
Spurs might be lucky to get 6 points (66)
We might win all of ours (68). The coefficient for CL might go England’s way
We might qualify for CL
The fact that both PSG and Dortmund are in the semis shows that our squad is not far off, and going to get better.
So instead of shooting for a semi-final place in next years CL you want us to throw games in order to not play in Europe at all?
Insert friendly insult of choice
PremAndUp(Quote)
European football is where we need to be. More money, player attraction, another competition to try win and for us fans. A have to disagree also sharpy. If we didnt have injuries our season could have been different
Coutts86(Quote)
Can’t say the squad was under equipped. Squad was hampered massively by the injuries and wasn’t that far away in a group with two CL semi finalists in it.
Europe is where the club want to be so they need get after the euro places. If they make it this season we’ll be able to judge better next time
getreal(Quote)
Newcastle and manu are equal on points and play 4 of the same teams as welll as each other in the last six games. Manu play them at home. Gives them the edge. It’s more likely results will be similar to each other than the difference suggested in the article
Chelsea /West Ham have tough games which is good for Newcastle
getreal(Quote)
Prem – I think that’s one of the most passive aggressive post I’ve ever had directed my way 😂.
It wasn’t put forward as my suggest but more of a question as to is there any longer term merit in it – devils advocate if you like, so thank you for answering it in such a way.
I certainly wasn’t suggesting throwing games & id be livid if I thought that’s what we were doing.
More asking if there would be merit in maybe bleeding some youngsters to see where they are in their development & fully assess what is needed in the summer.
If we could finish 6th after the season we’ve had with injuries it would be a huge success. To still achieve European football would be truly phenomenal.
I’m not so sure to can claim that we would have made the semis simply coz Dortmund & PSG have though. It supports how strong a group we were in though – and that we were so close to making it through was such an achievement.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s what I thought you meant, but I just couldn’t resist
PremAndUp(Quote)
I know it’s all matter of opinion – but I think our squad is still short of quality in depth.
Gillespie, Karius, Dummett, Ritchie aren’t good enough & need replacing.
Burn, Longstaff, Miggy, Krafth, Murphy – squad players who all (other than Krafth) have been heavily depended on this season.
We are absolutely going in the right direction, but to have a squad that can cope with all eventualities, I think we need another 2 seasons.
Sharpy17(Quote)
You give two lists, the first I agree need moving on. The second have all done a job this season and will eventually all need replacing.
Our starting 11 is good enough although a dedicated RW would be good.
There are one or two older players, Wilson, Schar & Trippier who need succession planning.
What i don’t see is understudies who are pushing the starting 11
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – that’s why I’m saying over the next 2 seasons – around 5 this season & 5 next season (roughly speaking) – I put no budget to that because I’m not against free transfer or less expensive options along with more expensive options & youth development from within the racks.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have four away games out of six remaining so I wouldn’t be counting my chickens yet when you consider the number of away games we haven’t shown up in.
When you look at some of the shock results lately anything can happen but Manure with four home games out of six would be my bet to finish 6th unfortunately.
I don’t think Eddie Howe would settle for not being in Europe if it is achievable. I think by offloading some players previously mentioned and with four additions one or two on free transfers CB, CF, RW and holding MF would set us up nicely for next season.
Joseph(Quote)