Eddie Howe needed this international break | OneFootball

The boring international break is upon us and for once, I think Eddie Howe and Newcastle United needed it.

We have taken seven points from a possible nine in the EPL and progressed to the the next round of the Carabao Cup, after a penalty shoot out victory against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Newcastle haven’t been anywhere near top form during this unbeaten start to the season and there is still so much more to come from our star players.

Elsewhere, I feel as if there is an early crisis developing at one of our Septic Six rivals. Manchester United have become the ultimate ‘banter’ club over the last few seasons.

I now feel that their manager Erik ten Hag is only a couple of defeats away from receiving the bullet, as Man U have lost two of their opening three Premier League games, to rivals for the top six, plus they were very lucky to win their opening game with a late goal against Fulham.

A last gasp winning goal conceded at Brighton has soon followed up by another pasting off Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s trigger finger will be twitching to put ten Hag out of his misery if they carry on struggling and to think they gave the seemingly hapless Dutchman a new deal, after they finished in their lowest ever position in the Premier League era, but somehow managed to fluke it against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final.

Another less than favourite club of mine, Everton, have got off to the worst possible start to their season. Two absolute drubbings, then followed by a total capitulation against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.

Leading 2-0 in the 86th minute, the Toffees became unstuck and managed to grab abject defeat from the jaws of near certain victory. You couldn’t guess the amount of people that have told me how much this made them laugh.

Their ‘Keystone Cop’ mackem goalie Jordan Pickford, is well suited to coming out on to the Goodison pitch to the music of Z Cars.

Man City look back to something like their awesome best. Haaland is once again on fire.

Arne Slot seems to be handling his settling in period at Anfield well. As I’ve already indicated, he proved that he was undoubtedly the Dutch Master when pitted against the hapless ten Hag.

Arsenal seem as if they could challenge for a third season in a row but they looked decidedly rattled against Brighton at the Emirates when Declan Rice received his marching orders.

As for Chelsea, I still don’t really rate their chances of a top four finish. I don’t see them as being good travellers and think they will drop too many points away from Stamford Bridge.

Spurs have as much chance of finishing in a Champions League slot, as I have of getting bit off a giraffe in a confined space.

Well that’s the septics covered for now.

I think Unai Emery is doing a very good job at Aston Villa. Even though Newcastle easily beat them twice last season, Villa are now set to embark on their journey into this season’s Champions League.

I also think they are going to do alright in the EPL this season and will be pushing to get into the top four again.

Fabian Hurzeler was Roberto De Zerbi’s successor at Brighton and Hove Albion, with things looking healthy at the Amex Stadium.

I believe the Seagulls are the most realistic team out of all of the other Premier League clubs, to ruffle the feathers of the now newly established top eight teams in the country.

After the international break, United have two very winnable back to back away games against Wolves and Fulham.

I would like to see the sharpness and fluidity return to our game in these fixtures and that will set us up nicely for the visit of Pep’s formidable Man City at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 24 September 2024 – AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle (7.45pm) Sky Sports+

Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)