Paul Merson latest verdict on Newcastle United – Ahead of international break | OneFootball

Paul Merson speaking as Eddie Howe’s team are set to visit the City Ground.

A 2pm kick-off on Sunday.

After three games in a six day stretch, Eddie Howe will have enjoyed this eight days gap before the next match.

Paul Merson discussing the possibilities for Newcastle United in this match away at Nottingham Forest.

Paul Merson talking to Sportskeeda ahead of Nottingham Forest v Newcastle:

“Nottingham Forest are flying, aren’t they?

“This is a really hard game for Newcastle in my opinion.

“I say this every week, Forest are a much better team away from home. But they got an incredible win at home against West Ham last weekend and I have a feeling they will back it up!

“If Forest do that, they will be virtually safe from relegation in my opinion. It’s only been 11 games and we’re talking about them retaining their status in the top-flight. Twenty two points from 11 games is really, really good if you’re Forest.

“I like when teams aim for the stars and I’m going to say they should look at European qualification as a realistic target if they can beat Newcastle.

“If they can remain positive and believe in their abilities, I’m sure Forest will stand a chance in making it to the Europa League or the Conference League.

“Like I said before, it seems like one of them seasons where a lot of the teams could suffer injuries. This opens up a unique opportunity for teams like Forest to sneak up the ladder.

“A defeat would be a big disappointment for Newcastle, especially after that win over Arsenal.

“But I just haven’t seen enough from them to think they will outplay Forest away from home on current form.

“Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Newcastle 1.”

So is Paul Merson on the right track here?

I think the first thing that sticks out for me, is that Paul Merson is the one who starts talking about Forest becoming safe from relegation if winning on Sunday and then acts as though he is reacting to somebody else saying it! That then goes into Merson talking as though Forest have already defeated Newcastle…

He goes very patronising saying ‘if you’re Forest’ then it is really good to have 22 points from 11 PL matches. Surely pretty much any club, it would be really good to have 22 points from 11 matches, as that averages 2.00 points per game and would equal 76 points at the end of the season if keeping up that average, more than enough to be top four as a minimum!

Interesting to see what Paul Merson said before Newcastle faced his team last weekend…

“Newcastle beat Chelsea during the cup game in midweek, but I doubt they can back it up with another win on Saturday… I feel they are too open at the back and good teams can always pick them apart. Arsenal win for me in this one!”

Paul Merson claims Newcastle United are ‘too open at the back’, interesting when they have now got four clean sheets in their last six matches (all competitions), including the last two games (and wins!) against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Merson says about the ‘incredible’ win against West Ham. Well, the Hammers are seventh from bottom of the table now and had to play with 10 men against Forest for the entire second half, Forest 1-0 up at the time and eventually winning 3-0. A good result of course but ‘incredible’?

Until that last win for Forest, this season at home (all competitions) in their opening five matches at the City Ground, they have drawn against Wolves and Bournemouth, lost to Fulham and… Newcastle United, their only win before the West Ham one, was when defeating currently fourth bottom Palace 1-0.

Nottingham Forest have done well so far but the way Paul Merson and others are going on, you would think they are sweeping all before them. If Newcastle United play well and take their chances, no reason why NUFC won’t at least get a point, if not three.

Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:

Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (3pm)

Wednesday 4 December – Newcastle v Liverpool (7.30pm) Amazon

Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)

Wednesday 18 December – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)

Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports