This will really freak people out with Newcastle United | OneFootball

Newcastle United are back in action this afternoon.

The small matter of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to deal with.

The opening match of this Premier League round of games.

St James’ Park televised to a worldwide audience and the focus of everybody’s attention, 12.30pm onwards for a couple of hours.

Obviously I want Newcastle United to win, as always.

However, there is an added layer today, at least for me.

I can’t stop thinking about how it would freak so many people out, if Newcastle United won this one.

Have a look at the Premier League table ahead of our match…

Yes, a win would see Newcastle United level on points with Manchester City at the very top of the table.

(Indeed, a win by four goals or better, would take Eddie Howe and his side to the very very top!)

Imagine the outrage from so many???

‘This season Newcastle United have been the worst team the Premier League has ever seen, how can this be allowed, surely we need yet another emergency motion to stop evil NUFC cheating…’

Look, I know there are even Newcastle United fans going on ridiculous, just like Paul Merson, claiming Eddie Howe’s side have been so woeful they should have lost all six matches they have played so far this season.

The truth is somewhat different.

Newcastle United have been up and down in their matches so far, but for me, it has been a case of maybe the fairest result in most of these games so far, would have been a draw.

However, commitment and dogged, discipline defending has helped prevent many clear chances and when he has been called upon, Nick Pope has made some stunning saves and helped earn the four wins and a draw, whilst at the same time of course holding his hands up to that killer second goal at Fulham. Even in that match, Newcastle United could/would have got something out of it, when Schar should have made it 2-2, or tapped it to Isak to do so.

On top of the generally very good defending, we have also seen some real moments of top quality that have helped turn draws (and defeats?) into wins. Schar and Barnes with long range strikes at

Personally, I think the over the top negativity on the Newcastle United performances so far, from both the media and indeed some NUFC fans, is in large part a carry over from the summer transfer window and a lot of the negativity that surrounded that. Even subconsciously (as well as consciously!), many journalists, pundits, NUFC fans, are linking the two into a big old ball of negativity.

This isn’t to say Newcastle United have been great.

Far from it.

However, they haven’t been the worst of the worst that some are making them out to be.

The massive thing as well though, is that at the same time, we all know that Newcastle United can play so much better. Especially now we ‘only’ have five or six players missing going into this Manchester City match.

So get ready for the meltdown this afternoon, if/when Newcastle United taste victory against Man City and join them, even if only temporarily at the very top of the Premier League.

Not that I am wishing it to be so, but in, some ways it would be even funnier if Newcastle United won today despite not playing that well. That would really light the fuse for freaking the haters out!

In reality of course, a win AND a great performance from Eddie Howe’s side, would be absolutely the perfect tonic and answer to those desperate to write Newcastle United off.

Newcastle United upcoming match schedule, confirmed to end of November:

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

Tuesday 1 October 2024 – AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (To be played at St James’ Park)

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

Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)

Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

W/C Monday 28 October – AFC Wimbledon or Newcastle v Chelsea

Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports

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