Fates conspiring in favour of Newcastle United for once – Comparing schedules | OneFootball

The Football Gods are smiling on Newcastle United.

I have been looking at the Premier League matches that follow tonight’s away game at Leicester City.

That game completes the weekend round of Premier League fixtures.

There then follows the fates conspiring in favour of Newcastle United for once.

These are the upcoming schedules for Newcastle United and these Premier League opponents…

10 April Lyon v Man U (Europa League quarter-final first leg) 13 April Newcastle v Man U 17 April Man U v Lyon (Europa League quarter-final second leg)

12 April Man City v Palace 16 April Newcastle v Palace 19 April Palace v Bournemouth 23 April Arsenal v Palace 26 April Palace v Villa (FA Cup semi-final)

9 April PSG v Villa (Champions League quarter-final first leg) 12 April Southampton v Villa 15 April Villa v PSG (Champions League quarter-final second leg) 19 April Villa v Newcastle 22 April Man City v Villa 26 April Palace v Villa (FA Cup semi-final)

13 April Newcastle v Man U 16 April Newcastle v Palace 19 April Villa v Newcastle 26 April Newcastle v Ipswich

Now I know this might not be a popular point of view for many of you but I do think that there is an argument to say that the FA Cup exit to Brighton may have been a blessing in disguise. In terms of giving NUFC a significant advantage over pretty much all the other competing teams for the Champions League places.

Eddie Howe had valuable added time to prepare his side for the tough Premier League clash with Brentford which Newcastle just edged. If Newcastle had instead needed to play an FA Cup quarter-final tie the previous weekend (of Saturday 29 March), it may have tipped things against NUFC (Plus, it would almost certainly have meant no Carabao Cup celebrations for 300,000+ fans that weekend!).

I look at those respective schedules above for Newcastle United and their next three opponents (after this Leicester match) and can’t help but think we are being give a massive helping hand (or three!).

To save their entire season in any way, Man U only have the Europa League. They play in France against Lyon three days before facing Newcastle, then four days after St James’ Park the return leg at Old Trafford. No way are Man U putting their strongest team (whatever that is…) against Newcastle United.

Palace have an incredibly tough four match Premier League schedule in the two weeks before their FA Cup semi-final. They have never won a major trophy in their entire history and have a great chance to end that. I think for sure they will be chopping and changing in all of their four Premier League games and very unlikely to play all of their most favoured 11 at St James’ Park.

As for Aston Villa, three matches in a week before facing Newcastle United and two of those games against PSG in the Champions League. They will be knackered after that and for sure will be throwing everything at these Champions League matches. Whilst he won’t admit it, Unai Emery must surely see it as most realistic to target Champions League and FA Cup at this stage, after midweek of playing PSG in the second leg, they then have Newcastle on the weekend, then their FA Cup semi-final just a week later (with Man City in the PL in between!). For me, in this run of games throwing everything at possible Champions League qualification through the Premier League, as well as FA Cup and Champions League (this season’s competition), that is just not viable. The odds are very much against them in the Premier League when it comes to finishing top five as well.

Arsenal, Forest and Chelsea also have European or FA Cup commitments as well in the coming days and weeks.

Obviously Newcastle United will be looking to fight on four fronts next season and with having dealt with PSR these past three windows, this summer will see NUFC with a great position to now strengthen first team and squad, in order to fight on those four fronts, which hopefully will include Champions League and not Conference League.

For now though, we can enjoy the advantage of Newcastle United having sole focus on the Premier League as we aim for Champions League qualification, unlike all of our rivals.