Fresh off of a 2-1 win over the Wolves and heading into today’s St. Patrick’s Day game against Nottingham Forest I am refreshed and ready for the push for Champions League football. Earlier in the season I was wary of getting into the Champions League places. It was irrational but I was concerned that with the Champions League came bigger signings and bigger egos that would destroy what Eddie Howe has put together. I also wanted to have the growth of the club to be gradual so that I wouldn’t have to read how Newcastle had bought there way into the Top 6. Now I am in a different mindset now that the afterglow of the Carabao Cup Finals is in the rear view mirror. It is this. This is a challenge that was unexpected at the start of the year. and this team does not backdown to challenges. Newcastle has a favorable schedule going forward and we have 2 games in hand against Tottenham and a game in hand against Man U and Liverpool. Tottenham and Liverpool are the Leagues best Jekyll and Hyde and I don’t know which team will be showing up from game to game. As much as I would like us to catch Man U, there fixtures until the end of the season is pretty light with only us, Tottenham and Chelsea although they do have to play Fulham twice. Surprisingly, Liverpool has the hardest schedule all the teams fighting for Champions League spots with games against Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal the next three weeks.
So looking at the remaining schedule including the previous Wolves game I predicted we would finish 8-4-2 which give us 69 points at seasons end which would match the 2003 season with Sir Bobby Robson in which they finished 3rd. This would equate to the 5th highest point total in the last 30 years. Is my prediction a bit optimistic? Sure, but I also don’t think it is far off. Based on previous seasons this point total ranges from 5th to 3rd place but the majority of the results are a 5th place finish. I really seems that just like 40 pts is the safety line against relegation 70 points is the line needed for Champions League play. Turning those draws to wins is the key to our success and here is to hoping for another winning streak and unbeaten run to the finish.
Now, let’s discuss today’s game. I think it is very important that the team starts fast and puts pressure on Forest. I believe that our press will produce opportunities for Newcastle. It appears that Forest will be without some key players including Johnson which would be a huge setback for Forest. Eddie Howe did something last week in the Wolves game that I think will pay huge dividends for the squad. He left Almiron on the bench to start the game and he allowed Murphy to play an entire game. I think this move will light a fire under both players. I don’t think that Howe will do the same thing for this game but it was a masterstroke for the Wolves game. I believe that Almiron will start again as well as Isak up top. Isak brings so much to the game and his abilities allow him to be more involved in the game. I love Wilson and think he has contributed so much to the club but right now Isak is the person to lead the line. It doesn’t hurt that St. Maximin also enjoys their partnership and has improved his game immensely. I think the rest of the squad will stay the same and this I think we will enjoy the results. I predict a 2-0 scoreline.
Howay the Lads!!
The Newcastle Review 