Newcastle United: The Season So Far
Newcastle United has experienced a mixed and somewhat disappointing first half of the season, currently positioned in the middle of the Premier League standings.
The summer was one to overlook for the Geordies, overshadowed by financial fair play issues and speculation about their coaching staff. To steer clear of a point deduction in the Premier League, they had to part with two promising talents: local favorite Elliot Anderson and winger Yankuba Minteh. Additionally, there was substantial talk about manager Eddie Howe becoming the next England manager after Gareth Southgate resigned from the role.
Nonetheless, the Magpies kicked off the season on a high note, securing victories in three out of their first four matches and advancing in the EFL Cup. Their away victory at Molineux Stadium against Wolves was especially gratifying, as Newcastle rallied from a 1-0 deficit to triumph 2-1, thanks to a goal from Fabian Schar to level the score and a stunning strike by Harvey Barnes to clinch the win.
In late September, Newcastle faced the chance to climb to the top of the league temporarily by securing three points at Craven Cottage. Unfortunately, they delivered their poorest display of the season, struggling throughout the match and ultimately suffering a 3-1 loss against their West London opponents.
They achieved a great result at home against reigning champions Manchester City, along with advancing to the fourth round of the EFL Cup by defeating AFC Wimbledon 1-0. The Toon Army remained optimistic about having a successful season, aiming for a spot in European competitions.
A draw at Goodison Park and defeats to Brighton and Chelsea left Newcastle with only one point out of a possible nine in October. The team started to show unusual signs, appearing to lack creativity and having difficulty generating any attacking opportunities. The Magpies were starting to turn into an erratic and inconsistent team.
Continuing their winning streak, Newcastle secured victories in their next three games, advancing to the EFL Cup Quarter Finals and beating two teams in the Premier League's top five—Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Alexander Isak is starting to hit his stride, finding the back of the net in each of his last four matches across all tournaments, much to the delight of the fans.
Newcastle faced losses against West Ham and Brentford, and they also allowed a last-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. However, in between those matches, they demonstrated their potential by battling it out with Liverpool, currently the top team in Europe, and managing to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw. Fans of Newcastle United have started to notice a troubling mindset within the team—they seem to play exceptionally well against the bigger clubs in the Premier League but often fail to maintain that intensity against the lower-ranked teams.
As the festive Christmas season draws near, the Magpies will aim to maintain strong performance and secure a spot in the EFL Cup Semi-Finals. This season, the league is tightly contested, with just six points separating Nottingham Forest in 4th place and Manchester United in 13th. Newcastle currently holds the 11th position with 23 points from 16 games, so there’s still plenty to fight for.
On Wednesday evening, Newcastle will take on Brentford at St James' Park in an important match for the EFL Cup. If the Magpies can't make it to the semifinals, it will increase the pressure on manager Eddie Howe.
