Magpies need home comfort after joining unwanted club
NEWCASTLE United joined a unique club after going down 2-0 at Arsenal as they became only the sixth top-flight team to start the season without a victory after 13 Premier League matches.
The Magpies now enter the unwanted club along with Swindon (93/94), Derby (2000/01), Norwich (2004/05), QPR (2013/14) and Sheffield United only last term.
Only the Rams pulled away from danger in 2001.
Back then it was former Newcastle boss Jim Smith who put together a much better second half of the campaign, including wins over Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Aston Villa, to stave off the threat of the drop and relegate Manchester City no less!
Eddie Howe is still confident he can pull Newcastle away from danger.
In fairness to the former AFC Bournemouth boss he has only had two of weeks working with them on the training ground.
After the game, he spoke about the need to “imprint” his philosophy on the players but he frustratingly spent most of last week holed up in his hotel room.
This week will be different and with back-to-back games at St James’ Park against Norwich and Burnley the league table could look very different in seven days’ time and Newcastle can double their points tally.
Win both and United can put themselves back in touch with the bottom half after finding themselves adrift at the foot of the topflight standings.
Federico Fernandez back in contention
The former Argentina international could be recalled for the home clash with Norwich City tomorrow night. Fernandez has not played since the pre-takeover days when Newcastle lost 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Since then Graeme Jones explained he would not insult the 31-year-old by making him travel to sit on the bench due to his experience.
New coach Jason Tindall then issued the “everybody’s in contention” line before Arsenal but again there was no sign of the ex-Napoli man at the Emirates Stadium.
However, with Jamaal Lascelles suspended for the Norwich clash tomorrow night you would think Fernandez (right) was a sure bet to start the game on a night when Newcastle are going to need him.
History is
not on Newcastle United’s side but Eddie Howe feels the Magpies can pull off a great escape.
Callum Wilson concern Christmas is coming but Newcastle are getting sent the wrong type of cards.
Newcastle lost Lascelles and Matt Ritchie to bans after they were issued with yellow cards at Arsenal.
Callum Wilson came close to joining them after making his feelings clear when upended in the box by Gabriel and Stuart Attwell spent the closing stages of the game lecturing him without reaching for a card.
However, Wilson is still on the brink of a ban after five yellows this term.
Thankfully he is available for Norwich but he must make it to the new year without a yellow card to avoid a suspension - and that is something Newcastle cannot afford.
Newcastle coaching team have no intention of going back to a defensive game plan
Both Howe and Tindall spent part of the first half pointing towards the Arsenal goal and cajoling their team forward. It is believed one of the things asked of the players was to at least take the Gunners in level at the break - and Newcastle delivered that.
Howe’s assessment was simple after the game when he told reporters: “I thought the first third of the game was very good, middle third not so good final third very good.”
Tellingly, he wasn’t happy with what happened after half-time when he commented: “We just began to sit deeper and deeper.”