It has been a disappointing last seven days for Newcastle United fans.
A big feeling I think of what might have been.
Expectations of winning at home against West Ham.
Then the same at Crystal Palace who were 19th in the table going into the Newcastle United and now have only won one of 13 Premier League games this season.
What might have been with six points from those two matches, instead of one.
With six points Newcastle United would now be fourth in the Premier League and only a point off second.
I have done a rundown here of all 16 matches that Newcastle United fans have witnessed this season. Giving a small overview of each match and what outcome, in my opinion, that Newcastle deserved in each of them, based on overall play and the chances created.
Newcastle 1 Southampton 0
United deserved to win after defending superbly and a great goal from Joelinton, despite playing most of the game a man down.
Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 1
The home side deserved the win on overall play and chances but NUFC getting a very decent battling away point.
Forest 1 Newcastle 1 NUFC won 4-3 on penalties
Newcastle starting well and taking the lead, then finishing the game the better team, a draw a fair result at 90 minutes. Held their nerve really well to win on penalties.
Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1
A draw probably a fair result on clear chances created but United defended well and an outstanding Joelinton pass to create the winner.
Wolves 1 Newcastle 2
Newcastle the better team in the first half and went behind to a sucker-punch. Once getting equaliser in second half there only looked one winner and United deserving the three points, though Pope had to make an outstanding late save.
Harvey Barnes Goal Newcastle Wolves
Fulham 3 Newcastle 1
Newcastle terrible in the first half and Fulham should have been out of sight. If Schar had squared the ball to Isak for a tap in then United would have got a draw and maybe even a win, that they didn’t deserve. However, overall, Fulham clearly the better team on the day and worthy winners.
Newcastle 1 Man City 1
A good even game and a fair result.
Newcastle 1 AFC Wimbledon 0
A much changed NUFC team played poorly against lower league opposition who refused to try and attack, even after going behind. Newcastle deserved the victory but didn’t play well.
Everton 0 Newcastle 0
Eddie Howe’s team dominated this match and on every metric should have won this match, just didn’t take their chances, including that Gordon penalty.
Newcastle 0 Brighton 1
Newcastle played really well for an hour but Brighton’s one attack in that time saw a breakaway goal. As NUFC became ragged late on, Brighton had a couple of more chances. However, Newcastle definitely deserved the win on balance of play and chances, just didn’t take them.
Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1
Eddie Howe’s side played pretty well and created some really good chances, Chelsea deserved the win but not by much.
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0
United performed against the £500m Chelsea second team and were worth the win, based on chances and overall play.
Newcastle 1 Arsenal 0
An excellent performance from the home side and whilst very few clear chances in the game, Newcastle edged this and deserved the win, which came courtesy of a brilliant cross and header.
Alexander Isak Newcastle Goal Arsenal Raya
Forest 1 Newcastle 3
United conceding a poor set-piece goal but easily the better team and couldn’t believe how they’d managed to trail at the break. Kept going though and well worth at least a two goal winning margin.
Newcastle 0 West Ham 2
Very much like the Brighton home defeat. Not quite as dominant but United by far the better team in the opening 50+ minutes. Conceded another poor set-piece goal but well on top and just couldn’t finish. On balance of play and chances, NUFC deserved at least a draw but threw this game away in the key moments at both ends.
Palace 1 Newcastle 1
Palace the better team and on chances and overall play they deserved to win. Newcastle battling away and got the draw, which of course could/should have been three if better defending in that final minute.
My reference to ‘short memories’ is this.
I see so much writing off of Newcastle’s chances on Wednesday night, not just because it is our bogey team and the fact that Liverpool are top of the table, it is such rock bottom confidence in our team and manager from some Newcastle United fans.
Why was there such expectation for the West Ham and Palace matches when we came out of the international break?
It was because the team and manager had performed so well and the three wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Forest so fully deserved!
There is absolutely no reason why this Newcastle United team aren’t capable of bouncing back and giving the scousers a proper game this week.
I am not predicting a win BUT I am not ruling it out!
I would say Arsenal are clearly the second best team this season and apart from a late chance for Rice, Newcastle restricted them to next to no clear chances. Whilst creating some of our own and scoring a brilliant winner.
The weekend before that Newcastle win over the Gunners, Arsenal played at home to Liverpool and were the better team, not taking some clear chances, they still led 2-1 going into the final ten minutes and threw the win away when conceding with nine minutes to go.
Who knows what will happen on Wednesday night BUT one thing for sure, if both the Newcastle United players AND fans are fully up for this, then we have a fighting chance of getting something from the game.
Into them!