Newcastle United are closing in on a place in the Premier League’s top five but pundit Simon Jordan isn’t particularly moved by what’s possible in the final two games of the season.
Newcastle United sit third in the Premier League and are now effectively just one win away from securing Champions League qualification. Having appeared to have been locked in a battle for a place in the top five in the congested Premier League table, Eddie Howe’s side could still finish with more.
Indeed, they are just two points behind second-placed Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle have already beaten the Gunners three times this season too, including once at their north London home in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Claiming second spot would equal Newcastle’s highest ever finish in the Premier League era. Jordan, however, believes it simply doesn’t matter.
Simon Jordan’s brutal Newcastle United response
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, the former Crystal Palace owner was asked if Newcastle really could finish second.
While predicting that Arsenal would get over the line and claim that particular spot, Jordan suggested it didn’t really matter if a team finished as “first loser” or “second loser” to Premier League champions Liverpool.
“I think Arsenal will finish second,” he said.
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“I think Newcastle have had a great season and if they finish third that will still be a significant achievement. To get a League Cup, to get a Champions League berth would have been a major set of progresses for Newcastle and I think that’s good enough.
“I mean, who cares? First loser, second loser, does it really make a lot of difference?”
Eddie Howe a Manager of the Season contender
Finishing in second would be a huge achievement for Newcastle. To an extent, Jordan is right. Outside of Newcastle (should they get there), no one is going to remember who finished a distant second to Liverpool in the years to come.
However, everyone connected with the club will know just how impressive a coaching job it would have been. Newcastle endured a frustrating summer transfer window and he has still managed to get his squad to go again, all while winning the Carabao Cup.
To even be in this position at this stage of the campaign is a testament to how good a manager Howe is.