The Season as it stands
- mattlewis89
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
With the international break coming to an end thought would have a look at where the season stands for Newcastle United with the first team, Women’s, Under 18s and the Under 21s as well as the two NFTV Focussed Non-League sides.
Starting with the first team, were all very aware of the inconsistencies that have plagued us this season, whether that be through the number of games we have played, injuries of other debatable reasons including the ones surrounding our manager.
We Currently sit in 12th place with 7 games to go and with only 7 points separating 5th and 13th getting at the very least the conference league must be a realistic aim although we would hope for much more.
If you look at Eddie Howe’s two best league seasons in charge of us they were with no Europe and generally 1 game a week which is what we will have for the rest of the season so could that work in our favour? We all know how much Eddie can improve players with time on the training pitch so that lighter schedule could be beneficial.
Also based on the current league standings and excluding the match with Arsenal we do not play a side higher than 9th in the league so if we were to fail to get Europe of any description with that run in then that may spell the beginning of the end for Eddie Howe’s reign.
What do you all think can you see us having a strong end to the season?
For the Cups, Our League Cup defence saw us go out to City in the Semi Finals, not a bad defence and in the league cup we have got at worst to the QF in the last 4 season. The Fa Cup was a last 16 exit again to Man City and for the Champions League yes the 2nd half in Barcelona was diabolical but if you look at it overall it was a good Champions League Campaign and an experience that will hopefully make us street wise to European football as we qualify regularly. (Hopefully)
Tanya Oxtoby has been at the helm since week 10 and has only lost 1 League game (2 in all competitions) If you look at the League table with Tanya in charge we would be sitting in that play off place, but it has been the draws that have been our undoing this season. 8 Draws with half of those against sides in the bottom 4 and when you look at it like that, it does give you that sense of what could have been.
However, we have to stay positive 3 games left of the season we can only hope it’s the hope that kills you. Crystal Palace play the bottom 2 Birmingham end the season at Charlton all we can do is get those results against Forest, B City and Durham and hope destiny deals us a good hand elsewhere.
Emily Murphy has been the standout performer stats wise with her 7 goals and 7 assists, but Jordan Nobbs has played a big part with 5 goals and 6 assists. Anna Tamminan has also played a big part with some clean sheets and some vital saves.
The Under 21s Currently sit 23rd out of a possible 29 which does sound awful from a league standing point of view. But remember the Academy is about developing players. But Briefly back to the League Table the form for the Under 21s in the last 10 games does have us sitting 10th in the league which is a good upturn from the 1st half of the season. There’s only two games left of the regular season so even 2 wins from 2 may not be enough but providing we finish in the top 24 there will be a competition for the Under 21s to be involved with.
The eight Premier League 2 teams finishing in positions from 17th to 24th will go into a new, cross-category play-off competition with the top eight teams from the Professional Development League A chance for more the Under 21s to impress and for Sean Neave to add to his 13 goals this season.
It was a great first half of the season for the under 18s which has tailed off a bit in the second half of the season, but it has still been a good season for the under 18s. They currently sit on 34 points with 6 games to go so if we can at worst case scenario get 2 points we will keep our year by year points improvement since the take over and a 4th place or better finish will match that trajectory positionally.
Some players in the U18s really impressing with the stats as well Kacey Wooster with 12 Goal contributions, Sam Pinnginton with 10 and Ferreira with 9.
Hopefully the lads have a great end to the season.
Both are still in northern league based cup competitions, North Shields had a terrific run in the FA Vase, Ryton recently played 4 games in 7 days which is insane for a group of players who have other jobs as well and North Shields have a real possibility of making the play offs. North Shields and Ryton are a big part of Newcastle Fans Tv and if you enjoy non league football as well go and check out the videos because they are always a great watch.
One last little plug from Me, my non League side and home town Cirencester town also have a great chance of making the play offs in the Hellenic league currently in those play offs and with destiny in their own hands and Cirencester Town Ladies will play in the Gloucestershire Women’s trophy Final, good luck to them.
Comments