Despite boasting the richest owners in world football, 19th-placed Newcastle United are staring down the barrel of EPL relegation.
There was a certain atmosphere at St James’ Park on Sunday that has been sorely lacking for the last decade. Under Mike Ashley’s ownership the club had gone backwards, with a distinct lack of investment killing any hope of success. But under new Saudi-backed ownership — a highly controversial move — there was at least hope for on-field success. And it manifested against Tottenham. Going in as $3.50 outsiders with Palmerbet, the Toon Army was rocking as Callum Wilson banged in the opener after two minutes.
But the day went quickly south from there.
By half-time Spurs has not only pegged things back, but they’d gone 3-1 up. The atmosphere came down several notches as the reality hit home: Newcastle have an almighty job on their hands. Starting the EPL season as $3.30 hopes, the Magpies are now $2.37 to drop down into the Championship. As one pundit put it: How would the richest club in the world feel travelling to play Luton Town?
Reporter 🗣 "Are Newcastle firmly in a relegation battle this season?"
Bruce 🗣 "Have we not been in that five out of the last six years?"
Steve Bruce is questioned about #NUFC being in a relegation battle and his future at the club pic.twitter.com/MYY1uI52ek
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 18, 2021
As it stands
The stats tell a grim story for manager Steve Bruce, who appears on the thinnest of ice. His side have gathered just three points in eight games, are one of just three winless EPL sides (alongside Norwich and Burnley), and are already three points away from 17th. Further, they’ve comfortably conceded more goals than anyone in the league (19). While there weren’t exactly huge hopes for Newcastle at the start of the season (they were $6.50 hopes for a top-half finish with Palmerbet), they are already out to $12 to finish 10th or better this campaign.
Eyes on January?
Newcastle fans will be pinning their hopes on the next period they can sign players — the January transfer window. And they’ll likely need to go hard at certain players. “They need to get the right characters in during January in the spine of the team,” Sky Sports’ pundit Jamie Redknapp said this week. “This squad right now is one of the favourites for relegation – you can see it in the mistakes they make every single week. A new manager might change it but it’s hard.”
If you’re backing Newcastle to remain in the EPL, they are currently $1.50 to ‘stay up’ with Palmerbet.
"#NUFC need a big January transfer window."
Jamie Redknapp believes Newcastle are still one of the 'favourites' for relegation this season, with David Ginola adding that it would be a 'disaster' for the team to drop into the Championship this season. ⬛⬜ pic.twitter.com/BFWDAW356v
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 17, 2021
A ‘Championship back four’
More specifically on the January signings, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes it’s the defence that needs sorting first. The former EPL centre-half gave a damning assessment of the club’s backline on Monday night (UK time). “The new owners have got major work keeping this team up. It is one of the worst teams in the Premier League,” said Carragher. “This back four is a Championship back four. These players were all playing in the Championship in 2017 for Newcastle. They are not good enough for this level…they are not organised, they are all over the place. They’ve got really poor defenders and that’s a huge problem. They are going to need to buy three or four defenders in January to stay up.”
🗣 "They are going to need three or four defenders in January to stay up."@Carra23 feels there is a lot to do with the Newcastle side in January to survive relegation this season pic.twitter.com/P2yCdRKpKn
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 18, 2021
(*Prices correct at 11am Wednesday October 20)
