Newcastle United have had a very strange start to the 2024/25 season after picking up points when not playing very well and then getting the performances right but not getting the points.
It's in front of goal that the biggest problems have arisen. For some reason nobody seems capable of scoring from open play lately.
Alexander Isak broke a five-game streak by nudging home against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but later in the game typified Newcastle's problems by not taking aa gilt-edged chance to bring the Magpies level.
We're not sure what started this trend of being unable to score, but now, surely, confidence is playing a big part in things as the longer it goes on, the worse it gets.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton believes Newcastle will be fine this season and that this is just a blip and on Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, he told guest, Newcastle defender Dan Burn, what he thinks the team needs.
“Things have been overblown a bit with regards to Newcastle.
“The last three games, the players would have come off… You drew at Everton, thinking ‘blimey, how did we not win that’. Numerous opportunities. It was the same against Brighton. Create chances but not taking them.
“Even watching the highlights against Chelsea, there were some incredible opportunities. They’re head-scratchers. In terms of the performance, they have been there. The players will be feeling they’re not far away and just need a little bit of luck on their side.”
Newcastle would definitely increase their chances of some good look if they just took a crack at goal. A deflection, a weird bounce or anything like that could put them in on goal or send the ball into the net, but we're constantly just trying to walk it in.
Even when we do have a punt, it's usually when the opposition has 11 men behind the ball.
So yes, we need luck, but we need to start making our own luck too.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
15 | -8 | 18 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
15 | -15 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |