Simon Jordan believes Newcastle United could spring massive Champions League surprise this season
Newcastle United are midway through a very strange season so far, where the team have looked practically incapable of winning away from home, their league form has been shaky, and yet, they sit in the top eight in the Champions League table.
The bipolar nature of Newcastle this season was on full display last night as Eddie Howe made just one change to the side that chugged along at Wolves, looking bereft of ideas, to the one that dominated against a quality PSV side for 90 minutes last night.
Questions have been asked over the mentality of some players and why they only seem to get fired up for big games, and there was a question whether that was the case for the whole team last night.
Whatever the truth, though, Newcastle look an entirely different proposition in Europe than they do in the Premier League.
Simon Jordan and Jim White debated Newcastle's ability to go far in the Champions League
With that in mind, Jim White and Simon Jordan were wondering aloud on talkSPORT today whether Newcastle could potentially go all the way in the competition, with Simon Jordan saying that if the draw is kind, there's no real reason why not.
"Yeah, I think they possibly can. Depends how good a draw they get. When they get into the round of 16, and it starts to get into the business end of the tournament, and people start to get knocked out on individual games or ties, rather than over a group stage scenario.
"I don't think their fan base will make any difference to the ability to overcome significant players that are used to playing against hostile environments, that are used to playing in cauldrons that will not be upset by playing at St. James's Park, because they play in these sort of environments on a weekly basis."
Has Simon Jordan not been paying attention?
We aren't so sure we agree with Jordan's take on the fans not playing their part. PSV have been very strong on the road this season, but crumbled like a wet cake last night.
Two years ago, Newcastle's fans made St James' Park so hostile that PSG didn't know what to do with themselves.
If the temperature inside the ground is right, Newcastle can bake any side into submission. It's all about the away legs; that's where things go against us.
Having said that, we're not convinced we have what it takes to win the whole thing just yet, but a quarter-final appearance would certainly be nice.
