Woe is me! And probably you as well. That short period of time when it looked like we were possibly going to have a decent season now seems like a distant memory. Failing to see off Sheffield United after losing against Everton and Crystal Palace means that a poor result against Newcastle United who we travel to play this weekend will leave us feeling like Southampton fans. Ahead of the game I had another chat with t David Punton from NUFC fanzine The Mag to gain his thoughts on everything Claret and Blue and Black and White.
Hi Dave. It’s that time of year again. November and both our clubs look like we are on our usual journey through the season of moving between feeling temporarily elated to more permanently depressed! We’ve both beaten Manchester United, but you’ve also beaten our London neighbours Spurs away. How do you sum up your season so far?
We’re about where we thought we would be with a manager like Steve Bruce. The crazy thing is that we are better off in terms of the points total than we were this time last season. There have been a few good moments, of course, but the bad has just about outweighed the good so far. Ten games gone and we’re firmly in the relegation mixer. Fans are staying away and the mood is bleak at home games so our ‘famous atmosphere’ isn’t what it was. As one of the journalist put it after the Wolves game, there is a relegation pie being baked at NUFC and the ingredients are all going in.
Of course the biggest change that you’ve undergone since we last met was to change managers from one of my favourites ‘Rafa the Gaffer’ to one of your own (although I’m not sure if you subscribe to that) in Steve Bruce. What are your thoughts on this latest turn of the managerial merry-go-round?
It was a damaging summer for us. We lost Rafa and we now have a manager that many fans simply don’t think is up to the job, certainly not tactically. Let me put it this way, would West Ham fans want Bruce? He might be a decent guy, from the local area, but his CV is middle road at best. Villa fans coming out in waves of sympathy told its own story.
I suppose a lot of Newcastle fans’ energy must be taken up with thoughts of Mike Ashley. What’s the latest news on him? It must almost be time for another of those ‘I hear Mike Ashley’s selling the club’ rumours that tend to go round once a year, although I’m beginning to think that it is all a marketing ploy.
Ashley’s selective absenteeism goes on. A deeply unpopular regime that looks like it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The club needs root and branch change, fresh ideas and fresh investment in all areas. Ashley just keeps the pilot light on. There are claims of interested buyers, the latest one being Peter Kenyon, but the situation there seems to be summed as ‘man with no money wants to buy football club’. The day Ashley sells, whenever that may be, will happen out of the blue. We live in hope rather than expectation of that day ever happening.
Anyway enough of the despondency. Give us the latest news on the new players that are making their way into the Newcastle team. Who are they and how do they look for the future?
We spent £40m on a striker called Joelinton. This 22 year-old Brazilian was making his name in the German top flight, but Bruce has him playing as a target man and it doesn’t seem to be working and he may not trouble you. We had a target man in Rondon who we got rid of to play a player as a target man who isn’t a target man, if that makes any sense! French winger Allan Saint-Maximin is a box of tricks, one of the brighter spots so far, he can run at pace and cause defenders to be pulled in. WE also took some lad called Andy Carroll that West Ham fans may have heard of, but guess what…he’s injured.
Ha ha, Poor old Andy! You seem to sell your strikers quite regularly: how did you feel when Ayoze Perez was sold on? It looked from afar that he was finally beginning to find his feet in the Premier League.
Perez was always likely to go once Rafa announced he was not signing on. Perez gave good service and at 27 the time was right in his career for him to go. Many thought he’d go back to Spain but then Leicester came in with £30m. He’ll do well there. He’s a good finisher, when he doesn’t do his vanishing acts. He got some stick from some elements of NUFC fans, but the reality is we all miss him.
Do you think Mike Ashley will let Steve Bruce buy during the Christmas transfer window? Where in particular needs strengthening most?
The claims doing the rounds are that Bruce will be allowed to bring a couple in over the January window. We need something else in centre midfield and they may need another striker or a winger. As ever, we expect it to underwhelming.
You managed to finish quite strongly last season, after flirting with the bottom of the table for a bit. Where do you think/hope that Newcastle can finish up this season?
I hope that we can stay up. A lot hinges on Bruce. I’m not convinced we will end this season with him in charge. I think we will fulfil the aim many believe is set out by Mike Ashley, 17th place. The problem is I haven’t seen worse sides than us bar Southampton so far.
It’s looking as though Liverpool and Manchester City are once again going to fight out the top honours between themselves. Do you think Leicester will break into the Champions League slots again? Who are your predictions for the top four in order?
Rodgers is doing a great job at Leicester. He gets teams playing the right way and is at a club with brilliant owners. Not sure they make top four though. For me: Liverpool win the title, Man City second, Spurs third then Chelsea and Arsenal will surely turn around.
It’s still very early on in the season, and the bottom three positions are always a bit more fluid. Who are your pre-christmas picks for the drop?
Watford, Southampton and one from NUFC, Norwich, Villa, Brighton and Burnley.
What are your thoughts on VAR? Have you been adversely affected by its implementation?
Everyone screamed for video refs and now everyone is moaning it’s ruined this game. They definitely still to refine it as it has seemed mainly negative so far. NUFC thus far have not had any VAR controversy, and we benefited from it to hang for the win at Spurs.
How are Newcastle going to line up against West Ham this weekend? Line up/Formation prediction?
No idea as we have Steve Bruce. The plans will be ‘go out and give a go’. Expect three at the back with two wing backs bombing on.
Last year was a rare feat for us in beating you home and away – are you going to be able to reverse your fortunes this year? Are you confident going into this game of getting back to winning ways? Prediction for score please.
I’m not confident at all. A draw would be something akin to progress. I expect we may get done, 2-0.
Well many thanks once again to Dave for his thoughts and comments. From my point of view it seems almost perverse to predict a West Ham win, so I will buck the trend and go for a fighting 1 – 1 draw. COYI