Are Newcastle hitting the buffers?

Aside from the controversy that surrounded the takeover of Newcastle United, the club’s last year has been a welcome change from the several that preceded it. Magpies fans often felt that the absence of investment on the playing side under the previous ownership was preventing the team reaching its potential. Until 2022, people looking for sports betting opportunities at casinoszonder.com often felt that backing the North East’s largest club for relegation was a fairly decent outside bet. Those days, at least for now, seem to be in the past.

But having experienced a pretty shocking February, Geordie fans may now be in a position of real concern that a season that was initially full of promise might be set to end in disappointment. What are their chances of turning around their recent run in time to have a decent end to the 2023 season, and what would be a successful season for Eddie Howe and his club?

A loss of form is not necessarily a crisis

To watch Newcastle’s recent defeat at home to Liverpool was to see 90 minutes in which events conspired to ensure defeat before the game was even a quarter of the way through. Two early goals for the visitors were followed by a red card for goalkeeper Nick Pope, meaning attacking midfielder Elliott Anderson had to be withdrawn to bring on a sub ‘keeper. While the early goals were concerning, coming on the heels of draws against struggling West Ham and Bournemouth, a red card like that is a black swan event. It doesn’t mean Newcastle are suddenly in the jaws of a crisis.

Only two defeats in the league

Teams lose games. It happens. Arsenal are top of the league and genuine title contenders, but they lost to an Everton side that has been in poor form all season. Newcastle, for their part, have only lost to one team in the league - both of their Premier League reverses coming against Liverpool. A dip in form for the team has mostly meant drawing football games, but if they can get themselves back to something resembling their best, draws are much easier to turn into wins; it would be something to panic about if they were suddenly losing every game.

Bittersweet outcome for Pope

Newcastle, for all the club’s heritage, fanbase and the money that has been spent by the club over the years, haven’t won a trophy with any meaning since 1955. Being without Pope for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United means a better than ordinary chance that they extend that 68-year wait for at least another season. However, serving his suspension in the final means he will be available to play in the league at Manchester City. Ordinarily, that would look like a probable defeat for Newcastle, but as we have seen recently, the reigning champions are vulnerable - and having arguably this season’s standout player back between the posts for that encounter might be exactly what Newcastle need.