Paul Merson has made the bizarre claim that Eddie Howe will be hoping Newcastle United do not secure a top-half finish. The Magpies are now just four points adrift of 10th-place Southampton following a 2-1 victory at St Mary's on Thursday night.
It was a third straight win to extend Newcastle's top-flight unbeaten run to nine matches, with away trips to Chelsea and Everton to come before the international break. The latest victory has raised the prospect of a top-half finish, which represents a remarkable turnaround considering United did not record their first victory of the season until December.
However, former Arsenal and England midfielder Merson suspects Howe will secretly be hoping his side do not achieve this feat, believing it would mislead the new owners over the strength of his squad. Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have outlined their vision to challenge for silverware this decade, but the pundit reckons they could be tempted to settle following a January transfer spend in excess of £90m.
Darren Bent, Kris Boyd, Clinton Morrison joined Merson and host Jeff Stelling in the Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday studio. Here is everything they had to say following the Magpies midweek victory at Southampton.
CM: Newcastle are getting results without three of their best players. Saint-Maximin ain't playing, Callum Wilson has been out injured and Kieran Trippier is out.
The future looks bright, and credit to Eddie Howe because a lot of people looked at it when he went in there and said was he the right man to turn it around. They had a good window, and that's what confidence does. You win football matches and it breeds confidence. Everyone is playing well.
JS: I think the other encouraging thing, Boydy, from a Newcastle perspective is they went one down against Southampton. Newcastle in recent times having gone one down would have gone two down or more. But they showed the desire to come from behind.
KB: It is one of those ones where you look and it's nine unbeaten in the Premier League now. They obviously lost to Cambridge in the cup, but they're in a good place. It just shows you get that confidence which has not been in the North East for a number of years now. There's a togetherness.
One thing you can say about Eddie Howe is when he's come in, he's been able to galvanise the whole city and everyone has bought in to what he's trying to do. As Clinton said there, it was a good transfer window and even the players who were already there, it's as if they've said if I'm going to be here long-term, I'm going to have to up my game.
You speak about Jacob Murphy, Ryan Fraser as well, there's been a lot of these performances which have improved, and Newcastle are in a good place at the moment.
JS: We had to wait a while Darren for Bruno Guimaraes, but that wait was worthwhile wasn't it?!
DB: What a finish that is, the technique. We know a lot about him, and I was excited to see what he would be like in the Premier League.
The finish is exquisite, he's not even seen where the goal is and hit the flick. It was a great little bit of movement as well, the backheel, an unreal finish. I think it's going to be a positive, they've eased him in but he looks like he's going to be the real deal.
JS: It was the perfect night for Newcastle. Chris Wood also got his first goal which must be a huge weight off his shoulders.
DB: I was one who questioned the money, £25m. I wanted to see more in terms of goals, but the header is incredible. The pass from Shelvey across...that's when Wood is at his absolute best.
You give him the service, let him go and attack it, what a header. If they give him this type of service, he will score goals. You'd have to say he's made a real impact since he got there.
JS: A brilliant night, and a brilliant week as far as Newcastle are concerned. Merse, here is a stupid question. They are four points off the top-half of the Premier League...could they finish in the top-half?
PM: If I was Eddie Howe, I would be hoping not.
JS: Why?!
PM: Because then the board will think they've got a team there now which could challenge, and they are a million miles off. That team will still be down the bottom next season.
JS: Why would that team with the additions still be down the bottom next season?
PM: I just think they will. I think they're on a little run at the moment, but I think they need to buy. If they want to go and be successful, don't be the Newcastle we've seen for the last 10 years that was just drifting. You need to go out and buy.
These are new owners, you don't want them to be sitting upstairs going I think we've done our business, this will do us. Middle of the table.
Someone will put up a list and go if the league would have started in December, Newcastle would have been second now. No, they need to get more players in.
They have done great, and Eddie has done great. I mean really great, I hold my hands up. I was fortunate to go down to Bournemouth when he was the manager, and he's just got an aura about him, the way he talks to the players.
It is very special what he does, and fair play. But they need to bring in more players next season, and who knows? If they bring in four or five more players, then that 10th might be sixth.
It might even be an FA Cup, and wow. Can you imagine that? Newcastle lifting the FA Cup.
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