The performances of Eddie Howe and Unai Emery will 'terrify' the so-called top six clubs of the Premier League with a change of guard seemingly underway when it comes to the top sides in the top flight. Howe and Emery meet this weekend as Newcastle United travel to face Aston Villa looking to win their sixth game in a row.
A win would solidify Newcastle's place in third and boost their chances of European qualification but Villa having picked up sixteen points from their last six games are on the lookout for a shock top-six finish themselves. With Chelsea and Liverpool looking unlikely to finish in the top four, and one of Spurs or Man United also likely to miss out, there's a feeling that Howe and Emery's fantastic work at their respective clubs will leave the old guard worried about the future.
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Speaking on The Match Preview of The Everything is Black and White Podcast John Gibson said: "I'll tell you something both sides have earned the right and this Newcastle United side, and Aston Villa side, and these two managers in charge will terrify the so-called 'elite six' because next season, Villa will be up with us [in the top six.]
"If Liverpool and Chelsea don't pull their socks up, they'll be the two going out of the elite six, and Villa and Newcastle will be the two going in. It's not going to be a top six anymore, it's going to be an eight or two will drop out.
"Have Liverpool and Chelsea got enough about them? Has Jurgen Klopp got enough desire left in his tank after seven years at Liverpool to turn this around completely? He's got to turn around an aging squad in an aging club and get right the signings in the summer to do that. Has he got the stomach to do that?
"At Chelsea, with their owner and for them it's throwing the confetti, let's see where it lands, and hope it works. Will they be a force? With the financial clout they've got, they ought to be but if you're going to have an owner who wants to be the manager and wants to be the chief scout, et cetera, et cetera, then it's not so automatic.
"It's going to be fascinating, but Aston Villa are quite capable of being up there with us next season."
The Magpies face their third away game in a row having seen off West Ham and Brentford before the visit of Tottenham to St James' Park next Sunday. United have also picked up wins against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Man United which has seen them leapfrog the latter into third.
Villa meanwhile have picked up wins against Crystal Palace, West Ham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leicester City, and Nottingham Forest. You can listen to The Everything is Black and White Podcast by playing the widget below or clicking here and going through to your chosen podcast provider.
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