Newcastle United supporters will already have an eye on next season following the excellent recent form. Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have picked up more points in the last 10 games than the 21 Eddie Howe ’s side have managed.
They have also established a 10-point cushion to the relegation zone which, with another couple of positive results, will soon become unassailable. If you had told a Magpies supporter that this would be the case in mid-March when Steve Bruce was in charge, they certainly wouldn’t have believed it.
The latest result, the 2-1 win from behind at Southampton, highlighted the progress that has been made under Howe’s stewardship. Speaking on Premier League Productions, Tim Sherwood claimed it was a game that they would have been written off under the former manager.
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“After they go behind, a couple of months ago under Brucey, that would have been game over,” said the former Tottenham and Aston Villa boss. “It’s all going well for Eddie, all the new signings are doing very well. The only thing that was missing was a Chris Wood goal and he’s proved that he’s capable, stick the ball in that area and he’ll go and meet it.”
The Toon Army will be keen not to get too carried away too soon in the knowledge that their brilliant run of form has come largely against the teams around, and below, them in the table. They will know better than anyone that they still need at least a few more points to make absolutely sure of their Premier League status.
However, Sherwood feels they’ll have no issues finding the extra results they need. “They’re almost there, I would say they’re pretty much safe now,” he claimed. “They got beat in the FA Cup by Cambridge and everything looked like doom and gloom, the fans wondered whether they’d got the right man and he’s proved he’s the right man.
“Yes, they bought well in the transfer window but the players they already had at the club have improved and they’ve got competition, they all want to be part of this project. They are going to be in the Premier League next season.”
Once top-flight status is secure, attention will immediately turn to the summer and the 2022/23 campaign. For the first time in what will feel like forever for the fans, their aspirations will not revolve around avoiding relegation. Sherwood made a couple of bold claims when discussing what those supporters will be expecting next term.
“I know what the expectancy is of the fans at Newcastle, next year they’ll be expecting a challenge for the Premier League title!” He joked. They won’t be looking down [the table] next year when they give Eddie a little bit more money to spend and the way he’s spent it, they’ve got to trust him with it. Why not aim for the stars? Maybe Europa League next season.”
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