Paul Merson verdict on Newcastle United eleven weeks into the season… | OneFootball

Paul Merson speaking about Newcastle United.

NUFC with eleven weeks of the new season having gone by.

A very intense period of time with NUFC playing every midweek, due to Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Eddie Howe and team now preparing for their next match.

A 2pm kick-off on Sunday, home to West Ham.

Paul Merson discussing how things now stand for Newcastle United as they prepare for this London Stadium clash.

Paul Merson talking to Sportskeeda ahead of West Ham v Newcastle:

“West Ham are a team that are the worst in the league when it comes to playing at home and this weekend, they face Newcastle, who have won just one game away from home all season!

“I don’t think West Ham have won at home since 27 February and that was against a struggling Leicester City, who got relegated in the end.

“The way West Ham have been losing games, it’s alarming. Brentford absolutely destroyed them in their last home game.

“Newcastle have to deal with a lot of games and a hectic schedule but I can’t see anything but a win for them here.

“Prediction: West Ham 1 Newcastle 3”

My thoughts

I agree generally with most of what Paul Merson has had to say.

West Ham are certainly having a nightmare, especially at home. It is indeed over eight months since the Hammers won a home match, this season it is four home losses so far, whilst since February they have played nine games at the London Stadium with six losses and three draws, no wins.

This season, West Ham have conceded 12 goals and scored only two in their four home Premier League matches, the last one when they went down 2-0 to Brentford, it honestly could have been six or seven if the Bees had taken even just half their chances.

We all know the issues Eddie Howe was faced with coming into this season through no fault of his own. The fact Newcastle have won five of their last six games in all competitions now he has a squad strength coming together, despite all the matches in quick succession, says it all.

The one defeat was of course against Brighton when it looked for all the world like Newcastle were coming back to win that one, only to get sucker punched via a break. Statistics are also funny things at times and whilst Paul Merson points out that Newcastle have only won one away game, Eddie Howe’s side have also only lost one away game, plus the other four have seen Nick Pope keep clean sheets.

If Newcastle play on Sunday like they have been generally doing recently, plus West Ham do the same, this should be a game well worth watching and surely a second away victory of the season for NUFC.