The Harry Redknapp Newcastle United verdict now in | OneFootball

Harry Redknapp has been talking about Newcastle United.

The former Spurs, West Ham, Bournemouth (and many others) manager, discussing Eddie Howe and his team now twelve weeks into the new season.

Newcastle United playing Brentford this weekend.

A 2pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon at the GTech Community Stadium.

Newcastle United set to face Brentford having won six of their last eight matches in all competitions, home and away.

However, United yet to win away in the Premier League this season.

Harry Redknapp talking to BetVictor ahead of Newcastle United playing away at Brentford:

“Brentford are another side that seem totally different when they’re at home or on the road. The last time we saw them here, they beat Liverpool, so they’ll fancy their chances.

“Newcastle are having a strange season. They’ve been good in Europe but far too inconsistent in the league, I was surprised by the result and performance away at West Ham.

“Brentford have caused a lot of problems here with their set-pieces and long throws.

“One to watch – I like the striker, Igor Thiago, he’s a real handful and he’s chipped in with a few goals.”

My thoughts

As Harry Redknapp points out, Brentford are formidable at the GTech Community Stadium, picking up 10 points from five matches at home, compared to only three points away. The Bees not only winning and scoring three goals against both Liverpool and Man U but Brentford also outplaying them as well. It was the same at home for them against Villa in both Premier League and League Cup this season, Brentford the better team and defeating Unai Emery’s team twice.

Newcastle United very similar, nine points in the PL at St James’ Park, only three points away from home. United also winning five of six games at home in the Champions League and League Cup.

It is funny how everybody pretty much takes for granted that in most instances, successful clubs win more games at home than away. Looking last season in the Premier League, of the top ten teams, only Forest won more away (10) than at home (9). That rarity very much down to Forest playing very deep defensively and then largely relying on fast breaks via speedy wingers such as Elanga, to break down the other end and score, or mostly, create chances for Chris Wood to get on the end of.

Harry Redknapp has predicted more of the same on Sunday, Brentford to keep winning at home and Newcastle to once again not win away in the Premier League.

One thing for sure, Eddie Howe’s players will need to take care of the ball a lot better than they did at West Ham, which was the worst performance for some time from this Newcastle team. West Ham raised their game last Sunday and their workrate got them the result I think, helped then further by the real quality they have in their side, the likes of Bowen and Paqueta. A solid defence for the most part as well.

If West Ham can find a way to win like last Sunday, having been so woeful pretty much all season, home and away. It isn’t impossible to believe Newcastle can get that first win away from home in the Premier League this season.

I am guessing the key will be getting back to the excellent disciplined defending that brought clean sheets in all three of the opening trio of Premier League away games. It also isn’t exactly a disaster getting a point away to the likes of Villa and Bournemouth, whilst Leeds away was at point where NUFC were so low on options, especially in attacking areas, Nick Woltemade not yet available as part of that problem.

Since the last one of that trio of goalless away draws, at Bournemouth, worth pointing out that Newcastle have scored at least once in all of the ten matches, in all competitions, home and away. A total of 22 goals in those ten matches.

So if Newcastle could return to the defensive form of keeping a clean sheet away from home, then I would have every confidence that Eddie Howe’s side would be able to score at least once themselves.

Also maybe worth mentioning that the last eight times Newcastle have played Brentford, home and away, Eddie Howe and his players have won seven of the eight, including three of four away against the Bees.