The craziness continues – Make or break three weeks for Newcastle United? | OneFootball

The craziness continues for Newcastle United.

After two weeks with no NUFC matches, it is now seven in three weeks.

This scheduling just feels ever worse, the stop-start nature of modern day club football.

I guess the fact that Newcastle United are in the Champions League just makes this even more noticeable.

In between the September international break and the October one, it was also seven games in a three week stretch. Those seven matches giving four wins (Wolves, Bradford, Union S-G, Forest), one draw (Bournemouth)and two defeats (Barcelona, Arsenal).

It might sound a little dramatic so early on in the season but to a extent this next three week period could really seriously make or break Newcastle’s season.

Thinking positive outcomes

Into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, all but ensuring Champions League play-off for the last 16 as a minimum, up in top six of the Premier League.

Thinking not so positive outcomes

Out of the Carabao Cup, minimal chance of even a Champions League last 16 play-off spot, down in the bottom six of the Premier League.

After three months of the season, going into the November internationals, these are the kind of extremes that are more than possible.

Starting with the knockout competitions, the massive advantage in this three week period, is that United are at home for all of the trio of matches.

In the last three Spurs visits to St James’ Park, Newcastle have won all three and scored 12 goals. Indeed, the last six meetings home and away under Eddie Howe against Tottenham, have seen NUFC win five of them.

Whilst in the Champions League, Newcastle United face Athletic Bilbao and Benfica, who have lost all four of their CL matches between them so far this season.

Not a case of believing any of these three home matches are going to be easy BUT every reason to be confident that Eddie Howe and his players can win any/all of them.

The four Premier League matches in this three week period are interesting ones.

They are against four clubs that have inhabited the middle ground of the Premier League in recent times.

For me, games against these kind of teams (Fulham, Brentford, Brighton and West Ham) are more often than not the kind of results that can largely dictate your season.

When Newcastle United finished fourth in 2022/23 and qualified for the Champions League, the eight games (home and away) against those four clubs produced 20 points from a possible 24, with six wins and two draws. In the other 30 PL matches that season, Newcastle picked up 51 points from a possible 90.

In contrast, Newcastle United last season finished fifth despite their results against these kind of middle ranking teams. Against Fulham, West Ham, Brentford and Brighton, Newcastle only picked up seven points from a possible 24 via two wins a draw and five defeats.

I have a feeling that in what looks a very tough Premier League this season, these are the type of matches where Newcastle have to pick up plenty of points, certainly if we hope to see NUFC playing Champions League football in 2026/27.

In this three week period only one (Fulham) is at home with the other three (Brighton, West Ham, Brentford) away, making it extra tricky. Not sure what anybody else thinks but eight points from twelve would be a canny return in my opinion.

As I said earlier, the seven matches between the last two international breaks brought four wins, a draw and two defeats.

If Newcastle United managed the same set of results in the next seven matches in a three week period, who would you choose the four wins and a draw to be against (and the two defeats…)?

Next seven Newcastle United matches coming up…

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21 October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 29 October – Newcastle v Spurs (8pm)