Newcastle United? I’ll give us seven from ten… | OneFootball

Here we are, Newcastle United fans experiencing another excruciating international break, with our trip to Brighton less than a week away.

This pause in proceedings provides the opportunity to take stock ahead of a hectic 22 day schedule.

During which time Newcastle United play seven matches, with four in the league, two in the Champions League and one in the Carabao Cup, the trophy we won in March.

In the Premier League, we sit in mid-table, with as many defeats as victories. It’s pretty much the same in the Champions League, where we’ve won one and lost one. As for the Carabao Cup, we have a 100% record, having progressed into the 4th Round where Tottenham await.

Sounds fair to middling until you consider a few things.

Three defeats, all at St James Park’, but the reality is that with the exception of the Arsenal game, we were the better side in games that we lost.

Not converting early chances at home to Liverpool and Barcelona cost us in those games.

And being unable to see out the dying embers of the games with Liverpool and Arsenal was the difference between taking nothing, when we really should have still taken a point.

If you consider William Saliba’s assault on Tino Livramento when United were leading Arsenal with thirteen minutes to go, it’s also very much a case of what might have been in that match also, enforced changes that Eddie wouldn’t have intentionally made inviting immense pressure as the clock ran down.

Otherwise, it’s near perfection in the goals conceded column, none leaked on the road in 360 minutes of football, whilst in our other three matches at St James, the only time we’ve conceded was when that thunderous effort from Bishop Auckland’s Andy Cook careered in off the underside of the Leazes End crossbar as we began our defence of the League Cup.

So it’s four wins, three draws and three narrow defeats, with fourteen goals scored, and the eight conceded coming in four of those games, clean sheets in the other six.

On the park, Nick Woltemade has made an impressive start with four goals already. It’s fair to say that his German compatriot, Malick Thiaw, has also looked the part, having now seemingly established himself in the starting eleven.

In defence, Pope is keeping Ramsdale out of the team, Botman looks like a new signing and Burn and Trippier are dependable as ever, whilst Schar was unlucky to lose his place after being concussed against Barcelona.

In midfield, Tonali and Bruno are undoubtedly the first names on the teamsheet and whilst we don’t look as good without Joelinton, we’ve also seen encouraging glimpses of Willock, Miley and Ramsey in the middle of the park.

Up front, Woltemade has cemented his place in the starting eleven, although lets not forget that Osula has scored three when he’s been thrown in.

Out wide, Eddie has continually shuffled the pack. Gordon’s red card against Liverpool gave Barnes an opportunity and with Elanga not yet firing on all cylinders, we’ve seen Jacob Murphy about as much as our summer acquisition from the City Ground.

United have also been unlucky with injuries.

Yoane Wissa hasn’t featured yet, so whilst the jury is still out on him, once available he will be like a new signing all over again.

Jacob Ramsey will be back after the international break, but the news on Livramento and Hall is somewhat bleaker, both likely absent for another six to eight weeks.

So what’s my overall rating in terms of the start to this campaign?

Despite our league position and despite those three defeats, I’ll give us seven from ten, with the next three weeks being instrumental in shaping the remainder of our season, a hectic schedule during which I think we’ll make steady progression in league and both cups.