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

Paul Merson speaking about Newcastle United.

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

A very intense period of time with Newcastle 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, away at Brentford.

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

Paul Merson talking to Sportskeeda ahead of Brentford v Newcastle:

“It was a terrible result for Newcastle against West Ham last weekend.

“They kept the ball but never looked like scoring too many times.

“It’s a shame because I thought they were starting to find some rhythm and then that loss has now set them back.

“Brentford away is one of the toughest fixtures in this league. Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all played Brentford away and only City won.

“This is bread and butter for Brentford and Newcastle’s away form is actually quite woeful.

“I’m backing the hosts for a win.

“Prediction: Brentford 2 Newcastle 1”

My thoughts

Last weekend, Newcastle travelled to play a team with the then worst home record in the Premier League, West Ham having lost all four PL games at the London Stadium, scoring only two goals and conceding 12.

Today sees Eddie Howe playing away against a Brentford side who are one of the most impressive at home, having already defeated Liverpool, Villa and Man U, whilst Chelsea very lucky to draw 2-2 at the GTech Community Stadium. The only loss at home was a 1-0 to Man City.

Difficult then to disagree with most of what Paul Merson has had to say. Especially with Newcastle playing so poorly last weekend, it was so unexpected and the whole team were affected by the inexplicable malaise.

Things can change quickly in football though and the past week has now delivered West Ham six points and six goals at home, against Newcastle and Burnley.

Whilst Eddie Howe has got players unavailable and it remains to be seen what other changes he feels he needs to make, if any, following the Champions League win over Bilbao four days ago.

However, whatever team he does put out, it isn’t impossible for Newcastle United to bounce back with a win today. It isn’t all doom and gloom, Newcastle have won six of their last eight matches and now just have to take the good bits, the positives, from when they defeated the likes of Benfica, Forest, Union S-G, Spurs, Fulham and Athletic Bilbao, then transfer them to this game against Brentford.

Those six wins in the last eight games brought five clean sheets and only one goal conceded in the six victories.

Yes, of course we all know that five of these six wins were at St James’ Park and that Newcastle are yet to win away in the Premier League.

At the same time though, if Newcastle can make it six clean sheets in their last nine matches, there is no reason why they can’t then score at least one or two goals of their own. United having scored at least once in each of their last ten games in all competitions, scoring 22 goals in total in the 10 matches.

Whilst the 4-2 defeat at Brentford is of course getting plenty of mentions, the fact is that the Bees have proved ideal opponents so often.

Eddie Howe’s very first game in charge of Newcastle was a 3-3 draw at home to Brentford, but then in the next eight meetings home and away, United have won seven of them and only lost that 4-2 one last season. In the eight games Newcastle have scored 21 goals against Brentford and that includes eight goals in the three visits and wins away at the Bees, that preceded that December 2024 loss.

If Newcastle play like they did against West Ham, there will be only one result and it won’t be pleasant to watch.

However, I fully expect United to play with far more energy and intent this afternoon, from the first whistle.

There will be a collective resolve to put things right after what happened at West Ham and I think we will see a much improved Newcastle performance. Whether that proves enough to bring that much talked about first PL victory of the season remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Eddie Howe’s team win this one, though I fully expect and understand(!) why I will be in the minority in believing that.