Now that we’re about halfway through the league season and on a short cup break, how much progress have Newcastle United made this season over the last?
Off the pitch, he is immeasurable.
I like the way the club is being run, I like the ambition shown in the transfer market and I like what the future holds, from what I see and hear in terms of the club’s infrastructure and the staff who join the key positions of the club’s rejection. club
The future is very bright compared to the monotonously bleak outlook under previous ownership.
How about at the Newcastle United ground?
This is where it gets surprisingly good.
Taking a look at the matches that have already been played this season and comparing them to the corresponding matches from last season, we see some amazing progress. Take a look below.
(*I have taken reasonable liberties in switching teams that were relegated last season and teams that were promoted this campaign.)
Nottingham Forrest (h) 2-0 (Burnley 1-0)*
Brighton (a) 0-0 (1-1)
Manchester City (h) 3-3 (0-4) +1
Wolves (a) 1-1 (1-2) +1
Liverpool (a) 1-2 (1-3)
Crystal Palace (h) 0-0 (1-0) -2
Bournemouth (h) 1-1 (Norwich 1-1)*
Fulham (a) 4-1 (Watford 1-1)* +2
Brentford (h) 5-1 (3-3) +2
Manchester United (a) 0-0 (1-4) +1
Everton (h) 1-0 (3-1)
Tottenham Hotspur (a) 2-1 (1-5) +3
Aston Villa (h) 4-0 (1-0)
Southampton (a) 4-1 (2-1)
Chelsea (h) 1-0) (0-3) +3
Leicester City (a) 3-0 (0-4) +3
Leeds United (h) 0-0 (1-1)
Arsenal (a) 0-0 (0-2) +1
By my reckoning, that’s 15 points better than last season when we’re playing last season’s games and we’re not even halfway there.
Last season we finished with 49 points having won 13 games all season. We have already won nine this term. Our final goal difference was -18, now it’s +21.
Last season we had to wait until mid-April for Newcastle United to get 35 points or more. Here we are in the first week of January and we’ve already had a break of almost six weeks for a World Cup. This is truly an amazing thing.
Newcastle United are in the quarter-finals of the League Cup (knocked out in the second round last season) and we’re about to face Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Saturday. We all remember last season’s disappointment against Cambridge United.
Whatever happens at Hillsborough, we can sit back and look at the work Eddie Howe and the players have done and reflect on a year of huge progress at Newcastle United.
A League Cup quarter-final is on the horizon next week with a two-legged semi-final if we manage. We are perfectly prepared to qualify for a European competition, possibly the Champions League, with all the trappings of that prospect.
Lure for top players, financial rewards, exposure for potential sponsors and a chance for supporters to experience Europe burning ‘under the lights’ at St James’ Park once again.
If one year can bring THIS much progress with (in my opinion) fairly modest spending, I look forward to 2023 with my eyes wide open. The only thing that has changed, however, is the attitude.
We are a football club again. Newcastle United entering 2023 is a very attractive proposition. This (usually) eternal pessimist is loving it. And it feels VERY optimistic.
Happy New Year to all our fellow supporters wherever you are…
Source: Progress at Newcastle United? This is where it gets staggeringly good
