Ally McCoist has predicted who will finish higher in the Premier League this season between Newcastle United and Manchester United based off of current form.
Both Newcastle and Man United have suffered some tough defeats in the last week or so but are hopeful that they can get their seasons back on track this month.
Speaking on today’s talkSPORT show, McCoist was ‘baffled’ at how Manchester United could be ahead of Newcastle in the league after their struggles this season and predicts the Magpies to overtake them by the end of the season.
The table flatters to deceive for Man United
Despite the supposed crisis that Man United are currently in, they are coming off the back of a month where Erik ten Hag won manager of the month, Harry Maguire won player of the month and they are one point ahead of Newcastle.
But that doesn’t exactly tell the full story. In November, Man United relied on a last minute winner to beat Fulham, narrowly beat Luton at home and then saw Alejandro Garnacho’s unbelievable effort kill off Everton’s hopes in a 3-0 win.
In all of those games, it’s fair to say that Ten Hag’s men were not the dominant side despite all three teams being in the bottom half at the time.
When they came up against Newcastle at the beginning of this month, they looked far inferior and showed less desire, which is why McCoist cant’ understand how they are still ahead of the Geordies.
On talkSPORT, McCoist said: “How can Man United be above Newcastle in the table? On current form it baffles me. They have had a reasonable start in the league, you have to say that.
But on current form, looking at Man United’s performances against Bournemouth, against Newcastle! I have got no idea, I watched Newcastle play Manchester United and Newcastle were lightyears ahead of them. You have to say, on current form I don’t think it will stay that way for long.
Newcastle have the desire to overtake Man United
One thing you can’t take away from Newcastle regardless of who is injured or suspended is their work rate and their desire to win football matches.
In the last two games against Everton and Tottenham we’ve seen the team look absolutely shattered and because of that mistakes have started to creep in, but their heart was still very much in the game.
Alternatively, Man United are at times winning games purely because they have more quality than their opposition because they have the ability to spend so much more money.
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