Newcastle United are struggling right now, and pundit Ian Wright thinks he knows why.
The Magpies’ unbeaten streak came to an end at the weekend. Eddie Howe’s side lost 2-0 to Liverpool, ending our run of 17 Premier League games without defeat. It was also Newcastle’s first home loss of the season.
We dropped out of the top four at the weekend, with Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogging us in the race for Champions League qualification.
And all of this is going on with the noise of the Carabao Cup final in the background. Newcastle have reached their first final since 1999, and the buzz is unreal. Fans are a mix of nervous and excited, while the battle for tickets was intense.
The trip to Wembley has proven to be a bit of a distraction, and it looks like it has dented our Premier League form. We have only won one of our last seven games. But fans won’t mind, as the chance to play in a final is the stuff of dreams.
However, Wright thinks that Howe’s side will be able to return to form once the final is ‘out the way’.
Ian Wright thinks Newcastle will improve after Carabao Cup final
The former Arsenal striker has been speaking on The Kelly And Wrighty Show, and addressed Newcastle’s recent form.
“I think Newcastle should be happy with what’s going on at the moment,” he said.
“Of course, they have a goalkeeper who is going to miss the final but the way it’s gone for Newcastle and the way they have been playing, I think they shouldn’t get too worried about the way they are dropping out of maybe the Premier League stuff.
“They have players in the Newcastle side who have not been in the final. The final must be playing on their minds now, I think. What is it, 1999 the last time they were in a final? 1950’s when they won one. So this is massive for the whole of Newcastle, so that’s why you can feel the nerves are kicking in.
“Once this game is out the way, the final, I think we might see Newcastle relax and come again.”
Hopefully Wright is right
Wright has summed it up pretty well. All the talk in recent weeks has been about the final. On my journey home from the Liverpool game on Saturday night, all of the conversation was about plans for London rather than Nick Pope’s suspension or Allan Saint-Maximin’s performance.
The League Cup final is a distraction, but it is always going to be a welcome one. It is a chance for this team to become immortal.
Once the game at Wembley has been played, there will be a pressure lifted off of the players’ shoulders. Hopefully they rise to the occasion against Manchester United, and a win could propel the side to even greater performances during the rest of the campaign.
Regardless, Howe will hope his side can get back to their best once the final is out the way, whether they win or not. They have done us proud in getting this far, and will be treated as heroes no matter what.
After the final has been and gone, there is still so much to play for this season. Despite now being fifth, we are still very much in the race for Champions League qualification.
Hopefully we reestablish ourselves in the race for the top four once the pressure of the cup final is lifted.
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