After the highs of last season, it has been a much more subdued start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign for Newcastle United.
The Magpies have lost three on the bounce, picking up just three points from their opening four games.
It has not been a good start for Eddie Howe‘s side, but it is still very early days. There is no reason to panic just yet.
Hopefully Newcastle begin to pick up some form after the international break when the fixture list is a bit kinder. Then we should get a better idea on just how well the Magpies are going to do this season.
Regardless, it was always going to be tougher for Howe and co. Last season we performed to our absolute best, while others around us struggled. We had a golden opportunity to finish in the top four and we took it with both hands.
This season will be very different, and the expectation of the hierarchy is that we will finish lower down in the table.
However, one thing is for sure is that there is not going to be a Premier League title charge at St James’ Park like one pundit has predicted.
Stuart Pearce backed Newcastle to win the Premier League last month
After Newcastle beat Aston Villa on the opening day, former Toon defender Stuart Pearce backed the Magpies to go all the way and lift the Premier League title at the end of the season.
It was an outlandish claim then, and it now sounds even more foolish following a hat-trick of defeats for United.
However, incredibly, Pearce has refused the opportunity to retract his statement and has instead doubled down on his theory that Newcastle are going to become Premier League champions come May 2024.
Pearce sticks with his Newcastle prediction
Pearce appeared on TalkSPORT on Monday and was asked by fellow pundit Simon Jordan if he really did back Newcastle to win the title.
“Yes I did, and I’m sticking with it,” he said.
“I’m seeing De Bruyne dropping out of Manchester City. That was my prediction three games ago. Yes, of course [I’m sticking with it].
“I’m going to throw in the mix here. I think they’ve had the toughest start on paper than any team in the league. Liverpool, Man City, Brighton away, Aston Villa at home – all teams that you think will be there or thereabouts.”
Simon Jordan was absolutely shocked by Pearce’s prediction, and it is fair to say we are too. Fair play to him for not backing down, but there is no way that he will be right.
However, he is right about our start to the season. It has been incredibly difficult.
That is why fans should not panic too much. Hopefully there will be an upturn in fortunes soon now that we have got some of our toughest fixtures out of the way early.
But is the Toon title bid still on? Nope, and it never was!
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