Last week I sat on the fence and decided I would wait for the next week or two of games to play out before I started thinking about any significant change at Newcastle United. I was delighted, therefore, to see us roundly beat Manchester United (with 10 men, no less). Another week where I don’t have to make a decision, I thought. Ideal. Let me coast through life like this. Let me float away.
Then of course Manchester City beat us and dumped us out of the FA Cup. Did we expect that? Yes, I suppose, is the short answer. So now, cup-less and in the bottom half of the Premier League table, we look to the Champions League as our one possible source of joy. Just as well we’ve got a nice easy opponent for the nex… oh. Oh, it’s Barcelona. It’s Barcelona who are already luxuriating in a north east spa hotel.
Howe has called this game 'the biggest in the club's history' which is difficult to agree with considering we won a domestic trophy, our first in nearly 70 years, only a year ago. Also, we have played Barcelona at home already this season.
But – to read his words more kindly, I think I understand the general sentiment. To make something of this season, to prove that we belong in these competitions, we have to take every match extremely seriously. It's hard. The squad is tired.
I remain uncomfortably on the fence though the pressure sores are becoming unbearable. The season hasn't been what we wanted it to be, and there isn't any more silverware coming our way. It's right to take every fixture seriously and try to finish as strong as possible and to acknowledge we need change in the summer, supported by better strategy and spending. What that change is remains to be seen, but we can't have another season like this and expect to challenge at the top of the league.
Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast
