At the end of September 2023, Newcastle demolished Sheffield United 8-0 away. Then they eliminated Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, before humiliating PSG 4-1 in the Champions League, even thou they already had five players injured. Who would have thought that sitting here in January 2024, ahead of the game against Manchester City, they would be ninth in the table (even lower than Manchester United), with nine defeats already (last season they had a total of only five)? Too thin squad for four competitions and astonishing number of injuries have done this, as the Magpies played a number of consecutive games with the same 11 players, something which cannot go without punishment in today’s modern, brutal football. The remaining players were looking not to get injured, hence leaving out one of Newcastle’s trademarks – heavy pressing all over the field. And now, they are in deep trouble.World’s richest club needs to sell it’s top players, says CEOAhead of the big match with Manchester City, and with Fulham in the FA Cup and Villa away games coming up next, the situation in the North East is gloomy. Another first team player got injured and he will be out for at least six weeks – Joelington. He is now in the group of no less than 10 players (many of whom are first-team regulars) who are out for a long/period of time: Callum Wilson (calf), Harvey Barnes (foot), Joe Willock (Achilles), Elliot Anderson (back), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Nick Pope (shoulder), Matt Targett (hamstring) Javier Manquillo (groin) and Sandro Tonali (banned). You could hardly win against Luton (they lost), yet alone Manchester City.Newcastle United v Manchester City Premier League Season 2023-24 Players’ Combined Goals & Assists ahead of today’s game at St James’ Park#NUFC #Magpies #MCFC #Cityhttps://t.co/JaQXk0vQ7V pic.twitter.com/WjfI7v2SmZ— Soccer Facts (@Soccer_Stats) January 13, 2024 What is worse, the officially richest club in the world is bound by FFP rules and cannot spend anything this January. They are only left with loan deals, but there are no friends on that market.“We’re not shutting the door on everything. But certainly, as I sit here now, no we’re not going to bring anyone in. But that may change as the window unfolds. I think there’s a lot of value in loans. Whether it is value that we can utilise is something totally different. I’m not sure there’s many clubs out there that are willing to help us currently. To agree a loan deal, you need the club to agree to that deal, so we’re in that moment where I’m not sure we have many friends in the market. Sometimes, you have to make short-term signings. Sometimes, you have to take your long-term vision away and just deal with the here and now. I’d be quite prepared to do that if the situation arose where we could agree something that would help us for the here and now” said coach Eddie Howe ahead of the City game.Thirst for Brazilian flair is strong at PSG: two anonymous signed but this 116,000,000 euros target is not an unknownOne big help could be Manchester’s midfielder Kalvin Phillips, but the Citizens are no ‘friends’. As reported by Telegraph Sport, Manchester City have an upper hand as the player is under contract and are asking a huge amount of 7 million pounds just for a loan until May. On top of that, they are forcing Newcastle to make that loan obligatory, but the Magpies don’t want to commit themselves to buy Phillips, when Tonalli’s illegal betting ban ends in August. They will have to find anther suitable loan for themselves, and until then, the 17-year-old Lewis Miley will have to be in the squad again, trying to stop Kevin De Bruyne and co.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 21Friday Burnley – Luton 1-1 (1-0)/Amdouni 36 – Morris 90+2/Saturday 15.30: (1.70) Chelsea (3.70) Fulham (5.10)20.30: (5.60) Newcastle (4.40) Man.City (1.60)Sunday 17.00: (2.85) Everton (3.40) Aston Villa (2.45)19.30: (2.30) Man.Utd. (3.70) Tottenham (3.15)***odds are subject to change***
