Saying that, I have a sneaking suspicion that Huddersfield will win their next three matches against all the odds. They are at home to Preston next and their home form is good. Preston have basically little chance of playoffs now after losing to Leeds comprehensively. Leeds will be playing Newcastle next and I fancy Leeds to win as they need the points probably more than Newcastle and Newcastle's home form hasn't always been good and includes strange defeats at times.
This will give Hudds a boost and I see them beating the next two teams as I'm sure they will be out of the playoff picture and may be a bit down about that. Derby will be back from a hard away trip to Brentford with hardly any rest so will struggle against Hudds at home. Hudds then play Fulham but they are at home again. Before this happens Newcastle will have a tricky game against Ipswich away and Ipswich don't lose too many at home. This may give Hudds the boost they need to beat Fulham as it will mean they will have closed the gap massively by then and will be on 80 points if my predictions happen (which are still not all that likely but more than it seems) and Newcastle if they lose at Leeds and possibly lose or draw at Ipswich will only be 4 or 5 points ahead. The Fulham game they can get to 83 and close the gap to around 1 or 2 points as Newcastle play a couple of days later on the 24th and would be under massive pressure against Preston if this scenario occurs. Since if they don't win both Hudds and Newcastle could be very close after 43 games (actually just realised Newcastle would have played an extra game by then too so would have played 44).
Basically, I just see Newcastle possibly slipping up in the next two games and allowing Hudds to smell blood.
Well I think it is true that 96 points is enough now for the title, unless Newcastle manage to win four in a row to reach 97 points (not likely) so 95 is possible for them if they draw one. Brighton really only need a couple of wins and a draw now in four games.
What I'm writing about now is that my prediction for Huddersfield catching Newcastle is still on. Derby got mullered away at Brentford and will be tired as Monday isn't very far away. Huddersfield will be 5 points behind Newcastle if they win their game in hand. Newcastle will have problems beating Ipswich who have lost less games at home than Newcastle have. Hudds will be encouraged if they end on 80 points on Monday and Newcastle get a bad result at Ipswich. The best part is that Hudds then play their game in hand against Fulham and a win there would bring them to touching distance of a win behind Newcastle. The pressure is then on Newcastle as they have a tricky game against Preston. Lose that one and Hudds could overtake them with their game in hand. This is after 44 games so still some time for catching up in any case.
Maybe you're right, maybe I'm just too cautious, but I don't think them winning 4 is that unlikely. Their games aren't that tough.Well I think it is true that 96 points is enough now for the title, unless Newcastle manage to win four in a row to reach 97 points (not likely)
Maybe you're right, maybe I'm just too cautious, but I don't think them winning 4 is that unlikely. Their games aren't that tough.
Maybe you're right, maybe I'm just too cautious, but I don't think them winning 4 is that unlikely. Their games aren't that tough.
You're probably right, but they surely deserved to win yesterday and they don't have any tough games left. It's amazing that they've only got 4 wins from their last 10, with 2 of those wins being their toughest games of the season.I think you are too cautious. Won just 4 of their last 10 games, and missing Clark and Gayle. They will surely stagger over the line but 4 wins looks unlikely on current form.
You're probably right, but the surely deserved to win yesterday and they don't have any tough games left. It's amazing that they've only got 4 wins from their last 10, with 2 of those wins being their toughest games of the season.
And in a famously unpredictable league, Newcastle seem to be less predictable than the rest. They're like a box of chocolates.I think that just proves the unpredictability of it all.