NUFC fan Paul Patterson explains why NUFC are back!!
That’s the overriding feeling I get when looking back at Sunday’s excellent 2-0 win over Manchester United.
We have no divine right to finish in a European spot, no matter how “plucky” or “spirited” we may have been all season. Many sides have a good couple of months, a decent run or whatever, but the sides that achieve something are consistent throughout the season. The thing that will get us into the promised land of European football will be down to one thing- Newcastle United are THAT good.
No, not Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. I don’t know what the club’s aim was for this season behind closed doors and nor do I care. Eddie Howe takes one game at a time, a sensible philosophy. Why set targets publicly and leave yourself open to ridicule or embarrassment? He’s kept quiet and let his players do the talking. And talk they did against Manchester United. Very loudly from my position – but there’s more to it.
Saying that this is a different club is stating the bleeding obvious but looking back at yesteryear, we can draw some interesting parallels with our matches againstIn the 1996/97 season, Newcastle United beat them 5-0 , drew away and we qualified for the Champions League. In 2001 we won 4-3 at home and qualified for the Champions League. In 2012 we beat them 3-0 and unexpectedly qualified for the Europa League.