Three objectives for Newcastle United in final nine games

Newcastle United will return to action on June 21st and they still have a lot to play for in the final stage of the season.

Premier League football will return in four days and fans can’t wait to see their clubs in action after a three-month break. The Toon Army is excited to see their beloved Newcastle United take the field again when they host Sheffield United on June 21st, but things would be even better on Tyneside if the pending takeover was approved by now.

Steve Bruce had his fair share of trials and criticism this season, but the former Sheffield Wednesday boss has the Magpies in 13th place with 35 points through 29 games, and his men are currently eight points clear of the bottom three.

It must be said that Newcastle United have had luck on their side this season as their overall statistics should see them occupy last place in the table. The Magpies have performed well on some occasions, but they have been ultra-defensive and difficult to watch in most games. That being said, here are three things I would like to see from the team as they close out the season.

Set Objective of 40 Goals

Through 29 games, Newcastle United have only scored 25 goals, which makes them the joint-lowest scoring team in the Premier League. As crazy as it may sound based on how many goals the team has scored thus far, the Magpies should be focused on scoring at least 15 goals in their last nine games.

Before COVID-19 forced a three-month break, Bruce said he was finally ready to transition from defensive, counter-attacking football to a style of play that promotes more possession and fluidity. Well, let’s put that plan to action starting with Sheffield United next weekend.

Joelinton has been isolated on an island of his own for most of the season, but with more support and better service the Brazilian is capable of scoring goals regularly. Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin have had limited opportunities to work their magic out wide, but with more possession the dynamic wingers can certainly boost the Magpies’ offensive efficiency.

Three Clean Sheets

Thanks to Martin Dubravka’s athleticism and awareness between the sticks, Newcastle United have claimed nine clean sheets this season, which is the fourth best tally in the top flight. Shutting out a few more opponents in the final nine games would be massive for the Magpies when it comes to goal differential deciding table placement.

When looking at the schedule, five of Newcastle United’s last nine opponents consist of Aston Villa (19th), Bournemouth (18th), West Ham (16th), Watford (17th) and Brighton (15th). These five clubs have a combined average of 31 goals this season, so the Magpies can definitely claim some clean sheets over the next few weeks if they are confrontational, aggressive and maintain possession for longer periods during games.

Fight for 10th

With the Toon already eight points clear of the bottom three and essentially one win away from officially being safe, the objective should not be to avoid relegation. Instead, as Bruce stated a few weeks ago, the goal should be to finish in the top ten. Currently, the Magpies are only four points shy of tenth-placed Burnley.

Every club’s performance will be unpredictable after three months off and returning to an accelerated schedule, but Newcastle United have sufficient talent to handle business against inferior and mediocre opposition. Bruce will be responsible for promoting attacking football in training, but the players need to play with urgency in these final games.

Finishing tenth would be a great achievement for the club as it would mark a second top ten finish in three seasons. More importantly, though, finishing among the top ten would lead to a more effective and impressive transfer window. Quality players are more willing to sign for a top ten side than they are for a team that barely kept their head above water.