Newcastle United battled to a 2-2 draw with Southampton on Sunday and, whilst a draw may be frustrating considering the flow of the game, but it’s a considerable improvement for a side who were defeated 3-1 on the South Coast a year ago.
Rafael Benitez’ side have largely impressed in their Premier League campaign so far, having won the Championship title last season to ensure an immediate return to the top-flight of English football, and a tally of 11 points from the opening eight matches is a respectable figure.
There is still plenty of work to do, as this early stage of the season means the difference in points from Newcastle and the lower sides in the division is minimal, and the next month is crucial for a Magpies side who face Crystal Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth.
All three of those games will appear to be winnable for the Magpies but there is no easy games in the Premier League, which Benitez will certainly be aware of, and the Spaniard is doing the right thing by taking things on a weekly basis.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was full of praise for Newcastle United this weekend though, stating the Magpies were showing that they belonged in the Premier League, and it’s the sort of praise that Newcastle deserve.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Keown praised the spine of the team and identified Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey as crucial parts of the side.
“Newcastle are a very young side but the spine of the side: Lascelles, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden in there, every one of their players looks pretty comfortable. They look like now they belong in the Premier League.”
“You couldn’t say that before about some of the Newcastle teams in the past, looked haphazard at times. There is a structure to the way they play, Shelvey at the centre of everything. Everybody wants the ball now in a Newcastle shirt. A threat going forward – Matt Ritchie, I think a lot more to come from him.”
“It really impressed me that they managed the ball really well: comfortable passing, linking up, control. They are not out of their depth and they are probing all of the time – they have got lots of bodies in the final third.”
Newcastle’s displays on the ball are part of the reason why fans have renewed belief in their side and it’s a positive period for the club overall, amidst consistent takeover talk which may result in better times ahead for the Magpies.
