Manchester City to end up outside the top four and Manchester United finish in the bottom half? | OneFootball

Newcastle United sit eighth in the Premier League table ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures, a fair position in my opinion on the whole this season.

Newcastle have been a mixed bag, that’s struggled for consistency at times . We’ve had some very good performances to go with the bad.

We could have done better but… we could easily have been in the bottom half of the table.

It’s been a bit of a crazy season, not many would have predicted Nottingham forest to be fourth and Bournemouth fifth.

Nor Manchester City down in seventh, on their worst run of results since the takeover all those years ago.

It is an exciting league and whilst of course my priority is wanting Newcastle United to be up there in that top four, it is refreshing to see Man City struggling, plus teams like Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth punching well above their weight.

A lot of us despise Liverpool but it is not good for English football seeing Man City dominate year after year. So I’m glad they’ve finally lost that invincibility touch about them.

I said before a ball was kicked this season that Newcastle United would finish top four.

Hands up, I think I will be proved wrong on that prediction.

I think the top three will definitely stay the same. I can’t see Liverpool not winning the league from here on, plus I think Arsenal and Chelsea will slug it out for second and third.

Fourth?

It’s a proper lottery at the moment. There are only nine points separating fourth placed Nottingham forest down to thirteenth placed Manchester United.

Journalists and pundits are doing their utmost best, working overtime in trying to keep Manchester United relevant as challengers, but I think we all know they’re a busted flush that won’t achieve anything this season. They won’t qualify for Europe in any shape or form via the league.

Tottenham? A complete and utter defensive shambles, a walking disaster. They may dish out a few hidings and be entertaining to watch but they’ll have more days like their recent home game against Liverpool coming their way.

I think Man City will finish ultimately finish fourth, as I can’t see the poor run of results continuing for them. I sense they’ll turn it around and put a good run together, but all the same, they’ll be under more pressure trying to get Champions League football than anyone else pushing for it. So who knows, maybe it is the year that something I thought wasn’t possible may well happen.

Could Manchester City end up outside the top four and Manchester United finish in the bottom half? There is a distinct possibility of it happening, especially regarding Manchester United.

I can only say a big well done to Nottingham forest and Bournemouth for their achievements this season to date. They’ve made a mockery of certain teams and deserve some respect and shouldn’t be dismissed. I like a lot of people suspect they’ll fall away at some point, but everyone said the same thing about Leicester City in 2016. Who knows what is possible this season?

My prediction now is that Newcastle United will end up sixth in the final Premier League table. Aston Villa I think will narrowly finish above us, thought it could be fine margins, so the odd result here or there could swing it either way. Great to see the so called ‘big six’ continuing to be smashed up.

I want Newcastle United back in Europe next season in some capacity, though it doesn’t have to be the Champions League for me. I would be happy with the Europa League or the Europa Conference because I simply want to see the club win trophies. These competitions are a more realistic proposition than the Premier League or Champions League in the next year or two.

First things first though, let’s make 2025 our year and win that League Cup!