2009 to 2016 - What's changed?

How far have Newcastle United actually progressed? If at all!

With Newcastle seriously threatened with relegation from the Premier League I take a look at where Newcastle were at this point in the 2008/2009 campaign that ultimately led to relegation that season. So just how far have Newcastle progressed since that disastrous season.

On this exact week in 2009 Newcastle had 28 points from 27 games. The squad consisted of players such as; Steven Harper, Fabriccio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, Damien Duff, Danny Guthrie, Michael Owen, Kevin Nolan, Nicky Butt, Alan Smith, Peter Lovenkrands, Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins. This was a horrendous season to be a Newcastle United fan. It is impossible to forget the moment that Damien Duff directed the ball into his own net and broke the hearts of thousands of Geordies. But how has Newcastle’s squad changed, and are they likely to get out of the relegation fight this season? Currently Newcastle have 24 points from 26 games. This is worse than this stage in the 2008/2009 season. However, one good thing is that in the 12 remaining games of the 2008/2009 Newcastle had to face Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspurs and Liverpool amongst other fixtures. This season Newcastle’s main challenges in their remaining games are Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City. Arguably their fixture list is easier this time around.

Newcastle managed to pick up 5 points from their last twelve games in the 2008/2009 season. By my estimates Newcastle should gain 15 points from their last 12 games due to their favourable fixtures. This would mean that Newcastle would finish the season with 39 points. Only 1 point off of the magic 40 number, yet I still think that this should be enough for Newcastle to survive.

The 2008/2009 season was a very turbulent season within the club. With Kevin Keegan resigning, Chris Hughton taking temporary charge, Joe Kinnear then replacing him as interim managed and finally Alan Shearer replacing Kinnear as Kinnear was admitted to hospital with heart problems. This did not help Newcastle achieve any kind of consistency. This season Newcastle have only had the one manager, Steve McClaren. It is fair to say that he has had a poor first season as Newcastle United manager yet the signs are there that he can get this team performing better than they currently are. He may not be the man to lead Newcastle into the top half of the league but he should help the magpies avoid relegation this season.

The players that Newcastle United have signed this season are of real quality, Gini Wijnaldum, last years Dutch player of the year especially. The real worry is Newcastle United’s defence. Newcastle will most likely play against Stoke with the same defensive partnership that they played in the 2008/2009 season. Newcastle’s defence has only improved with the addition of Daryl Janmaat, the rest of the defence has not improved at all. This is a real worry and if Newcastle were to go down again this would most likely be the cause.

So is this season different to the season that Newcastle last got relegated? In my opinion, yes. There is a lot more stability around the club this time around. Newcastle also made quality additions in the summer and in January. This should mean that Newcastle survive. I can imagine it going right to the wire, after all, do Newcastle ever do anything the easy way?