Even though Newcastle and Tottenham both find themselves on four points from the first six on offer in this new Premier League season, there is a slightly different narrative between the Tyneside and North London outfits.
By Dan Tracey
For the Magpies, there is a sense that is all not well at St James’ Park and with manager Eddie Howe largely being frustrated at not landing the capture of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, that frustration has filtered through to the club’s passionate set of supporters.
Considering this club is perceived to have all the riches in the world, it is not spending them like a global superpower and with the shackles of PSR holding them back off the field, a draw against Bournemouth last Sunday showed signs of shackles on the field.
A point on Howe’s most recent return to the Vitality Stadium is all that Newcastle earned for their troubles and they looked like being in serious trouble when Dango Outtara thought he scored a late winner for the Cherries.
Unfortunately for the Bournemouth player, VAR had other ideas in mind. His goal wiped out for handball – a decision that drew the ire of the usually placid Andoni Iraola, the Spaniard feeling he had been robbed, his opposite number knowing that his team probably got away with one.
However, there was no getting away from how bad Everton’s showing at Tottenham was last Saturday. The Toffees finding them in a rather sticky situation as Ange Postecoglou’s side hit four unanswered goals in front of their own support.
A performance that certainly lifts in the mood in N17 and one that was the perfect tonic after throwing away their lead at Leicester at the start of last week. Everton put to the sword, but maybe that was an indication of how bad Sean Dyche’s side have started this season.
Which means Sunday should be a fairer reflection of where both these teams are at and more importantly, where they aim to be at the end of the season. The hosts and the visitors have top four aspirations, you get the feeling that at least one of these outfits will end up disappointed.
However, the opportunity to earn a statement victory so early in the campaign is not one that either will want to overlook and whoever can make it seven points from nine, will go in to the international break with plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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