Coming into this weekend, Newcastle were priced at 9/2 to finish inside the Premier League's top four this season. Their loss to Fulham last weekend ruined their unbeaten start to the new season and saw their top four odds lengthen as they look to return to the Champions League at the first opportunity.
It's been an interesting week in the North East with rumours coming out that Eddie Howe and Sporting Director, Paul Mitchell, aren't seeing eye to eye after a disappointing transfer window. However, on the pitch, the Magpies put in a very impressive display at home against the champions, Manchester City.
It's a performance that proves they can still mix it with the very best teams in the league and on another day, they could have won the match. It has seen their top four odds shift once again, this time in the right direction if you are a Newcastle fan, and they are now priced at 7/2 to finish fourth or higher.
Newcastle are now 7/2 to finish in the top four
The point against Man City has seen Newcastle leapfrog Man Utd to become the fourth most likely team outside of Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal to finish inside the Premier League's top four.
Newcastle's price to finish in the top four has felt overly long all season and even now, that still remains the case. People have been quick to forget that this squad of players comfortably finished inside the top four two seasons ago and that this season, they have no European football to juggle alongside their league commitments.
It will also be near-impossible for them to have as many injuries this season as they had last season which can only mean good things for Eddie Howe and his squad.
How could the situation evolve in the coming weeks?
The off-field situation between Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell could play a big part in how well Newcastle do this season, especially with the FA still to decide on who they want to appoint as the new permanent England manager.
If they were to come calling for Howe, who is still among the favourites in the PL sack race, then it would be a job very difficult to turn down. The Englishman is very popular with the Newcastle players so him leaving mid-season would unquestionably have a detrimental impact on them and their top-four hopes.
In the more immediate future, the Magpies travel to Goodison Park next weekend for their final match before the next international break. A win there, and their odds will likely shorten further.
Andy is tipster who has been calling Golf tournaments for several years across many different platforms. He has covered all tournaments from the Asian Tour to the Masters.
