Premier League: Geordie Roar Can Shake Spurs

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

The Premier League is back again folks, and what a weekend we have to set the 2018/19 season off with a bang.

The Newcastle-Tottenham match is an opening-day fixture to capture the imagination—two great clubs with a rich heritage and high hopes for the coming season. But both have their challenges, Newcastle a limited budget and Spurs with mounting expectations increasing the pressure year on year.

It’s one of those classic games though, big city sides from either end of the country and everything to play for. And when the fiercely loyal Newcastle fans get their voices tuned, the North London aristocrats will know they’re in a fight.

Talking Points

Rafa Benitez is fast becoming the most popular coach on Tyneside since the great Sir Bobby Robson. The former Liverpool boss could have walked away after the Toon was relegated in 2016, but he didn’t. He steered them back to the top flight and, after taking time to settle in their first season back, helped the Magpies achieve a top ten finish.

Benitez is a Champions League winner, and the Premier League’s knowledgeable fans are well aware that he can set up a team to frustrate and then pounce.

The SBOBET odds point to another mid-table finish for the Geordies.

Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles is one of Rafa's top guys this Premier League season — Newcastle star Jamaal Lascelles is ready to lead Magpies in new season

There isn’t a lot of money to throw about at Newcastle and Rafa has had to deal shrewdly, but he has a diamond in his pack in the shape of skipper Jamaal Lascelles. The Magpies often looked lost without their classy defender during a five-match absence and his performances led Geordies to shout for an England call-up for their captain. If his form continues, then this could be his year.

Striker Ayoze Perez is Newcastle’s biggest threat, with ten goals last term. However, he needs more support and Rafa will have to shuffle his pack and hope for Dwight Gayle to reach his potential.

The loan signing of Kenedy from Chelsea—up on Tyneside for a second year—is a real boost for Newcastle as well. The young winger’s trickery and skill was the catalyst for a strong finish to the 2017/18 season, and he could turn out to be a world-class player in time with his touch of quality.

The Premier League 2018 odds on Newcastle and Tottenham are unlikely to alter over the final few hours of the transfer window. Nonetheless, prospects for the season could depend on whether either manager, particularly Mauricio Pochettino, can land any late targets.

Spurs fans have become increasingly frustrated by Poch’s difficulty in bringing players in. While all around are strengthening, there is yet to be a big announcement at White Hart Lane.

And what is the chance of a World Cup hangover for Spurs’ young stars? It was a terrific campaign for the Three Lions, but they ultimately fell short at the semi-final stage. Cynics may say one of the reasons they bottled it at the final hurdle was that Gareth Southgate had entrusted the last push to so many Spurs players. (Not me of course!)

But Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier had run themselves into the ground and stayed on an emotional rollercoaster longer than any of us really expected. And then there’s the Belgian contingent of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele who all made the latter stages too.

And let’s not forget Denmark’s best player Christian Eriksen, who is so important to Spurs’ chances.

History

2018 World Cup top scorer Harry Kane ready to lead Spurs in new Premier Legue season — Harry Kane celebrates one of his goals during 2018 World Cup in Russia

Home form was vital in the Magpies’ successful return to the Premier League with eight wins, four draws and seven defeats up in the North East last season. And that will be the case again, particularly on those cold winter nights when gloves are the order of the day for visiting southerners.

It’ll be warm enough on Saturday though!

Newcastle come into the first game after an uninspiring pre-season with no wins in four, losing the last two against Augsburg and Sporting Braga—all while conceding five goals without scoring any.

Spurs had a good ICC tournament and arrive with four wins from six, though the Whites were hammered 4-1 in Girona last time out. Surely, they can’t afford a repeat of those defensive lapses if they want positive Premier League 2018 results.

Recent head to head between the two sides tells a story. Tottenham did the double over the Geordies last season, scoring three goals without reply. But Newcastle are ahead in total, with 22 victories to 21 and six draws.

Betting Tip

	Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur	1×2 Draw @ 3.10
	August 11, 19:30 (GMT+8)

This will be a great contest and there’s no clear winner here.

The home side is available at 3.65 with Spurs the favourites, slightly odds against at 2.11 and the draw 3.10.

It’s going to be a tight game with two excellent defences prominent, and that’s reflected by odds of 1.87 on Under 2.50 goals and 2.03 on Over. A Correct Score Draw 1-1, at 5.80, is the most likely result.

Newcastle could do with getting a start here, as they face Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal over the next four games, and the passionate Geordie fans will roar them on from the off.