The title race is wide open and Antony Melvin believes that this could be the year for Newcastle United to win it.
No-one quite believes that Newcastle can go all the way and win the title. The manager won't say it and his players are under instruction not to even think it. Arsenal will be champions if they win all their games, Manchester United are top and clear, Liverpool are coming into top form but we say that the title is destined for everyone's second favourite team, Newcastle United.
Newcastle have a relatively simple run in and after their next three fixtures (Sunderland, Arsenal and Liverpool) they will have nine winnable matches. Arsene Wenger in his annual guesstimate of the championship winning points tally has these year plumped for 75 (so Arsenal are aiming for 80). Newcastle, with 52 points, could then lose the next three matches and still comfortably get into the 75-80 points bracket.
Newcastle's remaining fixtures:
24-Feb-02 A Sunderland 02-Mar-02 H Arsenal 06-Mar-02 A Liverpool 16-Mar-02 H Ipswich Town 23-Mar-02 A Blackburn Rovers 29-Mar-02 H Everton 02-Apr-02 A Aston Villa 08-Apr-02 H Fulham 13-Apr-02 A Derby County 20-Apr-02 H Charlton Athletic 27-Apr-02 H West Ham United 11-May-02 A Southampton
The title is up for grabs and not since 1992-3 has a title been so less clear-cut than this one. Over the last nine seasons there have been three one horse races, Manchester United winning in 1994, 2000 and 2001 and five championships decided very late on and contested by Manchester United (champions three times in five) and one of; Arsenal (twice contenders, once champions), Newcastle (twice contenders) or Blackburn (once contenders and champions).
Not since 1993 when Norwich City (yes Norwich), Aston Villa (with Big Ron Atkinson at the helm) and Manchester United were the best teams has there been a blanket finish in the top division. That season an international break saved Manchester United. Their stuttering form, that had them in third place for the run-in, was transformed. They hammered Norwich in Norfolk and as Aston Villa stumbled, became champions with a game to spare.
Now in 2002 you can hardly say that Newcastle are stuttering, but they are third during an international break, and the games against Arsenal and Liverpool could equally end the championship challenge from any of these teams. If Newcastle can do no more than avoid defeat over the next three games then they are set up to be champions.
Newcastle are in form and the fixture list holds few fears. The press is too wrapped up in obsessing about the unholy red trinity. The reality is that Newcastle United have the players and self-belief to become champions. If they can get Dyer fit then his pace, drive and willingness to work will win them games. The run-in is as easy as they get and should allow Newcastle to get into the winning habit. Can Newcastle win the league? In a word, yes.
