Newcastle United: Firing in Europe but flat-lining at home

Can he fix it?

Whether it's injuries, lack of form or a combination of both, Newcastle have not been performing as well as expected in the Premier League this year. It's a different story in Europe however, so can Alan Pardew square the circle and deliver wins in both competitions? 

Newcastle United were the Premier League's surprise package last season. And they are proving to be so again, but for very different reasons this time.

Last year, the Magpies stunned everyone with their relentlessly good form as they finished fifth in the league standings, above the likes of Everton, Liverpool and even European champions Chelsea.

But 12 games into the new campaign and you have to wait for the second half of the league table to appear on Teletext - or at least you would if it still existed - to spot Alan Pardew's side.

They have just two points more than their nearest and dearest rivals Sunderland, who everyone believe to be having a bad season so far, yet the Black Cats have a game in hand over Newcastle who have somehow slipped under the radar.

So from a team who finished fifth, boasted the league's seventh and joint-tenth top scorers in Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse (not forgetting the latter only joined in January) and held so much faith in their manager that he was rewarded with an eight-year contract, to one which languishes in 12th place - what has gone wrong?

The Magpies are at 12.011/1 to replicate last season's form and finish in the top six this season and are huge outsiders at 44.043/1 to grab a top four spot, which was far from an unrealistic ambition last year.
 
On first viewing, it looks as though the Magpies' problems are obvious. Draws. Stalemates look to be the biggest threat to recapturing the form of last season, with five to their name already compared to the eight across the whole of the last league campaign.

Newcastle have yet to pick up a win away from St James' Park, yet by the same token have only lost once on the road. They have a great opportunity to put that right on Sunday when they travel to lowly Southampton who have won only once at St. Mary's. Newcastle are currently at 2.942/1 to pick up their first away win of the Premier League campaign at the weekend.
 
Of course, Pardew's men also have the distraction of the Europa League to contend with this year and without a squad with the depth of Manchester City or Manchester United, competing on multiple fronts is always likely to prove a challenge.

Certainly, it hasn't helped that Fabricio Coloccini picked up a three-game ban for his sending off against Liverpool, while the reliable Ryan Taylor is out for best part of the season and news that Yohan Cabaye could face a six-week lay-off will do little to ease Pardew's woes.

But while their league form is suffering, Newcastle are going great guns in their Europa League group, where they currently sit top and with the potential to qualify on Thursday.
Newcastle are favourites to top Group Dand are an outside bet at 28.027/1 to win the whole competition.

But, for Newcastle fans, it shouldn't be a case of having to choose between domestic and European success.

Pardew certainly needs to add to his squad in January if his side are to climb back up to the dizzy heights of last year and while they've done well in the Europa League to date, they've yet to come up against the sort of challenge likely to face them in later rounds, should they progress.

Recommended Bet
Back Newcastle to beat Southampton at the weekend at 2.942/1