‘Newcastle United are unrealistic’ - Liverpool legend tells club ‘top 10’ is where they belong
John Barnes has issued bizarre comments on what Newcastle United’s target should be this season.
John Barnes has told Newcastle United supporters to “be realistic” and focus on stabilising in the Premier League’s top 10.
That is despite the Magpies not finishing below 10th since the 2021-22 campaign - the first season under Saudi-backed ownership. In the past three years, Newcastle have earned Champions League qualification twice and won the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle currently sit 14th following an underwhelming start to the season. While they are going well in Europe and the Carabao Cup, the Magpies have already lost five Premier League games - with Sunday’s loss to Brentford their latest setback.
John Barnes makes baffling Newcastle United claim
Liverpool legend Barnes - who also had a stint at St James’ Park in the late 1990s - backed Eddie Howe as manager but tampered the expectations on Tyneside. He told Video Gamer: “Well they'd have to win the league for that because Newcastle, in terms of the ambition and because of the money they have now, are going to be unrealistic in what they expect.
“When they won the trophy for the first time, they were delighted. Give him the freedom of the city, give him a 100-year contract, he's the best manager in the world. Now all of a sudden it's all doom and gloom, very much like Liverpool with Arne Slot.
“You have to be realistic in terms of what you expect. Now Newcastle, if harmony is right, they can be looking to finish in the top seven or eight and they showed it last year that they can. But everybody has to stay together and not get too carried away when things aren't going well.
“Very much like, when things go well, don't get carried away and think all of a sudden you're the best in the world. People said after they won a cup last year that this was a stepping stone for them to go on to Europe and win the league. It's not.”
‘Top 10 the target’ - John Barnes
On what Newcastle’s aim should be, Barnes added: “They did very well to do that so you have to have a little bit of humility and understand that, if Newcastle have to be aiming to be a top-10 team regularly and then move forward slowly rather than finish fourth one year (and) finish 15th one year.
“So they have to really be consistent in looking to be in the top 10, which I think they can do if everybody stays together and backs Eddie Howe as he's proven in the past.”
Dan Burn on Newcastle United priority
However, Dan Burn targeted Champions League qualification as the club’s top priority last month. A trophy in the bag has taken the pressure off, with a top-five finish now viewed as more important now the 70-year curse is broken.
“This season, our target is to get Champions League football again,” Burn told Football Focus. “There’s only once before in our history where we’ve achieved back-to-back Champions League seasons. It’s something that is a target for us.
“I know we haven’t started well but, if we want to hit that target, we need to kick on. I feel like you can slip away from the top and it’s hard to get back up there.”