Andy Cole has questioned Newcastle United’s ambition under Mike Ashley – but thinks the club are already safe this season.
Cole joins Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports tonight for the M . The former Newcastle striker is in the club’s Hall of Fame and was part of the Entertainers team that waltzed into the Premier League and challenged the established order.
But he admits those days seem a long time ago and it’s a different club these days.
He said: “I think Newcastle will be OK. The problem, which I think has been well documented, is what are Newcastle really striving to do? Is Mike Ashley going to spend a bit more money to push them on to be a top ten team or will they be there or thereabouts fighting relegation like they have done this season.
“The potential is not as much as it used to be. When they had Kevin Keegan as manager and the expectations were there then. That’s all changed now, whether it’s the owner or whatever it may be. I’d like to see Newcastle in a much better position than they have been for quite a few years.”
Tonight’s clash against Arsenal is a daunting task for Newcastle, who will be trying to halt a run of ten straight home victories.
“It will be tricky,” said Cole.
“It all depends how Newcastle set up. I think with Arsenal, if they pick the right players – especially with Ozil and the boys up front – they will always create chances and always score goals. It depends how Rafa Benitez wants to set up.”
Pundit Jamie Carragher believes that Newcastle will make it tough for the Gunners – even if he’s backing Arsenal to win the match.
“(Newcastle) won’t be taking the game to Arsenal. That’s not the way they go about it, certainly not under Rafa Benitez. He’ll try to make it difficult for Arsenal,” he said.
“Rafa as a manager – even in his time at Liverpool – doesn’t have a good record at Arsenal. I don’t think he’s won at Arsenal in six or seven games as a manager and he’s always found it tough even with a better team than the one he’s got at Newcastle.
“I don’t expect any different. We’ve seen enough of Newcastle in big games in recent years to know what’s going to happen. I don’t think it’ll be an easy game for Arsenal. I expect them to win the game but I don’t think it’ll be easy. Newcastle will make it tough for them but it depends on whether they can hurt them on the counter attack with Rondon and Almiron and Perez. Hopefully those three will be included and certainly the pace of Almiron could cause problems.”
Rafa Benitez delivers important message to his players ahead of Arsenal clash tonight
