00:00So, Newcastle United are preparing for their biggest league game of the season against Everton at home at St James' Park on Sunday.
00:09Now, of course, the task for Newcastle is simple. Win and they'll be playing Champions League football next year.
00:15There is, of course, a very, very, very, very slight possibility that Aston Villa turn over a massive goal difference swing and a win is irrelevant anyway.
00:23But that's unlikely to happen. So, yeah, essentially, Newcastle United win against Everton on Sunday and they'll be playing Champions League football next year.
00:30How are the nerves of Newcastle fans? I think, you know, if it had been any other club, I think you'd probably fancy Newcastle getting the win at home in front of their own crowd.
00:39You know, they've been really good there recently. Of course, beat Chelsea, beat Ipswich in modern times.
00:45But it's Everton. The Everton factor, you know, they're a tough team to beat. David Moyes got them well set up.
00:49They don't lose many games, don't concede many goals. We all remember what happened around this time last year, April last year.
00:55It was Sean Dyches, Everton. They came frustrated. Newcastle got a 1-1 draw with a late penalty.
01:00And that result really dented their European hopes. A draw this weekend could be catastrophic.
01:06But, you know, Newcastle will go in with hope that they can get a win and that they will secure Champions League football from a personal point of view.
01:12I think they're good enough to do that. I think Everton have had a draining week, especially with the end of Goodison Park last week.
01:18And obviously they come in with very little to play for it. They're going to finish 13th, no matter what.
01:24And Newcastle are going to be up for it. And as I said, the home crowd can, you know, turn Newcastle or St James Park into a fortress.
01:29So that should hopefully boost them on. Now, as I said, if Newcastle don't win, then a draw opens the door for Aston Villa and Chelsea to overtake them.
01:40And of course, Nottingham Forest will overtake them as well.
01:42Manchester City, I think everyone assumes, will get there. They play Fulham. They're two points ahead of Newcastle and Aston Villa and Chelsea.
01:51Three points ahead of Nottingham Forest. So they're going to be in the top five unless they lose, which opens another door of possibilities.
01:57But as I said, if Newcastle don't win, then Aston Villa have to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
02:02Oh, sorry. If Newcastle draw, Aston Villa have to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford because of that goal difference.
02:09Chelsea will likely just will have to win as well against Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest can win.
02:15They can overtake them. So it's a whole host of things. But as my colleague Dom Sker put a really good graphic on social media,
02:20I really urge you to check that out because that was a really good clear graphic.
02:24I think it's on this page as well of just what happens if Newcastle United don't win on Sunday.
02:29But essentially, as I said at the beginning of this video, if they win, they can forget about what happens at Old Trafford,
02:33what happens at the City Ground, what happens at Craven College. They've done their job.
02:37Now, if they don't do their job, then they are reliant on Manchester United, the Europa League finalist tonight,
02:42doing something against Aston Villa. They are reliant on Chelsea, Nottingham Forest potentially draw.
02:47And if they draw, if them two draw and Newcastle draw, then Newcastle will be in the Champions League by virtue of goal difference.
02:52And then, of course, if all of that fails, then, you know, they won't be in the Champions League, put it that way.
02:59So, yeah, lots of permutations. I'm sure it's going to be a very nervy day, St. James Park.
03:04People will be on their phones, old-fashioned radios out, seeing what's happening.
03:07People at home won't be able to watch it.
03:09Crazily, Sky Sports have not picked this game for broadcast.
03:12It's instead gone with Liverpool Crystal Palace as one of their games.
03:16Now, don't get me wrong. I understand that Liverpool's title win and celebrations is a big thing,
03:20especially in front of a crowd. They weren't able to do that.
03:22Of course, in 2020, the last time they won it, but that's an after-the-match celebration.
03:26You could have that on any channel. You could just show that.
03:29So, to have that game, which means nothing in the grand scheme of things,
03:32over Newcastle Everton, is a bizarre decision, but that's what it is.
03:35So, yes, those not in attendance at St. James Park,
03:37we'll have to find creative ways of keeping up to date with all that.
03:40I'm sure social media will help. Radio commentary, of course, will be.
03:43And then, of course, stay up to date with the Shields Gazette.
03:45We'll have constant updates on our social media site of the events that happen,
03:50not just St. James Park, but elsewhere throughout the country.
03:52But, yes, as I mentioned, way back in this video, Newcastle United win.
03:55They get their job done. They're in the Champions League.
03:57We can prepare for that next year.
03:59If they don't, they're relying on results elsewhere.
04:01At the end of the day, you know, Champions League football is the aim.
04:04It's the aim for the club. The financial benefit is massive.
04:07And, of course, fans want to be in the Champions League.
04:09The Europa League, is that a bad, necessary sort of replacement?
04:12I don't think it is.
04:13We've seen this year with Manchester United and Tottenham reaching the final.
04:15You don't have to be anywhere near the best team in England to win that competition
04:18or certainly get far.
04:19And Newcastle will probably start that next year if they did get in the Europa League
04:22as one of the favourites, you know, to try on.
04:24But everyone wants to be playing Champions League football,
04:26especially with the rebound format.
04:27We've seen Aston Villa go far this year.
04:29Arsenal go far in the tournament as well.
04:31It can be done and Newcastle will want to be there.
04:33And, of course, in the summer window, if you can offer all these players
04:36Champions League football, not just players coming into the club,
04:38people like Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimara, Sven Bottmann,
04:42all them players that they want to hold on to, not just this summer,
04:45but for summers to come, if they can offer Champions League football,
04:48they've already won that trophy that's eluded them,
04:50then that will be a brilliant help.
04:52But, as I said, their destiny is in their own hands.
04:54They won't want it any other way.
04:55They won't want it or rely on anyone else.
04:57They'll know that if they can do the job against Everton at home,
04:59they will be playing Champions League football.
05:01I'll certainly back them to do that.
05:03I would love to hear your thoughts below on whether you think Newcastle
05:06will be playing Champions League football next season.
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