10 games in 83 days for Newcastle United then 9 matches in 36 days – Madness

The fixture schedule is crazy for Newcastle United.

Indeed it is for so many clubs.

The international agenda has completely taken over at the expense of club football…and fans.

You know, the people that go and pay to watch football week in week out, when they are allowed to.

After that 1-1 draw with Watford on 31 August, this is how the Newcastle United schedule looks:

31 August – Newcastle 1 Watford 1

TWO WEEK INTERNATIONAL BREAK

14 Sept – Liverpool v Newcastle

21 Sept – Newcastle v Brighton

29 Sept – Leicester v Newcastle

6 Oct – Newcastle v Man Utd

TWO WEEK INTERNATIONAL BREAK

19 Oct – Chelsea v Newcastle

27 Oct – Newcastle v Wolves

2 Nov – West Ham v Newcastle

9 Nov – Newcastle v Bournemouth

TWO WEEK INTERNATIONAL BREAK

23 Nov – Aston Villa v Newcastle

30 Nov – Newcastle v Man City

3 Dec – Sheff Utd v Newcastle

7 Dec – Newcastle v Southampton

14 Dec – Burnley v Newcastle

21 Dec – Newcastle v Palace

26 Dec – Man Utd v Newcastle

28 Dec – Newcastle v Everton

1 Jan – Newcastle v Leicester

4 Jan – FA Cup 3rd round

So between 1 September and 22 November, Newcastle United only have 10 games in 83 days.

However, after the Aston Villa match, you then have nine games in only 36 days, from Man City at home on 30 November 2019 to the FA Cup third round on 4 January (could even be Friday 3 January if selected for live TV).

Who thought/thinks it is a good idea to have international breaks three months running?

If given a vote, how many football fans in England, or indeed other countries, would vote to have all these gaps in between proper/club football? All to allow so many pointless internationals and periods of training with their countries? The vast majority of games with entirely predictable results, just a money making  excuse in most cases.

Obviously it doesn’t help when Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce refuse to try in the cup competitions and put out such a weakened team but only 10 games spread out over 83 days is shocking.

Particularly so when you have a crazy schedule of then nine matches in 36 days, an average of a game every four days and it would be even more congested in that period if Newcastle had actually stayed in the League Cup.

We will have to hope that by the time December comes around, we have the likes of Dwight Gayle and/or Andy Carroll available, as there is enough pressure on Joelinton already and no way he can play in all those games in such a short space of time.