The Premier League season is a long and demanding marathon, and the first few weeks can often give us a hint about which teams are built for the challenge ahead.
This Sunday, Newcastle United faces a tricky away trip to the south coast to take on an AFC Bournemouth side that has enjoyed a fantastic start to the new campaign.
The match has drawn the attention of one of the game’s most well-known characters, former manager Harry Redknapp, who has given his verdict on how he sees the game unfolding.
Redknapp, who has a long history with Bournemouth from his own managerial career, has been full of praise for the job current boss Andoni Iraola is doing.
Despite a summer of significant change at the club, Bournemouth have collected nine points from their first four league games, putting them near the very top of the table.
Redknapp points out that their position could have been even better, noting they were the better team for large parts of their opening day match at Anfield against Liverpool and were unfortunate to lose late on.
Since then, they have secured impressive wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton, and a particularly notable 1-0 victory away at Tottenham.
When turning his attention to Newcastle, Redknapp acknowledged the effort Eddie Howe’s team put into their Champions League match against Barcelona.
He felt they “gave it a real go” but suggested the physical and emotional toll of that match might leave them running on empty for the trip to Bournemouth.
He also mentioned that the team seems to be missing a certain “cutting edge” in attack, a clear reference to the departed Alexander Isak, and wondered aloud what might have been if the Swedish striker was still leading the line.
Based on this analysis, Redknapp’s prediction is for a Bournemouth victory. He is forecasting a 2-1 win for the home side and has even picked out Bournemouth’s in-form forward, Antoine Semenyo, as the one to watch, calling him “one of the form players in the league.”
For Newcastle, this match represents a classic test of character and resilience. The disappointment of a narrow defeat to Barcelona, a match they felt they could have gotten something from, must be set aside immediately.
The focus now shifts to navigating a difficult away fixture against a confident opponent with a limited squad. The team is dealing with several key absences, including the suspended Anthony Gordon and the injured Fabian Schar, Yoane Wissa, and Jacob Ramsey.
This game is the start of a relentless period in the schedule. After Bournemouth, Newcastle host Bradford City in the Carabao Cup, followed by a massive Premier League clash with Arsenal at St James’ Park, and then another Champions League trip to face Union SG.
The ability to bounce back with a positive result on the road will be crucial for maintaining momentum and confidence.
While Harry Redknapp may be leaning towards a Bournemouth win, football is famously unpredictable.
Eddie Howe will be drilling into his players the need to prove the doubters wrong and show the same fight they displayed against Barcelona, but this time, with the clinical edge to turn effort into points.
