Expert Jury: Success and survival won't come easy to Newcastle

We asked our top team of writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Aaron Ashley: Tranmere look a solid draw-no-bet selection at Carlisle. Rovers are gaining a head of steam in League Two and have taken ten points from their last four games, which includes a goalless draw at pace-setting Forest Green.

Micky Mellon’s men have conceded just four goals in 11 outings and one may be enough to land the spoils at Carlisle, who are winless in five, without a goal in three, and on the hunt for a new manager after the sacking of Chris Beech.

Racing Post's Liam Flin: A lot of people were put off backing Inter in the Serie A title race after a turbulent summer but they are unbeaten after their first seven league fixtures this term and can defeat Lazio.

The Rome club lost to Bologna before the international break and will be missing key defender Francesco Acerbi, who is suspended for the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Brighton should be able to get the job done at Norwich. The Canaries have had a miserable start and it will take more than a point at Burnley to convince me they can stay up.

Brighton have already claimed victories at Brentford and Burnley and a win at Carrow Road looks well within their compass.

Mike Jones, William Hill: Inter to win at Lazio. Inter are unbeaten in the league, averaging over three goals per game, and they travel to a Lazio side who are yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi faces his former side for the first time and I fancy them to capitalise on Lazio’s defensive weaknesses.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Aaron Ashley: Tottenham are worth opposing at Newcastle on Sunday. It's a sell-out at St James’ Park following the recent takeover and an electric atmosphere could spur the Magpies on to a positive result.

Newcastle are also set to welcome back star striker Callum Wilson, which will take away some pressure off Allan Saint-Maximin, while Tottenham have lost three of their last four league starts and are hampered by the early-season struggles of Harry Kane.

Liam Flin: Leipzig have struggled to get going under Jesse Marsch and are worth opposing against Freiburg, who are the only team unbeaten in the Bundesliga this term.

The Black Forest club have won four of their seven games and are a great bet to beat the Red Bulls, who could be without Dani Olmo, Nordi Mukiele and Willi Orban among others for this contest.

Ian Wilkerson: Tottenham at Newcastle. It's going to be a funny day at St James' Park and I'm not convinced this Spurs team have the mental strength to cope with that despite having a stronger team than the Magpies.

Their last two league away performances at Crystal Palace and Arsenal have been woeful and they look far too short when a draw would probably be seen as a half-decent result.

Mike Jones: Juventus at home to Roma. Not many teams control the game against Juve, but that’s what Jose Mourinho will look for his team to do. There are question marks over the fitness of Tammy Abraham but Roma have goals throughout their team and Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo will cause plenty of problems. A narrow Roma win would not come as a surprise.

Where will Newcastle finish this season?

Aaron Ashley: 16th or 17th. Even considering the takeover, it looks set to be a topsy-turvy campaign for Newcastle and you'd struggle to pinpoint three teams currently weaker than them.

They have 13 league games to play between now and January and it is not a given that results will improve immediately once reinforcements are added. That said, they do inherit some star quality and, provided they can stay in contention, then the forecast new arrivals should see them over the line.

Liam Flin: It could be a while before Newcastle fans see significant changes but I expect a couple of big names could arrive in January, enhancing their chances of survival.

Even before signings are made, there are worse teams than Newcastle in the Premier League and I would back them to finish a few places above the drop zone - around 14th or 15th.

Ian Wilkerson: I don't think we are going to see any initial seismic changes, but they may be able to get a few players on board in January that help them established themselves in the middle of the table.

But then they will have to deal with people inflating their prices because they will see that cash is no object. What they need is a plan and a good managerial appointment, but it is not going to be easy. I still see them finishing two-thirds of the way down the table.

Mike Jones: Those dreaming of instant success will most likely be sorely disappointed come the end of the season. It may take a few years and significant infrastructure upgrades to attract the sort of signings that could take them towards the top end of the table. For now I expect a new manager to work on strengthening the league’s joint-worst defence, leading to a comfortable mid-table finish around 14th.

Is Claudio Ranieri a good appointment for Watford?

Aaron Ashley: Yes, you’d have to say so. Claudio Ranieri is the man responsible for the greatest Premier League triumph of all-time and his experience will be crucial in what is almost certainly going to be a relegation battle.

Ranieri is tactically better than Xisco and he showed how capable he remains when guiding a Sampdoria side on a tight budget to a top-half finish in Serie A last season.

Liam Flin: He may not repeat what he achieved at Leicester but I think the Vicarage Road faithful should be pleased with the appointment of Claudio Ranieri.

He has plenty of experience behind him, a great relationship with the Pozzo family who have long been admirers of his work and has great man-management abilities. He should also help in terms of recruitment in January and I can see him keeping them up.

Ian Wilkerson: Ranieri is a good fit. He is immensely experienced and I think he will be able to keep them up.

His personality is ideal too. He is extremely likeable and, having lived and worked in the town myself, I know his character fits with the Vicarage Road culture and the fans will get behind him. History suggests he may not get much time, but he suits the Hornets' short-term project.

Mike Jones: Ranieri is most famous for Leicester’s title win in 2015-16, so you’d be forgiven for forgetting his brief tenure as Fulham manager in 2018-19. His first task will be to eliminate the set-piece errors that have cost Watford this season. Ultimately however, there are very few managers who would be able to keep this squad up and a lack of goals will prove to be their undoing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave before the season is up.

Give us a winner on the midweek coupon

Aaron Ashley: Galatasaray look overpriced for a Europa League success at Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday.

The Russians snatched a 1-1 draw in their Group E opener at home to Marseille but were thrashed 14-4 on the shot count. They were then outclassed in a 2-0 reverse at Lazio and another tough test awaits against Gala, who have deservedly claimed four points from two games and are yet to concede a goal.

Liam Flin: Lille had rediscovered some form in Ligue 1 before the international break but still find themselves outside the European places and their current Champions League campaign has not got off to a great start.

They drew with Wolfsburg and lost to Salzburg and could be worth opposing against Sevilla, who have won four of their seven games in La Liga.

Ian Wilkerson: Salzburg to beat Wolfsburg. The Austrians have been relentless this season, winning 15 of their 16 matches, and they missed two penalties when they drew 1-1 with Sevilla.

Wolfsburg meanwhile have fallen a bit flat since winning their first four Bundesliga games of the campaign, have failed to win in the Champions League this term and have to pick themselves up after consecutive 3-1 losses to Hoffenheim and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Mike Jones: Sevilla to win at Lille. Sevilla have real quality throughout their squad and a manager with tactical nous in Julen Lopetegui. Meanwhile, Lille’s performance levels have plummeted following the departure of Christophe Galtier in the summer. Their title win last season came on the back of Ligue 1’s best defence, but they’re conceding almost a goal per game more so far this season. I expect Sevilla to take a much-needed three points.

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