At the risk of tempting fate...

Okay last time I tempted fate it didn't come back to bite me so here we go................................................................................anyone noticed that we are 10 games unbeaten in all competitive competitions? In all fairness this is an outstanding statistic, that would be raved about if a London team such as Fulham had achieved it. I think that's a great habit to be in, and makes me happier with draws than I otherwise wouldn't be, long may it continue!

 

Yes only team in the country on such a run I believe.

 

Yeah it's a great achievement and I'm glad we're finally picking up points where I'd expect us to. We need all the points we can get from the teams who are likely to be around us. We've got a brutal run of games coming up soon (Stoke, Everton, City, Man Utd, Chelsea) but if we're picking up enough points now, we should be able to comfortably go through that patch without worrying about being bottom of the table after it.

 

we're ****ed for the weekend then

 

Shuddup man!

 

I'm not the one who jinxed it

 

Stoke vs NUFC - Draw would be nice here
NUFC vs Everton - Draw or win
Man City vs NUFC - Lose or draw if we have a top game
Man Utd vs NUFC - Probably lose like, can't see any alternative here
NUFC vs Chelsea - I'd go for a draw or even a surprise win

If we got 4/5 points out of these 5 very games I'd be chuffed to bits. I'd be hoping for one win and a draw or two somewhere. They're hard games, but they aren't a given.

 

Gotta aim for nothing less than a home win V Everton, be ambitiouss lol.

 

They're weaker than they were last season and I don't think they handle away games particularly well. They were lucky to get that away win vs Blackburn with a 92nd minute penalty.

They ARE beatable at our ground. Tough game, but winnable.

 

Newcastle have really surprised me this season, I said in my relegation that Newcastle were dark horses for relegation with their lack of investment in the team and thin squad but you've started really well. You seem to lack a bit of firepower but you're a well organised team and everyone works their socks off for the team, which is something that cannot be said of other Newcastle sides of the last 5/6 years. Pardew has gone quietly about his business and proved nearly everybody wrong. I wonder if Mike Ashley is finally learning from his past experiences and bringing the stability Newcastle have craved since Bobby Robson left.

 

The team spirit is still strong imo, the players have formed strong partnerships (our midfield duo and CB duo especially) and we do honestly have some good quality players, some of which wouldn't look out of place in a top 6 side. Krul is a great stopper, S Taylor and Colo have formed a rock solid centre defence, and Tiote and Cabaye are simply brilliant. They're a CM duo which has everything, and Tiote hasn't even got back to his best self this season yet, so there's better to come - especially with Ben Arfa coming back very shortly. Plus Leon Best, for all his critics, has scored 9 goals in 15 apps across the past two seasons. Can't argue with the facts.

From what I knew before the season started, I never understood why so many people had us down to struggle, and this season so far has just confirmed what I've always thought, so I hope more people come around to the idea. Our season won't keep going as well as it has once any injuries set in (seems like an inevitability) but I really can't see us "struggling" at all. In fact, I expect us to do quite a bit better than last season.

 

I'm pretty chuffed the way things have been going of late. Yes we're not a free flowing attacking side at the moment, but the return of Ben Arfa, and Ba and Cabaye getting settled in will see that change as they can all support Best. I'd rather be winning 1-0 at the moment than having 3-2, 4-3 etc as we shipped far too many stupid goals last season. Build from the back. This could be a very good year. We need a bit more strength in depth in some positions (mainly a CB and full back) and a CF. If / when they come in we will be sorted. And our midfield is better than any outside the 'big clubs'. We can pick up big points in our next 2 league matches, and a good draw in the next round of the LC and we're into the last eight. Good times.

 

The error you've made is listening to Paul Merson. We brought in 6 new players to replace 4, and the only ones we were worried about were replacing Carroll (which doesn't look that much an issue at the mo as you'll know...) and Enrique, but we've got the best defensive record in the league despite his replacement not making an appearance yet. We're not getting silly and no one thought we'd be fourth now, but relegation isn't happening with this squad. Just because Lawro's not heard of someone doesn't mean they're ****...

 

Blackburn next. They're crap and have beaten us the last 5 games at St James'...

Ominous?