If we can finish top 7 then this season has been a huge success. Anything else is a bonus and anything less than top 10 (considering we came 11th last season) is a dissappointment.
Everton is a tricky one, but if the Stoke game is anything to go by then we've got no reason to be scared of them at least. Man City im terrified of... Man Utd im not so afraid of. They havent impressed me at all this season. Obviously they're still definite favourites to win, but i defintely cant see them walking all over us. They were unconvincing last season and theyre at their weakest through the centre; defence and midfield, which just so happens to be where we're at our strongest. Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson are quite easily the weakest central midfield in the top 6 or 7 surely... And the fact that theyve averaged something like 18-19 shots against them every game this season is something to be confident about in my eyes, especially with someone like Ba's conversion rate. Depends if Vidic stays fit and if Rooney takes up that central role again... Im still expecting to lose, but dont think snatching a draw is too hard to believe. Chelsea again have been unpredictible, they'll either all click and destroy us or their defence will crumble/tempers will fly like has happened on too many occasions this season. Since it's at home, im hopefuly of picking up a point there too. We managed to draws and a win against them last season, so why not? We've had a great start, so im hoping we can end it in an improvement from last season. Top 8 would be fantastic.
The strange thing about all this was the derision shown to Ashley and his appointee Pardew from Cockneyland, by the Geordie fanbase! Looks like they are going to become Gods afterall!
Your wingers may be better than ours but I wouldn't swap Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick etc for Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa. Valencia and Nani are class though.
How far Newcastle go wil depend onhow well they do when it comes to injuries and suspensions. Not playing any games in Europe may help as it is less games to play. As the likes of Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Man Utd. As well as those teams in the Europa league may well help Newcastle in their quest to finish in the top 6.
I'd say we'll lose down at yours and and United, however if our confidence doesn't take to much of a battering who knows 7th might be on the cards.
Ignore him, he's a biggoted racist chauvanistic ****er who thinks his little chavvy glory self is higher than anyone on here
Great article by the way, it's nice to read some neutral views about us aside from the ignorant pundits who write us off every time.
Newcastle are fast becoming the success story of the season and fair play to them especially having lost arguably their 4 best players from last year in Nolan, Barton, Carroll and Enrique Amazing really.
35 million and more parking spaces at St James following removal of all the caravans must have done morale wonders!!
Most Toon fans were worried when the outgoing transfers mounted up in the summer, still more as we'd expected Ba to be the first of 2 or 3 strikers (with his knees a lot of us saw him as very decent cover for someone more reliable) but since the season began everyone's clicked, and a few players who were utility players last season have found new form (Ryan Taylor is a big example). Also, the removal of Amy, Barton and Nolan has completely altered the way the team plays, we're playing more attractive football and Pardew's using tailored tactics against teams around us - the long throws at Stoke and the way we contained them speak volumes for his research and planning. Really happy particularly with the way Cabaye has hit the ground running. We've honestly replaced the huge gaps Barton/Nolan left and done it with players who bring more to the game as a whole. Top 10 for sure, 6th would be my aim by the end of the season.
I don't get why so many Geordie fans are fired up about Ashley and Pardew, you're in a better place now than at any time in the last 15 years. You will have the backing of every neutral in the country because you haven't spent a billion quid to get where you are so good luck, long may it last, I doubt I'm alone in hoping you upset the odds and win it all....
Alright lads, Toon in peace. One thing that bugs me is the fact that people think we're still suffering from the sale of Mandy. He's been gone best part of a year now and although not all the money was invested (one reason Ashley & Pardew still aren't overly popular was their insistance that the £35M would be used to bring new players in) the (over-inflated) transfer fee has been wisely spent. We're totally over the Carroll sale, the only one's who don't seem to be are the media. One loss for us is Jose Enrique, he was class although Raylor's not doing too badly filling in. Joey did great for us but got himself in trouble with twitter and we're probably better off without him for that reason. Don't get me wrong he's a talented player and I know a lot of folks like to cast him as the pantomime villain he has made great efforts to change his ways off the field, got a kid on the way and is now tee-total. Nolan was another good servant for us but even prior to his sale many of us were wondering if he'd get many games for us this season with the quality we brought in. Stoke & Everton were big wins for us. We have picked up a couple of injuries but with the international break some of them may be back fit in time for the 3 big games coming up. If so I honestly believe City, Utd & Chelsea will have their hands full with us. I know I'm in a very small minority on the Newcastle forum that can see European football as a realistic possiblity for next season. But don't mind me, I'm a deluded Geordie.
Newcastle are without doubt the surprise of the season,most surprising of all being the tight defence,that's not in your DNA surely? I don't necessarily think the next few weeks are the be all and end all of your season,more important would be how you respond to them.If you cop some hidings will the nervousness reappear in the back line from last year,collocini should be drug tested its the only explanation as he now looks a class player. Only doubt I would have about Newcastles ambition of top 4 would be if they had long term injuries which theyve been accustomed to in the past to Ba,Taylor or coloccini do they have people good enough to step in? Hope you beat the ****ty rags anyway
I think we could get 6th, but probably will be 7th. I think the key player in all of this is Coloccini - a world class defender imo, don't care what others say. The lad is immense! Obviusly its a team game and having Taylor alongside him helps a lot as he is a dominant centre back. Krul in goal has been the best keeper in the league this season, Tiote in front of the defence is a beast and tackles class, mops up anything that gets lost and is a quality defensive midfielder. What we have lacked over the years is a classy, creative central midfielder and now we have that in Yohan Cabaye - still adapting atm, but is still playing quite well - will only get better and is the perfect foil for Tiote. Jonas on the left puts a shift in every game and that is the main reason imo in how Ryan Taylor has performed - although Raylors freekicks and great strikes are of his own doing. Our weakest point is arguably the right side though - Simpson is inconsistent, plays well then doesn't and in front of him is Obertan who doesn't offer him too much protection and final ball is ****e most of the time although is fast as **** and has good skill. Up front, Ba and Best have been linking up brilliant recently and Best is a very hardworking striker - while Ba is a pure goalscoring - works hard too though! Then on the bench we have Santon who Mourinho called the 'new Maldini' so sounds a prospect and is someone who will excite us when he plays. Ben Arfa is potentially a world class player and if he returns to his top form - will prove to be just that. We also have Marveaux who is a pacy, skillful left winger and was a great signing on a free. Our youngsters like Sammy Ameobi, Shane Ferguson, Haris Vuckic are future stars imo and we are all looking to see how they progress. We could do with 3 or 4 more squad players which would make me feel more confident if we get injuries, but have a great squad imo. Also, not forgetting Alan Pardew who is a very good, tactial manager and he deserves a lot of credit - as do John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman in the background of our club. Graham Carr is a great talent spotter and deserves a lot of credit too! At home, the crowd scares the smaller teams and I think we are certainties to beat them teams because they are not used to crowds like ours. So, I think we are definetly a club going places and we go into the next 3 games against the 3 big boys with nothing to lose, but a lot to gain. Will show how far we have come and if we can pick up any points at all against these teams - I definetly think more people will take notice. Although, a lot of people seem to be taking notice now. The futures bright, the futures black and white!!
