I say o/t cos it's not about the Allams... I said at the start of the season that we needed 10 points from our first 5 games. The most we can have is 7 but it could easily be 4 from what, on paper, is a piss easy start before the tough games come. Are we in trouble?
We've been really hit and miss. Poor against QPR and Villa, very good against West Ham and Stoke. We'll lose games we should win and win games we should loose.
I think the second half of the season is where we will pick up the majority of our points, unlike last season and 2008/09 where our points total was skewed to first half of the season. 5 of our matches against the top 7 in the first half of the season are away from home, so we're unlikely to get more than 4 or 5 points from all of those. I don't anticipate us getting 30 points by Xmas. But I think getting those toughest fixtures out of the way and giving our drastically changed squad a few months to gel will help us really push on in the second half. Still very optimistic of 45+ points and mid-table.
I wouldn't say we are in trouble but I would say a win at the weekend is much needed. It would transform an OK/average start to a good one.
I still wouldnt say 8 points from the games we've played is a 'good start'. Lester, for example, have had a miles harder start than us but come the weekend could be 3 points ahead of us.
I would agree if going on teams form from last season. Villa have started well and look better than last year. West ham were much better than I thought and I think will have a good season based on that performance. Stoke is the only game I feel we dropped points and shouldn't have. The sending off and poor throw decision cost us there.
We've just massively strengthened our squad. Until we bed them in over the next few games, it's difficult to judge where we are at. I'd say initial predictions of the start required are now null and void.
I said the same. I think lets judge after the 6 games. One more win gives us 8 points which is a good start. Two defeats to leave us with 5 points would be a tad worrying
Last year we lost to Villa away, drew with Stoke at home and admittedly beat West Ham at home so we are currently two points down on what we had against the same teams last season. That means we need to gain an extra two points over the remaining 34 games that we didn't take last year. If you are looking at it from a numbers point of view, i don't quite think an extra 0.058 points per game is to much to worry about.
Lawro: There could be a very strange atmosphere at the game, but I have a feeling Newcastle will win. No mention of exciting new signings or anything. Just Pardew, fan protests, club crisis and Brucie linked with the Mags job. Bellend.
. Edit: Crystal Palace and Sunderland moved forward when it mattered and we have loads of time to put points on the board.
We had more chances and should have beaten Arsenal but we drew and then we played Stoke, got absolutely battered, but won. 'tis a funny old game.
The defence has been worrying with the mistakes back there. Whatever the reason whether it be people off form, new people brought in or others left out, or the system being played not helping. It would be great to have more goals at the other end, but the cornerstone of keeping up is to have a secure defence.
Yeah that game cost me £135 TBH I thought you'd go before the start of the season, but after seeing the Arsenal game you may be okay. Burnley WBA and Palace for me. QPR Will probably survive on the last day of the season again.
