So its here. The new fixture list. Our opening 10 games are a good mixture, With Arsenal and City the real tough fixtures and of course the filth at home on October 20th one to relish. The other games represent an opportunity to put some points on board. The next 10 are a real contrast. 5 real killers and 5 real opportunities. December is a real hard month imo. Our best 10 games comes in the new year, with only Arsenal as a top 4 club to contend with but at least at home. The other 9 games are all ones we can gain points in imo and hopefully will mean a strong start to the new year. The final 8 games are a hard slog though, with man utd, chelsea, Everton and spurs to contend with plus the return leg of the NE top dogs battle at The sports direct, where I fully expect another battle royale with scum utd. Only villa, stoke and southhampton represent real opportunity to finish well. There are no easy games in this league but I'm setting a points target for Martins first full season of 55 points and a top 10 place. 27 points up to the new year and 28 in the second half. A balanced season. I'd like to see a couple of decent cup runs and a good home form. Apart from that I'm really looking forward to the new season to see Martins first full season as our manager and to his new look squad and team. Roll on August 18th.
Glad to get Arsenal out of the way, although I expect nowt from it. Still would rather get a good team early season with the hope of pinching a result. Reading at home, although i expect a win, their adrenalin will still be pumping for the 1st few games. Not an easy start imo but hopefully at least 3 points from 6. Just looking forward to a full season with MON and excited about new additions regardless of who they are. If MON brings them in that's good enough for me. More importantly, after a blip last season, lets regain our top NE team spot again.
I think a season of consistency is my biggest hope. We have had contrasting fortunes for the 2nd half of each of the last 4 or 5 seasons and I'd like a bit more assured play and a good finish for a change.
I am hoping for our best season since the Reidy days and to be honest expecting it. Like you say Cest, a good solid consistent season, no threat at all of relegation and hopefully a decent cup run.
Not wumming here, genuine question: if we get into Europe next year again, but you finish above us in the league and aren't in Europe, who is the North East's top dogs? Hmmmm
55points would be a good target and I rekon it will be around that mark that the club will set for the season. If we managed 55points and reached at least a quarter final in one of the cups I would certainly be a happy mackem As you say its Martins first full season as our manager and now will be the time to judge him, I hope Short has given him a bit of money to go out and bring in 6 or 7 players that will certainly improve our squad as we look to get back into the top 10.
I do agree with you tbh, but I would understand the viewpoint of anyone who thinks that finishing 10th and being in Europe is a bigger achievement than finishing 8th. I'd certainly prefer the former from our season next year!
How, in theory would you get into Europe finishing 10th? If you mean winning a cup, I think anyone who suggested top dogs for 8th would have that trophy smashed (rightly so) in their mush, not the European qualification!
I'd rather finish 12th (with Newcastle finishing higher) and win one of the cups which would get us into Europe than finish above Newcastle end of the day no1's bothered were you finish, we finished 13th and am I bothered no I aint cos that was then, the season before we finished 10th, big whoopy! A cup in the cabinet is a different story
Are we assuming you mean Newcastle winning the UEFA cup (or whatever its called now) or qualifying for Europe thru the fair play league? Just to clarify I meant higher position in the EPL.
rather take being runner up and having European football, might attract a couple of players to the club that would not be interested if they were not going to be playing european football which would give the club a better chance of kicking on the season after.
That scenario would make league placing top dogs for me, despite the fillip of Euro footy. That would just be spawny. I'd PREFER to go into Europe, but would concede top dogs were the highest placed.
