Are you guys worried that your bubble may have burst?

Mr Hoddle,

Do you see the Europa affecting your league form at all in the coming months? From what I've seen it seems Harry likes to give the second string/ young players a chance, do you reckon will he change that the further you progress?

 

Good article.

Facts are, we can't go lower than 7th even if we lose the next two. After our hard games, we play Norwich, Swansea, West Brom, Bolton. Tough games, but all winnable as we have well proven.

Man City needed two penalties to beat us, and apart from a Krul save and their 2nd goal, they didn't have any chances. We on the other hand had the better chances, Demba Ba with two, Ben Arfa hitting the post and we got a goal. The performance was good against the best team the premier league has probably seen. It was a good experience.

However, you make out that 8th is bad. I'd take that right now. After this start though, I'd be disappointed with bottom half.

We too had injuries on Saturday, Tiote being the most notable, as well as Obertan, Best and Marveaux all missing out.

 

Where is this "Bubble"? We never said we wanted to get to third and stay in third. Yes we are very happy in that position and can dream of staying there, but in reality we know we will finish lower. All this **** comes from pundits, papers and every other hater that dislikes that Newcastle have thrown a spanner in the works.

Face it pundits and newspapers hate it when a club that is expected to finish mid table or maybe even lower (according to certain people) instead of having the same crap that they like to see every year (Man u, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and now Man City ofcourse) at the top of the table. Thats my thought anyway

Not aimed at you Hoddle, you ask a fair question just my opinion on what has happened so far.

 

Good question


As you say, Harry has been giving the young lads a run in that competition, and I see that trend continuing, as well as with the domestic cups. To that extent, I don't see our league form suffering. Indeed, it could even be bolstered, if the likes of Kane and GDS play blinders and make a claim for the first XI. The cup games will also give the likes of THudd, Pinaar and Dawson a place to regain some fitness, when returning from injury.

 

Thanks

I know what you mean, and it's great to speak to fans with their feet planted firmly on terra firma. However, with the fantastic start you've had to this season, I think Toon fans could be forgiven for dreaming of something a bit more special. Personally I'd love to see you finish 5th, even if that could hold mixed blessings.

 

Oh, and thanks for not cross boarding this so that prick in Iceland can come in, ruin a very good thread, then go 'this is what happens in cross board threads'...

 

Quite simply, no. We have given them as much of a game as anyone else and people have been way too keen to see us fall with all this "they haven't been tested" lark. You're tested every week, there are no easy games and we've also played half the likely top 6 and still lie 3rd. Do I expect to stay 3rd or even in the top 4. Not really but I'm happy with a top half finish still. On the basis of our team though, our performances so far, you'd have to hope we'll be there or thereabouts for 7th

 

Not worried because we competed in the hardest fixture in the division. We were also without Tiote and Obertan who would have made a difference. Once weve beaten Man United and Chelsea everyones going to puke.

 

The key thing is, we played well against the team that will probably win the league. So no, I'm not worried. Pardew has us organised, playing some good football and we will only improve when Tiote, Obertan/Marveaux are back and Ben Arfa's back to his best. No we will not finish in the top four but 6th is up for grabs. Anywhere between 6-8th will have been an excellent season.

 

We didn't exactly have our strongest side either with the likes of Tiote, Marv, Ober and Best out but we still gave it a good go with our only downfall being the fact we gave away 2 pennas easily and that piece of shocking defending by Raylor.

All ifs and buts though and anything above 10th by the end of the season will do me.

A lot of pundits pass it off like it would be a huge accomplishment if we finished in the top 10 this season when it was only a 90th minute goal last season that stopped us from finishing 9th. :/

 

I'd still be happy with a top 10 finish. Pretty pessimistic you could say, but I'm still concerned about our small squad, especially when injuries/suspensions hit in second half of the season.

And I think the squad are a very tight knit bunch and the coachin staff seem great motivators so I can't see then being too knocked by one loss, or even two if that's the case next week (I honestly think we'll give the scum a good game, though - a draw isn't unrealistic).

 

"Newcastle are no flash in the pan...

What did we learn about Manchester City on Saturday? That they are a very good football team from front to back. The reason we learnt that is because another very good side, Newcastle, pushed them all the way. But for a couple of great saves from Joe Hart and crucial times, they could've pushed them even more. But City have so much strength, the moment they brought on David Silva, you knew it was going to be hard for Alan Pardew's men to hang in there and get something. But, they came away with their heads held high and I think that in defeat, they showed the rest of the Premier League that they are a good, well-organised, hard-working side with a terrific team spirit. Of course the key is how they bounce back from this, but on this evidence, they should be ok."

Pretty much summed it up.

Before the season started i wanted a top 10 finish, especially considering the signings and the way last season SHOULD have ended. Right now i'd be very dissapointed if we finished lower than that as it would mean a horrible collapse at some point along the way. Having said that, i dont think any fan is seriously thinking of a top 5 or even 6 finish. 8th would be great for me, 7th would be amazing and a nice platform to build on.

I'd have liked to see what our full strength team would have done at the weekend, but i think a lot of things could have went differently had we had a little luck in certain areas. We had none of it on the day though.
Ba missing his few decent chances, Ben Arfa hitting the post, etc... silly penalties given away and Ryan Taylor finally doing something that people were expecting the out of placed defender to do in every game hes been in.

Either way, ive never been this positive after a loss before and thats strange. Plenty of positives to take from the game, although i would say Gutierrez and Ameobi (more so the latter) dont work as inverted wingers and id much prefer a different combination on the wing. Possibly Santon/Ben Arfa to try and replicate what Enrique/Ben Arfa was like last season? Although its a brand new line up, its only ever gonna get tested if they get games.
I thought Ben Arfa was great in the middle, but in my opinion Ba looks a lot better with Best along side him to win balls and do the dirty work.

 

I disagree. City did have quite a number of chances in that game. But I will agree that, the goals notwithstanding, Newcastle had around 3 or 4 very good chances that were better than any City had (with the possible exception of the Krul save from Balotelli's header).

 

I don't want to sound disrespectful saying this, but in my opinion the QPR, Fulham, and Bolton games were tougher for us. That said, there is no doubt that you gave us more of a game than the majority of teams we've faced so far this season. And to those who have pointed out that Newcastle had a number of players missing, that naturally did help City's cause.

 

I know what you mean, but we had the most clear cut chances. All in all I thought we played a little too deep and invited pressure on, but we still carved open Man City. Some positives can be taken from the game.

I again, don't expect anything at Old Trafford, I just hope the lads gives a spirited performance again.

 

You did indeed carve us open, more than once. And not wanting to sound arrogant, but that hasn't happened to us on too many occasions so far this season. I have to say, some of your build up play - the movement, passing, and interchange between players - was absolute quality.

 

Couldn't comment to be honest but I just look at your results and most have been steamrollered. We weren't. You deserved the victory, as possession pressure probably forced our errors. I just think we looked pretty solid, the goals apart. Was gutted to concede just before half time because I could just sense some frustration kicking in. Obviously we opened up a little more 2nd half as we had too. We can ill afford to have three first teamers out against your lot!!

 

I think he means at your home. I don't think anyone has created as many clear cut chances against you at the Etihad. And we didn't even have our best team out.

 

The style of our play definitely looked more silky and fluent with Ben Arfa starting, special boy him.