Europe chances

First of all, great start to the season. I have a bit of a soft spot for Newcastle, so it's always nice to see you doing well. It gives me great hope for Leeds that you can jump straight back in after your set back.

Now to the matter at hand. How do you think your chances of getting into Europe fair? On the season so far, with Arsenal wavering and dropping away, a regular spot in the top 4 has opened up. Do you think you have a realistic shout of making the Champion's League? Is the quality there in your squad, or do you feel you've overachieved a little and are running on some great momentum?

 

Nobody's expecting Champion's league this season, we're doing well but that doesn't mean it'll last all season. Our captain said we'd be better off not playing in Europe next season, but I could see us making the Europa league realistically.

 

Id bet somewhere between 6-8th is what our aim is.

 

Spurs fans believe the way we're going we could get 6th come the end of the season, I'd still take top 10.

 

I think we'll get a Europa spot, whether through the league or CC I don't know. Liverpool are stronger than us, they'll get 4th, Spuds 5th, Us or Villa 6th.

 

Before the season began I'd have said anything above 12th is our aim as it shows slow and steady progress. Anything can happen and we have the ACoN to contend with, but should we manage to avoid any major controversy or injuries then 10+ should be our realistic expectation. Lets not forget that Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool are all expected to come past us with ease, that'll have us in 8th. Then teams like Villa, Stoke and Everton have generally been in and around that area in the past few seasons so I'm not counting any chickens just yet...

Realistically top 10 and a decent cup run and we've had a great season!

 

I don't think we have much hope of Europe but not many of us really expect it anyway. I'll be happy with survival but given our start I'd hope to be in the top half. Our problem is squad depth. If we got an injury to a centre half at present, we'd have to bring in James Perchino. If we got injuries to our strikers, we've got Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi. As such I think a bit of realistic look at things is required.

 

If 7th is a Europa League spot we are already 5 points ahead of 8th. Which is a great start. I would like to see us concentrate on the Carling Cup as well. Our next game after Blackburn is five days later. For me, we must play close to our first team for the Carling Cup. We have a very good chance to get in the last eight of a cup, we must take this chance!

 

Willo should be back soon, so the CB problem is only temporary, but we do need another one in January (Ridgewell would be my choice, as he can cover LB as well.)

At current, if a striker got injured, HBA would play, and Shola would remain the impact sub.

We need a few more players in order to remain up there, but atm fitness looks ok.

 

I think we'll push for 6th. I don't see what's so special with Liverpool, they're not amazing, and Spurs are a good team but not amazing either.

it depends if we strengthen in Jan too, IMO.

 

Completely agree with this. In January I would love to sign the following Cissokho/Pieters and Bassong/Ridgwell. The first one would ensure that Santon can play right back with Cissokho/Pieters left back and then the other one will provide much needed cover for centre back and left back. Then we need to sign a striker, but only if a striker becomes available that will be of a benefit to us, no panic buying!

 

I think everyone is/was expecting Liverpool to do better than they are. They've a lot of work to do if they want to reclaim their regular top 4 spot. In the current situation the only team really challenging the scum for the title is Man City and ideally they wouldn't win it either, so I'd like to see Liverpool meet expectations and really make a challenge but will it happen? I doubt it. Scum don't tend to go through lengthy rough patches, and Man City seem to finally have a firm grip on some consistency.

A lot of people here are saying they don't feel ready for Europe, but surely a nice cash injection and the added attraction of European football on top of your steady finances would allow you to strengthen well, increase squad depth and take a better hold on the league? The mistake to be made in getting into Europe is spending too much in the hope of making it there in successive seasons - spending the added income wisely would strengthen your team without it mattering if you don't make it there again the following season. Do you think Ashley would overspend if Europe became a reality?

 

Whilst a few European trips to the finest Wigan-like European towns would be nice, I don't think it will do us any good unless we really strengthened in the summer to prepare.

I think we will get a few injuries along the way this season which may slow us down, especially in defence as we only have two natural central defenders fit at the moment.

Ashley won't overspend in Europe, the money we get from it will go towards balancing our books and some in his pocket(Andy Carroll) but I do believe it will open a door to us to sign players that we haven't been able to sign for a few years.

I don't think we will get it anyway. We may come close, but I am just waiting for a typical Newcastle moment of throwing it away, Wigan at home on Saturday would be just like us.

 

Sanchino predict us for relegation candidates plz!!!

Your magic is working so far mate!!

 

I'm worried that if we get into Europe, top clubs would notice our top players.

Even if we got 30mill and reinvested it for Cabaye and Jonas I'd be worried that out team would be weaker

 

You can also say, that if we don't get into Europe our top players will be more tempted to leave.

 

Must admit I see our defensive depth as pretty poor at present and a major problem. We're only one short at centre back but I've had everything crossed while Willo has been out. He seems a bit prone to injuries too. I understand the Ridgewell thing (two positons) but I just don't rate him at all. Much rather we went down the Situ route i.e. a young player who is ready to play but may show some willingness to wait his chance. I still like Kadar but something is amiss there.

True re: Benni being next off the rank but I just think Shola is ****e (yesterday apart) and Lover is finished. I see a few areas we can improve in the squad but I think we have to accept its going to be a long process to get it all in place. I want a centre back and striker in Jan. After that some cover down the right wing, a natural left back and some cover for Tiote would be nice, if not priorities.

 

We have a starting 11 that could contend in Europe IMO, but not an overall squad. We need a few qualities players to boost squad depth

 

1 Man Utd (have strength and depth and experience)
2 Chelsea (great squad)
3 Man city ( will not continue for whole season)
4 Liverpool ( can win away from home as well )
5 Spurs
6 Arsenal ( they will sign big in Jan) but away record is poor.
7 Everton ( always do well later in the season)
after that any team could finish anywhere.
18th QPR ( dodgey at home)
19th Wigan (bad home and away)
20th Swansea ( are appalling away from home and their home record won't last)

 

Situ is a no-go, as Swansea tried to sign him but were refused a work premit, and that probably won't change.

Ridge may not be the best CB, but he's good enough for cover and probably better than Willo.

The other positions would be nice to have some cover, as atm we have Guthrie and the youngsters at CM. Wings I think we're fine, with Ober, Jonas, Marv, HBA, Sammy, Fergie, Gosling, Abeid, and Vuckic all able to play there.