We have, but when you look at what they've been replaced with: Carroll - Replaced with Ba, who so far has scored more and contributed more = net gain Nolan - Replaced with Cabaye, who is a ridiculously better player in every way = massive net gain Barton - Replaced with Obertan. Not as good as Barton, but he still contributes in different ways which have helped the style which the team now has = no change/slight reduction Enrique - Replaced with with Ryan Taylor. Yeah, I don't get it either, but Raylor has put in massive amounts of effort to fill in Enrique's position, and he's grabbed us 4 points so far with his goals. Believe it or not, taking everything into account, he's provided a net gain compared to Enrique so far this season. He's defended just as well, AND he's contributed to attacking/scoring much more. When you couple that with the following: - Krul finding superb form - Steven Taylor getting back to his best ahead of Williamson - Jonas playing the best football of his career - Best forming a strong partnership with Ba It's actually not hard to see that our best starting XI is far, far superior this season compared to last season. It's down to a mixture of new players in key positions, and existing players finding great form and/or finally reaching their potential.
It's nice to see a multi-team thread without is getting a sh-it load of grief. Ha. Realistically I'd settle for 10th + finishing above the mackems, I'm sure you lads can appreciate smashing your local rivals!
January could kill their season. They have points to get from their league games which should be achievable, Man Utd (H) QPR(H) Fulham (A) 4/5 points from that would be fantastic considering they'll be without Tiote and Ba although they've managed ok without Tiote for a couple of games. What would worry me most about January more than players leaving for the ACON, would be the intentions of the powers that be at that club. Ashley and their chairman have a habit of screwing things up when they are going well. We've already seen the rumours that Fergie is interested in Cabaye, Tiote is a top 4 player all day long, Liverpool will more than likely come in for another Newcastle player, most likely Coloccini. If the club can get through January and resist any offers for their top players mid-season I'd be very surprised. We all know the policy there, which is 1-out-1-in, in that order, so I can't see any new signings coming in for them until they have amassed money through offloading their top players. Even if their chairman comes out and promises a player, he doesn't mention the fact that one of their other stars will have to be shipped out for this to happen. If they add to their squad in January and get their ACON players back injury-free, then they'll finish top 7. If as I expect the Newcastle faithful are subject to more of their team being sold, then it's anywhere from 8th to 13th for me.
A lot has been said about how our tough run of upcoming fixtures will bring us all back down again (Man U, Man City and Chelsea). But let's be pessimistic and right those games off. Following those games we have Norwich away, West Brom and Swansea at home, and Bolton away. We can get 9 points from those games. Even if we get zero points from the next three games (I think we'll get at least one draw from those 3) we could have 34 points come boxing day (we're currently on 25 points). That's a massively strong platform to build on in the new year. 7th place is up for grabs. Are Everton, Villa, Stoke or Fulham better than us? Not right now.
Alot will depend on how the team cope should they have a few injuries at the same time. How strong the squad is in depth, are the players that don't play every week as good as those they may have to replace.
I think we'll hit 8 personally, Arsenal and Pool are not great but I expect them to finish ahead of us.
good to see other fans saying top 8 i'd be over the moon with that but then again there's no reason we shouldn't be fighting the likes of Everton/stoke/Fulham/villa for that 7th spot
