With 13 league games remaining, including a spicy local affair at the sports direct and hopefully another 3 FA Cup games for us, what can we really expect from the final third of this season? There are still 39 points up for grabs and pre Mon, I'd have been overjoyed at just survival and not another Halloween horror show at the sports direct to end the season. However, Mon has lifted expectation level and moved the targets upwards. His own personal targets will have moved for certain, as he could never have expected to win 10 games from 15 played and be in the FA Cup quarter final as well. Can we still be top dogs? Hard ask but achievable. Can we win the FA Cup? 3 games to do it so yes, achievable as well. Can we finish the season on a high and top 8? This is our top target imo. After a terrible 10 months of dire football and a horrendous start to the 2011/12 campaign, a top 8 finish would be remarkable. We won't be relegated; We won't win the league. Top 4 is way beyond us now but European qualification is well within it. My genuine wish is to gain it by lifting the Cup in May and ending 39 years of pain. Mon is a cup king and although its going to be difficult, its by no means impossible either. We have the perfect cup squad and tactical master to bring home the Cup and whatever the respective league positions, that would make us the biggest and most successful top dogs in this region since...................... well since the last time we were the last NE team to win it?
1.We beat Newcastle 2.We Beat Everton and make it to wembley 3.We Move above Newcastle in the league 4.We Finish Top 7 5. Look to Sign a Striker in the Summer 6. Dont Sign Bendtner
I would expect us to finish 8th at least, maybe not catch Newcastle but would not be surprised if Newcastle pass us going backwards. The cup, we now have as good a chance as any and better than most. The key now is not what we think, I think the players expect to win every game.
Both my hope and expectation levels have been raised in the last few months, i hop we can get to the final and win the fa cup, i expect us to finish in the top 10. As for finiahing above the mags - its win-win for us, if we dont then nevermind as we could have been relegated, if we do then all hail mon as the tactical and managerial genius he is. Lets just hop we can increase the attendances and really show our support for the lads in the final third of the season! My predictiln today - away win 0-2!
We are averaging 38,461 that is 7th in the league and 2000 less then Chelsea in 6th we do not have bad attedence... We are doubling three teams
We are averaging 38,461 that is 7th in the league and 2000 less then Chelsea in 6th we do not have bad attedence... We are doubling three teams[/QUOTE] I never said we had a bad attendance, putting words in my mouth there mate. just said it would help the team if we had a full house every week. everything is in place for us to surge forward as a club and a full stadium shows everyone insdie and outside tbe club that we want the same success.
"Lets just hop we can increase the attendances and really show our support for the lads in the final third of the season!" then indicates you are not happy with the attendence at the moment with is better then 13 teams in the pl what im saying is we have some of the best attendence in the league for such a bad spell
i'm still looking at one game at a time. I win today is a big step. we haven't beaten west brom in yonks. Today is the day to do it with their crap away record this year.
They have only won 2 home games and sorce 9 goals at home this season, so on form we should be able to win and keep a clean sheet.
I like MON's approach of "one step at a time". I think he's using this to focus the player's minds. He's filling The Lads with confidence, but also keeping them grounded. As for the rest of the season? I've been telling my Mag mate we'll finish ahead of them since Xmas. I believe we can do it. However, I'd rather win the FA Cup over that. Who's going to give a toss about them if we lift it? No-one will remember it in a year or two. Cup bragging rights lasts years!
Sorry lads I can't see us catching Up to our black and white neighbours, only because they will continue to pick up points throughout the remainder of the season and I think a 9 point swing is too much at this stage of the season. However we have nothing to fear regarding the FA cup. Our biggest challenge is the fight to finish 8th, I think it is a direct fight between ourselves and Everton, I know at present Norwich is above us but I think they will fade away. I see nothing but a strong finish to the season and can all look forward to next season and the possibilities that MON will bring to the club.
