The Perfect start?

Just been watching Gillette Soccer Saturday and for once Paul Merson actually raised a valid point.

There has been alot of doom and gloom recently but can we really criticise Newcastle at the moment? We have had a dream start.

If someone had offered Newcastle fans a draw with Arsenal, beat Sunderland in the derby and win in the Carling cup we would have bit their hand off. Okay the performances have been below average but we have grinded out the results with lots of new players!!

If (and its a big if) we can bring in a striker and LB, then we should easily be able to achieve a top 12 finish, which has to be the target for a second season back in the top divison. We may even be able to achieve a top 10 finish if new players and young players (Shane Ferguson, Vuckic, S.Ameobi) adapt quickly

Am I being too optimistic?

 

I agree but I don't think our overall performances were brilliant to be fair.
We were poor against Arsenal up in attack wise, and pooor in the frist half against Sunderland.
I think the simple answer is that's it's a tad early to criticize anyway.
Hopefully Pieters will sign sooner than later so we can go all out for a good striker

 

Until we get a decent striker in and a LB and CB i think we will be struggling this season.

 

We need another striker, but i could still see us doing well. Defensively we're awesome, attacking wise we've been ok.

If we want to finish in the top 10 we need another striker, but if we don't i don't see us getting relegated without one.

I could see us still grinding out 1/2-0 wins.

 

One more injury to CB and its Perch with Colo, Saylor is injury prone so I'd feel safer if we got another CB in, as much as I like Raylor LB isnt his spot and he will be a chink in our defence. But he has been doing a good job there, if we get Pieters in I hope we give Raylor a chance as a RB.IMO Simmo has looked pretty sloppy.

Also his free kicks have been deadly and could be a source for goals.

 

Agreed. Bassong would be a decent buy. And Raylor should be able to challenge Simmo for RB.

 

No, 6 points from 2 games is the perfect start.

 

A draw vs Arsenal and a win against the mackems is the best we could have hoped for mate.

 

I know, I was using the technical definition of 'perfect' to be pedantic/a complete cock for the sake of it.

 

Bassong would be a cracking buy (still haven't got over him leaving ), can fill in at left back as well. A defensive squad of: Simpson, RTaylor, STaylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Williamson and Cissokho/Pieters would be incredibly strong. Quality and depth.

Need a striker as well. Drogba's just picked up a nasty injury so any slim hopes of picking up Sturridge/Lukaku on loan have just evaporated. There really is a lack of decent strikers available.

 

Can Peiter's cover CB as well ??? If we only get him in I would rather he went to CB and Raylor LB, than play Perch anywhere.

 

Waiting to see how we do tomorrow against Fulham. If we win i think we will finish top half, if we lose or draw i think we will finish 12th or lower. We need a lb and a st in asap too.

 

Great start but going to be greedy and want us to get back to winning ways at SJP.

All the fans know what we need LB and Striker so lets hope Ashley does to.

 

Bit of a knee jerk reaction that... way too early to tell where we'll finish. Only after 10-15 games will we get a general idea, and even then things can change, look at Liverpool last season. Plus Arsenal are in the bottom half, reckon if they lose tomorrow they'll be finishing in bottom 8? Bollocks will they!

 

He'll know alright, it's just a case of will he open his cheque book?

 

Hopefully if Ranger is released from his contract itll push Pardew

 

Think it has been a great start. If you compare to last seasons games - Arsenal (h) we drew but conceded 4, this time drew and never conceded; Sunderland (a) drew 1-1 this time 1-0 win and held on unlike last time. Carling Cup we got past lower league opposition and done same this season. Looking promising I believe

Hopefully we can go one further from last years 0-0 draw with Fulham and get a 1-0 win

 

Saints fan here...You've signed some very good player imo like Cabaye and Ba,I think you'll finish in top 10 prob 6th,7th,you've got a decent manager even though I think he is overated but I must say he is very good at finding good player from abroad,you should be ok!Good luck guys.

 

It's certainly exceeded my expectations, but I'm still nervous about Fulham - it's exactly the sort of game which we ought to win on paper, but we drew/lost an awful lot of those last season and I remain to be convinced that we've shaken that habit. That said, if we do get to the end of the month undefeated, then that will be one psychological barrier overcome (I hope).

 

Defensively we have been very good, something we haven't been able to say for a while. We need a quick striker to play off Ba.