Even though our win last night was not a dominant one, against a rather mediocre WBA side, we have the chance to pick up some points in our next 3 games.
Newcastle United fans – good support last night
The next three league fixtures are:
Mon Nov 3: Aston Villa (H) 8:00 pm KO
Sun Nov 9: Fulham (A) 4:00 pm KO
Sat Nov 15: Wigan (H) 3:00 pm KO
A good target for those 3 games has to be 6 points – which means two wins out of the three. The hardest game is next Monday at home to Aston Villa, and it will be up to our defense to turn in a mammoth performance to see if we can keep the in-form Villa side at bay, but that will be tough.
However in the following two games, we have a good chance at winning both games, if we can play at our best and tighten up our defense, who are still giving away too many poor goals. The goal we conceded on 65 minutes last night was another poor one, when one pass split our defense right down the middle. 🙁
Why did we pick only the next three games? Because our 4th game is away at Chelsea, and while we almost picked up a point there (we were beaten by an 87th minute Salomon Kalou offside goal 2-1) in last season’s fixture back on December 29th, we would expect no points from that game realistically.
But we are very willing to be surprised.
115 comments so far
ginkoh
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Comment #1If We stuck on Wesbromwich second half tactics, we’ll be destroyed by Chelsea for sure. Oh I see the Joe’s interviea after Chelsea game ” They’re by far greater than us”
We have to try up our game. Tactic, Teamwork, Finish area, and Passing need to improve. I know we can do it !
carl
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Comment #2i cant really see us getting anything against villa, we were good in patches in the first half yesterday, but we cant let teams have that much possesion and teritory like in the second half at home. but realisticaly we should be beating fulham and wigan. so yes 6 points from next two games should be achievable.and i cant see spurs or stoke going anywhere in nxt few games:)
clinta
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Comment #3In all honesty i’m not that worried about us this year, okay were not going to be top 6 or top 8, but what else is new.
the last toon game i was at was fulham in london under big sam, we won that day from a 92nd minute penalty, hardly desrved it though.
I feel the way the teams playing now, while not particularly good, it’s still a hell of a lot better than most game i witness last run out, and whether we get anything this time around at fulham, i bet the team will be playing better football for the fans.
so there’s a little optimism and perspective.. there’s always next year huh?
Tozvaldo
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Comment #4confident will be restored to the team and with a full home capacity crowd, I’m going for at least a draw, 7+ points from our next 3 games, howay
carl
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Comment #5agree ginkoh – but when you really look at it,barton,enrique,gutierrez,martins ,beye have only all just came back from injury, it was obvious all were tired in second half , so its a good start, and as for ameobi, well i think he may need electric shock therapy to send signals from brain to feet quicker, (if possible)
AndyNUFC
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Comment #6We may aswell write this season off and just see where Kinnear can take us after Christmas.
I wonder, if he’s still the manager, if our owen (whoever that is) will fund january window buys. For me, our season is going to depend on them.
AndyNUFC
Oct 29, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Comment #7If our owner* that meant to say.
Tom
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Comment #8If we keep Steven Taylor at centre back alongside Coloccini, then Villa will utterly tear us apart. We need to drop the guy and replace him with Bassong, Taylor is a liability.
Dan13
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Comment #9Support wasn’t really up to scratch Ed,
I blame the freeezing weather 🙂
Sav
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Comment #10If we were to go a goal up against Villa and if Butt is fit, the option of a CM of Guthrie, Butt and Barton together would be different proposition to what we served up last night.
Meanwhile, a fit Duffer and Guttierez are a formidable wing combo.
Whumpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Comment #11It’s good to be going into games expecting to win again. Good point about recently returning players tiring, and we should improve as they get their legs back. Joey done good; hope it lasts.
Also, I think we really missed a class finisher like Owen last night. Shola was his usual frustrating mix of effort, creativity and stumbling idiocy, and Xisco reminded us of his barn-door-missing capabilities. Even Martins, while creating chance after chance, missed some sitters and squandered some great positions with mad ‘crosses’ that landed somewhere near Monument station.
Beye was my favourite, and showed how weak Enrique is by comparison. But we will improve, and I think the 6 points from 3 games is achievable.
One big gripe though: WHERE THE HELL WERE THE TOON ARMY LAST NIGHT?? I was sickened to see so many empty seats! I’m stuck nearly 400 miles away, otherwise I’d have moved heaven and earth to get there – how can ‘fans’ sit within a couple of miles of the stadium and not attend such a crucial game, when they’ve already paid for the seat??
The supporters need to get over the KK thing and get back to doing their jobs. Well done to the ones who did show up, though – good noise!
Lost prophet
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Comment #12Drop Coloccini and Taylor they’re both hopeless. Leave Butt and Geremi out however I still don’t see us getting a result next Monday. Sorry to be so negative but we just arn’t good enough.
Sav
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Comment #13Hard to condemn Taylor and Cloccini when our midfield was swinging wide open like a netty door in a force 8 gale. No wonder they are nervous. West Brom was passing through us at will.
Toon Graeme
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Comment #14This is what we need to happen until monday to help us out on the board. Maybe lady luck will shine on us.
Tonight:
Arsenal vs Tottenham – Arsenal win
Bolton – Everton – Everton Win
Fulham – Wigan – Draw
Stoke vs Sunderland – Sunderland Win
Saturday:
Everton – Fulham – Everton Win
Portsmouth – Wigan – Portsmouth Win
Stoke City – Arsenal – Arsenal Win
Tottenham – Liverpool – Liverpool Win
West Brom – Blackburn – Blackburn Win
Sunday:
Bolton – Man City – Citey to win.
ToonKing
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Comment #15———-Given————
Beye–Colo–Cacapa–Bassong
Jonas–Barton–Guthrie–Zog
——-Oba—-Owen———–
with this we can beat anyone on our day, but the midfield must track back, which they didn’t do yesterday, they need to be fully focused, which they weren’t yesterday, and we need to play it on the ground.
ToonKing
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Comment #16that’s pretty realistic Toon Graeme.
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Comment #17Fear is our worst enemy,i mean….who the f..k is Aston Villa to be affraid of them.
3 points for sure if we play like men.
NEWCASTLE TILL I DIE
Macas
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Comment #18I know he gets slated on here all the time but i feel we missed Butt in midfield last night. Guthrie is a tidy enough player but he doesnt have the same bite, and West Brom just passed it around us, especially second half. I just pray Owen is fit against Villa as I thought Martins (apart from the goal) was extremely poor, and while Ameobi battled he is never going to be a clinical finisher.
broon ale
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #19i was at the match last night! it was absolutely freezing! I couldnt even bring myself to clap. My hands were blue!
I hope that explains the reasons for lack of atmosphere.
or it could also be that we have just lost to sunderland, we were in the bottom 3, the match was on sky, we played poorly for the majority of the game, we have yet another traumatic season,
you need to be mental to support Newcastle.
Its painfull.
thats why the atmosphere was crap last night
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Comment #20Macas…..I’m pretty sure that you would have missed the 3 points even more if Butt was playing.
beyethegreat
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Comment #21whumpie
the attendance was actually quite good fair enough not by our standards but how many teams in the premier league would take 45 000 when we were 19th had lost to the scum no long term manager and is waiting for the club to be sold also i think season ticket sales are down this year probably coz of the credit crunch and price hike
sirjasontooon
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #22If we apply ourselves like we did against city we can beat villa at our place.
Going into a game off the back of a win will give the lads a massive boost mentally..and with jonas and barton as well as……er duff (did i say that!) we stand a chance…come on joey !!!!
Turkish magpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Comment #23For the a villa game-
If tonight Aston Villa get a player injured
or on monday they get a player sent off
we will win!
if evrything is normal then it will be a close game!
having owen and guttierez back to full fitness we might just nick it
my prediction- 1-0
Whumpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Comment #24beyethegreat – fair point, and good to know it was as high as 45k. It looked like closer to 30k.
And since when has the cold kept the Toon away? Should be sat there in yer swimmers.. 😉
The noise came across ok on the TV, though, and to be honest, who cares? We won!
Did anybody else think that things looked a lot more solid once Geremi came on? I’m not a fan (swore lots when he was announced) but he seemed to be a useful stabilising influence, and actually got forward a lot.
Guthrie was a bit of a disappointment – didn’t even notice he was there until half an hour in.
The wing play was great to watch, though – it seemed like we were constantly pouring forward through Jonas or Duff, with Joey in the middle doing his creative thing. Just a bit rusty as a unit, that’s all – otherwise it would have been a lot more comfortable.
NE1
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Comment #25Against the Villa if we play:
Given
Beye Taylor Colocinni Bassong
Jonas Guthrie Barton N’Zogbia
Martins Owen
We’ll do them
I’m not convinced by Geremi, Duff or Butt – however these seem to be mainstays in Kinnears thoughts.
We need to take the game to Villa – do what we do best – ATTACK!
The pace we’ve got can be incredible and with Owen in the side we’re always likely to score a goal or two.
Let move up and by the time Chelski comes round we may have a new gaffer – i think something will happen over next 7-10 days.
Midjew
Oct 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #26I have to say, for all those knocking Duff, your crazy, he played BRILLIANT last night and was the only one trying to push on for another goal.
Him and Jonas on the wings looked great.
broon ale
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Comment #27to the fella who said geremi did well! no he didnt. he is rubbish. so is xisco!
also xisco drives a astra, he was behind me in the car on sunday morning going to training!
bit of useless trivia for you there!
Less Fed up Geordie
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Comment #28It was nt a great performance by any means but a win is a win.Once they scored we looked shakey and a better team might have made us pay.Duff and Jonas did very well and Barton is a much better option than Butt.Guthrie i am not sure about think we still need another good cm at the club.As for taylor i think the guy is struggling,we need to improve to beat Villa but its a step in the right direction
skin d
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #29big john carew will destroy taylor and collo i,m afraid.
skin d
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #30where was the logic or so called ashley,s band of footballing experts when they signed misco.
Toon Graeme
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #31Faith boys – Faith.
We just won a game so lets not all jump on the negative.. or at least for 24hrs anyway. :-).
The boys know what they have to do. Villa are a tough nut to crack and will give our defense a hammering.
Kevin Nichol
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Comment #32I have to agree with broon ale…
Germi looked slow and didnt really do anything for me after coming on!
As for Xisco…I feel like i am becoming a one man marching band here constantly proclaiming how innefective this kid is! Dear me…Bambi on ice??? Lets look at it “6 million”…20 yards out; i’m sitting directly behind the ball coming on to him and i’m thinking “hit is son, prove me wrong”…then we get a grass cutter into the keepers hands! What has Dennis and his gang of merry w@nkers seen in this guy to suggest he is better than carrol or any of the other young strikers we have at the club because quite frankly he isnt!!!
Great result though on possibily the coldest night i can remember at St. James! I thought after half time we looked a little nervous and anxious for the final whistle; but however it came a victory was needed and we got it!
Last point; i didnt like to see with 88mins gone and a corner to us after some good work by duffer; why we had two men only in the box? Fair enough hold on to what we have but theres a chance to seal it with a third…those kind of negative tactic will get punished by better teams…
murphy
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Comment #33To be honest I can’t see us getting anything from Villa. We can’t keep a clean sheet at all so we’ll never be able to keep the top clubs at bay. The only way we’ll get a piont is if we have a high score draw cause we can score at the moment.
Duff played really well last night, that one run he did was awesome! really looking like a good player at the moment. Although Bambi make mistakes alot he still plays well and can set goals up and score the odd one, people hate him but he’s good to have as a bench player when all strikers are fit. he can do a job in my opinion.
Gutierez and barton were great, Joey taking the pen took Alot of guts, I couldn’t watch as if he had missed it it would have killed the team.
WBA were awfull in the first half and when we come against stronger sides we’re going to struggle and have to play the long ball and battle.
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Comment #34Skin d…..At least Xisco scored on his debut for us and scored the winner for Spain under 21 agains Switzerland.
I’m pretty sure they knew why they signed him and fans who only have a little bit of knowledge about football they’d agree that Xisco is a good deal for us.
Maybe not atm but for the future….yes.
Macas
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Comment #35Rasko – we might have got 3 points but only just, and any other team that was better at finishing would have murdered us. Butt has his faults there is no doubt about that, and he is getting on a bit, but I think he is the only one who offers any real protection in our central midfield. I’d prefer a better player in that position of course, but at the moment I dont think we have one.
Turkish magpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #36In the 1st half the way we played we could of beaten liverpool,chelsea or any team
Turkish magpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #37but in the second half we could of lost to anyone
Tom
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Comment #38The team for Villa should be:
Given
Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Enrique
Jonas, Guthrie, Barton, Duff
Ameobi, Martins
Normally I’d say Xisco instead of Shola, but he has been going okay recently, so let him try to improve on it. However, he will lose his place when Owen is back.
If he does something similar to the team I picked (i.e. drop Taylor and don’t bring back Butt) then I’ll be really happy!! 😀
Turkish magpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Comment #39when we said we need cover
midfeild is not an issue
we have 4 cm
3 rm
2lm
Attack has loathes of cover except they’re just all lost confidence
Cm=Butt,Barton,Nacho,Guthrie(smith)
Attackers= Owen,Martins,Viduka,Ameobi,Smith,Xisco,Carroll,Ranger
Rm= Spidey,Geremi,(duff)
lm= nzogbia,duff
We thought ameobi was bad because he hasn’t played but once he gets a chance he hasnt done bad so why dont we give xisco this chance!
so when we said we dont have cover, we do but most of them arent given a chance to perform
Turkish magpie
Oct 29, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Comment #40Tom –
Owen is expected to be fit for A villa