With Newcastle being hammered 4-0 yesterday at Stoke, it’s hard to find some positive things to write about.
But there’s some really good news this afternoon, and we have to thank Sunderland for that, as Liverpool beat the Black Cats 2-0, at the Stadium of Light, and are still just 2 points above Newcastle.
Sunderland are on 38 points, and in 9th place above Stoke, but have a worse goal difference than the Magpies. A win against Wolves would not only give Newcastle a very valuable 3 points, but could take us above Sunderland too.
And here’s the thing, in their last 6 games Sunderland have 5 defeats and just one draw, at Arsenal two weeks ago. So it makes Newcastle’s slump look not too bad, with just 1 point from 3 games, but the Magpies have 3 draws and one win in the last 6 games, so have gained 5 points on Sunderland in the time.
The only thing that matters for Newcastle now is that everything these next couple of weeks, needs to be towards getting all 3 points against Wolves at St. Jame’s Park on April 2nd.
It was never really a 4-0 game yesterday at the Britannia Stadium, but the defense cannot give away such sloppy goals like they did, and expect anything out of the game.
That has to be put right, and the very fact that Steven Taylor wasn’t part of the debacle yesterday probably puts him in line to get a start against Wolves.
And Coloccini looked good in the middle of midfield yesterday in that second half, and maybe he could get a start in place of Cheick Tiote against Wolves. Cheick is suspended for two games having picked up his 10th yellow card of the season just before half time.
Shane Ferguson had an excellent game yesterday, and is currently way out in front in our Man of the Match poll, with 73% of the vote, and is also rated the best player in the ratings poll, where you can rate each player out of 10 for their performance.
If you haven’t yet voted then both polls are on the home page down the right hand side.
We wouldn’t be surprised if Shane starts against Wolves, if there are any doubts at all about Jose Enrique, and of course he can also play effectively on the left wing too.
We should see Shane get a run-out in almost all of the 8 remaining games, and he was a breath of fresh air for Newcastle yesterday.
Comments welcome.
61 comments so far
MacToon
Mar 20, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Comment #1Urg, that badge on our forum 🙁
cheikmate
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Comment #2This is the only positive from this week really. And to lift the doom our next game is at home to wolves, but sunderlands next game is away to man city and stoke play chelsea. So in two weeks we cud find ourselves above both sunderland and stoke! So its not all too bad and makes the game against wolves even more so important. (like it isnt already important enough!)
Hugh Jorgan
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:12 PM
Comment #3Ed, did you write this article especially for Daffy ?
GeordieTwo
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Comment #4I think we better focus on our own performances and forget about Sunderland. It was sad to watch our inept performance with an inept manager’s formation. 3-5-2 with a 36 year old completely static Campbell at the centre back position? Pardew must be completely mad. The next match against Wolves is now crucial to right the ship. Go back to 4-4-2 Pardew and use what meagre talent you have wisely. With a fool for an owner we can’t have the manager acting like a fool also. Stop playing Peter he is hopeless, tossed around like a toy against other sides big men. Now we lose Tiote for 2 games. Very difficult times ahead it would appear.
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Comment #5Shane played very well in the game against stoke and had a great run that almost resulted in his first goal for Newcastle but if Enrique is fit i would play him instead of Ferguson just because it is a very important game for us and Enrique is more experienced.
I was thinking does anyone think Gutierrez could play up front? if so we could play Nile Ranger or Shane Ferguson left wing as the both have good space and we know Ferguson has a great left foot.
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #6Shane played very well in the game against stoke and had a great run that almost resulted in his first goal for Newcastle but if Enrique is fit i would play him instead of Ferguson just because it is a very important game for us and Enrique is more experienced.
I was thinking does anyone think Gutierrez could play up front? if so we could play Nile Ranger or Shane Ferguson left wing as the both have good pace and we know Ferguson has a great left foot.
G
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:24 PM
Comment #7Interesting headline Ed. I personally feel that it isn’t terrible at all. Frankly, their lack of form is one of the few things giving me hope as a toon fan.
GAZ09
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Comment #8Who cares about Scumderland we have our own problems
mightymag567
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Comment #9This should be the team for Wolves : ~
Harper ( replaced by forster next season )
Simpson
willo
tayls
jose if fit, if not ferguson
Barton rw
colocinni ( can pick a pass ! )
nolan ( worried about his lack of creatvity )
jonas
ranger
best
lovenkrands is championship standard and shola isnt good enough! not saying ranger is but give the lad a chance
jamesnufc86
Mar 20, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Comment #10we cant start with lovenkrands again, he must start with ranger, lovenkrands does nothing for the team, he is to weak for the pl, id rather have pardew up front than him. I know he is one of our players and i am slating him , but i watch him every week he is quite simply an awful player
youngtoonfan
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Comment #11—————Harper——————
Simps—Willo—Colo—–Ferguson
Guti—Nolan—-Guthrie–Barton
———-Best—–Ameobi————
Bring ranger on for ameobi on the 60th min.
This should be the team for wolves considering gutierrez and best are fit and enrique is unfit which i guess will be the case. Anybody know when Ireland is back? if he’s back for the wolves game, then swap ireland for guthrie and then swap barton and irelands position, so ireland on RW and barton CM 🙂
youngtoonfan
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Comment #12*I mean LW haha 🙂
daffy
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Comment #13Thought i was home ed , thanks for that , can you leave it there? We are in deep shit & looking over our shoulders. By the way Auntie Carrol was awful.
carrollsinger
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Comment #14Good to see judas have a great game again lol
Oleg G
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Comment #15The Last 6 games in the League:
POSITION TEAM POINTS
1 Chelsea 13
2 Liverpool 13
3 Everton 13
4 Arsenal 12
5 Tottenham 11
6 West Ham 11
7 Wolves 11
8 Bolton 10
9 Man U 9
10 Fulham 9
11 Man Cit 8
12 Wigan 8
13 Stoke 7
14 Birmingham 7
15 Newcastle 5
16 A.Villa 5
17 Blackpool 5
18 WBA 4
19 Blackburn 2
20 Sunderland 1
Oleg G
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Comment #16Look at W.Ham, Wolves, Sunderland,
GeordieGerman
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Comment #17When Liverpool bought Carroll they forgot something…
… Barton.
daffy
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Comment #18We wont go down , neither will yous but its very thight & the bottom teams to their credit have are making a right fight for survival + i couldnt call it atm , can anyone?
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Comment #19Oleg G
We still have to play the 3 team below us in that.
I still think we can beat Birmingham and Wolves.
BergenVikingToon85
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:40 PM
Comment #20norwegian league kicked off this weekend. I have two favorite teams, Brann and NUFC. They both suck.. LOL
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:44 PM
Comment #21Go on to BBC Predictor and do this for yourself
1 Man U
2 Arsenal
3 Man City
4 Chelsea
5 Tottenham
6 Liverpool
7 Bolton
8 Sunderland
9 Everton
10 Newcastle
11 Stoke
12 Blackburn
13 Fulham
14 Blackpool
15 Aston Villa
16 Birmingham
17 West Ham
18 West Brom
19 Wolves
20 Wigan
WWJBD
Mar 20, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Comment #2221 i doubt we will end up 10th but would love to raid relegated wolves and wigan, would be brilliant to get doyle jarvis and rodellega then a bunch of younger talents coming through
Thump
Mar 20, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Comment #23Can’t say I can Daffy. Reckon Wigan and West Ham are on the slide, though. The other can go to Wolves or Brum, really not sure. It only takes a solid run of games in this years table.
I’m going to say this one last time: we are 4 points from relegation and 4 points from a European spot. We are in a very interesting position and if we are to stay in the EPL, we need to bring back some fight. It’s that simple. Couple of wins and mid table is ours.
Thump
Mar 20, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #24Actually speaking of Wigan, has anybody seen anything of Moses? Has he lived up to his ability or no?
coolcatcarter89
Mar 20, 2011 at 7:45 PM
Comment #25We’re not 4 points off europe. Get your facts straight.
gorskino10
Mar 20, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Comment #26@Thump
“West ham on the slide”
You looked at the table/results recently? West Ham have beat Liverpool 3-1 then beat Stoke 3-0 and looked amazing in the 0-0 with Spurs they defended very well and looks so dangerous on the counter.
Last 6 games they have got 11 points
Also ill note they have Robbie Keane, Demba Ba who scored 5 in 4, and Carlton Cole (11 goals) Victor Obina (8 goals) Piquionne (9 goals)
They are on a MASSIVE rise and NOT on the slide.
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
Mar 20, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Comment #27Stoke are playing Chelsea and i don’t expect them to win and Sunderland are playing Man City who i also don’t think will win. If this happens and Newcastle Beat Wolves then we will go 9th. If Everton and Bolton lose their next two games and Newcastle win theres then we go 7th but that probably will not happen since Everton’s next two games are against Aston Villa and Wolves and Bolton’s are against Birmingham and West Ham.
Toon XI
Mar 20, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Comment #28I have a feeling we’ll need to beat West Brom to ensure safety on the final day. That thought is not a pleasant thought considering how this squad folded two years ago on the final day of the season.
daffy
Mar 20, 2011 at 8:50 PM
Comment #29Wolves are no push over lads got a good result at Villa yesterday
ONLINE GUY
Mar 20, 2011 at 8:54 PM
Comment #30ED sir , could you please loose the Mackem badge ?
I cant eat …and im off my Brown Ale at the sight of it …HUggggiiieeeeeee…!
ONLINE GUY
Mar 20, 2011 at 9:02 PM
Comment #31DAFFY..
Iv Just returned from a diplomatic mission inside Buhtan….News black out there for six months (Embargo) And ..Im Desperate for news of Newcastle’s result against Sunder*and at St James’s Park earlier this season…Was it a good Game ?
Thanks DAFFY.
daffy
Mar 20, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Comment #32Think the badge should stay , brightens things up , last year on-line? cant remember, sorry.
The Power Ranger
Mar 20, 2011 at 9:28 PM
Comment #33What is the injury situation at the moment? When will the likes of Enrique, Jonas, Ireland, Best and Gosling be fit? And when is Ryan taylor back from suspension? Must be next game. Tiote does my head in with all his yellow cards and suspensions, we have no pace in the middle of the park without him.
clinta2
Mar 20, 2011 at 9:36 PM
Comment #34Newcastle in slump still 2 points behind Sunderland. Weren’t we 2 points beinds them 2 months ago when they started there slide?
howay man
Mar 20, 2011 at 11:33 PM
Comment #35———————-krul
simpson williamson coloccini ferguson
——–barton nolan guthrie gutierez
—————–best ranger
ameobi, lovenkrands and harper dont deserve to play again
Brutooon
Mar 20, 2011 at 11:50 PM
Comment #36How is that Ryan Jarvis was called into the England Squad and Neither Barton or Nolan was being consider???
supermacnumber9
Mar 21, 2011 at 1:00 AM
Comment #37does anyone know if there is a clause in Ireland’s loan contract preventing him playing against villa?
baro
Mar 21, 2011 at 2:13 AM
Comment #38Aston Astajev the agent of Dynamo Kiev and Ukraine striker Artem Milevsky revealed that he rejected a deal from Newcastle United because he wants to play in Italy or Spain one day…
Seriously Italy or Spain? Not England? He is a very good attacking player and is very talented. And is a player that looks like one that would fit right into our squad.
http://www.footballpress.net/index.php?action=read&idsel=81186
baro
Mar 21, 2011 at 2:15 AM
Comment #39By the way if Jose Enrique is leaving in the summer HOPE NOT but i have no idea reliable this site is but says Taiwo is about to join Aston Villa.
http://www.footballpress.net/index.php?action=read&idsel=81382
taker83
Mar 21, 2011 at 3:51 AM
Comment #40Please remove Pardew’s picture fron the blog and put Sir Bobby Robson’s photo.Feng shui tips.