Newcastle started the season in great form and were unbeaten in their first 11 game of the season, which equalled a Newcastle record.
Davide Santon – has looked good in last few games
But then we went into a bit of a slump with six games without a win, although in three of those games we were up against both Manchester clubs, away from home, and Chelsea at home.
And we lost two games we normally should have been able to win, when we went down 4-2 at Norwich City and then 3-2 at home to West Brom, conceding seven goals in the process.
And we were also hit by injuries to Steven Taylor – who is now out for the season with his Achilles – and Fab Coloccini missed the game at Norwich too.
But Newcastle have come storming back with three wins in their last four games, and have three clean sheets in their last six games, so there’s a lot that Alan Pardew can be pleased about.
The back four now has both 6′ 4″ Mike Williamson and Italian International Davide Santon in it, and both have been in excellent form of late.
In particular, Davide has looked great, and this lad could become a great player for Newcastle United, a team he was delighted to join and from Inter Milan too.
We’re starting to understand a little why Jose Mourinho compared him to the all time great Italian defender Paulo Maldini, who played an amazing 902 times for AC Milan with 33 goals.
Davide, who started his career as a right winger, has still got a lot to learn, but he’s in good hands with Alan Pardew, who has brought him along very carefully this season.
Alan had this praise for lad who turned 21 on the 2nd of January:
“You have to remember he was up against outstanding players in the Manchester United game, and not only did he win that particular battle, but his use of the ball was excellent.”
“He can play both sides and he gives us a massive weaponry. But at the moment, left-back, he looks like he has probably got the nod.”
Left-back was an open position at the start of the season at Newcastle, with Jose Enrique having opted to move to a bigger club (oh yeah!) when he joined Liverpool in the summer.
Liverpool are just one point ahead of Newcastle at the moment in the Premier League table, and it’s an open question as to which club will be higher in the league at the end of the season.
You will notice our confidence building about our team. 😀
Ryan Taylor played well at left-back but it seems that Davide will now get an extended run in the side, and he’s looked very good in the last couple of games.
And central defender Mike Williamson – who was signed for the bargain price of £1M from Portsmouth two years ago, has come back from his ankle injury at a good time, and has slotted in nicely at the back, alongside captain Fabricio Coloccini.
Of course Mike and Fab were the first choice center-backs last season, and have played together for quite a while now.
Mike looked great in the home game against the Red Devils last week, when we annihilated the PL Champions 3-0, and the defense has looked fairly solid recently.
Pardew had this compliment for Mike today:
“We have had two clean sheets from Mike in four games, and that’s fantastic.
“It just goes to show how he has conditioned himself in that time off. He can be very proud of himself.”
We’d love to see the new back four of Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini and Santon get an extended run as the defense in front of quality goalkeeper Tim Krul.
We think the more clean sheets we can get the better it will be, and we’d love to have another unbeaten run and climb the league table again.
Newcastle still have a very good chance of qualifying for the Europa League next season, if we can produce some decent results in our final 18 league games of the season.
And we’ll not even mention we could even win the FA Cup.
No, we better not mention that.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
200 comments so far
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #11st
JackButler
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #2Willo has come back very well after a long lay off and compliments Colo, as for Santon, the boy looks classy and will only get better. I just hope that Tavernier can step up and so if quality when called upon
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #3YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I finally did it.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #4Gaz
Only a SMB would claim that our famous club belonged more to a chavvy cockney business man than to a Geordie public whose families have supported the club for generations.
JackButler
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #5Beattie25 – Astounding contribution in post 1 and 3
Dannyo
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #6@JB
Hehe, good post 5 😛
Santon is immense imo, he’s shown no sign of weakness yet, give him time and the Maldini tag could well suit him.
If he stays injury free, then he’s going to the Euros, that’s for sure.
torresmex90
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:21 PM
Comment #7For some reason im getting excited for tomorrow, there’s been alot of talk in the press about potential signings and inquiries made by Newcastle officials, and if I remember correctly more often than not we announced signings on Fridays…
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:23 PM
Comment #8@ 1 and 3……and the sh*t* I get for now and then letting the blog know what I think is too good for Ashley…….
JackButler
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #9Danyo – Santon has big boots to fill coming in for Jose, but the lad looks more than capable of doing it, if he stays injury free then he can achieve anything in the game imo
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #10With regards to Santon I would love another wing back that compliments him.
Don’t get me wrong I am a great fan a Simpson but it would be a thing of beauty to have 2 attacking full backs rampaging up the wings. That kind of symmetry and balance can only help the team. Think Cafu and Roberto Carlos but in Newcastle shirts. It would also take pressure of the wingers to be the only attacking force out wide.
It is no coincedence that Guti has looked better in the last few games when Santon has been LB. Both offer each other support in defense and attack unlike the Obertan-Simpson partnership on the right.
If we could get another Santon type player, a CB, a forward and keep hold of our first team we could easily get into the top 7 for the forseeable future.
I would love to see Cissokho, Taiwo, Marcell Jansen or Gregory Van Der Wiel in our team.
Sob sob
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #11Hey it was my 1st time…
GAZ09
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Comment #12JFA
your the type of fan who wants all huge signings only for it not to work and then be the first to go and support Man u when the club does a leeds and gets in a finacial mess, how can you call yourself a fan, your a joke
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Comment #13GAZ09
I used to have one of you on the end of my pencil. Troll
GAZ09
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Comment #14Good for you Beattie
GAZ09
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:35 PM
Comment #15I guess you have a new one for school now
JackButler
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:37 PM
Comment #16Can we all pretend, if only for a little while that we have IQ’s over six and dispense with the name calling ?
strawberrysyrup
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #17anyone else heard the rumors about pogba leaving ManU ??? could be worth a punt
Dannyo
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #18@Beattie
Did u do the same thing when u had se.x for the first time? lol
strawberrysyrup
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Comment #19@JB
just saying i have an IQ 100 and im 13
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Comment #20@ Dannyo
When I finally do have it for the first time I’ll let you know.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:40 PM
Comment #21Gaz09 @12
I think you got me mixed up with one of your mates you stand with in the fulwell end.
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Comment #22@ strawberrysyrup
To say you have an IQ of 100 and then commit the gramatical errors that you have leads me to believe you are indeed a Mackem.
Dannyo
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:42 PM
Comment #23@beattie
Sorry mate, lol, i just couldn’t let that one go 😉
On a serious not, outside the Man Utd bad ass youngster being linked, slow rumour day, very boring :/
Wonder if Erdinc will happen this time around… Would love it tho, much needed qualities up top.
hatem or love him
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Comment #24Team for QPR
Krul
Simspon Willo Collo Santon
Ben Arfa Vuckik Cabaye Jonas
Ameobi Best
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Comment #25Anway back to football, it now seems we will not be getting Erding.
the dominoes have not toppled to allow the move.
Tevez is not moving to AC Milan, which means Pato is not moving to PSG which means Erding is not moving to Newcastle which means Lovenkrands is not moving to Scunthorpe.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Comment #26Beattie,
Next time you get ‘first’ let us know what you think what is too good for Ashley,if you can handle the character assassination that sometimes follows : )
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:47 PM
Comment #27I will love it JFA
Marty-Toon
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:48 PM
Comment #28Willo has really helped out coming back in such good shape.He hasn’t looked sluggish at all.
Santon is a gem of a player
jakesome
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Comment #29i dont see what all the hype abput erdinc is.
1 goal in 11 sub apps this season in an inferiour league
what do you think he’ll bring to the table dannyo ??
i see him as a young loverpants
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Comment #30My post has dissapeared.
I was saying that we have no chance of getting Erding now.
Tevez isn’t going to Milan, which means Pato isn’t going to PSG, which means Erding isn’t going to Newcastle, which means etc…
jakesome
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:50 PM
Comment #31agreed marty it must of beeen hard for collo and willo to watch the norwich game, it was for me
strawberrysyrup
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:51 PM
Comment #32@ Beattie25
tha waz the point m8
and i can assure u imm not a mackem when my friend bought a5under1and shirt i punched him in the face lol xD it made me laugh
jakesome
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:53 PM
Comment #33i personally like it when the smb come on here
just shows they follow us more than there own petty club
its a compliment
Dannyo
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:55 PM
Comment #34How many strikers do PSG have exactly?
hrocks
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Comment #35has the mackem game been moved to a wed night?
Beattie25
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Comment #36@31
ah, I get it now. The sarcasm was lost on me. My gran once asked me who my favourite 5under1amd player was and I power bombed her through a table.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Comment #37Its my 40th birthday tomorrow I’ve already been given a baby now I want a full back,centre back,pacy striker and possibly a wingerand it will be a perfect week.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Comment #38beattie
Was the table alright ?
strawberrysyrup
Jan 12, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Comment #39@35
id do the same m8 h8 any 5under1and player director or fan
Tino3Barca2
Jan 12, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Comment #40He can play both sides and he gives us a massive weaponry.
Nice quote, can we get one for the other side then?
Santon, Cissokho, Arfa on the right, Marveaux on the left. We’d be getting back to keeganesque days. Lol