In reality Newcastle must have very little chance of qualifying this season for the Champions League.
Glenn Roeder – last manager to get newcatsle into Europe in 2006
Newcastle are essentially 6 points outside a Champions League position, because they are 5 points behind Arsenal in 4th place, with a goal difference that is 17 goals worse than that of Arsenal, and a defeat on Monday night will almost definitely eliminate that possibility.
But Newcastle are 8 points above 8th placed Fulham, so if we can get 7th place in the league and if Chelsea, Liverpool or Tottenham win the FA Cup, then Newcastle will qualify for the Europa League.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has talked today about Newcastle’s chances of qualifying for European competition for next season:
“It would be over. The Champions League is over if we do not win this one.” “It is not a game which will decide our Europa League fate.” “The next 10 games will do that.”
“This one is about the Champions League – if we win we will be throwing our names in the hat.” “I don’t think we are good enough to do it or big enough.
“I don’t think we will be able to hold our nerve to do it.” “However, if we win, it will make it very interesting for Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.” “We will all go to the next fixture a bit lively.”“It is about the FA Cup final, if it is two top-six teams in there, seventh place will kick in. That will help us.” “If I am honest, we are the outside chance for the top six because Liverpool’s run-in is magnificent compared to ours.”
“We are looking to protect ourselves from not finishing lower than eight and to have a great season.” “Then in a year we will feel scheduled to get into Europa League, but we have it all to do.”
The Premier League gets three places in the Europa League – 5th place in the league and the two cup winners get those places.
But if any of the top 5 teams have already qualified for Europe through some other means – like winning one of the cups – then an additional place in the league is allocated from 5th place down.
That means that if the two cup winners are in the top six – like Liverpool who won the Carling Cup and either Chelsea or Tottenham if they can win the FA Cup, then two more places in the league table are allocated and Newcastle would qualify for the Europa League if they get into 7th place.
So it was good news for Newcastle last week when both Chelsea and Spurs got through to the quarter finals against lower league opposition.
They joined Liverpool in the last eight and the three clubs are not drawn against each other – which is again good for Newcastle – and we could have all three of them in the semi-finals.
Of course, it will still help if we can win or draw the game at Arsenal on Monday night, and Newcastle must rely on their own form to get that European spot for next season.
And it’s interesting that when Glenn Roeder last got Newcastle into Europe back in 2006, we won six of the seven league games and also finished in 7th place with 58 points.
Howay The Lads!!
173 comments so far
MagpiesFlyHigh
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:12 PM
Comment #1Europa would be great progress this season without stretching the squad too much
LewSpi
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Comment #2If the FA cup winner has already qualified for Europe, the runner up gets the Europe spot don’t they? Which means we need two of Liverpool, Spurs or Chelsea to be in the final then it’ll drop to 7th, regardless of who wins.
Jonny
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #3Our target should be 60 points.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Comment #4@3:
The target should be just to win the games left and finnish as high as possible!
We don,t have the easiest of run-ins though but!
Oleg G
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM
Comment #5We should be looking for a draw today in the unwashed game. Keep Liverpool away.
Jonny
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Comment #6We need 16 points for a total of 60:
Arsenal (away) Loss
Norwich City (home) Win
WBA (away) Draw
Liverpool (home) Draw
Swansea City (away) Loss
Bolton (home) Win
Chelsea (away) Loss
Stoke City (home) Win
Wigan Athletic (away) Win
Manchester City (home) Draw
Everton (away) Loss
I give us 15!
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Comment #7@3 i agree 60pts is what we shud aiming for thats 5wins n a draw from 11 games n with bolton, stoke, norwich at home n wba n swansea away i think weve a chance, imo pardew spot on lose on monday n we can forget 4th but we shud b aiming for 5th n 6th still
Oleg G
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Comment #8The best results for us today:
Vila W
Chlsea D
Liverpool D
Everton L
tomorrow:
Man U W
Man C W
Wigan W (hhh… I wish).
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Comment #9well if liverpool draw today n draw v everton on tuesday that wud give us the advantage
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Comment #10anyone else noticed romain amalfitano who were supposed to have signed on a pre contract hasnt played the last 2 weeks for his club
Pardew's fist pump
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Comment #11Davyb ‘spot on’ toon.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Comment #12I hope we clinch Europe in any form as I’ve thought we’re capable from the beginning, it would be a kick in the nut-sack if we don’t. We deserve it too after our great and rapid progress under Pardew. We just need to keep it together for the remaining games, let’s see if our squad are able to keep their nerve.
It’s such a shame that Saylor is injured as he is crucial to us and his immense pride in playing for the shirt would have been a great bonus in this run in.
1-1 draw v Arsenal would be a great result.
HWTL
JP...from The Rock
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Comment #13davybtoon – apparently we’ve already signed him on a pre-contractual agreement. At the end of an article it was mentioned. He looks a good player that can play on the wing or behind the front two.
sirtoongospel
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #14I really hope we set about Arsenal, really apply the pressure and try and force mistakes, Gibbs looks far from at his best and we MUST play HBA, he will tear him a new one.
Got a feeling it will be a high scoring game, 3-2 Newcastle will do for me 😉
Oleg G
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Comment #15To some it might sound crazy, but with the speed and athleticism of football today, it would be nice to try and play with 10 against 10 because it looks like the amount of players sometimes crate a big mess and there is not enough space for football on the pitch.
And another thing – anyone saw the Man U game in the Europe cup? Was is bad as it sounded in the articles?
JP...from The Rock
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Comment #16I agree HBA has to play. The kid creates so much it would be foolish not to start him. We could see that by his Sunderland performance he was playing the simple passes and using his flair appropriately, he was mixing it up and adding more pressure to their defense down the wing. He’s a starter for me every time tbh.
geordiejamie89
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Comment #17I think people above who are predicting the remaining results might not be far off in the points standings, but thinking we’ll win the easy games and loose the hard ones, maybe some people havn’t been watching Newcastle. We’ve been beaten by Wolves, but beat Manchester United, so I wouldn’t be suprised if Newcastle stole a result against either Arsenal or Man City, then lost one of the games we’re expected to be favourites.
benarfa23
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Comment #18off topic
i think if adel taraabt available for 3M, we should go for him, with him in the squad we can play feet to feet football
SwedishMagpie
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Comment #191-0 sunderland
geordiejamie89
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #20HBA should play on the right, then I think we have a strong midfield and attack, we just need miracles in defence. Van Persie doesn’t need too many chances, and after missing a sitter against AC Milan to level the four goal deficit, I expect Van Persie to knock in the first chance that comes his way. No clean sheet for the toon, almost fact. In with a shout, definately.
JAMSHA
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #21bindipers down 🙂
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #22jptherock yea i seen that i was jus wondering if he aint playing bcoz weve signed him or is jus out injured
JAMSHA
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #23Newcastle for EUROPE 🙂
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Comment #24if the results stay the same its been a good day for us
SwedishMagpie
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Comment #25chelsea 1-0 🙁
tdt
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Comment #26Not liking the mackems getting so close to us in the league, however it’s good to keep Liverpool down
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Comment #27were currently 5pts off 5th n 5pts above 7th
gorgonzola
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Comment #28scum about to beat Scumpool 😀
gorgonzola
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Comment #29Man that Arsenal game will be very KEY for us …damn I am not sure if I am looking forward to it….seeing them pump Milan 🙁
gorgonzola
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Comment #304 minutes injury time …..terrible…
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Comment #31gorganzola arsenal game only key to 4th place i think we will get beat but the norwich game is bigger
davybtoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #32one see a proper performance at arsenal like last 2 games in london 10goals conceded
Oleg G
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #33scums are getting too close, but keeping Liverpool away, so that is nice I guess.
A.Villa 1-0 🙂 good, Fulham stay with 36 points.
Chelsea won 1-0 against 10 men, that made it easy for them, still think we can catch them, they are in horrible shape.
Spurs, Man C, Man U, Wigan – to win their games, that will good for us.
But we must must must win our game, this game is so crucial. We have to get a win already after so long.
niafron
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Comment #34BOnsoir messieurs.
About the next window, would be a good idea to be patient and to look to France.
If François Hollande become our new president, it will be alot of good players to sign in France.
Maybe not the best human beings in the world, but good football players.
davis_toons
Mar 10, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Comment #35Someone posted here for Sunderland to Win and Injured a player. Woah…he was sharp.
niafron
Mar 10, 2012 at 5:02 PM
Comment #36Pffff…
No one to ask me: “what is the link with mister Hollande and the football, niafron?”
niafron
Mar 10, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Comment #37Hum…
I distincly heard someone in the back asking me this question, so i will answer.
Well, François Hollande is a football fan, but it’s not the point. Just give me a minute please.
WWJBD
Mar 10, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Comment #38Liverpool lose to Sunderland……:) good day
check the toastie
Mar 10, 2012 at 5:12 PM
Comment #39mackems play a sh1tty brand of football, however somehow they protect their goal very well, team full of grafters but no quality (barring mclean and sessegnon) however this footy will only take them so far, personally think that o neill is perfect for the scum, they will be happy kicking and grafting as long as they are around 9/10th place.
Davis – it was me who said mackems win but i also said hope they get plenty of injuries, so not quite spot on.
niafron – looking forward to our rugby boys knacking you again 2moro?
check the toastie
Mar 10, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Comment #40WWJBD – still a bit concerned that sunderland are just behind us, think a draw might have been better, must say watched game and liverpool were sh1t.