Newcastle are still 5 points above Liverpool after 27 games played after Liverpool looked an ordinary side in losing 1-0 at Sunderland yesterday.
Alan Pardew – wants to finish high up in the league
Even though Kenny Dalglish has paid out £60M for Suarez and Carroll just over twelve months ago, Liverpool’s problem is that they cannot put the ball in the back of the net, and they have only 30 goals in the league this season, and only Everton, Stoke, QPR and Wigan have less goals than that.
We suppose he’ll now need a lot more money from the American owners to correct that problem in the summer. 😀
And with Tottenham losing their third league game in a row at Everton, the results went Newcastle’s way yesterday.
Newcastle have a chance to even widen the gap over Liverpool at Arsenal tomorrow night, and if Newcastle can finish in at least in 7th place in May, there is a decent chance that we can make the Europa League next season.
While Alan Pardew has said he would not be disappointed too much if Newcastle don’t make Europe next season, he would be disappointed if we didn’t finish in the top eight in the league table.
Pardew was asked if he’d be disappointed not to make Europe:
“No, no, because if you look at Liverpool’s run-in, it’s definitely favourable to ours, and their squad is bigger, so I still think they are in the box seat for that position.”
“I would be very disappointed if we finished below eighth, for sure. Top eight, seventh, sixth. “Sixth is Europe and there’s a great chance of that, and we want to try to take it.”
“We have got ourselves into a great position.” “A lot of clubs can’t go for Europe – probably only seven clubs are going to make it now. There’s an outside chance of an eighth club getting involved, but I doubt it.”
“Liverpool are already in it, so if with five games to go they can’t make the Champions League, their focus could slip.” “Kenny Dalglish might take the option of playing a few young players, which might open the door for us, so there’s lots to happen yet.”
And while the clubs they are rubbing shoulders with are still spending massive amounts in the transfer market, that’s not true with Newcastle these days.
And last summer Newcastle had a net spend of under £2M in the transfer market, although we did splash out and pay around £9M up front for Papiss Cisse in January from SC Freiburg.
Couple Newcastle’s current 6th place in the league with a very good set of financial figures released by the club last week, and there’s no doubt things are looking up on Tyneside.
And a good result tomorrow night against in-form Arsenal would be terrific.
Howay The Lads!!
13 comments so far
IITianToon
Mar 11, 2012 at 8:36 AM
Comment #1Would want a 5 man midfield against Arsenal definitely.. hopefully Guthrie gets a chance. As for the left back slot have no clue who would be better Santon or Raylor, what do you guys think?
jesperfuglsang
Mar 11, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Comment #2Arsenal is going to be a very difficult game, make no mistake about that.
When they are on their game they are probably one of the best teams along side United in the league.
jesperfuglsang
Mar 11, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Comment #3IITian
Raylor at right and Santon on the left.
Rest Simmo; he is playing under pair these days.
geoff777
Mar 11, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Comment #4Our wingers are the weakest link.
Raylor & Jonas … you can’t play 442 with wingers who can’t get passed people and cross.
Trent Toon
Mar 11, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Comment #5Whilst Liverpools run in is seemingly easier than ours, i still think ours isn’t anything to be afraid of. Perhaps our current form isn’t up to scratch, but i really feel we will beat liverpool and chelsea and take 5th! I think that is what we are upto! Both Chelsea and Liverpool are looking very ordinary!
Rotonda heights
Mar 11, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Comment #6geoff
you’e preaching to the converted, the tragedy is pardew will never see it though.
moonraker
Mar 11, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #7Jesper @2
Which “United” are you referring to?
moonraker
Mar 11, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #8the squad we have is suited to 4-5-1 away from home with Guti and Raylor playing wide and defending when needed! which will be a lot on Monday night.
If we get to 60 minutes at 0-0 then we can bring on HBA or Cisse but the danger is losing a couple of goals early on and they will murder us!
moonraker
Mar 11, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #9I just hope Pards puts out a “defensive” line-up cos we can beat them if we don’t try to beat them at their own game!
yorkshire_mag
Mar 11, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #10I completely agree with @IITianToon think we really need a five man midfield. Id run with the following formation:
________________Krul_______________
Raylor_____Willo_____Collo______Santon
HBA___Guthrie___Tiote___Cabaye___Jonas
________________Ba_________
5 across midfield should allow to cut off the supply line to the forward whilst HBA should be allowed to spport Big Demba up front when attacking and also provide a threat on the counter. That’s where the extra man in midfield can come across and fill the gap.
Tsunki
Mar 11, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Comment #11As long as there’s not too much white space between our back 4 and midfield he he he he he 🙂
Davies
Mar 11, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Comment #12Yorkshire Mag – That would be my team of choice too. Hope Pardew reads this (HA!).
jakesome
Mar 11, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Comment #13what about this counter attacking team tomorrow
————krul——————
rayls–collo—willo—santon
———–tiote—————–
—-cabaye—jonas——–
obertan————–hba
————ba—————
with hba and ober as our standard defencive wingers doin both duties
bench elliot, perch, guthrie, fergie, abeid, gosling (not sure if hes injured) wor shola
comments?