Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out Newcastle United for a top four place.
Arsene Wenger – hailing taxi to 4th place
Newcastle are 8 points behind 4th placed Arsenal, and that’s really 9 points when you consider how inferior our goal difference is, compared to the other teams above us.
And with Arsenal’s last minute win against Newcastle at the Emirates on Monday night, Arsenal are now 3 points above Chelsea and just one point behind Tottenham in 3rd place.
There’s really no way that Newcastle can now make 4th place, unless we win all of our last 10 games of the season (we wish), but it’s complimentary of Wenger to suggest Newcastle can still get into 4th position.
This is what Arsene Wenger said today, when he was asked if it was between Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal – all London clubs – for 4th position:
“It’s too early to say that,” “I wouldn’t completely rule out Newcastle nor Liverpool.” “Of course the most obvious battle is between Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal but you have to wait two or three games.”
“There are 10 games to go, but three games ago we were 10 points behind Tottenham.” “Things can change quickly. You just want to be focused on your next game and give everything.”
“It is both more exciting and more difficult,” “I believe it’s promising for next season because the teams will be stronger again so it promises to be an even more exciting championship.”
Chelsea are coming into some form at the moment, as new manager and former Chelsea player, Robero Di Matteo, has relied on the experience of players like Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole, since he took over from fired manager, Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea had a magnificent last 16 victory on Wednesday night in the Champions League, when they beat Naples after extra time by 4-1, and finally won the tie 5-4, after being 3-1 down after the first leg in Italy.
Newcastle will be strengthening their squad in the summer, and with say four or five top players coming in and some dead-wood being moved out, Newcastle should have a much improved squad for next season.
Maybe we can then make an effort to go for a Champions League position next season?
It’s exciting to even think about it.
Comments welcome.
123 comments so far
Dannyo
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:42 PM
Comment #41Bloody hell i forgot Ba?! Oh the humanity. Stick him in, take Knight out.
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Comment #42Beattie…I made the list? Generally don’t have a problem with your posts, apologies if mine have caused you any grief.
One quick question…Why did you respond to Martoon and I if you don’t read our posts?
I suppose I shouldn’t expect an answer to that question.
WWJBD…I like Wenger. A bit of a whinger, but admire his style and approach to football
martoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Comment #43Hey Ibiza – we could start a club and call it BLOBBs – Beatties List of Banned Bloggers.
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Comment #44Ibiza
Ah he is a good manager but one issue is he seems to watch games with his eyes shut as he never sees anything!
Belly
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Comment #45Can someone tell me if Lee Clark has joined the coaching staff? There are pictures of him with Pardew in Newcastle training gear on Flickr.
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #46Martoon…Still not sure why I’m on this list, but seeing as I am, I am happy to be a fellow “BLOBB”
WWJBD….I seem to spend a lot of the time watching games with my eyes closed too…mainly due to our suspect defence!
martoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #47Actually Beattie – I really like your posts – especially when your ripping the p*ss out of Bob/Ted/Billy
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Comment #48Ibiza
Haha fair point….might be the same issue with Wenger tbh
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Comment #49Belly…Not read anything about Clark.
WWJBD….lol, would make a lot of sense thinking about it.
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Comment #50Liverpool are supposed to be having a terrible season yet they’ve won a cup still in the FA cup and in line for the top six and NUFC are supposed to be having a brilliant season and won Ziltch its all about standards!
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Comment #51Oh joy schools out
LGFUAD21
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:01 PM
Comment #52WWJBD
Agree with you on Wenger. Sore loser but great manager and Arsenals way of doing business is good.
I cant see us getting punished by Norwich like last time. We had a really bad day then.
I think we’ll nail em if we take the game to them (with a 5 man midfield). St James is a terrifying place to come to for a newly promoted team.
If our defense is as solid as on monday, and we have a more productive player in the hole we will do fine.
This is a game for Benny, he will run rings around them.
Our problem is we never want to shoot outside the penalty area but we are too slow to effectively get the ball in there. Maybe someone like Vuckic who is not afraid to make those shots would be worth playing Ruddy is a decent keeper but Joe Hart/Krul he is not. Make those shots, unsettle them, wait for their defense to bring their line higher, then set benny and ba in for the kill.
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Comment #53WWJBD did you have a good day?
LGFUAD21
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Comment #54There is not enough versatility in our attacks. Thats why we seldom score in second halfs. Manager have already sussed out our 1 method of attacking and plugged the holes during half time
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Comment #55I heard a little rumour that Liverpool have spent 120million in little over 18months…what was that about standards?
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Comment #56Very true Billy. It’s also about expectations and progress.
Liverpool spent loads of money with the aim of pushing for the top 4 again, something it doesn’t look like they will achieve.
Newcastle we’re shooting for top 10 with many outsiders predicting we’d struggle and may face a relegation battle.
We have done much better than expected this year, Liverpool have not.
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Comment #57http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20120316/lee-lends-a-hand_2281670_2662597
There u go Belly explains it
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Comment #58Pardew doesnt know anything about attacking football just attacking other managers!
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Comment #59Why don’t we try the Beetlejuice method…if we don’t say his name he doesn’t appear…
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Comment #60LGF
I doubt we will play a 5 man midfield on Sunday will be back to Ba and Cisse up top Id say
billy
That wit of urs is a joy to read
Ibiza
Ur p*ssing in the wind trying to talk sense to a troll
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Comment #61Were not we’re @55
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Comment #62Ruddy Marveaux-lous if i didnt come on here and pull your chain you’d have nothing to talk about!
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Comment #63WWJBD is that the formation that you played on FIFA12 ?
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Comment #64WWJBD…Thought I’d at least try. Probably a mistake.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Comment #65And here I was operating under the false assumption that this was a forum to discuss all things NUFC, my mistake.
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Comment #66Oh I have certainly been burned there billy job done
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Comment #67You may hang your head in the shame of your defeat WWJBD, you sir, have been bested. 😛
LGFUAD21
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Comment #68Beattie25
I do hope this billy fool is appears on your list too. Or is the general consensus among the rational here that he is now to be referred to as ‘Belly’.
In addition to my above point, we have far too many players capable of shots outside the box that we dont utilise.
Cabaye has a cracker on him and is also a free kick specialist. We know too well about Raylors. Benny has some crazy computer like mind that can spot an opportunity like no-one else (Arsenal, Everton last year). Guthrie has also shown he can do it too.
We need to bring those players into the game a bit more.
If we are to play with wingers like Jonas we need to up the tempo. Too many times where we have no space or no one in a position to score on the attack because we give teams too much time.
If Pardew wants to play that sort of football then we need to brilliant wing backs. Especially with 2 wingers that love to cut in.
If santon had the same understanding with Jonas that Simmo has with most people hes played on the wing with then we’d be far more lethal. Simmo provides good support for his winger but he just doesnt have the pace of cross on him to get anything out of it.
Belly
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Comment #69I’d love to see Lee Clark as Toon manager one day. Maybe after Pards has moved on.
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #70Ruddy Marveaux-lous Talking about NUFC will take all of 5minutes they have won nothing for years they sell all their best players the managers a clown they delude their fans that about sums the NUFC talk up!
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #71Ruddy
Howay there is no shame to losing to such a top draw wit surely?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #72We need wingers who can consistently beat their man and provide options both on the outside and cutting in, HBA has shown evidence that he can do that. Jonas on the other hand does not possess that same element of danger and attacking flair going forward. Dare I say it, might he be replaced in the future for someone more attack minded. (whenever we have a stronger defence of course)
LGFUAD21
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #73WWJBD
You are probably right on that. Wouldnt be bad though if Cisse can have the same work rate as he did at Villa and can get in the game. Im sure he will do better than obertan did.
Ive always wondered why Pardew hasnt tried to use Ba/Cisse together like he used Shola/Ba against Manure. That was tactical genius and I think it would work against a less schooled team like Norwich.
Shola was never played to score against Manure. His sole job was to be a decoy and release Ba
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #74billy are u finally man enough to admit ur a mackem? Never be ashamed of who u are lad even if ur parents are
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #75WWJBD of course, if anything it should be regarded as merely a joyous opportunity to test your skills against his vast repertoire of wit… 😀
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Comment #76LGF
Aye I reckon Ba will sit deeper and allow Cisse to just float around annoying defenders….when he isnt offside of course 😉
billy
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Comment #77WWJBD Wash your mouth out how dare you slander me in that way!
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Comment #78Well if you are not a Mackem, you are a terrible supporter
Ibizatoon
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Comment #79Yeah WWJBD, how dare you?
WWJBD
Mar 16, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Comment #80Ruddy
Haha exactly mate haha billy is the lord of wit on this blog after all 😉
billy
Well ur clearly not a mag and no one other than the mackems are sad enough to come and troll a NUFC blog daily