Newcastle now have two games coming up in a very short four days.
Cheick Tiote – we expect to win every game
The lads travel down to Swansea for the only Premier League game taking place on Good Friday, and then next Monday they are back at St. James’ Park to take on Bolton Wanderers.
Logic says that we should be able to beat Bolton next Monday, and anything but a win in that game will be a disappointment, but of course logic at the business end of the season doesn’t mean too much, and Bolton are battling for their Premier League survival.
And the game at Swansea on Friday could be difficult, because Swansea play very well at home and they are a good footballing side, and will be looking forward to the visit of high-flying Newcastle on Friday and it’s a sell-out already.
Cheick Tiote, who is coming back into his best form at the right time, talked about the two games today:
“We play two games in four days now and if we could find two more wins that would be absolutely massive at this stage of the season.” “The victory against Liverpool has given us even more confidence, but we know it will not be easy to go to Swansea.”
“If we win, though, it will put us in a good place.” “Then we will try to win again on Monday and if you win two games in a weekend now it can make a massive difference to where you finish.”
“Getting into Europe is the biggest thing for us now and it is very important for us as players and for Newcastle as a club.” “There has been a long time where we have not seen Newcastle in European competitions and we want that to change.”
“The first target is the Europa League, but why should we not be thinking about the Champions League as well? Who knows, it could happen.”
“We have put ourselves into a good position, but any talk about Europe will mean nothing if we do not keep winning between now and the end of the season.”
“We expect to win every game we play at the moment.” “We are in a very confident mood right throughout the team.” “We are not just about one player at the moment – we are about the whole of the squad doing well.”
“Everyone is working very hard for each other.” “We cannot be worried about what the teams around us are doing – we just have to concentrate on ourselves and try to win.”
“If we win every game between now and the end of the season, it will not matter what the other teams do.”
Good words from Cheick there, and we have to agree with his last line, because if we can somehow keep winning, there’s not too much the other sides can do about it.
With 7 games to go, the maximum number of points we can attain is 74, and that’s if we win all 7 games.
That’s highly unlikely but not impossible, and we’re sure that’s the goal of ambitious manager Alan Pardew, but he will have to keep our players completely grounded to do that.
The good news for Newcastle fans is our players are starting to play somewhere near their best form, when it really matters.
It will be interesting come next Monday night, where Newcastle are positioned in the league table, because then we have the following weekend free, with our scheduled opponents Chelsea playing Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final.
Next up after Bolton are Stoke at home two weeks on Saturday.
We like Tiote’s line – we just need to keep winning.
Howay The Lads!!
11 comments so far
jonnymcdonald
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Comment #1Praying we get into Europe! Still think its a big ask as I can’t see us finishing above Chelsea somehow! For me it’s all about Liverpool beating Everton and us finishing 6th!
iamnufc
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Comment #2jonny@ as far as I am concerned, we cant really depend on others for european football. We shd try as much as possible to nick 5th place from chelasa. Difficult but not impossible.
iamnufc
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Comment #3There was some random dude on yest claiming maurvex back in 4 days. Any truth to that?? Actually am pretty excited to see this guy. Carr was on talksport the other day and he mentioned scoutting maurvex. By the way his gems have performed this season, maurvex shd be a cracker. From what i have heard abt him, he can shoot, spot a killer pass, dribble.. he and ben arfa in the same team would be formidable…
iamnufc
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Comment #4On a sepatate note anyone would oppose if we try getting Sessongon from the scums?? He is way better than junior hoillet and zaha.
Oleg G
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Comment #5jonnymcdonald // Apr 4, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Why? They have CL and FA games. So they cannot put 100% into the PL games. Also, we have a game against them, I think it is 50-50 if our players will be fit.
I think it is more than possible for us to finish 5th.
3rd-4th is already a different story. Arsenal and Spurs don’t have CL anymore, Arsenal don’t have FA either. Also 5 points difference is not like zero points with Chelsea.
Chelsea are also having a bad season with lots of ups and downs.
We can do it!
roe997
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Comment #6Iamnufc-
Marvauex should be returning in the next couple of weeks.didnt you see:-)him play for us? Had ok average games but never found.he needs to be handled like hba regarding injury and he should be a realy good player for us.an malouda type player so av heard
jonnymcdonald
Apr 4, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Comment #7@iamnufc – totally agree, we need to do it ourselves and would love to get into Europe on our own merit!
@oleg – that’s true, and the longer they are in other competitions the better but I still think its a tough task, Chelsea away will be difficult (not so difficult last season) and man city at home too! Plus Swansea on Friday is a massive ask! Keeping the faith but I think we are in for 7 massive games!
iamnufc
Apr 4, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Comment #8Would anyone go for Sessongon?? His at loan with the scums. Has had a great season with a number of goals and assists. Definetly a better buy than hoilet and jarvis.
carrollsinger
Apr 4, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Comment #9Can someone please explain about getting into Europe what’s the crack ? 5th 6th ? What gets you in
bills-son
Apr 4, 2012 at 9:22 AM
Comment #10Tiote is not only a cracking player but a total professional and a smashing guy with it. I’ve met him a few times and he has no airs or graces, is as humble off the pitch as he is agressive on it, and has impeccable politeness and manners.
He is a credit to himself and NUFC both on and off the pitch.
Hobs
Apr 4, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #11@carrollsinger:
-Top 4 league = CL
-5th in league is Euro League
-1 Euro leauge place is given to each of the cup winners
-If the cup winner has already qualified to europe in the league then that spot will be given to the runner up in that cup. If the runner up is also qualified then that spot will be given to the lague.
-Liverpool won the Carling cup so they will take up one place as long as they don’t finish 5th, which will give that spot to Cardiff.
-Everton is the only tean in the FA cup that does not qualify through the league so if they beat Liverpool in the semi then they are guaranteed a euro place.
-If that happens then newcastle will not get to europa league on 6th place. As the league stands now it would then go to 7th and 8th place (Everton and Liverpool)
-If Everton fail to reach the final then 6th place is euro league