If Liverpool beat local rivals Everton in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at Wembley then Newcastle will at least be in the Europa League next season.
Jonas Gutierrez – I still speak with Jose
That’s what could happen on Saturday, but when you look at the way Liverpool have been playing recently – hopeless – we would have to say Everton are the favorites to win that game.
The latest prices from bet365 for the Liverpool v Everton semi-final game are:
Liverpool 6/4
Everton 15/8
Draw 9/4
And since whoever Everton will meet in the final if they get through – Chelsea or Tottenham – will probably qualify for the Champions League – Everton could get the 3rd place spot in the Europa League next season, maybe even at the expense of Newcastle.
But if Newcastle can finish in 5th place, we’ll automatically get a Europa League position, and 4th place gets us a Champions League position, and both are very possible the way things stand right now.
Jonas Gutierrez, who we suppose is now the Newcastle official vice captain, had this to say to the local press today about Liverpool’s Jose Enrique:
“It’s hard, but I speak with him. I said ‘you have to focus on the semi-final’. “That can help us. If I was a Liverpool player, I would think the semi-final is more important than the league.”
“I spoke with Jose before and after the game. He’s a nice guy. They’re not having a good season, but they have good players.” “They have the semi-final of the FA Cup.”
“They have to think about that, and be ready for the next season. There’s nothing they can do this season in the league.” “There are a lot of teams taking good results.”
“All the season can change, and they could be brilliant next season. Pre-season is really important for all the teams.”
We’re not too bothered who makes the final between Chelsea and Tottenham, and we’ll be watching the game on Sunday, but a draw would be a great result for Newcastle, because it would further add to Chelsea’s crowded schedule through the end of the season.
We’ll definitely be watching the FA Cup final on Saturday with bated breath, and maybe the three former Newcastle players at Liverpool, Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique and Craig Bellamy can help us out – by playing well and helping Liverpool get the win, but of the three only Jose will probably start the game.
Here’s hoping for a Liverpool win. 😀
225 comments so far
Beattie25
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:40 PM
Comment #161I have no doubt that we will keep Fraser Forster.
He was immense at Norwich and in his 2 season at Parhead has played very well. He had pre season to impress but I think he and Alan Pardew saw the benefit of him going on loan once it was apparent that Krul was numero uno.
Fraser will be great back up to Krul and more than good enough to get a startin spot 20+ times next season if we reach the Europa cup. I highly doubt that Newcastle will allow his stock to rise and sell him for a measly £2 million.
Bring him home, let him provide good competition for Krul and let Elliot own the Reserve team. Forster is 24 and it would be great to see 2 young talented goal keppers at St James Park battling it out for the no. 1 Jersey, a throw back to Given vs. Harper or Hislop vs. Pavel.
Why sell him, he has hardly been allowed to prove himself over a season. Give him one year and then if he is unhappy/unsed/usseless then sell him for £2 million.
Twatter
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:42 PM
Comment #162How many games has Elliot played for us? Anyone watch the reserves and seen what he’s like? I don’t watch SPL much but that trip to Elland Road and Forster’s mistake in that match will be forever imprinted in my mind. Gah. Horrifying, pretty much sealed his fate if it wasn’t already decided, poor guy.
Dannyo
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Comment #163So what are we on about? I want in 😉
2_goal_tino
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Comment #164Martoon @156
Personally, I think it comes down to how you identify yourself (though there must be at least some backing to it). I’d imagine Shola identifies himself as English, Geordie and Nigerian (Sammy the same even if he hasn’t lived there). Saylor on the other hand I know for a fact does not identify himself as a Londoner but as a Geordie. .It all depends on how you identify yourself – but as far as I’m concerned you must be one of born, raised or have heritage in Newcastle to rightly be able to identify yourself as a Geordie as oppose to an ‘adopted Geordie’
Beattie25
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #165Forster has proven himself at Championship and SPL level for 3 years
Elliot was playing in Leauge 1 in did so for 2 seasons
I know which one I’d put in the net if Krul got injured
2_goal_tino
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Comment #166@161
The thing about Elliot is he knows exactly what his role is here- to be a back-up! Whereas lForster wants more. By all accounts Elliot is a really great guy, who gets along with everyone in the dressing room, and just seems to be fully embracing the opportunity to be a part of a club of our stature.Let’s face it, he’d probably accepted he’d be a league 1/ championship keeper for the rest of his career and overnight he’s at a club with over 50000 people turn up to every game and is rightly loving everything about it. Here’s his twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/the_dilsh
Dannyo
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #167Looks like Liverpool are cleaning house. 2 executives gone now, more to follow is the word.
martoon
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Comment #168Dannyo @166 – Seems a strange time to do this – you’d think they would wait until the end of the season.
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Comment #169Panic! At the Scouso!
Louis583
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Comment #170On the topic of home-grown talent, Barcelona had 10/11 players on the pitch yesterday that had came from their academy.
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Comment #171I wonder if scousewalletnickingpool will come a-hunting for our talent team? Grrrr!
Jonny
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Comment #172What is the situation with the team that finishes top of fair play league? Do they get Europa League as well?
2_goal_tino
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Comment #173I just hope Liverpool don’t come after Carr and our scouting team to cut out the middle man.
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Comment #174Mind Celtic have all but tried to sign him haven’t they – do we have any intention to sell, or are we just keeping our 2nd GK in top shape for emergencies, meanwhile keeping him entertained with scottish cups and winners medals? If that’s the plan it’s pretty clever – top footy, not in England, but a stones throw from our yard. Maybe poor rob is just a fill-in while we arrange a taxi for fraser? 🙁
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Comment #1752_goal – snap!
davybtoon
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Comment #176carr is a toon fan he aint goin no were
davybtoon
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Comment #177liverpool sacking everyone but the one person they shud b sacking dogleish
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Comment #178Well, been real chaps gotta go get the tea on – later and HWTL ! 🙂
nufc90
Apr 12, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Comment #179i just see an article saying granit xhaka’s on the market for 6mil.. i hope carr’s had a look at him gonna be big talent
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:18 PM
Comment #180Can’t bring myself to support Liverpool FC.
We will get into Europe on merit not by relying on bindippers.
I like Moyes and think he has done good things with few resources.
Hope Dogleash has his bags packed as he is next oot the door. He really has been dire. He doesn’t seem to have moved on tactically since he managed Blackburn.
If Gerrard is injured they are barely mid-table quality wise.
Off thread – someone posted that County Durgham had the highest number of local born players in the EPL…. I seem to remember we had a few stars off Tow Law Casuals… 🙂
Also I think Simmo and Guthrie will both stay. They’ll get plenty of games if we’re playing 55-60 a season. I rate both of them higher than an average EPL squad player – a lot of guys seem to under-rate them.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:19 PM
Comment #181* Durham
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:20 PM
Comment #182Davy
Aye – Carr is a Toon man – he’ll stay with us.
pizzicatochan
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:22 PM
Comment #183@Beattie25, I know your concern, but don’t forget we have more good goalkeepers than you’d think. Jak Alnwick is always the next in line and he’s a English U18 goalkeeper.
http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/A/Jak%20Alnwick
MagpiesFlyHigh
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:27 PM
Comment #1842 goal tino
Your home is where you feel at home, where your emotional ties are. If Saylor and Krul feel they are part of the Geordie nation then that’s fine by me.
NUFC STEVE
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:35 PM
Comment #185Martin Kelly anyone for 5-7 mil? Hes a solid RB and will eventually move into CB.Hes only 22, is 6’4′ and has good pace.May want out of liverpool cos of Skrtel,agger and johnson.Anyone?
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Comment #186NUFC STEVE – way scousers are going skrtel, agger and co might not want to stick around either….
HBA
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Comment #187We don’t need Liverpool to win, we’re gunna be in champions league next season not europa league
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Comment #188sorry I know it’s been covered well by now but no way is van der vaart more talented than HBA. And defoe is a super sub! Hate to say it about a mackem but sessegnon is miles better than defoe and at least has his head on straight. Moob face makes me reach for me axe…the little liar!
getting dizzy thinking about CL! can you imagine the conversations in the boardrooms of Citeh, Chelski, Scousepool, …and of course the mackems… ho ho ho I say…
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #189.
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:16 PM
Comment #190I’m hoping whilst carrs been to twente to watch Douglas he’s spotted how good ola john is too! He also wants a move to the epl.
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Comment #191Hellooooo
Tsunki
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #192ok all quiet will come back later.
‘bye!
newca
Apr 12, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Comment #193just heard that Ivanovic’s appeal was dismissed. That means he will get 4 game ban? He will also be missed against us?
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Comment #194He’s only got a 3 game ban misses cup game arsenal and qpr back for us! 🙁
Toon Tang
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Comment #195fixture list is all over the place
Toon Tang
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:15 PM
Comment #196tsunki – rapheal fan the fart is half the man of benny boy . he cant last a game for starters, his hamstring and groin muscles are like the hamstring and groin muscles keiran dyer and ledley king’s love child would be blessed with.
newca
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:15 PM
Comment #197I thought, if FA considers the appeal as frivolous, he will get a ban extended. So i have no idea.
magpie6699
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #198Aren’t we slightly premature? If Liverpool beat Everton then we would get into Europa in 6th place BUT mathematically Everton can still overtake us in the league and get that place? 12 points behind, 5 games to go – very unlikely (hopefully) but still a theoretical possibility.
Or am I wrong?
Indian Magpie
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Comment #199how would dyer and king have a love child? 😉
Toon Tang
Apr 12, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Comment #200indian , haha the wonders of modern science mate.