Newcastle made headlines in the NY Times today and around the world too, for winning their 6th league game in a row, and charging up the Premier League table into 4th place and above both Tottenham and Chelsea.
Yohan Cabaye – scored two and made one today
And Newcastle are starting to make believers out of even non-Newcastle fans these days, with a terrific performance this afternoon, when they were so much better than a mediocre Stoke City side – in fact they outclassed the Potters this afternoon.
Alan Pardew was quoted in the NY Times:
“It’s been a great season,” “We targeted the last 10 games and said if we could be in and around it. Now we’ve just got four left and we’ll try and win every one of them.”
And Alan spoke on the Newcastle United web-site after the game and he had this to say:
“It was a very important victory because it puts us on 62 points – a position we would never even have dreamt about with four games left,” “We are in a terrific position, the stadium is full up, 52,000 people absolutely loving it and we are playing some fantastic football.”
“The most important thing now is just to keep it going.” “There is a great camaraderie in the team, great spirit in the dressing room, and from Mike Ashley down everyone can be proud of the jobs they are doing.”
“That front four – Demba, Cisse, Cabaye and Hatem – are a handful for teams.” “They put people on the backfoot.” “Cabaye’s pass for Cisse’s goal was probably better than the two goals. It was extraordinary to hit that and get the weight right.”
“It was a fantastic win for us, it really was.”
Stoke were not able to cope with the accurate and quick passing and the skill of the Newcastle players up front, and they were torn apart with two goals in the first 18 minutes in front of another sell-out crowd of over 52,000 fans at St. James’ Park.
And if Newcastle hadn’t taken their foot off the accelerator in that second half, it could have been an even bigger win for the lads, who were simply magnificent today – and looked a very good and very well drilled side.
Newcastle now have to play Wigan (a), Chelsea (a), Manchester City (h) and Everton away, and as Alan says – the team will try to win every single one of those last four games.
Just think what the Newcastle city center would be like if Newcastle actually do win those last four games – to make it 10 wins in a row – and Newcastle would finish 3rd top of the Premier League.
It would all be unbelievable – but the ways the lads are playing it’s even possible.
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Comment #1Chelsea play Liverpool just 3 days after we play them so we can win that definitely so
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:49 PM
Comment #2smiley face,
its not a jibe, you mean to say that if spuds have won the race it was bcoz of their easier run in
SmileyFace
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:52 PM
Comment #3I’m talking from a Newcastle point of view.
I believe pundits and neutrals alike would have said, if we were playing the bottom 4 of the premier league, in our last 4 games, and we managed it – it would be due to the run in, but if we still manage it with the difficulty of our run in, it can’t be put down to that. It’s because of sheer commitment, pride and skill.
That was all.
Spuggy
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Comment #4Indian do you wait for new articles and refresh the home page?
Just wondering.
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Comment #5No, coincidental why
hotdog
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:57 PM
Comment #6Jose Mourinho is some manager.Barca beaten! I hope he is back in the prem next year, so I dont have to listen to Pulis & the hughes of this world.
lesh
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Comment #7Bollox to Bahrain and F1, we’ve made the world stand up and take notice of a team that ‘doesn’t deserve to be in the top six’ of the Prem – we’re there on merit and not by right.
Well done ALL – well done the the squad, the players on the field, the back room guys, the coaches, the manager and dare I say it, the owner and his MD. It’s been a team effort that’s far exceded all expectations.
Let’s aim for ten consecutive wins and stun the whole lot of the cynics eh?
Spuggy
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Comment #8Something I’ve observed over the last few months. You post first a lot. More than random chance I would say.
Nevermind, move on.
southafricantoon
Apr 21, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Comment #9Well done…. Next week 3rd place
Spuggy
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Comment #10Least you don’t say “first” so have a point for that! 😉
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:01 PM
Comment #11thank u
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Comment #12Ever since Mark hughes took over QPR have finished with 10 men more often than 11
FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ShanghaiMag
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:16 PM
Comment #13Anyone else seen the Skybet odds? After today we have overtaken Chelsea and are now 3rd favourites for top 4.
Odds:
Arsenal 1/12
Tottenham 11/10
Newcastle 6/4
Chelsea 2/1
It’s really neck and neck between us and Tottenham. I think only winning Everton/Wigan will be enough for 4th. I can’t see Spurs dropping less than 4 points, they have 3 relegation fighters and a good Fulham side left to face.
Papiss9
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:25 PM
Comment #14a lot of negativity on spurs site at teamtalk.com, they want to get rid of arry..
let’s hope the bad run continues
MUTINYbyLEMONS
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:26 PM
Comment #15Lads I don’t know if anyone had seem this but Pardew had said he already knows which players on the shortlist want to come to Newcastle!!!
MUTINYbyLEMONS
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Comment #16Here is the link
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/04/21/alan-pardew-stars-will-stay-if-nufc-get-to-europe-72703-30806437/
WWJBD
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:30 PM
Comment #17Lets get carried away we are only 20 points off the title!!!!! 😀
WWJBD
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Comment #18Seriously though if we win our game in hand we are tied with Arsenal for 3rd what a silly season! We need to get that goal difference up though howay Ba get scoring again lad 😉
Indian Magpie
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:33 PM
Comment #1914 clean sheets, amazing
woolerbill
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Comment #20It is true One Game At A time. The players don’t need us all getting carried away.
ash1001
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Comment #21Todays victory was down to two things, Skill and Teamwork, do not think I have seen a better team performance than that witnessed today, was a privilege to be there.
However one little thing puzzles me, why is it before the game when Shola is on the bench, why does he not come out pre match and warm up like everyone else, he was the only one missing and its been the same for the last four games.
But anyway, well done guys – you were excellent today.
geordiejamie89
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Comment #22Insane. Absolutely buzzing. With a bit of wise signings, Newcastle could be a great force next season. 6 wins in a row, and the way we’ve been performing, we’ve been much better than Chelsea. With that noted, does that mean we’d also have beaten Barcelona 1-0 or more? Next season we could find out.
alip123
Apr 21, 2012 at 9:45 PM
Comment #23Have to say, my motm was Santon. He had easily his best game for us, attacked well and defended very well; I remember late on in the game Walters was through on goal and santon appeared out of nowhere to nick the ball off him.
Ba played very well today and was unlucky not to score; Cisse, well I’ve ran out of superlatives. Cabaye was immense and Tiote – phwoah!
Loved how Perch came on and the first thing he did was block a goal bound effort. Gotta love Perchinho!
NUFC FOR SALE
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Comment #24You look at the heart of this squad, Cisse, Ba, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas, Collicini, Santon, Krul and you have to say that if we could move some of the not so good players (Willaimson, Loverkrands, Obertan, Best) and bring in some quality replacements we really do have the look of a team that could really establish themselves in that top part of the table.
I can’t think of a player in Spurs team with the exception of Bale that I would take over a player in our team.
NUFC FOR SALE
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Comment #25I also have to say that I have been well imprest with Perch lately.
I thought he was fantastic when he came on and I would play him ahead of Guthrie and Gosling in Central Midfield any day.
Dirk Diggler SMB
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Comment #26What planet is Pullis on?If Stoke had put there chances away,different result!Er must have watched a different game.
G
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:33 PM
Comment #27Well lads, what a great day for results going our way. If anybody on the blog tonight isn’t at least half as drunk as I am, then you are doing it wrong! Happy days.
BigKirky
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Comment #28Was great performance today. We look so comfortable and full of confidence playing the 4-3-3. Even when we’ve been winning throughout the season and haven’t necessarily been playing great, the good thing about that was that when we do click properly we’ll be great to watch. With 433 and Cisse in, we’ve been doing that.
BigKirky
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Comment #29A lot of very good performances today. Cabaye has been better and better in the three in midfield and it helps that he’s been told to player higher up the pitch unlike before where he was far too far back.
Also, another great work-rate input by HBA. I was clapping often and his contributions and other people were joining in. Glad he’s understanding how good he could be with the application of hard work 🙂 Sublime skills. It’s what people want to pay money to see.
Praying for that Champions League spot!
The attraction we would be to prospective players will have tripled if we manage a Champs League spot. Just gotta keep winning and the other teams faultering!
Toonbyblood
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Comment #30MOTD
Lawro… i was laughing when they went to him. He looked a bit shocked. haha
martoon
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Comment #31Toonbyblood @29 Erm it was Alan Hansen not Lawro.
Incidentally anybody know what the celebration after the Cisse goal was all about?
Pardew's fist pump
Apr 21, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Comment #32Martoon
Looks to me like somebody in training (probably Cisse with the language barrier) has been instructed to do an exercise, misunderstood it, and let’s just say added their own flavour to it. That’s my best guess 😛
KevinHann
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Comment #33Guys, are there any links/streams for MOTD? Or a place I can download it once its over?
Toonbyblood
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:06 PM
Comment #34oh shit haha i thought he’d had a haircut
guess i was just hanging for the look on Lawros face
hotdog
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Comment #35KevinHann – Try here -http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/47469/1/bbc-match-of-the-day-live-stream-online.html
Munster Mag
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Comment #36Although knackered, i’ve logged on to say that i just cant believe how daft Pulis is. Is he on a different planet? What an ungracious tool. I’m flabbergasted by his stupidity! HTL.
Kris
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Comment #37My playerratings.
Krul 6 – Had nothing to do.
Simpson 7 – Was Etherington on the pitch, really?
Williamson 8 – Did every good.
Coloccini 8 – Had not much to do, but had a decent game.
Santon 9 – Our second best player today.
H. Ben Arfa 7 – Showed some trickery and had a good game.
Tiote 8 – Fighted much and worked really hard.
Cabaye 9 – Outstanding!
Gutierrez 7 – Worked hard as every!
Cissé 8 – What a buy! Thank you so much Carr!
Ba 7 – He is starting to find his form again!
Dirk Diggler SMB
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Comment #38Yip exactly what i said munster!Not very gracious.
Brutooon
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:51 PM
Comment #39the 4-3-3 position gave:
1) get the best of HBA. the messi of NUFC
2) get the best of cabaye. he is always been a playmaker
Brutooon
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Comment #403) we need to admit that jonas no longer a winger. but he is a great CM due to his hardwork. won several freekicks