With Club Brugge being beaten 1-0 at home over the weekend by Zulte-Waregem, who are currently top of the Belgian League, that means they have lost their last four league games, and add to that the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle in the Europe League, and the Belgian club have lost their last five games.
The Jan Breydel Stadium at Club Brugge
So Newcastle may find Club Brugge short of confidence when we play them on Thursday night at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium, and new manager Georges Leekens is now under significant pressure to turn things around.
Club Brugge are 8th in the league table of 16 teams, after finishing second to Anderlecht last season, and qualifying for the Europa League.
But on the other hand Brugge will be going all out to turn their fortunes around, just as Liverpool were yesterday, after The Reds surprisingly lost 3-1 at home to Swansea during the week in the Capital One Cup, and they were the holders of that trophy.
And Liverpool came out like the proverbial steam train yesterday, and it was a bit like the first 30 minutes against Manchester United, when it didn’t seem we were ready to play, which certainly wasn’t the case with the Liverpool side, who were ready for Newcastle.
The only difference with the Manchester United game was that Liverpool were unable to score any goals, given their possession and control of the game in those first 30 minutes.
So it could be the same on Thursday night in Belgium, and the last thing we want to be is over-confident.
We are a decent side this season, but Newcastle are still struggling for consistency, and starting games with sufficient energy.
Thursday night is a good time to show that we can start a game on the front foot, and another win and we’ll definitely be through to the knockout stages of the Europa League competition.
Howay the Lads!!
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134 comments so far
jesperfuglsang
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Comment #41hmm:-( that is the second time I have double posted today (connection problems I think)
…can I be kicked off for that? 😀 lol
studsy
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Comment #42Mind – you’ve done that list wrong I’m afraid, haven’t even got past your first fixture – we certainly didn’t beat the bin dippers 3 – 1 away last season! Not gonna bother with the rest…
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Comment #43and kick you off for sh*t stirring? 🙂
At the end of the day, like for like, we are 5 points down, which in theory we will need to make up to match last seasons finish.
Using our argument that we can’t expect to match surprise results (Man U and Chelsea) and taking off 4 points, we would have finished in 6th place on 61 points, behind Chelsea, but still 5 points clear of Everton and would still have qualified for EL this year.
Not sure what any of this proves other than despite not playing our best and not repeating 2 wonderful results last season, we’re actually not doing that badly when compared to last season, which ended in us getting 5th and EL. What’s the panic about? Chill, listen to some music, have a holiday or just take some “private time” ffs, the only real negative I can see this year is that we’re not playing this beautiful football we all want to see, given all of the good, I think we can afford to be a little more patient.
studsy
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Comment #44Ibiza – Id never put you in the category of “stirrer”!…more into the “secret instigator” lol
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Comment #45Studsy…Not investigator? 🙂 Okay, fine, instigator it is, but I was actually commenting to Jesper, the li’l sh*t stirrer….
jesperfuglsang
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Comment #46…I don’t stir shit do I? not that much I think 😀
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:37 PM
Comment #47Ibiza
We didnt beat west brom 3-2 at home either we lost so thats 6 points off that list!
norwegian magpie
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Comment #48http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/dette-er-falcaos-favorittspiller-3917082.html
kinda off topic, but it says that falcaos favourite player growing up was faustino asprilla when he played for newcastle! maybe a cheeky bid of £60m? 😀
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Comment #49Jesper…Not normally, no 😉
Tads….Fancy doing it properly then? I am now intrigued to know the reality of the situation, but being too lazy 🙂
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Comment #50Ibiza
Ummm no not really all i know is i wish people would stop comparing seasons last seasons starting run of fixtures was very disimilar to this and we didnt have the injuries or suspensions of this season!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Comment #51tads…But we must find a way to prove that Pardew was lucky last season and really is clueless!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #52Tads….Looking again, mindshaft didn’t say we did beat WBA last season, he says we lost 2-3 and got 0 points
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Comment #53Ibiza
I though this was common knowledge? Lets face it its easy to blag your way to a fifth place finish and if he had any idea he would of made more signings in the summer because as we all know the manager is the one who pays the transfer fees i guess he just didnt really want anyone
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Comment #54Ibiza
That he did sorry minshaft but still only 5 points though not bad really
Munster Mag
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Comment #55Ibiza, we can use stats all day long but should have been beaten fairly comfortably by Liverpool and there’s no point covering that up with stats. West Brom were desperately unlucky, Villa were better than us, Norwich even still; feel unlucky! Our problem is partly summed up by Guti – nice player , keeps the shape well ( like the team ) , creates nothing ( pretty mcuh like the team ) , hard working. Nothing wrong with that , but this team has regressed.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Comment #56tads…well it is, but this is purely just to show those silly folk that only look at the table and don’t realise the real situation.
Pardew out!
Anyway…moving on….did you see the Cabaye article? Liverpool game was a point gained, rather than two lost…what are your thoughts?
On the face of it I agree, can’t help but feel after we were one up at HT we could have / should have done better. Probably not worth dwelling on mind, a point at Anfield is not a bad result and considering their possession / attacking threat on the day, we did well ton concede one.
santonthenewmaldini
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Comment #57@Ibiza i never go into any home game looking to get beat either
In fact if Pardew had got his formation correct from the start of that game and even against Chelsea we may have picked up some points
I actually think its been a satisfying start to the season in terms of results , performances will pick up eventually surely???Even if we do not kick on I can see us going the next 4 or 5 league games unbeaten and possibly grinding out 1 nil or 2 – 1 victories in all of them!!
Think outside of the top 4 only Everton and us seem capable of grinding out a result and i think our defensive qualities that helped us last season are starting to appear again as Taylor was immense on Sunday we will need him and Willo to put their bodies on the line for the next few games
If we do click and when i say click i mean create more than 3 clear cut chances in a game for Ba and Cisse we will start to win games by a more comfortable score line
Just cant see how we are going to make it happen at the moment Arfa and Cabaye look shattered with the amount of running about they have to do without the ball Arfa is wasted on the wing he should be in no 10 role as he gets marked too easily out wide
Phatoon
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Comment #58Even though I know some of you hate comparisons 😉
Realistically I think we are 3 points “better off”
If you discount Reading (as we didn’t play them last season).
We gained 1 extra point at Liverpool and Eveton away. 3 extra points from West Brom at home and 2 extra points from Tottenham at home.
For a total of 7 positive points
We have lost 2 points from Sunderland away and Villa at home.
For a total of 4 Negative points.
Although we have also dropped 6 against the Man Utd home and Chelsea away, I think they were fluke results personally and aren’t a replicable result without a riduculous team overhaul.
So even though we are 3 points worse off. I think we are actually 3 points better off “realistic target-wise”
Make of that what you will.
Abuse welcome
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Comment #59Munster….In my defense, I didn’t start the stat thing off. However, yes, I did run with it…guilty 🙂
I still maintain, perhaps incorrectly, that all teams need an element of luck throughout a season to do well. We haven’t been playing well, but once again are grinding out results. I put that down to three things.
1) Luck
2) Hard Graft
3) Elements of technical brilliance / Skill.
That’s a bit unfair, as there is no mention of Pardews input really, but I think you get my drift (Please note those 3 points are in no particular order of importance).
It can’t be all luck, I simply cannot believe that a team can have that much luck. The difference between us now and a few years ago is the graft factor imo and Guti is a big part of that.
I also still maintain, that whilst we still need to improve certain areas of out team, changing too much with regards to style etc could prove costly. Saw it a couple of times on Sunday. Anita went bombing forward, we got caught out and were missing our RB when they were on the counter attack. They’re clearly not quite ready to implement what it is we and Pardew ultimately want. Am I happier picking up ugly / lucky points than watching us give the new system a go but losing out on the points? I think I am for now. Small steps.
When we’re way off the pace and a matter of say two results will see us well any truly back where we feel we should be, then I’ll be more concerned, I’m just not there yet.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Comment #60Phatoon…No abuse, said what others (myself inc) have been trying to say.
Santon….Agreed. I am off the thinking our performances will surely improve soon, then watch out. In the meantime, we’re ticking along okay. As for Benny’s best position, I do find it somewhat irrelevant in his instance. He moves around the pitch so much in a game, it’s hard to say what position he is actually playing. As for marked out, can’t remember the build up overly well, but the ball for Cabaye did come from the right. Overall though, I do agree, Benny needs a roaming position, however, he can do that from the RW if need be.
santonthenewmaldini
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:32 PM
Comment #61@Ibiza yeah the ball did come from the right hand side
Was actually a terrific counter attack from us with a ball from Anita to to Ba who played in Arfa and the rest was done by Dreamboat!!!
Yeah get what you mean about Arfa but i think he moves around because eventually he gets frustrated at not getting the ball if we had say wingers who hugged the touchlines forcing teams to double up on them on each side there would be more room for Arfa and Cabaye in the middle as teams just pack their midfields knowing how we set up at the moment in the hope that they can crowd out Cabaye when we make that inevitable long kick from Krul…..
nufcursed
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:34 PM
Comment #62team played very poor yesterday!
gutted to see gutierrez’ mistake lead to the equalizer..
i really don’t get that he’s a first teamer.
he’s such a terrible player, he reminds me of a headless chicken the way he plays and runs around. clumsiest player ever
breno95
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:57 PM
Comment #63Have to say reading some of these posts (and I mean only some) a few folk on here are unbelievable. It seems that some think these players are robots and not human and that a drop in form is not allowed. All this Jonas slagging is way out of order.
Compare him with Tiote. At least Jonas puts in a complete shift without losing his head and picking up cards and suspensions considering the tackles that are made on him.
Jonas has been one of key performers and a slight dip in form has him viewed as rubbish by some.
As for this season, yeah ok the team have been poor but we have had injuries and suspensions, some strange selections and decisions by AP but look at it this way – we have been poor but yet only lost 2 league games and sitting top 10 only 3 points off 4th. Unbeaten in Europa and top of the group and a win on Thursday will see us through to knock out games.
Yeah we need to strengthen and am sure we will but this rubbish that MA won’t spend, only interested in SD is frankly alot of old BS and getting boring. To prove the point look at the players currently under contract at the club?
I am confident that the club will secure transfers in the January window and I will put my neck on the line that Debuchy will arrive along with Sissoko and a CB. Add to that the squad will (I bet) be back to full compliment and we will be stronger and fresher for the 2nd half of the season.
That’s my view of the situation, some will agree and some will not but my glass is half full (for now).
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:59 PM
Comment #64@ Breno
But what sort of team ethic is it that you know you can play poorly for a number of games and still keep your place in the srarting line up. Maybe a stint on the bench will do him good in the long run
breno95
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #65@BPC
Maybe it will but in my mind it’s about, as a manager,having faith in players and not dropping them at the first sign of a dip in form. Plus who would you bring in to replace him and be sure of getting the same effort and determination you get for sure off Jonas.
Youth is great but to fit in from the off they have to have something really special and although we have some promising youngsters none are really stand out players.
Tsunki
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #66Would be good to put jonas on the bench for west ham and see how the first half goes now we have no tiote, perch, colo….. he could come on when we are say…3 goals down?
Tsunki
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Comment #67I shall wait patiently for the word ‘Abeid’ to pop up.
Tsunki
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:10 PM
Comment #68breno i think its a valid point that clubs with smaller squads, typically newly-promoted ons, storm away up until crimbo then as the injuries kick in they revert to type and plummet down the table. I really dont think that is going to happen to us, in fact the reverse. I think January will see a new face or two.
nick_9
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #69Competition for places is key but it seems some players can do no wrong. How long do we support cisse being in the eleven without him scoring? Amoebi links up better or ferguson could provide some lethal balls in, if we don’t start providing good ammunition for these forward then as others have said cisse is ineffective so why play him? Jonas doesn’t play like a winger so why play him there? I’m sorry but its like we have just stuck eleven players on the pitch and hoped for the best. I’m happy with the points tally but I don’t sit looking at the points tally for 90 minuts every other weekend at sjp. I watch a team go out and play football, more often than not anxiously with the rest of the ground. Like I said, happy with the result but not the performance. I’m also of the opinion that we messed up with the gamble of not bringing in players in the last window but hindsight is a great thing. If we don’t get players over the line in the next window then it’s a definite lack of ambition.
Famous quote from one Ian Holloway
“To put it in gentleman’s terms, if you’ve been out for a night and you’re looking for a young lady and you pull one, you’ve done what you set out to do. We didn’t look our best today but we’ve pulled. Some weeks the lady is good looking and some weeks they’re not. Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She may not have been the best looking lady we ended up taking home but it was still very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much and let’s have coffee.”
Super Magpie
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #70If we are be where we want in the PL, which is the top 6 ( I’d be happy with 7th) Then the next 4 games we should be looking at 10pts.
West Ham (H) We should win this, They are a mid table team with a good home record.
Swansea (H) Abit tougher than West Ham, look better than last season and won’t sit back like they did against us last season. However, we should also be winning this
Southampton (A) I remember when we’d always get beat here, things have changed now. They have been awful defensively this season and we should be winning here too
Stoke (A) Don’t be fooled by last seasons result. Stoke are always difficult to beat at the Britannia. I’d take a draw, that’s if we win the other games.
I know we also have Europa League games, added with injuries and suspensions to further dampen spirits but if we want to be in the top 6 we should be winning these games.
We’ve got a nice run of games coming up and we really need to take advantage of it.
Super Magpie
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Comment #71Nick9
I agree with that. Our lack of signings on the summer is costing us. I also agree that if we don’t strengthen in January it shows a lack of ambition. I don’t blame Pardew for this either. He should be given a reasonable amounts of funds to strengthen the team.
Also, what is the point if Carr scouting decent players if we won’t go in for him?
On a more positive note, I was pleased with the point yesterday, considering our record there is abysmal.
Ashton
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:23 PM
Comment #72Yesterday I realized that we will never be able to play the same 433 that we used last season. Pardew isn’t stupid and all the different formations and styles he has been using this season haven’t worked out well. He is trying to find a formation and style that would work. He is yet to use the 433 of last season and I have the feeling that he won’t be able to do that. Although we do have the same players as last season but one important player is just too selfish and because of his contract Pardew can’t do anything about it.
Pardew is not capable of playing the same 433 formation of last year. He can’t do anything about it. I’m realizing this fact now, and everything bad I said about him was idiotic on my behalf.
roshan MAGPIE
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #73I think its time for adam Campbell for sub appearances like ranger did two season s ago
IITianToon
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #74Oh my god Neymar just humiliated the shit out of the defender there.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te4xaUK94MQ&feature=related
Was just going thorugh some videos of Zidane and maybe Hatem is a genius with the ball but Zizou was in a different plane altogether..
On topic, I wont be overtly worried unless we are more than like 8 points off fourth. We are bound to hit form sooner or later.
breno95
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Comment #75@Ashton
I disagree with you thinking AP can’t play the 3 of Ba, Cisse and HBA as his front line in a 433 set up because you think Ba is a problem player and will leave if he is not played central.
That is nonsense. Main problem is the inability (to date) to play a regular settled 11 with players in familiar positions.
Ashton
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Comment #76On a different note. Yesterday we didn’t play 433. It was 4411 with Cabaye just behind Ba. At times he was our most advanced player in terms of positioning. The reason for that was to minimize Liverpools attacking build up(they start from the back) by pressuring Allen and Gerrard. This didn’t work because they are great passers of the ball with great awareness and vision. So Cabaye running into them didn’t make them panic or hoof the ball. So in a sense he was wasted tactically to prevent something that was going to happens regardless of how hard he tried to close them down. He scored a great goal though. But that shouldn’t be a reason for him to go totally unnoticed during the rest of the game. He was also knackered and lost steam after an hour.
kevymartins
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Comment #77My view on the red. I don’t think it should’ve been because it was colo’s first bad one he wasn’t even on a warning and fair play to the ref he done his best to keep sterling and suarez from getting banned 1 more yellow and them boys were banned ..Sterling done a couple nasty 1’s on simo in the first half and dived a lot which i did not like but I hope there a ref out there that would do that for us .Its an unfair game nowadays but we need to keep are heads down and keep plugging away untill january and hopefully hopefully bring in douglas and a few others.
kevymartins
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:35 PM
Comment #78@ashton im pritty sure it was 4-3-3 an when cabaye came off the could just run straight through the middle of us and jonas looked very uncomfortable in there without tiote.
nick_9
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #79Roshan I agree there mate. Campbell was a player I was really looking forward to seeing play in Europe or the cup for us so I’m surprised we haven’t seem more of him and I cannot think why. The young lad seems to be giving it his all in comparison to the waster nile ranger and the flop that is Xisco. Still unsure on Sammy ameobi, looks dangerous but seems to never look like he has control of the ball with his bambi legs.
We certainly have a big squad and players like marveaux, obertan, Xisco and Ranger need to shape up or ship out. Not enough return from them.
Ashton
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Comment #80breno95
Pardew has played the 3 in a 433 formation this season. It didn’t work out. But he is yet to play them in the same positions and style of last season’s 433. Why? Because he can’t and it’s not his fault. He is trying his best to find an alternative system and he is using different formations every week to do so.