Fulham got their first win since last October against a Newcastle side last night in London, and the Magpies at the moment seem able to do nothing right, and although we came back well in the second half last night, we could have been two or three goals down in those first 30 minutes, when we were overwhelmed by a side who had not won in their last seven games.
Alan Pardew – a big job on his hands at Newcastle
How we would have fared against a top team in good form last night – we dare not even imagine.
The five defeats we have had in the last seven a league games have come against middle of the table sides, who are unlikely to finish in the top six, so how we’ll do against a good side, like Manchester City on Saturday afternoon – we have no idea – but it’s a daunting task.
Let’s face the fact we are in trouble right now, and unless we can get a string of wins together soon, the future looks a bit dismal, as we have to face both Manchester United and Arsenal away before the end of the year.
And it’s unlikely to be a Merry Christmas for Newcastle as we travel to Manchester United on Boxing Day and then travel to Arsenal just three days later, and pure logic would say we’ll be lucky to get anything out of those two games – although you never know.
And there are good reasons why we are in this predicament, with the main reason being that we penny pinched too much in the summer, and brought in only one player in the transfer window, Vurnon Anita.
And yes we’ve had a lot of injuries and we have Ryan Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Dan Gosling, Yohan Cabaye, Steven Taylor and Gabby Obertan still out – but that’s why teams need a big squad when your are in Europe – because injuries become more likely with the extra games.
And the third reason is that some of our top players like Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse as just two examples, are playing nowhere near the form they showed last season.
Add those three reasons up and it spells big trouble for Newcastle this season.
There’s just no getting way from it – and we’ll not even mention that Demba Ba may leave the club in January via that release clause of his, and he’s scored 10 of the 16 league goals Newcastle have scored this season.
It doesn’t look good at the moment – and we’ll not sugar coat it – it’s the truth.
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52 comments so far
wynsleap
Dec 11, 2012 at 3:22 PM
Comment #41FrankfurtMag @ 40 You could be right but knowing how a**e twitchingly tight Ashley is with his money I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some kind of obscure clause put in there somewhere to get out of it.
After all he’s quite adept at creating clauses – ask Demba. Pity THAT one ain’t gonna do us much good!
Toonfreak87
Dec 11, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Comment #42I couldn’t agree more we are in a mess and the squad is seriously lacking. Last night defencively was a mess. http://everythingnufc.co.uk/
nufc 11
Dec 11, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Comment #43the defence is woeful what chance have we got when were giving away presents like last night santon is not a LB and Colo is not the leader his made out to be h seems a shambles at the moment we look at someone like Samba or Douglas for gods sake i was calling for Bassong all summer but he wasnt good enough for us at 2.5milllion we shud be ashamed.
LargeSadMenace
Dec 11, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #44I’ve read many a debate on this blog over the years without commenting but recently can’t hold back any longer. I find it almost amusing how in the past those who rightfully criticised MA, backing up there arguments with examples from the past were often called neggers, mackems and even blamed for poor results. Moreover, the ‘anti’ashleys’ were told they can’t really support NUFC if they don’t support MA and his #5 year plan’.
In fact, if I remember correctly Rotanda Heights was one of the self-affirmed ‘possers’ of the blog who along with Bills and Davybtoon etc. vehemenently defended all things Ashley. Yet now he proclaims:
‘You can still support your team but recognise a very limited, stubborn and at times just plain loopy manager.’
I do agree with this to some extent but the above adverbs are more aptly suited to our owner not our manager. Mr Ashley seems immune from the blame on this blog, and the realists are all but gone (AngryMan anyone?) have turned their ffrustration onto Llambias or Pardew. Yes both are limited, both are frustrating but the real problem at this club is Mike Ashley and fans need to open their eyes to the possibillity of another relegation at the hands of an incapable, callous and conemptful businessman. It is plain and simple now that MA has taken this club backwards since he took over and before any junior accountants point towards finances, I DON’T CARE, my interest is football and it is ludicrous to suggest that as a fan of my local football club that i am in debt to a billionairre. Also, be wary of the myth that Mike ‘saved’ us from administration-this is simply untrue and absolutely no evidence is in existence to back it up.
magicbus
Dec 11, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Comment #45Mike Ashley needs to shoulder a lot of the blame as his transfer dealings in the summer were woeful to say the least.
Knowing the squad was not strong enough for the added rigours of European football he only added Anita as a ` senior ` player and he needed time to adjust.
We cant always buy youngsters for cheap as chips and expect them to do the business.
Ashley and Llambias need to sort themselves out quickly as I can see a relegation fight looming.
naptoon
Dec 11, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Comment #46top post large sad menace
woolerbill
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:37 PM
Comment #47Transfer problem solved, just watched Bradford play with guts and a system. 10 million and we could be safe
Crawfordladd17
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Comment #48Relegation battle, Naw i don’t see it we are better than most of the league and we are 14th and that very good considering we are playing Sh*t. Like if we played as good as we can and know we would be in the top 8 for sure, infact Stoke we’re like we are now last month and they are 9th or so now.
Like QPR, Reading, Aston Villa, Wigan, Southampton, Sunderland, Norwich, West Ham, Fulham, Stoke, West Brom and Swansea are worse, players wise. We are no worse than Liverpool or Everton. Ba, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Coloccini, Krul, Santon are all top players, Marveaux, Anita, S.Taylor are very decent, then a couple of youngsters and alot better than what the teams I named has. It is only 15 games gone.
Injury, Europe, a dick of an owner does not help. Sign Hooper, Debuchy, and Douglas then we can look up the table.
James RS
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Comment #49Yes in big trouble, last 4 games of year Man U Man C, Arsenal and a rejuvenated QPR will leave us in the bottom 3 or 4 thanks to Mike Ashley not letting Pardew improve his squad..and who did we get in the summer little Vernon Anita and thats about it, we needed defenders and for the sake of a French club asking an extra million for a player newcastle pulled out, utter rubbish, Newcastle got lucky last window we are poor in negotiating deals whod wanna do business with Llambias no charisma….if you check it out nearly every other club improved their squads more than Newcastle did and we were in Europe too! (needed a bigger squad)… having said that Chris Hughton is class its him who should have stayed and had the 8 year contract.
LA Toon
Dec 12, 2012 at 4:07 AM
Comment #50I am totally bemused about Ba. Just sell him as having the opt out clause every few months seems totally ridiculous to me. Several years ago Reading did well in the PL with no skillful players but a great team that worked for each other and realized their wages were far more than their fans.I cant believe that fans are sorry that a poor player only earns $40,000 a week, $2,000,000 per annum because they deserve it because they only have 6 years at full level – $12 million…shxxt I wish I had 12 million at the age of 30. Get a grip the idiots that pay for Sky are paying these arsxxoles their wages. Invite anyone via the Chronicle for anyone who considers they are skillful to attend a trial. Maybe we pick up another Beardsley!!!
Krul Blow
Dec 12, 2012 at 5:48 AM
Comment #51@ Bigsadmenace
***Ya-a-awn***
Krul Blow
Dec 12, 2012 at 5:48 AM
Comment #52Bigsadmenace
***Ya-a-awn***