Before we played at Liverpool on November 4th, Alan Pardew had said there were games coming up where we could get some points and move up the table, and indeed if we had beaten Liverpool we could have moved into 6th place in the league table, but we only drew that game 1-1, after being 1-0 up.
Newcastle concede poor second goal when we were well on top
But in our next six league games we have lost five of them and only won against a Wigan side who played with 10 men after 12 minutes, so the results have been alarming to say the least, and it’s not that we’ve played the top sides either, as those five defeats came against West Ham, Swansea, Southampton, Stoke City and Fulham.
We will soon start to meet some top teams in the next five games, when we play Manchester City and QPR at home, Manchester United and Arsenal away, and then Everton at home – and they are much better sides than the fives sides who have beaten us in the last six games.
The game after that is at Norwich, who have been surging in the league over the last six games, and where we were hammered last season 4-2 because we had no recognized central defenders and had to play Danny Simpson and James Perch there and we were very weak on crosses.
So our lads better wake up and they shouldn’t wait until the cavalry arrives in January, when new players may be signed, or early February when we hope to have Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor back.
That’s because by February 2nd we have 9 Premier League games to play – and if we are to survive in the league and get away from the relegation zone, we’ll have to do an awful lot better than the 8 points we’ve picked up in the last 9 Premier League games.
After such a great season last season and a 5th place finish, surely we are better than our 14th place suggests?
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
10 comments so far
RonVanDam
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:38 AM
Comment #1Ed you shouldnt post anything until we win 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Comment #2|Re-post (apologies)…
Morning all (omitted the good today),
Well that was disappointing, yet to some degree expected away to Fulham.
Performance – Overall, pretty average. Some good bits, some disastrous bit.
Set Pieces – We did actually try something different and Colo nearly got us an important goal – but almost doesn’t change matches.
Subs – Cannot understand why Ben Arfa went off for Shola. I read on here that Pardew had wanted Benny off, which is understandable if he isn’t at full fitness, but why Shola? 3 Strikers that can’t seem to score? What about Marveaux? Creative for creative? Bad call.
Pardew out? No. I don’t see it happening and still maintain he needs some time, but I don’t know how much time that is. As far as Ashley is concerned, I don’t think he will make a change unless we’re in trouble, not just looking at trouble, but I could be wrong.
What next? Some really tough games, ones that we wouldn’t normally expect much or anything out of, so we have got to be prepared for a tough old month. We may have the odd surprise, but I’m struggling to expect too much. So, that leads us to January.
For me, I don’t see much changing with regards to my opinion until the end of Feb really. The board needs January to put some things right, then Pardew will need some time to get the hopefully new players integrated in the team. That wont leave us a lot of time if we’re in trouble at that point, lots of ifs and buts….and it’s not even transfer season yet.
rivettCatcher
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:44 AM
Comment #3Then the blog might be quiet for while! 🙁
lloydie780
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Comment #4Have to say i took alot of positives from last night as we played football in parts which we haven’t done for alot of the season. We deserved a draw last night. Two players seriously let us down (normally i would say 3 but Simpson played well minus his crossing) – Gutti and Williamson. I used to stand up for Williamson but there are so many mistakes in his game and as the game has been on tv it highlights them even more, very average played in a competitive league in a team where he should be 4/5th choice. good trier jsut not good enough. Other played is Gute, loved the guy but he cant keep posession and he cant pass. He loses the ball everytime he gets it, always gets deposessed or passes a wayard pass somewhere, he is offering nothing to us and especially in the first half i was paying he didn’t get the ball. I also dont get why we keep pumping the ball into the box aerially if we cant compete in the air (despite us having x3 6ft plus strikers), just a waste of time and ball, better drilling it across. I saw positives last night but these two really are struggling in this team now. I hope we really do buy in this window. Hopefully things will get better.
BelfastMagpie
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Comment #5Im starting to lose faith now.
Relegation battle ahead.
spitfire_
Dec 11, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Comment #6I wish to be a mediocre side… we are worst. Stoke are mediocre side… every season in the mid without relegation battle… We on the other hand last year 5th… the fans cum a lot in the summer… too excited blah blah… and then… nothing.
Pardew is running out of excuses… theres no more Europa League and from the team which finished 5th last year only Cabaye missing. The next excuses will be the grass the sun and the ball… it’s not to circle.
I was stunning when after the Bordeaux’s game read about how Pardew speak openly how dissapointed is he from the YOUNG players. How you can blame the young players which didn’t have any kind of experience but you didn’t criticize the senior players… What’s that ffs?
sirtoongospel
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:04 AM
Comment #7The people who are banging on about what a great team we have, and pardew has ruined them, etc etc, have they really looked at the team?
I readily admit that Pardew is making huge mistakes. We set up so defensive bacause everyone can see that with Williamson we are there to be torn apart. We all knew we needed 2 defenders in the Summer. Plus a striker and another midfielder. They never arrived. It was only a matter of time before Tayls got hurt, and Willo couldnt get in any other Prem squad never mind team.
But looking at us now, Krul is a great keeper, Santon has given everything this season and looks good, HBA and Anita have tried their hardest in midfield and the 2 lads up top have tried their hardest. Would love to see the distance covered by Cisse last night, I would bet he ran further than Tiote, which is ridiculous.
So that leaves:-
Simpson – decent defender, but so poor going forward.
Colo – has been brilliant but not the same since Liverpool game. He needs help!!!
Tiote – What has happened? He looks scared to tackle. When he plays well, we play well. But it looks to me as though he has been stopped from playing his game. I would rather he was suspended for 10 games a season and flat out for the rest than watch him like this.
Cabaye – was slightly out of form, and now injured, but we have missed him and we need him back if we are to become a good side.
Jonas – his legs have gone. Sorry to say it but he is so slow, and so ponderous on the ball. I watched Anita get the ball out of tight areas time and time again last night. Jonas had twice as much time and was collared constantly. The winning free kicks thing is not worth mentioning because we can’t win a bloody header!!!
From all of the above though, none even compare to Williamson. He is a joke of a defender. Slowest in the Prem, can’t track, can’t pick up, and lately he can’t jump. His defending last night (and not for the goal) against Rodallega made me nearly spew. He actually tried to run away from him!!! I couldn’t believe what I was watching.
We need 5 players in to improve our team. If we buy a top CM player (which we need to because of the ACON) then that will be a start. A CB is a must, just someone mobile, quick and who is aggressive in the air. Doesn’t have to be 6’8″, just someone who will attack whatever comes into the box.
And we need a pacy forward. These Remy rumours persist, and lets be honest, regardless of Demba leaving/staying, we need another good forward.
If he doesnt invest in JAnuary I have to say we are sunk. It suits the team to play to Cisse’s strengths, and we havent done it once this season. I have stuck up for Pardew but last night was a joke. And we only had Cabaye and Tayls missing. No excuses. We arent good enough. We deserve better, and January is crucial for us to get out of this mess.
proudtobageordie
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Comment #8sirtoon
that was the most sense anyone has commented for a long time. as long as williamson is in the team we will allways be giving teams a goal start. he belongs on blackpool beach. our two mr reliable SANTON AND COLO were poor last night for periods of the game. Pardews tatics seems to be draining confidence out of them as well.
blew
Dec 11, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Comment #9We have been in relegation form for several weeks and it will be difficult to survive.
The nail in the coffin will be QPR, they have pace and heading ability which we dont. Harry is pulling them round.
Williamson gets most stick, in his defence, he was never good enough, who can replace him? The regime rate him, he recently got a 5 years deal – say no more.
mumbaNi
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #10I really dont think we can call any other side ‘mediocre’ at this moment in time – we are shocking and i think its a disrespect to the teams who show desire to win more than us. If ben arfa hadnt shot (probably through frustration) we wouldnt have scored at all !