In one of the polls we put out earlier this season, on September 5th to be more precise, 58% of the voters thought that we wouldn’t make the top six this season, but we wonder how many thought we’d be in the bottom six?
Rodallega beats Coloccini to head in second goal
We’re not there yet, we’re 7th bottom at the moment, but with Sunderland winning 3-0 at home last night to Reading in their makeup game, even Sunderland are now only one point behind Newcastle.
And we’re two points above Southampton and Aston Villa, so if our fans out there don’t think we are currently in a serious position in the league table, with no new reinforcements coming in for at least four or five weeks, think again.
And if we lose again on Saturday to the reigning Champions Manchester City, we could even see ourselves further down the league table.
Here are the results of that poll in September, with over 5,000 votes cast.
What we have to hope for is improved form from our players, especially in defense, where Fabricio Coloccini on Monday had mixed fortunes.
Colo went close to scoring on two occasions, and both efforts deserved a goal, when first he had his strong header from a corner in the first half headed off the line, and then the Argentine hit the post in the 72nd minute of the game, when Newcastle were 2-1 down.
But Colo was also badly at fault for Fulham’s second goal, which cost Newcastle all three points on the night, when we deserved to take something out of the game at Craven Cottage.
Of course the Newcastle players have to remain positive, and it’s a strange game is football, and we have to hope we can get something out of the tough game coming up on Saturday against City.
The betting is on a Manchester City win – but let us know how you think this game will go.
It’s also important to keep supporting the lads through these tough times, and things could get worse before they get better, and we are hoping the experience of the last relegation season will help the players come though this one – on the positive side.
Comments always welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
25 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Comment #1losing against city isn’t a problem
they are a very good side so we will struggle to win or even draw….but as long as the lads show fight that’s enough
Nufc-83
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:14 AM
Comment #2Colo looks top class 90% of the time and rarely makes mistakes but how he does that is beyond me with the two chuckle brothers next to him and Santon being asked to play so far forward because of how ineffective Jonas is. Most top defenders would be making mistakes with these clowns. If we dont sign a CB who will walk into the team i will make it my personal mission to hunt down ashley and slap the s**t out of him.
Lew Davies
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Comment #3which deluded soul thinks we will beat citeh ?
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Comment #4I just saw i’m the only one to vote win on the poll.
Who’s giving me those odds? 😛
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:20 AM
Comment #5I think we can win, but i have gone for a draw
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Comment #6i’ve gone for a loss
i’m either right or my team gets points so i can’t lose haha
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Comment #7I’ve gone for a win all season.
Who bets on their own team to lose or draw?
Mental…
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:26 AM
Comment #8dannyo
it’s a safe option
I don’t want them to lose but if they do there is some consilation
Bucks mag
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #9I know what you mean Dannyo, would never bet on us to lose… doesn’t stop me thinking that we will though ha
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Comment #10A Realist,
Any one who has voted for a win has been right on 4 occasions and wrong on 7
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Comment #11I dont bet on it…just put my view of it here.
I often back the mackems to lose…usually a safe bet and an enjoyable one.
RonVanDam
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Comment #12Our goal this season is to get 45 points and survive.
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Comment #13whenever any one votes for a loss or Draw, they are hoping to be proved wrong.
Isn’t it Transfer sage?
wayneo009
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:32 AM
Comment #14So now we start on our colossal captain, who has in some games kept us in it.
We as a whole are simply not good enough, a couple of players in will change that.
sirtoongospel
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:32 AM
Comment #15Colo was in the Prem team of the year last season. This season he is trying to cover other people because there is no trust in them……and rightly so.
Nufc-83…..spot on. Santon has an attacking obligation becaus the man in front of him is hopeless. He sees nothing happening and knows he can help. Santon is a wonderful player and will only get better.
Williamson is the worst CB in the Prem, bar none. We are a top 5 team (last season) and we go forward with Willo? EVERY nufc fan has been screaming for 2 years to bring in a top class CB. To be a great team you must build from the back. We need 2 CB’s and a RB. Add those and a box to box CM player and we will be almost there.
In future windows we can add another winger or two and a rapid striker. But we are 8 players away from being a regular top 6 team. I know we can’t add them all in one window, but at least 2 more should have arrived in the Summer. Had that happened plus 2 in January then we would have been almost there.
Ashley blew it in the Summer. It was terrible to not invest. Now we are suffering. None more so than us fans who spend thousands following the team. The owner, manager, staff and players get paid top money, but it is us who pay out top money.
Oh, and please can Ba just hurry up and leave? The whole thing is getting boring.
Les Grossman
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:36 AM
Comment #16To all those calling for Pardews head!
Ok, if they sack him…..who do they bring in?
Is it the tactics that are killing us or the fact that 80% of our ‘bluechip players’ simply arent performing?
If pardew plays 433…will it make Jonas, Cisse, Tiotie, collo, Krul perform any better?
What about Steve Stone, John Carver….you know the first team coaches, what about them? do we sack all of them aswell. Recognised by their peers as two of the best coaches in the game!!
Its blatant to see that anybody who knows the tiniest amount of football that the lack of investment in quality in this threadbare squad, coupled with the fact that the best reserve players (Bigi not included) Sami, marv, obertan, amalf etc etc are simply not goodenough to replace the playersd when they underperform.
We needed three quality players, onl;y three…a striker, and 2 defenders, to move us to the next level……..we bought 3 midfielders and a youngster (CB).
Agreed Anita is turning out to be a decent signing, but he cannot partner tiotie…watch the matches, they get in each others way constantly, they are too similar and are never far apart on the pitch!
So, for me, we now need 4-5 quality players to pull us out this sh!t. because we now find out that the reserves, simply arent good enough………..
Les Grossman
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Comment #17Sirtoongospel.
Correct. Could not agree more with your post!
But you will be shouted down by the Pardew haters!!
JARRAMAG
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:47 AM
Comment #18Anyone wanting Ba to leave should be certified because we will not score goals.
If he goes then apart from Cisse ,who a lot of the posters on here want dropped is going to score the goals to keep us up?
Our midfield and defense just dont score goals and Pardue just cannot see that our freekick and corner policy of hitting the donkey Williamson will never work and until Pardue sees this we could be doomed
Les Grossman
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:47 AM
Comment #19Sirtoongospel,
The board could nip the whole Ba scenario in the bud, by asking him to sign or leave and promptly putting him on the transfer list!!
Though he is probably our second best player this season, the Ba scenario is just adding to the unrest. decision should be taken out of His agents hands.
Les Grossman
Dec 12, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #20JARRAMAG
I agreed its a concern that he is the only one scoring.
But remember end of last season? he was palyed out of postion, spat the dummy out because Cisse was scoring all the goals. Can you not see that these two can blatantly NOT play together? getting rid of one or the other for me would probably improve our performances greatly.
JARRAMAG
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #21Pardue is the problem not Ba and Cisse
Any decent manager could get 2 class strikers to work together but the problem we have is the supply to the front 2 is very poor due to hoofball and the reason we play hoofball is because we have 2 players in the back 4 who are not comfortable on the ball and should have been replaced last year and until this is addressed we will struggle.
Les Grossman
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Comment #22JARRAMAG
Flawed argument.
Can SAF at Manure get Hernandez and Rooney to work together?
Can Mancini get ballotelli and the rest work together or even Dzeko and the rest work together?
Its a simple fact that some players dont work well together, too similar, or dont like each other or Vice versa, although Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole hated each others guts….so there has to be a point in there somehwere :-s.
I do however agree with your CB assessment, however, I think it is only Williamson who reverts to hoofball. I noticed that Collo is bringing the ball out of defence more than ever, and trying to get forward. So its not ALL hoofball as people keep saying on here.
Its being used as an excuse to whine about AP tactics. He has to work with what he’s got essentially!
Sav
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Comment #23Sirtoongospel, the killer goal on Monday night had nothing to do with Colo covering for other players. He was on the wrong side of Rodallega and gave the Colombian a free header. That is what happened. But don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story…
As for the lack of investment, you’re right.. Calling Xisco and Sammyobi squad players is just nonsense. The youngsters should be out on loan and in fairness to Pardew, he seems to be the keenest manager to make that happen we’ve had in years.
Mark
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #24At the beginning of the season I wouldn’t have expected to beat City anyway. It’s the fact that we’ve lost so many games against opposition we would have cruised past last season..
toonicle
Dec 12, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Comment #25I don’t expect a win from us playing against City, but if Pards will for once just drop Jonas for Marv in this game then i’ll be (relatively) happy.