It’s always dangerous when you label a game as a must-win match, and we remember we did that a lot in the relegation season a few years back, and we didn’t win many of those games. But Alan Pardew is probably right to say Saturday’s home game against QPR is a must win game because if we draw, it’s just one point but hardly enough to take us away from the bottom three, and a defeat would be terrible – in fact it’s simply unimaginable.
Tim Krul – hoping for a good run of form
And to be clear – one definition of unimaginable is “difficult or impossible to believe; inconceivable.”
And if we are beaten on Saturday – don’t expect a match report anytime soon after the game – watching us play badly is bad enough – but then having to write about is soul destroying – well at least for me it is.
23 year-old Tim Krul has been at the club since the summer of 2005, and he’s been through it all with Newcastle, and certainly he doesn’t seem too worried about the situation at the moment (that’s good):
“We are still in there right now. The season does not end in December.” “I have looked closely at the league table and there are a lot of teams just five or six points away from us.”
“We just need that little run to get ourselves back up there, it is only two wins we are talking about.” “QPR is a must-win for us, this one is massive.” “Our aim at the start of the season was to get through the group stages of the Europa League and make sure we book our place in the last 32.”
“We did that and we also have the FA Cup coming up as well, so there is an awful lot to play for this season.” “This is a really important time of the year, what with the amount of games in a short period.” “We have to make sure we do not have a dip like we did last year.
“Get a little run through this period and things could look very bright going in to the New Year.”
That’s certainly true if we can get a good run going at some point soon, and of course every game will be important and we hope we can start to pick up points and climb steadily away from the relegation zone.
But we have almost the same players as last season playing, and we have just over half the points after 17 games – 14 versus 27 at this same stage last season.
And reports about Newcastle missing Yohan Cabaye are a little over-played – if this lad is as important to Newcastle as some reports suggest – we should double his wages when he comes back.
It’s up to other players to come through and start playing near the form they were in last season, and it’s a bit of a cop-out to say we are doing so badly because we have one player missing – however good Yohan is.
Of course we also have Steven Taylor out – and Ben Arfa too at the moment, and we think if Steven was back in the side, some of those sloppy goals conceded would become history.
We are hoping for a win on Saturday and if we can get one things will brighten up for a little while on Tyneside – but then we are at Old Trafford and the Emirates in the following seven days. 🙁
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103 comments so far
obatoyou
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Comment #1Course we can! This fan agres
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #2We just need to show the same fight we did during the second half against city and we will be fine
bambams
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Comment #3I don’t think we are that bad of a team and will pull away once we get a couple of players back from injury and maybe a couple of signings that will lift the players .
But we need to learn from past mistakes !
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Comment #4Beattie
It’s the same with all business though.
You cannot set a business up without making a loss for a couple of years as you expand it.
You get a bank loan (or in football terms a rich owner) and then use that to improve your business or football team and then as it gets bigger and better you start to bring more in and have to spend a little less to maintain and improve it…then eventually you will break even and can turn a profit.
look at city for example….spent 100mil+ in 2009 and 2010…last couple years they have spent a bit less….still a lot but less and with that initial investment they got champs league money and a larger following world wide.
They are investing heavily in a huge academy so are looking to a long term solution and not just spending 100mil a year (like chelsea do)
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #5Sage From Last Topic….
Long term giving our erratic form and league positions over the last few years its hard to say if west ham will be ahead of us or not 😉
I just don’t see why he’d swap stable football for what is shaping up to be a relegation dogfight, then again a few good results and we could be above west ham.
I think its similar to last year when there were rumours liverpool were in for ba, we were miles ahead of them and many of us got miffed at the though of ba leaving for what would’ve been seen as a step back. I imagine west ham fans would be thinking the same now.
Not saying it would be a step back but giving the state we’re in atm
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #6rainrix
we were miles ahead of liverpool last year though.
west ham are only a few wins away from us…so there is a good chance we will catch them I think.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #7Just a quick cameo and I’ll be on my way…
Does it really matter if we get a new manager or not (in regards to the Martinez comment) – from what I can tell we will probably just keep blaming the owner whenever things are not going according to plan!
Disclaimer: at no point what so ever did I state that Mick Ashley was blameless nor did I state that I wanted the silver supremo sacked (maybe I should have listed a few more points I didn’t make but CBA)
Take Care!
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #8rainrix
But like you say it depends….Diame has had such a good year so far he may well wait until the summer to see if a better offer than us comes in.
Anything could prevent a move for any player,…..wages, step down/sideways in their eyes, location, anything really.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Comment #9Sage….. Yeah but i imagine liverpool fans last year were thinking the exact same thing people on here are thinking about diame. “we aren’t far off newcastle lets go for Ba” Or “we’re a bigger club than newcastle of course he’ll come here”!
I do think we’ll finish above west ham. I just don’t think it’ll be before the end of january. I see us doing what everton have done in the past and have a storming 2nd half of the season
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #10damn it jesper
get back on this blog and take the abuse people seem to love to give you…dont comment and run haha.
In all seriousness though our season is just down to everything going wrong that possible could. Poor transfers, pardew making weird decisions, players not playing well and injuries.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #11Sage… Exactly we could be miles ahead of west ham and he might not fancy the move or he could hold out for an even bigger club or a move abroad. I’d like him here i just don’t think it’ll happen this window
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #12rainrix
I think liverpool would have got Ba if they gave him the 90k a week he wanted though…they just never seemed to.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #13Jesper….Good to see you.
Is that why you’re staying away and only coming on for one post cameos. that you feel we’re completely blaming the owner?
If so, I think you’ve missed the point a bit, well mine at least.
Anyway, hope you’re well and the family are all set up for Christmas.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #14Sage… I reckon they and the media thought they could probably turn their season around, especially after the league cup win, and got deluded into thinking they didn’t need to strengthen. Or maybe the owners didn’t trust dogleash who knows 🙂
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #15Rainrix
Does anyone trust dogleash? he ruins all his football clubs he manages.
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #16Has Jesper quit the blog ?
Another one bites the dust. 😉
Conaldo (The Wizard...Also Bestest Friends With Paul Scharner)
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #17Jesper –
Where’ve you been?
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Comment #18Come back Jesper & make Ibiza quit instead.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #19Does anyone know any gay billionaires?
I will look to marry one and as a wedding gift get him to buy me this club and then we’ll see where we can go.
Ps. Must have own hair and teeth
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #20TS…..The hair and teeth are the make or break aspects of that deal? 🙂
Belfast….Make me quit? We both know that wont happen. Would love Jesper back though, top chap and helps dilute the dross like yourself 😉
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #21Sage… Fair point mate 🙂
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #22Why did he quit ?
Munster Mag
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #23think you can speculate all you want about Toby Alderweild , Boilsen abd anyone else, but the end result is that Ashley doesnt give a toss, once we can cling on to premiership and advertise Sports Direct. Thats the end game. The proof was in the lack of summer investment. And even if we spend 10 mill now, it just means we wont spoend much in the summer, and we will, without a shadow of a doubt, lose 1-3 more star players . So if we make 15 mill in the summer, expect to see a couple of Bigi’s and maybe one established player. But we wont progress. Thats if we are lucky enough to stay up.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #24ibiza
well it would be ideal….I’m not that way inclined but I imagine I would prefer my man to have nice hair and a winning smile.
The billionaire aspect of the Advert is pretty important too.
The relationship may be difficult but I figured they have preachers in America who claim to “cure” homosexuality so it’s only logical to think somewhere there must be people who cure heterosexuality. Maybe the YMCA do it?
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Comment #25Your all a bunch of bully’s..
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Comment #26munster
I will accept that we dont spend…ashley has proven that.
He hasn’t however cashed in on big stars (except caroll and in hindsight that was brilliant for 35mil)
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #27I dont think we’ll sign anyone.
And I dont think Arsenal are interested in Demba Ba either. They’ve about 5 players who can play up front. Paper bullshit.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #28Real vs man u could be interesting, fergie vs Mourinho again
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #29rainrix
it certainly will be….also ronaldo returning to old trafford will be very good.
Ian Toon
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Comment #30Jesper– I am sorry to have missed your cameo appearances! How are you? I came across an idiom recently that rang true :
” People only rain on your parade because they’re jealous of your sun
and tired of their shade .” Just in case we don’t engage, I hope you and your family have a great Christmas. Together united we’ll never be defeated.
Synergistically yours .
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Comment #31TS…Well yes, the billionaire aspect would be the priority 🙂 Not sure about the YMCA, but I bet Belfast could give you a tip or two.
Belfast…I think he took a step away as he came under pressure the other day when he said something along the lines of that we’re all too quick to just blame transfers for our poor season. I’m guessing it’s a case of avoiding unneeded stress over Christmas.
BelfastMagpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Comment #32Ts Think the only reason that he hasn’t cashed in, is because nobody has met the valuation.
If Arsenal were to bid 18 million for Ben Arfa in January, Ben Arfa would be sold, in my opinion.
Same goes for Cabaye, Krul etc etc
Mister Tuff
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Comment #33transfer.
“I’m not that way inclined” yeh right.
From my understanding of such matters – you appear to have completed the hardest part of your new personna – you have made the difficult step of “coming out of the closet”. Do not retreat back into that dark place.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Comment #34Sage… Aye i wonder what reception he’ll get im gonna go with bad.
I hope celtic do well but juve is going to be really hard for them, although if they can beat barca they can beat anyone 🙂
wreker16
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Comment #35Anyone seen 4-4-2’s top 100 players in the world list???
JAMSHA
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #36http://tyneandwear.sky.com/newcastleunited/article/50706
remy newcastle player?
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Comment #37belfast
Thats different from ‘cashing in’ though.
To me cashing in is taking the best price you can get…whether it be what you want or not. (eg. saying we will sell cabaye in the summer and accepting the highest bid even if it’s not what he wanted)
I think we approach it the same way as other clubs…if we get an offer too good to turn down (can use that to develop the club and not spend other money) then we sell.
All clubs sell if they get a silly offer….man utd sold ronaldo for 80 mil (although he did want to go too)
But all clubs lose players they dont want to leave because they simply can’t say no to that much money.
Carroll money has brought us a good 6/7 very good players.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #38rainrix
I think ronaldo will get a good reception, was well liked and they kew he left to join his dream club. (sounds like i am just disagreeing with everything you say haha)
Mister tuff
Thanks…keep me on the right path.
pieceofpapiss
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #39Just regarding the last article on Carroll.
I’d have him back in a heart beat. The difference between us and Liverfool/West Sham is that Carroll wants to play for us. He goes above and beyond for his home town club.
Put yourself in his position, who would you give your all for as a Newcastle fans?
I’d run myself into the ground for a tenner a week for this club, woulndt do it for £80k a week at any other club.
This run will come to an end tho, we’ve been buggered with injuries and played twice as many games as we did last season. Some sound investment (it will happen) will put us back on track in Jan.
Belive!!!
nufc debo
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #40What about a cheeky bid in for Dawson at spuds? Feckless knows what’s goin on there but he’s s proven prem defender and from the looks of it AVB doesn’t rate him? As for AC, unless we’re gettin him for no more than 5/7m and around 40k then I wouldn’t take him back. Atm he’d only be back up and paying out anymore than the above numbers would force us to play him regularly in turn stifling the development of Campbell, Remy or Charlie Austen instead would be the obvious choices