We’ve looked back on our relegation season four years ago, and after a 3-2 win at West Brom, followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Everton – after Kevin Nolan had been sent off in the first half – we had 28 points from 26 games played – one point more than we have today.
AVB and Alan Pardew before the game on Saturday
But the thing that cooked our goose four years ago was the absence of manager Joe Kinnear, who had some heart problems before the West Brom game, and Chris Hughton took over the side.
But in our final 12 games we had one win when beat Middlesbrough at home, and only three draws, so a measly 6 points from our final 12 league games did us in – with Alan Shearer taking over for the final 8 games of that season.
We are now two places above the drop zone and Alan Pardew knows we are far from safe at the moment:
“For sure, we need to get a couple of wins.” “Pressure is a funny thing.” “For a big club like us it will be even more pressure, so we need to make sure we keep that distance. We knew that this was a tough game, we wanted to take something out of it.”
“We haven’t, and then we had to hope the results went our way to keep the pressure off, and a good win at Southampton at home would put us in a decent position. But we’re a long way from that still.”
“The way we look at teams, the way we set up for teams – I have to say we did a lot of work on trying to stop Gareth Bale.” “We did, but there are still moments when he creates that space. It’s his technique with the hit that’s the problem.”
“He seems to connect true whether he’s off-balance or on-balance and that’s what makes him so difficult to contend with.”
Newcastle do have some easier league games coming up, with the next four being Southampton at home, Swansea away, Stoke at home and Wigan away – and we should be able to beat all those four teams, although the game in South Wales will be tough.
But if we are to pull away from the relegation zone, and not have this season be a nail-biter down to the last few games, we have to start putting some wins together – and over the next four league games too.
Two wins and we’ll have equalled the points we got in our relegation season – it’s easy really. 😀
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30 comments so far
Graeme
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #1Just hope Pardew plays the STRONGEST possible team in EVERY game between now and the end of the season. If he does that we should be well away from relegation and still in Europe.
It is all now down to Pardew to get the right team on the pitch
WWYCD
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Comment #2We also have a better squad and a settled manager plus the owner isn’t pressing the self destruction button every couple of weeks
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Comment #3graeme
Would you have made a change to saturdays team?
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #4I would say we have a much better chance of surviving though.
We have a better squad of players in terms of attitude and ability. They will all fight for the cause too.
I think we won’t have that terrible run at the end of the year like we did that time. Too much about this current lot and we are actually playing some good stuff now.
OhSholaAmeobi
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #5Put a strong team out against metalist and get a win, put a weaker one out with a strong mentality in away leg.
Win southampton and stoke at home and wigan away.
Your mission sir.
TorqToon
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Comment #61 point worse off…
…but about 8 players BETTER off !
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Comment #7Graeme…Problem is though, what is our strongest team? Surely that’s open to opinion and also based on who the opposition is?
To read we’re worse off than our relegation season isn’t pretty reading, but the point about only getting one win and three draws in our last 12 games takes the pressure off a bit. I honestly don’t feel we can’t do better than that. I expect at least that many points in our next 4 games, probably more, but six as a minimum.
blew
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:46 AM
Comment #8The strongest team wont include Jonas and Perch.
AP bought a pacey, classy CB in Mbiwa to stop the mistakes Taylor and Colo make, why wont he play him?
He will be rusty on the bench.
croftus5678
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #9@5
i think we can field a good team in europe without placeing our main players in danger.
i.e. simpson for deb’s / hairdryer for santon / anita for sissoko / marv for cabaye ect ect
and we can have a look at mbiwa to see what he’s like
if my choice (but can prob see why it will not happen) i would leave cisse off and play cambell and have ober or marv behind him.
OhSholaAmeobi
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Comment #10@9
i think haidara, tiote, anita, marveaux and mbiwa should definitely be playing, maybe stevie T too for match fitness. The rest are anyone’s guess but sissoko would be a nice battering ram to have.
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Comment #11blew
Perch isn’t the long term answer but has been very good in recent weeks.
Jonas is still a better option that obertan out wide and marvoux has only played well in a central role so not many options wide.
Mbiwa is class but depends how well he will settle in the side, might look out of place in training, or maybe not quite up to the pace yet.
Jonas's better than Messi
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Comment #12We’ve been playing really well.
I can’t see what the debate is about.
2 wins then a loss away to a good side, where we were in control until Gouffran’s injury and Bale’s breakaway goal.
No need to panic, this team is decent.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #13Blew….Perch I wont debate too much. I think he was the right call for the Villa game and then he earned his starting spot against Chelsea and then Spurs. I wouldn’t be disheartened to see him replaced with Anita or Tiote mind.
As for Guti though, he may not be wonderful, but I’m not sure the options available are that much better to sacrifice his work rate. Who do we have to play there? Marv and Obertan? Marv is pretty much wasted on the wing and is far more suited to a central role, at least that’s how it appears from his games to date. As for Obertan, whilst I don’t mind him, i’d never class him above Jonas. When Benny is back and fit then I could see Jonas being dropped as justified, not that he will though, I think he’s rated as an important member of the team.
Also, Colo and Taylor were great against Villa and Chelsea, only really exposed against Spurs, so maybe after a EL game or two for Mbiwa he will take one of their places. I don’t think playing those two has been a bad call so far really.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #14Phoenix, where are you?
Tiote played very well also, put in some nice tackles. I told you Perchinio’s realm is short lived here, Tiote’s en route! I could just imagine the daggers from Tiote in the dressing room when Perch got the nod 😉 joke.
OhSholaAmeobi
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #15Sage
Could play ferguson out wide, he’s been playing for his country and he’s got a bit pace. probably our best crosser too without raylor.
catchy in norway
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #16like i have said all season,, its not about how good or bad the players are,,
its more about how the manager wants them to play,, subs he makes
i think its a joke that we are this far down the league and the guy still has a job,
still find it amazing how jonas gets in the team,, he is going to run all day, but he offers nothing more,, to think he is keeping anita out of the team,, him and perch 🙁
just saying,, he made the same mistakes again v spurs,, high line against a very fast forward, when will he learn 🙁
croftus5678
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #17my team would be
—————-elliott——————-
simpson-mbiwa-saylor-hairdryer
—————–tiote——————–
—ober——–bigi——–anita——
———-cambell-marv—————-
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 11, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #18What are going to do with Williamson?
Do we play him in these euro games? We can’t leave him to rot surely.. 🙂
Im seriousness though his confidence would take a major hammering if he is frozen out.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #19Catchy….Been a while, how have you been? Internet go down after the Chelsea game?
OhSholaAmeobi
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #20@18
couldn’t give a toss, he’s getting on a bit and I hope him and other championship level players (simpson, ranger, gosling) are moved on and replaced with better in the summer.
Jonas's better than Messi
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #21@Toon-Prodigy
Let’s hope he doesn’t go online then.
Is Simmo fit to play?
Tim the toon
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #22Got to aim for 10 points in next 4 league games – Swansea away will be tough @ Liberty. Should use 1st leg of Europa to test combinations – Mbiwa with Colo/Saylor and Anita with Cab’s and Sissoko
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #23Ohshola,
Aye, a lot of talk about strengthening the underbelly of the squad in the summer. Going to see a handful of players leave by the look of it
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #24ohshola
The odd game fergie played he put in a few decent crosses but that doesn’t really help. We only ever 1 or 2 in the box so unlikely to get a goal. He only has the one cross as well…..not like bale who can thread it with pace across the face of goal which is what we need for cisse, he isn’t fantastic in the air.
Markaccus
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #25Look who crawls out of the woodwork. Catchy, shut up, man, you idiot. Pardew didn’t do anytrhing wrong v spurs. A free kick and an opportunist goal from a defensive laps won them the game. From their best player too. I’m off here now, since the brainless twits are back. I’ll pop in later to see if they’ve been locked up.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Comment #26Jonasbetterthanmessi,
Hasn’t he got a broken toe? Im unsure if he is fit or not.
I’ll just check on physioroom two secs
TorqToon
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #27Went to the Nancy vs Reims game on Saturday,
Tell you what…they are DEVASTATED to have lost Massadio Haidara !
He has been a real star for them this season and without him they will really struggle!
Watch out for him lads – he’s one of our very best young players! Hopefully we will see him on Thursday night!
croftus5678
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #28@27
he played for u21’s the day before tot game and scored a great goal taking on 2 defenders before scoring.
Tim the toon
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #29Have followed this blog for a while, and interested to see several guys having a do @ Pards. Clubs are successful when they have stability – look at Man U, Arsenal and Everton – managers have been there forever. Ashley’s given him an 8 year contract for exactly that reason – fans need to back the manager!
nufc 11
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #30Colo was asleep for the 2nd goal sat, real sucker punch he was caught out for mata 2nd goal aswel lst wk and numours others, has AP made him undropable? Cabaye should have been made captain wen colo wanted away then we wudnt have this dileama.