Newcastle have six games to play next month, starting at Swansea on Saturday, and that’s tough game to start the month with, and the other games include the two legged tie against FC Anzhi Makhachkala in the round of the last 16 of the Europa League, and if we can get to the quarter finals the competition there are some good teams left, so we could get a plum draw in the quarter finals.
Rob Elliot – could be in goal for all six games
When Chris Hughton was managing the club with the help of Colin Calderwood, they used to break the season down into small groups of games, and have points targets for those games, and it’s something that Alan Pardew may also be doing through the end of this season – since it’s important to get as many points as we can in the remaining 11 league games.
We have four league games next month, and every one of them except perhaps the game at Manchester City is winnable – if Newcastle can keep up their excellent form of late.
Here are the six games we will play next month:
Sat 02 15:00 A Swansea City PREM Thu 07 17:00 A FC Anzhi UEFA Sun 10 15:00 H Stoke City PREM Thu 14 20:05 H FC Anzhi UEFA Sun 17 16:00 A Wigan Athletic PREM Sat 30 15:00 A Manchester City PREM
We host Stoke City a week on Sunday following our game in Russia, and it will be very important to win that specific game, as Stoke at the moment are 3 points above us in 10th position – and the Newcastle squad have shown that we can field two very good teams and get the wins in Europe and in the Premier League – as we did in our last two games.
Obviously the target for Europe is to get through to the quarter finals with the two games against FC Anzhi Makhachkala, and then anything can happen.
I’d like to think we can three wins out of the four games.
How many points do you think we will take out of out four league games?
Comments welcome.
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111 responses so far ↓
1 Dannyo // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Yes, 9 points out of the 4 league games is definitely possible. I expect at least 7.
2 obatoyou // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:31 PM
would rather be paired with Chelsea, than Tottenham in the quarter final of the league cup~
3 mindshaft // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Swansea will be a tough game away, although bindippers hammered them, you could see Swansea players were just thinking about cup final – if they play to form I think we’ll be lucky to get a draw
We should have enough to get past Stoke even after a europa game, Wigan will be tough as well, depends which team turns up – they hammered us last year – still think we should win tho
Man City – I think we’ll win, title will be long gone by then, they looked good against chelsea but were allowed to play the game they wanted, they looked terrible against saints who constantly pressed them
So I reckon 10 points at best 8 at worst – not a bad return – oh and I think we’ll beat Anzhi over 2 legs
4 obatoyou // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:32 PM
lol Europa League… somethin wrong with me today…
haven’t had a drink for 4 weeks now, could have something to do with it~
5 toonLYF // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Swansea – D
Anzhi – L
Stoke – W
Anzhi – W
Wigan – W
Manchester City – L
10 points, through the quarters of Europe.
6 toonLYF // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:46 PM
7 points, i meant.
7 pizzicatochan // Feb 26, 2013 at 5:57 PM
The most important game is away @ Wigan. We need to push them down the cliff, but it would be tough.
8 mally72 // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:05 PM
7 points and making the last 8 in the Europa would be a cracking month but im gonna put a cheeky fiver on us getting through the month without dropping a point it could happen lol
9 goommy // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:26 PM
For me, 6 points from stroke + wigan and break through quater final of Europa will be good. And great if we can get more than 6 points from league game.
10 YankeeToon // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Swansea on a emotional hangover week gives us an even better chance against them. I can see 6 points from this starting with a win at Swansea, travel to Russia then play Stoke (Draw, Loss), at Wigan (Draw, Win) so that sees 5-6pts from those three.
City? who knows where there head will be at considering the gap between them and The U, Away though I would think a draw would be like a win.
11 K T Cat // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:56 PM
I’ll go for 9 points. This team is so much better than it was in late 2012. I think we’ll give Man City a hard time, but will end up losing to them. Other than that, I’m optimistic for a streak of wins. Not sure about the Anzhi games. It all depends on who plays.
12 toonaids // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:56 PM
swansea – W
anzhi – D
stoke W
anzhi W
wigan W
man c D
13 Fostino // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:02 PM
could be another shay given in the pipeline
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2013/02/25/3778430/irish-abroad-rob-elliot-makes-premier-league-debut
14 Harley // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:06 PM
I’d be happy with 7 points and through to the quarters.
15 JackButler // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:09 PM
Stoke will probably be without Huth who has been charged by the FA for violent conduct which will help (and should be without N’Zonzi for that slap)
But with a fully fit squad we are a match for anyone
16 JackButler // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:11 PM
8 points and a place in the quarters
17 Novocastrian66 // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:17 PM
ToonLYF. Your predictions seem realistic . Toonaids; optimistic.
18 9 // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:23 PM
3 out of the 4 League games are away. That’s quite an unusual run, so you’ve got to be pretty much of an optimist to expect many wins. But Swansea are unlikely to be giving 100%; I’m not worried in the slightest about Stoke, so that’s a fair start. We definitely owe Wigan one, what a funny team to read they are! They clearly can’t come close to matching our squad, but that was true the last time they smashed us so it’s a brave man who would like to predict that, either way. Similarly, I’m not all that worried about City, but history says we’ll get nowt. I don’t know much about Anzi except they have a left back who will turn 40 in a few weeks, so that’s a good start, and they looked deeply poor the one time I’ve seen them play on TV – there again, so have the NUFC in 90% of this season’s games – we all believe those days are over, with good cause, so I would hope we’ll pass through this round.
But I’m sitting on the fence on any more than 6 or 7 points from the League matches.
19 mot7 // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:31 PM
7 points and quarter final if we play our very best team in both games
20 DokToon // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:35 PM
hell, then ill be the optimist… 12 full points, and a thrashing by toon on the away leg, so back to st james to rest for home leg and a spot in the quarters…
if im right, ill send you all the winning numbers in the lottery the next day
21 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:37 PM
Dok…I’d say that’s the minimum we should accept or Pardew should be fired.
22 TyneValleyToon // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:40 PM
I’d be happy if ToonYLF’s prediction came true But we have a terrible record at Wigan & you never know which Wigan team will turn up. Getting past Anzi would be massive, a couple more Sunday games would be nice for us that work Saturdays
23 Super Magpie // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:42 PM
7 points and a quarter final place would be a good return. Anything more is a bonus. We should be looking to beat Stoke and Wigan. A point would be ok at Swansea and anything at Man City would be welcome.
Stay in the leg going into the home game against Anzhi and we can go through that too.
24 aidantoon // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Swansea_ draw
Stoke_ win
Wigan_ draw
Manc_ lose = 5 points.
We will also progress into last 8 of cup.
25 DokToon // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:51 PM
ibiza,
methinks even if that were to happen, robin the muppet would still call for pards to get the boot…
26 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Dok…I think Robins issue is that he doesn’t actually know how to read or write. I think he cut and paste a catchy comment from a few months ago and just keeps repeating it…bless.
Super…How great is it to be talking about getting to the quarter finals of the EL? Didn’t seem remotely possible a month ago.
27 yo-yo // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:56 PM
Anything more than seven points would show we really have gone up a notch or two. Seven points would consolidate our current position.
I think AP will wamt the win at the Liberty, and not setle for a draw.
Advantages of away games are that we can set up counterattacking and having HBA back will give us a boost.
I’d love to see us play like WBA away last year at Swans bring them back down to earth.
28 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Which team is best, this season or last season?
Last season
Krul
Simo – Taylor – colo – Santon
Tiote – cabaye – Guti
Hba – Cisse – Ba
Or this season
Krul
Debuchy – Taylor – colo – Santon
Tiote – cabaye
Hba – sissoko – Guti / gouffran
Cisse
29 Spuggy // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Bollance
Add the depth – Anita, mbiwa haidara etc and we’re defo stronger. We just need a top striker and we are all set ( and replace anyone who leaves). A top winger/striker would be a bonus but not essential with Gouffran capable out there.
I’d rather a striker brought in to compliment Cisse and compete with sissoko, but someone who can also play up top. Then it’s just about the underbelly as pards calls it. 3-4 top youngsters.
30 Jayden // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:43 PM
This season, by a country mile
31 Dagwoodz // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Bollance, you really have to ask? This year’s team is considerably stronger, IMHO of course.
Sat 02 A Swansea City (1-1 Draw)
Thu 07 A FC Anzhi (0-0 or 1-1 Draw)
Sun 10 H Stoke City (win 2-0)
Thu 14 H FC Anzhi (win 2-1)
Sun 17 A Wigan Athletic (win 2 or 3-0)
Sat 30 A Manchester City (draw great result, but L 2-0)
Not incredibly sure about the EL games, but I think we’ll get a 7 point haul out of these fixtures this month, with 10 a possibility if we stay in form against Swansea and Citeh. If we get 12 and win both legs of the EL…well, one can dream.
32 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:49 PM
Before the recent player infusion we were too one dimensional. Small squad very reliant upon Ba / Cisse to score. Now we have goals in prospect throughout the side. We now have the players that Pardew wanted at the beginning of the season when he spoke of being able to vary tactics depending on the opposition. Clearly the latter team which excluding Simpson and Williamson enables us to employ a fluid passing counterattacking style Swansea will be interesting good opportunity to gauge how far we have advanced .
33 aidantoon // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Just a thought, who in the premier has a better midfield than us with
Hba, cab, sissoko, guffy?
Can’t think of many, maybe man city.
34 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Bollance- my team would have Yanga starting ahead of Taylor who I thought was our poorest player on Sunday. Fans tend to Overlook his shortcomings because he’s a local .
35 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Aidan – Tiote!,,
36 89Norcal // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:02 PM
Unfortunately for us we’re getting Man City at a dire time for them again, which means they will throw everything they got at us. Dont expect a Soton style upset for that one. Actually they seem to perform best this season against mid table- upper table sides and poorly against lower table sides.
37 aidantoon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:07 PM
Ian toon
Aye tiote also, just thought as a midfield 4 not many teams better.
Top 4 next season with a few more good players coming in.
38 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:12 PM
89Norcal – We don’t play Man City till the end of next month. Or do you mean Stoke City our next home game. A lot can happen between now and 30th March – like Man Utd pretty much wrapped the PL up!
39 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:14 PM
Pushy- we have to be impressed watching Smith. Be a lot cheaper than AC and not such high maintenance.
40 nufc786 // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:16 PM
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2013/02/26/3782236/-?
Asprilla set to join Newcastle as youth coach
41 Mr Random // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:17 PM
Some bad news for nufc fans. We can’t do the double this year.
Europa league is a possibility. However, if we win all our league games we will only have 63 PTS. Man U have 68 PTS currently.
Damn!!!!!!!
42 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:22 PM
Mr Random- All is not lost yet. Man Utd could have points deducted
by popular demand, for having a cantankerous Scottish Victor Meldew as their Manager.
43 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:24 PM
89Norcal
It would be interesting to see the win %age stats on Kompany in and out of the team.
He has been out for a little while and the team has dropped points.
Hope he is out when we play them becuase he is without a doubt the best CB in the league and one of their best players and they signed him for what we pay, around £6m?
44 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:27 PM
To all
I like the optimism now being shown in our current team, makes a pleasant change.
The team last season about now were in the middle of a 6/7 game winning streak. Although on paper it looks considerably weaker it too performed admirably.
45 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:30 PM
We need to work on carrying a threat at corners and free kicks. Only Swansea have a lower goal return than us.
46 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:34 PM
What i like best about our current 11 (including HBA in the line-up with Gouffran on the left is the goal threat.
I have posted several times the wingers and the attacking player of the midfield pair needs to chip in with goals / assists. We now have that providing Guti is dropped. I read today Guti has scored 10 and assisted under 10 goals in his NUFC carrear. Not enough.
We now have 5 attacking players capable of scoring and assisting. That was my vision (maybe now the floodgate will open and we will concede by the bucket load
)
47 Troy Stavers // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:34 PM
Just a quick article cut from Nufc.com
Interesting but frustrating.!
So, another “smaller” club has won a domestic trophy which prompts us – through gritted teeth – to revisit this depressing list, following ex-Magpie Wayne Routledge’s Swansea City lifting the Capital One Cup, after beating Bradford City 5-0 at Wembley on Sunday.
Since Jimmy Scoular lifted the FA Cup in 1955, no fewer than THIRTY-TWO English clubs have enjoyed major domestic cup success ahead of us, including these footballing backwaters: Coventry, Southampton, Norwich, Ipswich, Luton, Oxford, Swindon, Swansea, Stoke, Wolves, Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn, ‘Boro, Wimbledon, QPR, Portsmouth and of course the mackems.
You could also add Burnley and Derby – who have won the League title since our 1927 triumph – to the following list of domestic cup winners since 1955:
15 Liverpool (8LC, 7FA)
13 Man Utd (4LC, 9FA)
11 Chelsea (4LC, 7FA)
10 Tottenham (4LC, 6FA)
9 Arsenal (2LC, 7FA)
6 Aston Villa (5LC, 1FA)
5 Nottm For (4LC, 1FA)
5 Man City (2LC, 3FA)
3 Leicester (3LC)
3 Wolves (2LC, 1FA)
3 West Ham (3FA)
3 Everton (3FA)
2 Birmingham (2LC)
2 Norwich (2LC)
2 WBA (1LC, 1FA)
2 Leeds (1LC, 1FA)
1 QPR (1LC)
1 Swindon (1LC)
1 Stoke (1LC)
1 Oxford (1LC)
1 Luton (1LC)
1 Sheff Wed (1LC)
1 Blackburn (1LC)
1 Middlesbrough (1LC)
1 Swansea (1LC)
1 Bolton (1FA)
1 mackems (1FA)
1 Southampton (1FA)
1 Ipswich (1FA)
1 Coventry (1FA)
1 Wimbledon (1FA)
1 Portsmouth (1FA)
There are three other current Premier League sides not to have lifted the League Cup or FA Cup since our last success; Wigan, Reading and Fulham.
Of course, us Geordies with our “unrealistic expectations” have the audacity to think that we should feature somewhere in the above list….
48 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:37 PM
In 140 starts and 17 substitute appearances Jonas Gutierrez has scored only 10 goals in his Newcastle United career.
10/11 – 1.0 accurate crosses per game (36/180). 4 assists.
11/12 – 0.5 accuracy crosses per game (17/99). 3 assists.
12/13 (4 appearances to date) – 0.8 accurate crosses per game (3/8). 0 assists. (Stats from start of this season)
49 aidantoon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Swansea will be very hard to beat at their place, they play nice football. But if we can play counter attack football we could catch them on the break.
Fancy US to get a point, score 2-2.
50 Mr Random // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:42 PM
Little trivia….
Howard Gayle was the first black player to play for newcastle united in the league. Anyone know what year this was???
51 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:43 PM
The Spurs programme mentioned his strong work ethic which has made him a key asset to the side. Good enough for me.
It also shows Marveaux with 5 assists the most in the team at that time.
Jonas works to instructions . He will likely be replaced by HBA but he has a role to play.
52 aidantoon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:43 PM
Bollance
Jonas shouldn’t be in starting 11 if everyone is fit but as we know pardew likes him as he offers work rate and helps his left back out. But for me I love wingers who can get to the bye line and put nice crosses in.
I think next season Jonas will struggle to get in side.
53 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:46 PM
He was on loan in 1983!
54 sissoko-is-a-beast // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:46 PM
Too many people on here are getting carried away and forgetting we’ve only won once away from home in the league all season.
I’d be over the moon with 5 points and in to the quarters.
55 TyneValleyToon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:47 PM
I Have to agree with Ian Toon, if Saylor wasn’t a Geordie. Maybe born darn souff, somewhere like Grenwich. I doubt he’d be the hero he appears to be. Also Cabaye for all his great qualities, is crap at set pieces, maybe the return of HBA will cure that problem.
56 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:48 PM
Evening lads!
Anzhi has just loaned Emir Spahic from Sevilla with an option to buy.
Emir Spahic is a Bosnian defender!
57 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:50 PM
Tyne- LOL. That’s why I didn’t call him a Geordie.
58 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:53 PM
Jesper– Good day sport. I guess your claiming the League Cup for Denmark ! What a cool dude Michael is the obvious replacement for Alan Pardew when he leaves us to join Real Madrid !
59 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:55 PM
Jesper – How’s Villads have you got him decked out in black n white yet.
60 NobbyNolano // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:56 PM
7 points in the prem hopefully. If we can nick an away goal in Russia we have every chance of progressing in Europe. It’s fantastic, we now have the squad to cope with these demands.
http://www.theyoungernolan.blospot.co.uk
61 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 9:59 PM
In the group Liverpool lost 1-0 and won 1-0 at home. An away goal would be mint.
62 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:00 PM
Jesper – take it easy mate. Hope your doing ok.
63 yo-yo // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:01 PM
So 11 games to go. If we finish with 50pts thats 20/33. We’ll need to get 7/12 from the next four EPL games to be in with a shout for that. Then 13/21 to round off our recovery and finish 8-10th
64 beefman13 // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:02 PM
bollance, it borders on total madness that jonas gets in the team on workrate alone ie putting a foot in here and there running up and down the flank,can you imagine supermac or shearer or sir les tolerating that sort of wide service, we are not playing players who would benefit so much from a good run in the team ie marv and anita players who improve with more playing time, i genuily feel cheated by our manager at his constant picking and negativity concerning our play, we have not dominated any game that i can remember, we have the squad to do that now, i feel him and carver are holding back something which could be so very good, the flow of our team gets interupted every time we take a lead and then sit back.
It just shows how desperate he is to gt jonas in the team, playing him right wing were he had not played him before last week in all the time at the toon, we could steamroller teams at SJP no doubt in my mind.
I make no apologies what so ever for having a nightly go at Pardew.
we have such creative players in our squad why the hell put in players who are just capable of putting afoot in and running around like headless chickens.
We pay to be entertained, he is selling us short just to save his own egotistical neck.
65 yo-yo // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:08 PM
beefman
You’re well known for your dislike of Pardew and I doubt he’d ever be able to please you anyway
IMO your comments are more fiction than a reasoned critical judgement
66 bollance // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Beefman
Jonas is in the team so we can sell him in the summer? He is in the shop window?
67 Transfer Sage // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Jonas is in the the team as HBA isn’t fit and none of the other wingers have really done enough to take his place. Marv and obertan have done very little (marv ok central but been poor wide).
As for the tie with anzi…they algae lost samba which helps us a lot. They have however have signed William which gives them even more threat going forward
68 No Plain Saylor // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:14 PM
Asprilla said something interesting about him wanting to alert newcastle on the best young columbian talent, he said everyone’s looking at spain and he wants newcastle to set up camp in columbia. If we come out with the next falcao it’d be alright
69 beefman13 // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:18 PM
yo yo, you are well known for how much you like the fella, listen i backed the owner with everything i had under fierce criticism, i still back the owner, but there comes a time when AP`s bloody stupid negativity is just stupidity, you go for the throat at SJP, YOU GET THE CROWD BEHIND YOU, a fan who is from down south came up and said he thought the atmosphere was terrible and subdued on sunday.
Its beacuse of the stop start tactics employed by our manager, he stops any flow, players like guttierez just halt the game, players get back in position and it breaks down.
I will defend when i need to, and attack when i need to, i wear my heart on my sleeve, no middle ground if i feel strongly about something. all the stats show its pure madness to play jonas, marv has played the least mins and has the most assists, goals win games.
70 Big Pappa Cissé // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:19 PM
Team for the Swans
——————————Krul——————————-
–Debuchy——-Taylor——–(c)Collocini——Santon–
—————–Cabaye——————Tiote—————–
——HBA—————–Sissoko————Gouffran——
——————————-Cisse——————————
With Ben Arfa & Goufrran’s speed and trickery on the wings Cisse will be swimming in goals.
On a side note, How good is this song ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYxAiK6VnXw
What a tune
71 Jail for Ashley // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Beefman,
You’ve got more faces than Mount Rushmore.
72 Sydney Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:24 PM
beefman-you seriously need to take a chill pill, driving us mad. You are entitled to your opinion, but when your opinion is flawed other bloggers will make it known. Pardew may not be in the class of a Mancini, Ferguson, Wenger or even Laudrup, he is now doing good things with the revamped squad. he did wonders last season with a small squad, give him the rest of this season. Yes we played negative early in the season, but without HBA and Cabaye fit and around enough, it was an obvious solution. Personally, I would like to think we could attract someone like Laudrup if Pardew is replaced anytime in the next 2 years, but he is doing a good job, with a strong squad and if we finish as high as 8th and a QF appearance in Europa, well I deem that a fair season. I think we will strengthen in the Summer, while we may lose Coloccini, Mbiwa is the ready made replacement and I suspect Mirin will come in as the 3rd CB. Oh and I think we can get 8 points, with draws away to Swansea and Citeh.
73 Big Pappa Cissé // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:29 PM
Elliot for Krul should be in that team
74 toonLYF // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:33 PM
BPC…OutKast are unreal!
75 Ian Toon // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Beefman- Were bedding in half the side. We have the potential to play a more expansive game but it takes time for any team to gel fully. We’re still not clear of relegation and Jonas was protective cover for a rampant Debuchy. Watch the game and the tactics employed. You have entrenched views and need to press the refresh button. We’re not one dimensional anymore but I don’t favour your gung ho approach( go for the jugular!) just yet . The objective was achieved on Sunday and it was a good “team” performance. Pardew put Ba in the shop window and as Bollance suggested he could well be thinking along similar lines for Jonas. Give Pardew some credit and change the record or you’ll well and truly be thought of as just another Catchy/ Rotonda / type who is on a personal mission. In your case if your not singing the praises of Shane Ferguson your looking for anything to condemn Pardew. Support the team we all have likes and dislikes as far as players go but it’s a squad game. We’re looking to truly become a big club that qualifies for Europe preferably the CL every season it’s not going to happen overnight. So buck up to the requirements of being a proper fan.
76 Big Pappa Cissé // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:45 PM
@ LYF
They sure are m8. Been listening to them again lately for some reason
.
77 Harley // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:47 PM
Aidantoon
About your earlier post.
I was asking the same question but about our midfield 3 tiote, cabaye and sissokho and our front 3 gouffran, hba and cisse.
Not many teams can match that outside the top 4. I actually believe man city are the only team with a better (or as good as) midfield.
There’s a few with better front 3, Man U, man city, spurs, Chelsea and maybe arsenal and Liverpool, but our midfield is outstanding.
78 toonLYF // Feb 26, 2013 at 10:59 PM
BPC, can’t say i ever stopped, since the late 90′s! Love them.
79 brian kilclines pony tail // Feb 27, 2013 at 2:30 AM
we will be fortunate to get 7 points from these games, unlucky to get 3 so im saying 5, when you take into consideration a trip to which is pretty much to another continent.
will everyone please remember that we only just beat southampton not (man utd or madrid) who are a lower side in the league due to an own goal and a penalty which i felt was harsh as the lad turned as the ball went over his head and when you do this you raise your arms for balance, and the ball was played back across befor he could react, more ball to hand than hand ball.
i am not saying that it was not hand ball and by the letter of the law it was but it is something that the FA need to look at.
80 beefman13 // Feb 27, 2013 at 2:49 AM
Its a strange thing being on the other side of the fence, i used to get so tired of the MA bating on here and other blogs, i had many a run in, and i have always naintained that this sack the board sack the manager culture had to stop at the toon, no one can take away double manager of the year and i applauded the fella for that.
But this season in every game he manages to get my back up about something, ok maybe its beacuse i cant get my own way with AP that gets me do bloody annoyed, but its an opinion and we all want ours to be right dont we, but we have a very good squad, he bleats on about tiredness then plays certain players every min of every fame and brings on dutch internationals on for 5 mins?????
People say change the record, i would love to, is our manager going to change his? Use ben arfa straight away if fit, no sub appearences to cater for other players, let teams worry about us instead of us over worrying about them which is what AP does imo.
Ps fergie still has 3 more assists than guttierez and has played an 75 per cent less than him, Ap has done that lads confidence and made him a scapegoat while not sayin boo to his favorites.
His excuses have stunk SJP out all season.
81 brian kilclines pony tail // Feb 27, 2013 at 3:07 AM
@beefman – i do agree that in order for us to break into the top four a bolder and better manager will be required.
for me this seasons problems have been down to pardew thinking the young players were good enough, now i dont know this for a fact its just what i assume happened.
if it is what happened though he has a shocking ability to judge players he has had under his management for 18 months or so (as it was at the time).
I also agree that his tactics are boring and his style of play negative which contributes to an atrocious match day atmosphere, although i sit in the east stand so it is hard to tell at the best of times with all the old codgers waving their walking sticks and adjusting their hearing aids.
for me his greatest strength is that he is a spin doctor.
and a lot of people have been taken in by it.
i hope i am proved wrong for the sake all newcastle fans.
82 kww // Feb 27, 2013 at 4:35 AM
earlier this season when we have so many key injuries (Saylor, raylor, coloccini sometimes, cabaye), we simply did not have the players to play an expansive and open football. Players like willo, smpson, guti, fergie simply do NOT cut it at EPL level playing the ball and keeping the ball intelligently all the time. Therefore we often played hoofball tactics; the hoofball have brought us some limited results in the past 2 years with very limited players . No one can guarantee for sure trying to play expansive football will bring more points. Ba in particular scored plenty of goals with the hoofballs tactic.
Admitted speaking, it’s not desirable to the most neutrals but if Willo or Simpson concede possession and goals in the box, it will be completely unprofessional. Before our Jan recruitment drive, we honestly ONLY has 3 first team players who can hold the ball, ben arfa, cabaye and coloccini. The rest are either crap or still learning to make the right decisions at holding the ball (santon, saylor,tiote, guti, bigi, obertan). The other 2 who can keep the ball, marveau and anita do not get stuck enough with the dirty work playing them without the high work rate players will put the defense under a lot of pressure. Tactically they are better used as impact subs.
of course this all changed last month when we signed sissoko, gouffran, debuchie and mbiya, who are all BOTH good technically, tactically and defensively. people need to know there’s a 2nd team in a match, who are conceiving different ways to try to contain bennie and cabaye, and the rest of our squad did not have enough quality to offer offensively if either bennie or cabaye have average or poor games.
83 Friendri_NUFC // Feb 27, 2013 at 4:50 AM
I think we will get 4 points [7 points at best] and through to the QF of Europa league. These are my predictions:
- Swansea [Lose or Draw]
- Anzhi [Draw]
- Stoke [Win]
- Anzhi [Win]
- Wigan [Draw or Win]
- Man City [Lose]
Total 34 points in 31 games with 7 games left to play to reach the safety barrier of 40 points. 7 games left after the Man City match are winnable games, however, 3 of those games will be tricky [away to WBA, and final 2 home games against Liverpool and Arsenal]. We definitely have enough in our tank to survive the league because there are at least 2 teams way worse than us at the moment, QPR and Aston Villa and I don’t see them improving any soon. In saying so, we just need to better one more team. I think its not too much for me to say that on paper and current league form suggests, we are at least better than Reading, Southampton, Wigan and West Ham. Hold on! unless if we press a self-destruct button. I hope we won’t so long we can keep the big players fit and going.
84 Friendri_NUFC // Feb 27, 2013 at 5:36 AM
***ATTENTION ALL READERS***
Allow me to introduce myself briefly. I am a big NUFC supporter living thousands of miles away from UK. I am an Indonesian. ^L^. I have been supporting the team ever since I was 13. Thanks to one sleepless night in late 1995; when I turned on the TV, I saw my first live NUFC match on television and it was against Wimbledon. It ended 3-3 but Sir Les was awesome that night. Since then I never looked back. I’ve always been a big fan of the club.
I have one question up for debate. Jonas Gutierrez is our biggest dilemma.
Cons:
- He can’t shoot.
- He can’t cross.
- He can’t assist.
- He is slow.
- He does not offer much when it comes to attack.
Pros:
- He is experience [vice captain].
- He draws easy fouls inside the opponents’ half.
- He keeps the shape of the team and discipline.
- He is workaholic on the pitch.
- He helps the defense a lot.
Does he merit a place in the first 11 now that we have Gouffran and Ben Arfa? Should he only be in the team if we need to grind out results [i.e. away games, defending a lead, etc]?
Let me know what you think. ^L^
85 Assam Toon // Feb 27, 2013 at 5:57 AM
there was a time when pardew would bring hatem on from bench in place of raylor. with due respect to raylor, he gets the nod ahead of hatem?? now handing captain’s band to jonas in the last match…i wont be surprised if he keeps his place even after hatem’s return.
on to anzi, they have eto’o, zhirkov, lassana, willian…so seems like much better quality than metalist. unless we are routed by their stars in the first leg, we can fancy QF entry.
86 check the toastie // Feb 27, 2013 at 6:04 AM
Beefman i would just like to state i agree with your Pardew analysis, yet again a team came to Nufc at the weekend and gave us a lesson in how to pass the ball about, i would say we were fortunate to get a result.
Lets not forget thats with alledgedly the best midfield in the league. We were given the run around at times, that is not down to personnel its down to management and tactics. We play in bits and pieces and have no structure or plan on how to try and break a team down, all our goals come form one pass moves or bits of dribbling, no real creative pass and move, in fact we play no one touch football at all.
87 Ian Toon // Feb 27, 2013 at 7:38 AM
Good Morning all. Some people can watch football for years but not really understand it!
I am not going to repeat my response to Beefman but would add:
1) We were playing in a relegation so called 6 point game.
2) We had played on Thursday in Kiev.
3) Southampton were a form team having beaten Man City in their last game.
4). Southampton last played on 9th February and had two weeks to prepare.
5). A defensive mistake and were 1-0 down after 3 minutes.
6) We responded with spirit and determination and were by far the better side in the remainder of the first half.
7) Southampton had nothing to lose by being fully committed in the second half .
8) The objective was to get the 3 points which we did.
9) If being fortunate is to win by 2 goals then let’s have more. There are no easy games and with an evolving team this was a good performance.
10) Nobody taught Cabaye how to pass the ball about .
11) Debuchy, Sissoko, Yanga , Gouffran etc are still bedding in.
88 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 7:48 AM
Check,
If you watch the Motd analysis on the game it fairly blows that theory out of the
water,we’ve had four wins a draw that we should have won if it wasn’t for some diabolical refereeing and a loss that imo we deserved a draw only hampered by a nasty injury to our star man of the day and beaten by possibly the worlds third best player who is on the purple patch of his career atm,this run of form has come since the new personnel we were promised last summer arrived and yetpeoplebare still adamant
89 Friendri_NUFC // Feb 27, 2013 at 7:49 AM
***check the toastie***
I agree that we have one of the best sets of of midfield in the league. Gouffran, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez and Sissoko are mouth watering to think about. At times we were outplayed by Southampton last week. Yes! Southampton. Out of all 4 goals scored, I seriously think only the 1st goal that we deserved to score.
I for one would like to see Michael Laudrup in place. This guy is cracking. I have no doubt that he will take us to the next level with the players that we have. If only we could test the water and unsettle him at Swansea. I understand his comment last week that he will not consider Real Madrid. I think he is clever. Real Madrid is too big a job for him now that his managerial career is still at its infancy. But he will not doubt see us as a perfect choice.
No disrespect to Pardew but I think he has taken us as far as he could take us and I thank him for this. This depends on Mike Ashley though if he is willing to pay hefty compensation for terminating the 8 years contract Pardew signed.
No matter what Ashley does to the team management, one person he needs to go the extra mile to keep, he is our chief scout, Graham Carr.
90 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 7:50 AM
Cont (phone malfunction)
That it is Parts fault for the dire first half of the season when it’s pretty clear that given the right tools for the job he can get results.
91 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 7:54 AM
Ian Toon
Pretty much agree with all you said there,but why does overtime somebody scores against us it has to be a defensive mistake can’t people accept that other teams can score good goals.
92 WWYCD // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Lucky to beat Southampton? We battered them for long periods of the game they had two spells of good play each lasting 5-10 minutes in each half the rest we were fully in charge
Not sure how anyone can say we only deserved 1 of the 4 goals either Gouffran, Cabaye and Sissoko pulled them apart for the first, Cisses was fantastic for the second, third was a pen and Santon put in a lovely cross for the 4th which they failed to deal with…can’t see how any of those were undeserved
93 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:02 AM
Where are people getting that Pardew has taken us as far as he can take us,he finished fifth last year beyond all expectations and had a RB and CB been brought in last summer with further strengthening this January we’d be in and amongst Spurs,Chesea and Arsenal right now,how much further than that would you expect any manager to take us.
94 Ian Toon // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:04 AM
JFA- Your right. The flick on by Lambert was excellent and swivel and shot by goalscorer as well. However I blame Taylor for not being closer to the goalscorer he was caught flat footed.
95 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:06 AM
WW…
It beggars belief some of the stuff people post on here to justify the sacking of Pardew,last week somebody claimed that both Cisses goals were well offside and we should have been hammered are these people fans are just on here to stir things up.
96 Tsunki // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:09 AM
Its funny how after a 4-2 win against a tidy outfit with what is still a formative team can turn into a Pards Out call. He is neither a great nor terrible manager, so with the right team could take us as far as anyone. Why Laudrup is being hailed as a change up is beyond me, he simply hasn’t had time to make his mistakes yet.
97 WWYCD // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:11 AM
JfA
I honestly dont know mate I just cant wrap my head around it tbh seems no matter what happens Pards does snow he has to be sacked…until he does well against next season and then he’ll be the best thing since sliced bread again
98 Jail for Ashley // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:18 AM
Tsunki ,
I understand that this a blog and people voice what they want but at the same time I think we should try to keep it real,Laudrup by all accounts is being seriously considered by Real Madrid,is Moyes actually that much better than Pards,Martinez how long would it take for Catchy to turn on him if he left it till the last game of the season to save us from relegation,people need to understand that a man very deliberately given an eight year contract isn’t going anywhere in a hurry and given Mashleys managerial recruitment history should be very careful what they wish for.
99 martoon // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Morning lads – I can’t reveal my source but I can tell you that Colo’s back injury is a lot worse than the club are making out. There is no way he will be playing on Saturday
100 obatoyou // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:42 AM
We’re all quite confident we’ll make the quarters of Europa..
If we do I’ll jump up and down and scream until I’m hoarse, then jump on the horse and ride to St James from Australia to give Ben Arfa a Ruby bracelet.
Anzhi are a top side.. gonna be a ripper of a tie.. though we could be knocked out of Europe, end up with maybe 5 points in the league..
Though it will be a huge setback, won’t be too pissed off, we’ve got a good side, next year we’ll compete well in the premier league.
It’s not the end of the world, Au Contraire fellows, it is the beginning of the rise of NUFC in the 2010′s
101 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:43 AM
Morning all…
Nice to see the great defense of Pardew this morning. At a bit of a loss to understand why there is a need to at this stage as we’ve seemingly turned the corner, so to speak.
Martoon…Sorry for Colo, but it does present a good chance for Mbiwa to start in the PL. It also puts Willo closer to the starting line-up…at least then we have a target for corners and free kicks….
102 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:49 AM
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/8526797/Newcastle-s-Danny-Simpson-says-Alan-Pardew-can-still-count-on-him
Seems he knows his place at the club now. I actually thought he played a really good game last week, but he’s obviously no Debuchy.
103 obatoyou // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Colo won’t be playing against Anzhi???
this is disastrous, we’re gonna go out, damn..
104 Dannyo // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:53 AM
After a few wins and progress in the Europea League, common sense seems to rule the blog once again.
Refreshing!
Firing AP doesn’t do you any good btw, AP has proven he can go far, how far remains to be soon, but I’m well within keeping the faith
105 Transfer Sage // Feb 27, 2013 at 8:58 AM
I’d love us to have a top manager or somebody who is more positive but Pardew can become that man.
He now has a real squad to work with, just get a few more players to complete it and see what he does. I think he has earned the right to show what he can do with these guys he has available.
If after another year or two we are stagnating then fair enough consider an alternative but for now the players seem to like him, we are playing much better and things are looking up.
Once this new team gel (people bang on about southampton but they were shockingly poor early season, took 4/5 months to get fluidity) we will see.
Next year will be Pardews biggest test as he has a good squad (providing nobody goes, hopefully a couple arrive).
106 Charlie in the Gallowgate // Feb 27, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Just been reading through the posts – doing my head in – Pardew out Ashley out blah blah blah
Results are more important than playing pretty football at the moment. Yeah Southampton played good football – Did they win – NO. Lets get out the Sh*t first
107 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Feb 27, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Oba…No faith in a Taylor/Mbiwa central partnership or was that sarcasm?
Dannyo & TS…Spot on. Whilst he may not be fantastic now or may well not turn out to be fantastic, he’s hardly a disaster and with the right tools can do a job. Let’s see where that leads us for a bit.
108 Mister Tuff // Feb 27, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Ian Toon @87 you posted the following:-
“2) We had played on Thursday in Kiev.”
As far as I am aware the last time the Toon played in Kiev was ten years ago – against Dynamo.
On Thursday we were playing Metalist Kharkiv (Kharkov) who play in Kharkiv/Kharkov which is Ukraines second largest City -Kiev being the largest.
109 Transfer Sage // Feb 27, 2013 at 9:18 AM
charlie
It annoys me when people see a team play a good 10/20 mins in a game against us and claim we were battered.
Southampton battered us at their place but we contained them well at home and dominated large parts of the game. 60% possession first half for us which usually people seem to love to talk about when it’s the other way around.
110 GenralHez // Feb 27, 2013 at 10:03 AM
We should start every game with a view to winning it, there are no easy games in the premiership. 6 wins out of 6 would be good 4+ acceptable.
It has been said that a mackems brain is almost as big as a humans, I have my doubts.
111 DURhamTOON // Feb 27, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Swansea- D
Stoke- W
Wigan-W
Man City- D
(8 points)
Best case scenario I reckon, Swansea still on a high from the cup may be tough to beat but it could also have the opposite effect!! Also so far our foreign imports have performed well against big opposition (Chelsea recently but also the ManU and Chelsea wins last season) so I wouldn’t be surprised if we nicked a draw there.
Anzhi is a tough draw with the likes of Eto’o playing for them, to get to this stage we’ve done well and I expect us to win over 2 legs but may be a very close affair.
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