Newcastle did great last season, when at this time last year we were challenging for a top four place to be back to the Champions League.
Mike Ashley – huge clear-out this summer?
But it wasn’t to be, and we finished in 5th place, but that was still the best we had done since 2004, and above Chelsea and Liverpool.
Last summer we all looked forward to European competition again in the Europa League, but the huge mistake of not strengthening the squad was made – and that is one of the things that has cost us big time this season..
And to be fair we did very well in the Europa League, and got through the group rounds and won two knockout rounds against Metalist Kharkiv and Anzhi, and then were only narrowly eliminated by Benifca, when a second late goal could have seen us in the semi-finals.
Newcastle played 14 games in the competition and most fans would agree we did well.
But the opposite is true in the Premier League, where we may be having our second worst season ever – and we are currently 5th bottom with four games to go, after dropping three places yesterday with the 1-1 draw at West Brom – and we still have only one away win of the season.
And we’ve managed to be beaten by two of the bottom three teams in Wigan and Reading, and we’re not even going to mention Sunderland – whoops.
Our worst season was the relegation season in 2009, when we collected only 34 points and our next two worst seasons – as far as points accumulated were the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons when we got 43 points.
Glen Roeder was fired in 2007 after Newcastle finished 13th in the league, and Kevin Keegan had just come back to the club in January of 2008 to replace the sacked Sam Allardyce, when Newcastle finished in 12th position with 43 points.
Newcastle now have 37 points after 34 games so we need 7 points from our last four games to ensure we get more than 43 points, and that’s not looking too easy.
We obviously need to pick up as many points as possible, but we missed out yesterday at West Brom when we should have had the game wrapped up at half time but we missed some gilt-edged opportunities.
So with the team doing so badly this term, it may be hard to attract good players in the summer, but the squad has to be rebuilt, and we think a lot of fringe players will leave the club, and only a few of our youngsters – probably only Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson – will still be at Newcastle in September.
It’s an opportunity for a clear-out and surely we will be aiming to have a top six side next season?
Steve Harper and Danny Simpson will leave the club when their contracts runs out in June, and it still seems likely that Fabricio Coloccini will leave the club to return to Argentina.
Mike Williamson will also likely move, and maybe to Swansea as a potential replacement for Ashley Williams, who is being looked at by some big clubs, and we think Dan Gosling will be sold before his contract runs out next year.
We also expect Gabby Obertan to leave, and of the youngsters it could be curtains for some lads who just haven’t come through, and they include Brad Inman, Conor Newton, Mehdi Abeid and maybe even Paul Dummett, although the local lad may stay on.
So we can see as many as ten players leaving Newcastle this summer, as the club will try to resurrect the squad after what has been a very disappointing Premier League campaign – and that may be an understatement.
It’s one of the worst we’ve had.
What do you think?
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55 comments so far
cyprus
Apr 21, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #1Jail,
HBA for Haidara (while Jonas slotting back in a position he knows) can be seen as a positive attacking-minded move, so that’s fine. Keegan and SBR would throw in 3 forwards with 10 minutes remaining, resulting in cool onslaughts (and sometimes defeats
What was wrong in my mind was taking off sharp, fast Goufy for big, slow, zero-chance-to score Shola.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #2@jfa I appreciate your point but it didn’t really answer my post in any way
Jail for Ashley
Apr 21, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #3Cyprus,
No disrespect but you must know your football better than ex international and Newcastle fan John Anderson.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4@patoon that is true this season but every season is different. I’d say finishing 7-10 is about where we should aim Next season. It 7 to 10 places higher than we are now!
Hatem's better than Messi
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #5Dummett was offered a contract around the end of March if I remember correctly.
The rest have been disappointing.
Not sure about Gosling, like Vukic he seems talented, needs a run but always picks up injuries. If this is a problem and not just bad luck then both should be sold.
Unfortunately if we clear out will they be replaced?
The club have a habit of leaving us with a thin squad.
Where would we be if Cisse had picked up an injury just after the Jan window shut?
They take huge gambles to save cash.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #6@3 but wasn’t he the referee on gladiators?
23nufcAD
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #7ins
REMY
AUBAMEYANG
TOULANAN
BALDE
SAKHO
DOUGLAS
DE JONG
OUT
SIMPSON
COLOCINNI
OBERTAN
WILLIAMSON
GOSLING
AMALFITANO
FERGUSON
tell me what you think
eaststandgeordie1982
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #8This is a complete mess and pardumb still thinks we are playing good football and tells us we are, my eyes must be lying to my brain.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #9PPB,
Hello how are you, it probably didn’t but I’m not in a mood for reasoning today.
Hatem's better than Messi
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #10I think the point is Jonas has been exposed badly at LB in recent games v scum and citeh.
Jonas off HBA on and leave Haidara as LB, makes more sense.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #11@jfa lol ok mate
chris_g
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #12From previous thread
geordiejamie89 // Apr 21, 2013 at 9:00 AM said:
@ 51 whatever stats you follow are obviously wrong, I’m not having for a second that we’ve used more players than QPR in the league. In almost every position they have had more players in that spot. They’ve had countless transfers and loan players.
————————–
Sorry, but you’re the one that’s wrong. If you check here http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/171 and count the number of players you’ll find that QPR have used 29 players in the premier league this season. If you then check out the equivalent stats for Newcastle, you’ll find that we have used 32. You don’t need to take anyone’s word for it – just count the numbers for yourself.
cyprus
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #13Those 11 (plus the Ameobis, plus Amalfitano, Perch, even the Taylors etc) could leave Ed, if we want to go to another level. However we retain a good core: Krul, Debuchy, Mbiwa, Haidara, Davide, Sissoko, Tiote, Cisse, HBA, Marveaux, Jonas in a new more central role; all these, with the addition of a seriously good play maker (Cabaye tends to disappear from games, Anita too), two CF, and two fast and wily wingers, one CB, should see us challenging for honours. That is, the overall team is fine, we just need 5-6 game changers (which isn’t easy)
fatash
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #14There is only one person going out I am interested in that is Pardew to be replaced by a manager that understands tactics.
leeb1982
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #15All these players been listed as targets. How many want to come? Easier just to do this.
Out- pardew
In-manager with attacking minded play and a tactical brain to be tinker and change a game.
Honestly don’t think too many players are needed.A new manager alone could buy us 8 places
Patoon
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Comment #16Puppet Pardew’s Brainlessness
7-10 is wer we should hav been this year, with bein hit with injuries and losing demba ba but we signed 5 players in jan and if pardumb had done his job properly we’d b pusing for that position but he hasn’t and we’re fighting relegation, wot would david moyes not hav done with his team if he’d signed 5 players in jan
cyprus
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #17Thanks Chris_G for confirming what I’d said about us using the most players, although like I said I’d only heard T. Francis say it yesterday.
Grafton83
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #18Most of them can go if Carr has replacements in mind. The o e I want gone the most though is Pardew. After that off the top of my head:
Tiote
Colo
Jonas
Obertan
Gosling
Simmo
Santon
Willo
Patoon
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #19fatash
Agree, the clearout has to start with Pardumb and his coaching staff or dois he constantly tel his coaching staff to trust him, he has John Carver ther and he can’t b that stupid
Jail for Ashley
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #20Patoon,
Thats the funki g problem, people like you saying we should be 7th to 10th, how the fusk can a team finishing 5th aim for 7th to 10th the next season, do you attend games or have you fell hook line and sinker into Ashleys spiel.
jimmysmith
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Comment #21All those players mentioned in posts could easily be replaced, apart from Steven Taylor and James Perch, the very idea!
Salt of the earth the pair of them.
Beattie25
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Comment #22PPB
Why accept that mediocrity when a better manager would aim higher by virtue of confidence in his and the teams ability.
This season has no bearing on next as much as last season has no bearing on this.
The manager should simply say we are aiming to be back where we the talent in the team deserves to be.
Top 10 is lacking in any ambition whatsoever.
Name one top athlete or quality team that would aim to be in the best 50%?
You try for the top. You go out to win! That’s the hallmark of winners and the difference between great sportsmen and people who just compete.
Anybody I’m sport worth anything would never say ‘I want to do better’ they would say ‘I want to do the best I know I can do’.
Imagine if you will a 100 M runner like Asafa Powell. Not as good or fast as the the top 4 racers in the world but is on paper a really great runner.
Say he had a few injuries, a bit of bad luck and had a terrible season. What would be his aspirations for next? Just to compete?! No, he would aim to win races, get as many points on the board and try and unsettle the big boys.
It’s all about mentality and how you breed confidence in supporters, players and staff. How did you feel by those comments? I’d say about 90% of fans would feel deflated and that would echo amongst the playing team.
Is it good to dampen expectations and deflate people with 4 tough games left to play in a battle for relegation? Better to not say anything than that which has escapade his mouth.
BigKirky
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #23Also, I have to add about Di Canio’s impact at Sunderland so far from a coaching point of view.
From what I hear, he has an excellent belief in the Sports Science aspect of exercise and already has them doing things based around scientific research and has been working til midnight studying and doing work. He is not just a motivator as it looks from the outside, he is VERY thorough in his approach to how precise things are set up. Fitness wise and for bonding (Italian culture) purposes.
He is physically showing where players should go and precisely what they should be doing on the training pitch. He has cancelled their day off which they used to have as well as he says they only play 90 minutes on a Saturday. He wants more players in the opposition box when attacking as well.
I’m very impressed with what I’ve heard from them and it has shown already as we know what happened against us and the performance they put in and they got another win yesterday as well. The have the same players as O’Neil had, which are generally not in the class as ours and two clean sheets in the last two games.
I’m saying this, as this is an example of what coaching and philosophy can do.
Coaching and man management is massive within sport. Consider this with the quality players which we possess and something is greatly amiss.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #24@patoon yes but that’s not what happened, so realistically after the season we’ve had where do you think we should aim next year.
on moyes 5 signings for Everton or if he was our manager?
jimmysmith
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Comment #25Too slow, also salt of the earth, Colo, Jonas and Tiote.
Grafton83
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Comment #26Also I can’t pretend to know what goes on with clubs training, physios and injuries etc but there needs to be a full and frank review of how the club operates on that front before we can even think about climbing the table and challenging for honours.
If we had a good manager we should be knocking on the door of CL
davvruss
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #27agree a good clear is imminent. would keep simpson if he wants to stay. at least one striker and one cetre back is needed. striker in carroll mould for me to give us an option. shola has dona job over the years but now looks to shot. the squad was probably on the limit at start of season, but we have had more than our share of injuries, and little luck in front of goal. in addition rarely have we had the balance of refrees decision. it is scarily possible we could go down directly as the result of an awful decision at wigan. should have been a sending off, but mnainkly the last goal. corner given as a goal kick and then they score from a hand ball!!!!!!!!
Patoon
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #28Jail for Ashley
If you read my post i didn’t once say that we should hav aimed for that finish this season, i said after we signed 5 in jan that is wer could hav finished if pardumb had hav got his finger out as we wer already wel down the table by that time, open ur fckin eyes u big mouth prat
jimmysmith
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #29and santon, feck it!
stuart no9
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #30puppet @4 —- why not aim to win the prem?
jimmysmith
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #31and Santon, can’t sell him, that wouldn’t do at all, doesn’t bare even thinking about.
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #32@beattie. Good point we’ll made. I think pardew has said the wrong thing in a way the problem with your analogy is that asafa Powell was once a consistent winner and in the top 3. We a’re not. And certainly not with this squad so far.
I ask, realistically, with this squad and manager. Where will we finish next season?
Patoon
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #33Puppet Pardew’s Brainlessness
Wel with pardew in charge i just dont kno wer 2 aim but with the players we hav now and with a few signings in the summer i would think top 6 would b a more realistic challenge and a good cup run as wel
numba9
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:23 AM
Comment #34Been a 45 min team all season . Training must be wrong with all these injuries too and medical staff slow on the uptake . Take a hard look at why things in wrong and coincide that with no squad strengthening last summer that is why we are where we are
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Comment #35@Stuart true, but being a llittle more reserved than that perhaps lol. And if pardew said that you’d laugh him out of the door
leeb1982
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Comment #36Ppb
Somewhere between 18th in the PL and 15th in the championship
Grafton83
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Comment #37I think Santon will go to Milan despite what he’s said. MA will accept a decent offer for him which is why he’s on my out list. Would prefer him here though
Hatem's better than Messi
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Comment #38@31
Anywhere between 5th and relegated.
Depending on luck, referees, injuries, cup runs (heaven forbid – fixture overload), youngsters, fans …
noladonna
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #39the pardew mind fcuk dont work on me
Ben3arfa
Apr 21, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #40WHETHER YOU HATE REMY FOR TURNING US DOWN OR NOT .
HE IS AN AMAZING PLAYER AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HIM PLAY FOR US