If anybody had told us after the Manchester City game that after four game played we would be level on points with the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, we would have asked them what they had been smoking.
Vurnon Anita had another solid game yesterday
But that’s the current situation, after Manchester City dropped two points at Stoke yesterday, and Chelsea suffered their first defeat at Everton.
And suddenly Newcastle are in the upper half of the table and we even looked a good attacking side yesterday, and were solid at the back, although Tim Krul is not at his best at the moment.
Here’s what Alan Pardew said in the local press today:
“The most important thing at our football club is the team. They carry the flag, they carry the banner. For the first time today since Demba Ba left, we carried an attacking threat a Newcastle team should have.”
“Loic Remy has boosted that. I think it puts the opposition on the back foot a bit, and that makes a big different to how you control the game.” “We got more players into the box today.”
“Hatem got the simplest goal he will ever score because he got into the box and that’s something we’ve encouraged him to do.” “I thought we controlled the first-half. “
“We came under pressure in the second, but we played really well.” “Hatem Ben Arfa was brilliant. I thought some of the reaction two weeks ago was over the top, but it can’t be over the top this week.”
“When you are a manager of Newcastle, and you talk about the Europa League and injuries, it sounds like rotten excuses, but we had our best players available today, and anyone who was at the game would say when that happens we look a good team.”
“If we can keep them all fit then we can have a good season.”
Of course we cannot get carried away, but two successive league wins is always good, and it certainly gives out players that extra confidence.
And it should be a good game on Saturday against newly promoted Hull City, and we hope we get a good turn our to cheer on our players.
Every league game is tough, whoever we are playing, and the last time we met Hull at St. James’ Park was the first game after Kevin Keegan had left the club in early September of 2008.
And we surprisingly lost that game 2-1, and Danny Guthrie was sent off in stoppage time as he kicked out at a Hull player in sheer frustration.
And our new signing at the time, Xisco, made his debut for the club and scored the Newcastle goal, and we all know what happened that season, which turned out to be an absolute disaster for the club.
But we are back with the big boys now, and there’s even some evidence we may be able to give the top sides a game this season.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
257 comments so far
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Comment #81Since we got promoted Sunderland have had three managers, bought practically a new team every season, hardly one signing has been of any success, they have finished below us every season and they have a buffoon of a manager and currently sit bottom of the Prem with one point.
Now THAT imo is a club in crisis.
Ellis Short out.
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:53 PM
Comment #82Bills
As for my arrogance how about your own, are you so arrogant that you can’t accept that all it takes is an injury to Remy, or Gouffran or Cabaye to take this lovely house of cards crashing down?
toonking
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Comment #83palace Swansea should be an interesting game next weekend. Swansea have so far W1 L2 and we have W2 D1 and L2 ok Swansea did have a hard start but these days results can never be predicted ie Cardiff V city villa V arsenal.
I didn’t see the full game yesterday because I was coming back from a 2day cycle ride so only watched the 1hour highlights. what I saw from them shows that team is about as good as it gets and with HBA and remy on either side it means now we have decent threats from both ends also cabaye can play as the middle man.
with the 4-2-3-1 (which is how sky put it) yesterday what I saw make the difference was cabaye’s position and our LW
last season the midfield was in such a mess with no decent service from the LW as Jonas was the main man and in the CAM was sissoko who I think is more decent in a tiote role also HBA was constantly having to go into the centre due the the lack of support from other midfielders and cisse was always offside.
the thing I think has changed the most is debuchy and santon are starting to realize just how quick players are in the premier league so they can’t afford to get forward too much because it messes the midfield up totally with CDM now going wide L/R wingers going central forcing the FB to get all the way to the otherside where as if they remain in their own half the wide men now have got more players in the centre and can therefore be a threat himself from the width.
my only worry is injuries especially to the forward and width.
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #84JackBuler,
My question was the answer to your question.
I”d ask exactly the same question to Shearer, Rob Lee, Ginola and the rest of them – and I’d love to hear them answer it.
JackButler
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #85bills-son
Tino, Rob Lee, Shearer and Harper – All men that are far better informed and in a far better position to speak about how the club is being run than us have all spoken about the poor way Ashley is running the club. If you want to simply ignore that and continue to blindly follow Ashley and co then fine mate, good luck to you.
When a man like Harper who has been a part of this club for his entire career speaks out I’ll listen to him and his views more.
“If the club was a body, the fans are the heart.” “It’s a cliché, but the fans do bleed black and white. They are its heartbeat, but the link between the brain and the heart is no longer there.”
“Newcastle are bleeding and if that isn’t addressed, if the wound is not allowed to heal, whatever is special about the club is in danger of dying.” “The fans make the club tick, but they feel detached from it.”
“Whenever the club has done well over, the fans have been on board. They have been fully behind their team, their club.” “I think their loyalty has been tested far too often in recent years.”
“It’s one of the great clubs, but it should be competing amongst the very best in Europe. It’s getting harder and harder to break on to the top table and opportunities have been missed.”
“We finished fifth a couple of years ago, but to sustain that you need investment in the team.” “If I had a message to Mike Ashley it would be to engage with the fans, to repair that relationship. It’s not totally broken, but it doesn’t just need a plaster on it, it needs to be fixed.”
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #86Now he’s using tired comparisons to Sunderland. Compare us to Middlesbrough, we look great compared to them. Or better yet, compare us to Gateshead or Blythe Spartans. We’re Barca compared to them!
Clutching at straws Bills.
Blofal
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Comment #87Ciaran… its the league cup… who cares if we lose. The FA cup is the one I’d fight for. The idea is to develop our players and sitting on the bench or playing reserves doesnt help our younger players get anywhere near the first team. They need to be either loaned or played.
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Comment #88Blofal
For a club that hasn’t won anything – even the League Cup – since 1969, can we afford to be arrogant about what trophies we want to win?
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Comment #89Bills,
Sunderland finished above us in 10/11, below in 11/12 and if we are taking in last season as a positive, then 2 points above them, 1 place and 10 worse off in goal difference.
I don’t think anyone is pointing out Sunderland as a shining light though, so to bring that into the argument shows you have very little to actually back up your points.
Rooster
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Comment #90Lets see if Pardew changes a winning team, I don’t count Cisse in that cos he was awful and he will play him anyway, Tiote back in for Anita I would say is what Pardew will do, Gouffron should be in from the start.
Pardews Team v Hull
Krul
Debuchy
Santon
Mbiwa
Colo
Tiote
Cabaye
Sissoko
Benny
Remy
Cisse.
The Benny n Remy show!
MAUTITOON
Sep 15, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Comment #91Ecstatic about yesterday’s away win since i didn’t expect anything of the sort.wonderful spirit by the players,and great job by sir ALAN PARDEW.AT LEAST he is the only person bravely facing the toon fans unlike others in moments of turmoil,doom and gloom.Got to admire him for that and i sincerely hope that he reaps the merit of those acts with unlimited success with the toon army.Keep on the great work sir ALAN,it will not take long for u too to become a LEGEND.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #92Bills,
Especially to mention them and be factually wrong about the point you are trying to make
MacToon
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Comment #93bills-son // Jun 2, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Well, this next window really is the one that will show us how much ambition MA has for NUFC. He has learnt last season that the first team squad wasn’t strong enough, the ‘promising youngsters’ weren’t ready or good enough and that his policy of take it or leave it offers can work very well – but when it doesn’t he needs nailed on alternatives.
I think Ashley will pull the rug out from the doomsayers – smug solano especially – by making some sensational signings.
If we have a poor window I promise to admit I was an idiot for being fooled by Ashley and I’ll totally withdraw my support for him.
—————————————–
There is no point engaging this poster in any reasoned arguements, clearly stockholm syndrome has taken hold 😉
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #94Ciaran,
I agree, any trophy is one worth fighting for, particularly when realistically you only have 2 options. To write one off in favour of a more competitive trophy is a crazy suggestion.
Roppa
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #95Williamsonsuks #18
Link for the full match:
http://www.footballorgin.com/2013/09/premier-league-2013-2014-aston-villa-v_15.html?m=1
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #96Bills
If I had to point to a time where you might seem credible, I’d have thought it would be after an excellent away victory. However, it seems that you cannot even manage that, so how do you think you’d be received after a disappointing home defeat this season?
The Mike Ashley express is on a one way ticket out of here, hopefully sooner rather than later, and I cannot wait to see that fat, arrogant, b*****d out of the club we love.
To say your opinion saddens me is an understatement.
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Comment #97Lilongwe
If we won the League Cup I think I’d have to discount a month from my life as a write off because I would just be celebrating constantly! Haha
MacToon
Superb. There it is in black and white people. Bills, hold your hands up and save some dignity lad.
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Comment #98Ciaran,
Asley takes credit because the team contained Krul, Santon, Cabaye, HBA and Cisse – all players that you and others forecast that the FGB Ashley would sell. What part of Ashley not cashing in don’t you get??
Lilongwe,
I’m fed up saying that I’m pi$$ed off that we didn’t sign another CF and CB, fed up saying I blame Ashley for hiring Kinnear who has clearly screwed up. Does that mean I’m going to join the hysterical screaming Ashley haters – absolutely not.
I”ve consistently said before a ball was kicked that Pardew should be given ten games to see what he can do with this squad – he’s made a decent start.
Take all of the hype away and my position is and always has been that Ashley is nowhere near the catastrophically bad owner that many claim him to be. And a damn sight better that every one we’ve had bar possibly John Hall – who trousered millions from the club for him and his sponging son.
Blofal
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Comment #99Ciaran your right. We should take our relatively small squad thats just a couple of injuries away from a relegation battle like last season and play our strongest team in all games and leave our younger players bereft of experience to try and break into the first team based on their performances in the reserves?
Unless you have the money to field squads like the top 4 you have to pick what your going to go for. How many times have we seen teams win cups and get relegated in the same season? Pardew wants a run at the FA cup. So lets see if some of the youngsters can surprise us in the League cup.
Rooster
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Comment #100Jack Butler, those were great words from Harper, that’s the thing the detachment of emotions, the cold blooded way of BUSINESS that is being used and as I have supported MA plenty in the past, I don’t mind saying he has really got to stop the bullshitting with the fans, all summer, I could have smacked the twast for treating us with contempt this summer, Bills, I always understand your arguments, but he mugged us off big time this summer and two wrongs don’t make a right, a couple of decent wins, same patten, like yesterday,we did play canny goa goal up then sit deeper, that’s the gameplan, and hope for another on the break, with Remy n Benny we have that option of course, but everything isn’t hunky dory in the big picture, it cant just be brushed over, take it day in day out, im not just agreeing with someone to save face if I don’t agree with their actions, and MA has ahell of a lot of making up to do along wit Pardew and JK.
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Comment #101Bills
I never thought, or said he would sell any of those players, had a fear he might though. It’s not good enough to just think it’s a success that we didn’t sell our top players.
Lilongwe Geordie
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Comment #102Bills,
In that case, to praise Ashley for the squad we have doesn’t make sense! You have said there that we are lacking players in the squad, so just because most of the squad is fit doesn’t make Ashley right. That is an incredibly short term view!
I agree, he isn’t as bad as some make out, and he has done some good things in his time he doesn’t get credit for by many. I’d love him gone, I’m realistic enough to know it is unlikely, and I’d prefer him to learn from his errors, rather than statements saying they have, right before he drops another bollock.
Anyway, far too nice a say here to argue with someone who has been shown not to be able to accept other views or alter thoughts despite claiming they will, so I’m off to enjoy the sun and walk the dog. Enjoy!
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:16 PM
Comment #103Blofal
You’re describing what is wrong with Mike Ashley. We should have a squad capable of competing in the PL and all the cups. We should be giving the cups a go, as I think we won’t get relegated.
So if our ambition is to only stay in the league, shouldn’t we at least give the cups a go?
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Comment #104MacToon,
I am an idiot for thinking Ashley would keep all of our best players AND sign two or three marquee signings.
Now – does that make you and Ciaran feel better?
Look at the team and bench we had yesterday. Are we a joke club in crisis with an FGB owner who sells for profit?
Answer that.
JackButler
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Comment #105Ashley isn’t to blame for the way the club is being run….neither is Kinnear or Pardew.
The one and only thing that is killing this club off is the apathy of it’s fans……….by allowing his to continually get away with running us the way he is we are simply allowing his to continue with no recource
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Comment #106Bills
You’re disingenuous for going back on your word, and that’s why you’ve been pulled up and you know that.
JackButler
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Comment #107bills-son
Look at the team and bench when we pick up injuries and suspensions and we will be in crisis
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Comment #108Ciaran,
You say – I never thought or said he would sell any of those players, had a fear he might though.
What the fk does that mean?
A definite maybe and cover your ar$e in all directions statement.
Ciaran
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #109Bills
You’re certainly in no position to be pulling anyone up on the validity of their statements right now are you?
MacToon
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Comment #110Bills, you are taking the fact we didn’t sell any “purple” players as an act of kindness but at the same time didn’t improve on the situation, classic stockholm syndrome. Think you need to take a big deep breath and think about it.
For the record, I think Remy is a good player and gutted we didn’t buy him in January, if we had I think the situation would have been so different over the summer.
Don’t understand why JFK was brought in to get one player on loan and guess Carr must be gutted spending so much time building dossiers on players for no apparent reason (OK so I’m exaggerating to make a point).
JackButler
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Comment #111MacToon
We couldn’t even get that loan deal for Remy with an option to buy such is the football acumen of Kinnear and co
welshgeordie9
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Comment #112I wonder if we will sign anybody in January.
bills-son
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Comment #113JackButler
If Bony and Michu get injured who have Swansea got in reserve?
I could go on. You can make the injuries and suspension argument for just about every club bar the top four.
We are FAR better off than we were last year especially now that the Jan five are bedded in and Remy is here. Not perfect but nowhere near as bad as you make out.
welshgeordie9
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Comment #114I wonder if we will sign anybody in January
JackButler
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Comment #115welshgeordie9
If we are comfortable in mid table then no we wont sign anyone, but if we are threatened by a relegation fight no doubt Ashley will open the cheque book…………….just like last January
Mister Tuff
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Comment #116welsh – of course we will – in the clothing trade – the January Sales are the most important period of the year.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Comment #117As I said in a previous post, the reason the fat man never sold Cabaye is simply because he didn’t have to, Arsenal apparently offered market value which Ashley knows he will get anyway as soon as Cabaye refuses his slightly improved new deal, the bigger picture is the extra TV money every year, the only gamble being that we don’t get relegated, like I have said many times before we have an owner famous for his lovce of casinos’, but prefers gambling with our demise rather than our success.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Comment #118Bills,
However he is he’s probably better than Shola Ameobi.
toonking
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #119ruddy
we will still have some decent enough players that will be starting the game debuchy the CM and probably HBA.
the key point blofal making refers to how vunerable the left side can be to even 1 injury.
remy and santon are 2 players who I can see switching about sometime this year. if debuchy got injured for instance we stuck so would have to shift santon their which then leaves us with only dummett. then of course comes remy who at the minute is our best threat from the LW but he is only just getting match fit also their is a court case and if cisse gets injured he will have to go to a striker and marvo I think is just not interested because he has had as many chances as anita had this year to prove being a start but has did nothing even Sammy deserves more chance than marvo. so the worst thing in the world would be we are forced to play players who have got little XP in league game especially ones fans expect a win, so these cup game help give provide some XP and learning to handle pressure.
my team for the cup would go
___________Elliot_____
debuchy_saylor_good_dummett
HBA___gosling__vuckic_sammy
______shola____goufran___
subs cabaye anita cisse colo remy santon krul
another thing all this does ruddy is it will force more pressure onto the starting 11 of league games to do well which is what cisse still doesn’t seem to be doing.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #120* Whoever