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.
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257 comments so far
Ketsbaia9
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:40 PM
Comment #241Haha those English players aren’t good enough for us. Ince is poor.If Paul wasn’t his dad, we wouldn’t even be mentioning him. We need world class players (i.e. Eriksen, Alderweireld). Personally, I think we’ll sign Siem De Jong, Gomis and a winger in january.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Comment #242Check,
You haven’t said a word about Ashley pretty much all summer and yet after a couple of wins your prasing him for the recruitment policy that has seen us relegated, almost relegated and thrown away a golden opportunity to push on. Bravo Check.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:49 PM
Comment #243Going to Siberia on a magic carpet. Be back soon.
scout
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Comment #244Watching a greyhound on a treadmill is exercise enough for me
kilcline
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Comment #245Watching kets mum bounce up and down on me is enough exercise.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 15, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Comment #246Don’t get personal please.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:01 PM
Comment #247Looking forward to seeing Aly Cissokho at Liverpool. Brendan Rogers has completely transformed them. They were heading the wrong way under Dalgleish.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:06 PM
Comment #248Interesting Kets, I personall thought they were heading very much in the right direction under Dalgleish.
scout
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:07 PM
Comment #249If we beat hull Saturday it’s an immense start to the season, it’ll be a tough game. Bruce has got them playing some good stuff
mattnufc
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:13 PM
Comment #250This blog is heading the wrong way with Kets.
9
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Comment #251JFA @248
Surely you jest?????
On past form (on an NUFC topic) Gomis in January can’t be very far short of a done deal already?
Ketsbaia9
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:16 PM
Comment #252Gomis can hit that onion bag. Would be a good coup. Should’ve snapped up Mauro Zarate and Alderweireld though.
toonarmydownsouth
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:18 PM
Comment #253Bills
You have lost what ever remaining credibility you had left with the “your not a true fan your bit from round here” bollox
Complete idiot
4 games into the season and your bosom buddy mikey boy is forgiven
Pathetic
How many fans/players/ex players/pundits/ex managers/current manager have to continually publicly state were only 3-4 players off of seriously competing?
Yet Ashley still doesn’t act
The bloke has zero ambition, and you know as well as the rest of us he would of sold damn near every and any player if a club came in for big money and we all know it wouldn’t of been spent
You say what other club would of held on when the could pocket an £8 mil profit, um how about Spurs Everton Wigan, all sold a top player all held out for a huge fee and guess what all replaced the player and then some
Sadly judging by your argument stance today your only ambition seems to be its hunky dory as long as we’re doing better than the Mackems
Jail for Ashley
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #2549,
No, I jest not, they were heading for midtable obscurity very much like ourselves which I thought was the right direction for them !
toonarmydownsouth
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Comment #2559
Why wait until January every time? Why not actually start a season with a full squad capable of competing for the full campaign?
And what makes you think gomis is a given? He’s stated we pulled out of the deal over payments and wages and as of jan, OM, his preferred destination, can sign him on a pre contract
DevonToon
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Comment #2565 hours late… but f##k a play off system! Its dumb enough in the championship… team who finishes highest after a long season has earned their place.. end off! Football does not need americanising!
Uncertain Toon
Sep 15, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Comment #257Is that Marcelino ripping off skysports as a studio analyst for Malaga game?
I’ve seen it all now!