It will be almost impossible for Newcastle to make the top four in the Premier League this season, and maybe the best we can do is 5th or 6th place at best.
Alan Pardew – would he welcome the Europa League next season?
And if we do well and go on another winning run after our two successive defeats, then Newcastle could even qualify again for the Europa League, and heaven forbid, if we have a good run in the FA Cup and get to the final we could even qualify that way as well.
Over the last few seasons we’ve seen some poor sides represent England in the Europa League, and that’s because the winners of the FA Cup and the League Cup qualify, or even the losers can qualify under certain circumstances, while in most other European countries the Europa League positions are given to those clubs who finish highest in the league table.
And so we’ve had even relegated sides like Birmingham and Wigan be in the Europa League over the last few seasons, and that’s one reason the PL is now rated second behind the Spanish League in Europe.
And it’s interesting that Sunderland and West Ham – bottom and second bottom of the league at the moment – are in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Of course if the FA stop sending the winners of these local Cups to Europe then they would very quickly degenerate and top sides would simply play their second elevens, as some top teams do now.
The Europa League is nothing like the Champions League and there are more games, less money and less prestige than the Champions League, and some English teams have struggled with so many games to play.
Swansea are doing a Newcastle this season, and they just don’t have a big enough squad to do well in both leagues, much like Newcastle last season, and Swansea have also suffered a lot of injuries so far this season.
One change the Europa League must make is to stop sending sides who have failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League (CL) and finish 3rd in their group, down to the Europa League (EL).
The way it works right no is a source of extra games and CL teams make up eight teams of the final 32 of the EL – only teams who start in the competition should be able to win the competition – and maybe the group stages end up with 16 teams left – which is what happens in the Champions League.
Those changes would make the EL just like the CL in terms of format and the number of games played – and that’s the way it should be surely.
And Chelsea became the first holders of the Champions League not to qualify for the knockout stages o that competition last season – but they ended up winning the Europa League. 🙁
Of course if Newcastle are to become a top side again, then we will need to be in Europe, and have the squad to cope with the extra games.
Let us know if would like to see Newcastle in the Europa League next season.
Comments welcome.
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196 comments so far
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:37 AM
Comment #41Newcastle reaching Europe don’t make me laugh, we got beat by a out of form WBA, we played a pathetic 4-4-2 again with Shola up top but we had a strong team to play a 4-3-3 and we could of destroyed them but noooo AP got it wrong again.
P.S i don’t see any signings coming this transfer window so don’t get your hopes up guys
nufc7lad
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:40 AM
Comment #42Cabella should be available for £7m, they need money as they arent in europe and they could potentially be relegated
Rotonda heights
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:40 AM
Comment #43Used to be a massive krul fan and still think he is great keeper but his distribution is appalling. Worse than that his holding on the ball so long and then just hoofing it to Shola. He never throws it out quickly to get an attack going.
We have all these superbly technical foreign players but 2 dark age English dinosaurs in Pardew and JFK so we will never see their true potential realised. If I was Cabella I’d run a mile!
Marty-Toon
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Comment #44Swansea did well against City
But the Swans are way ahead of us in footballing terms,the way they play the ball and move.
They actually had over 50% of the play against City in Wales
Unless we play at our best and have the 5man midfield we should’ve had at west Brom then we won’t get a sniff
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:45 AM
Comment #45we played against a very tired Swansea team and still we got battered 3-0.
we have a team to reach CL but we don’t have the manager for it.
defend first attack last this is Pardew’s style
martoon
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:46 AM
Comment #46Some interesting odds for January tranfers here
http://www.skybet.com/football/specials/transfer-specials?aff=9718&dcmp=ss_betlink_transtab
The 3 that caught my eye were:-
Cabaye 2:1 to move to PSG
Demba Ba 7:1 to move back to us
and the most surprising (to me anyway)
Phil Jagielka 9:1 favourite for a move to us.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:48 AM
Comment #47martoon
Ince 14-1 to sign for us but we were favourites a couple of months ago lol
jazzyp
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Comment #48I know we are only 2 days in to the transfer window but hasn’t anyone noticed something missing from the nufc blog………………….yes you got it The resident ITK’s have yet to make an appearance yet !!
But in all seriousness I do think our best 11 is a match for any pl side but behind the first 11 we are so so lacking in everyway.Remy cabella would be an excellent acquisition to the squad and I think business would be done for around the 10 mill mark, But again this will comw down to our favourite word in the transfer window Ambition
sweendog
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Comment #49don’t rule out ince as we have our quota of non British home grown .. this is probably why the only cb we’ll get is that 17 year old mind you if you’re good enough you’re old enough
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Comment #50sell Cabaye for 20-25 million, sack Pardew give the git the 10 million, bring in Laudrup and spend the 10-15 million on strengthening the squad.
now this would make a fantastic new year
sweendog
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:55 AM
Comment #51#50 agreed imagine the difference to the sqyad s performance .. we can dream
Rotonda heights
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Comment #52WBA wree an abysmal team who we should have murdered if we didn’t have such a defensive manager
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Comment #53i thought MA was skint? and couldn’t bring in any players unless we sell
sweendog
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Comment #54mind you I wouldn’t sell cabaye .. he’s the gel in our team ..and our best player debuchy is his best mate
jazzyp
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Comment #55Black and white
You may be on to a winner there bud.
Sweendog
May be there is business to be done on ince with gosling going the other way as there in talks on gosling doing a permanent deal in this transfer window ??
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Comment #56sweendog
true we can all dream i think that’s why Football manager is awesome and a top selling franchise 🙂
sweendog
Jan 2, 2014 at 11:59 AM
Comment #57rotonda they were shocking . the motd highlights papered over how bad they were .. if we attacked more that game it was an easy 3 points .. I usually back pardew but after that performance he’s dead wood
wolfshead@toon
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:00 PM
Comment #58same old nufc fans two losses in a row its crisis time and the solution is? sack the manager lol
Rotonda heights
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:01 PM
Comment #59Black and white
Even when in good or even great positions Pardew shows why he has never achieved anything with his fatal obstinacy. With respect he is an ex – glazier while Wenger is a man with 5 degrees who is nicknamed ”the professor” !!
Think Spurs have done well just like Chelsea when they sacked AVB. Got in an youngish, popular with the players, ex -player.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:01 PM
Comment #60sweendog
same here mate i wouldn’t sell Cabaye, but if it gets us a new attacking/possession style manager like Laudrup and to bring players like Ince, Matunda, Gomis, Cabella i’m all for it.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:02 PM
Comment #61wolfshead@toon
we got to keep the ball rolling mate lol
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Comment #62Rotonda heights
how about bringing Shearer back? with our current team and Shearers knowledge of attacking play it could work?
jazzyp
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Comment #63Would like to stay clear of gomis to be honest.But if we were to bag him for around 2-3 mill then that’s got to be a better option than shola for sure
Phatoon
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Comment #64As much as I’m disappointed about the last 2 games. I would have ripped your arm off, if you had offered me the position we are in now, at the end of last season.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:07 PM
Comment #65jazzyp
defo mate, i don’t rate Gomis at all but like you said he’s an better option than Shola
Rotonda heights
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:08 PM
Comment #66Wolfshead
And the same old deluded sad acts who thought it would last are back as well.
Where in any part of Pardew’s CV have the words consistently good appeared?
Yes it’s 2 defeats but it’s crucial defeats at a crucial time which completely undo any positive previous results and momentum.
Both defeats with good management and a bit of nous were avoidable but oh no let’s flog ’em to death and see if we can just nick 1 goal ! The guy never learns and is why his trophy cabinet like the club’s, is empty
Rotonda heights
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Comment #67blacka nd white
not sure shearer’s the answer with his ego and previous management record but for a team to just average 3 shots on goal in the last 2 games is pathetic and shows where proper coaching is needed.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Comment #68Phatoon
even the season Pardew got us 5th i still didn’t want him here, he’s no good at all sure we’ve beaten Man U & Chelsea but even worse managers have done this look at the mackems against Man city and Chelsea
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Comment #69Rotonda heights
very true mate, we seem to be the only attacking side team who would rather defend and have Goal against record as a achievement rather than goal for
jazzyp
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:17 PM
Comment #70Rotonda
To be fair mate shearer tuck over a squad that was already screwed and was going nowhere apart from the hallowed gates of the championship. I think the best thing for shearer would be to step in as a no 2 role and learn from a top manager for a number of years before dropping in to management if this was to be his path
Belfast
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:18 PM
Comment #71Big fat no from me. Not with the current owner.
Lack of investment and you’ll end up in the exact same situation as last season.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:18 PM
Comment #72jazzyp
true mate i could see Shearer becoming the next Jose Mourinho
kilcline
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:19 PM
Comment #73We should be looking to tie up Ince and a quality striker, nothing else is needed.
Ince would give us much needed pace and goals/assists.
BuckLuck
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:20 PM
Comment #74Pardew has done a good job in my eyes this season. Better than I expected so I can’t complain much about that. Credite where credite is due.
When that’s said I think our next step, IF Ashley want’s to evolve and make us a top 6 team, is to hire a new manager. Preferably in the Laudrup category. You don’t need to look any further than to Rodgers, Martinez and Laudrup to see what a modern and attacking manager can do with a squad previously ran by old fashioned(although proved) managers.
It would be far more effective to use a good sum of money on a Laudrup type of manager and buy one or two players, rather than giving Pardew five new players. Pardew is not a modern manager, and he won’t be one either.
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:21 PM
Comment #75kilcline
and Ince is an natural winger on both sides which we don’t have and is what we seriously need
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:23 PM
Comment #76BuckLuck
like i said on my post @50, if this happens it will be good times at Newcastle again
Himanshu Dhingra
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:26 PM
Comment #77indykaila News ?@indykaila 5m
Sorry WestHam, Newcastle just made Johnny Heitinga a better offer. #WHUFC #NUFC
Black and White with an army lol
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:29 PM
Comment #78imagine what laudrup could do with us, Marvuex would be epic as a winger/playmaker and even Obertan could play like Routledge quick and deadly with pace.
but we all know this will never happen, mates before ambition this is MA strategy 🙁
BuckLuck
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Comment #79Black and White
Agree with you then!
That would be a fantastic 2014. Look what Pardew is able to do with our current squad and think of what a modern manager could transform us into. With the players we have we would probably entertain even when loosing without bringing new players in. A couple of new players and we would compete with Everton, Man Utd(at the current state) and perhaps Tottenham.
Instead we’re happy with a top 8 finish. At least I am with Pardew at the helm.
Belfast
Jan 2, 2014 at 12:31 PM
Comment #80Apparently Heitinga has rejected west ham for us.
Strange one that if true. Though I think he can play in about 5 different positions