Newcastle have suffered two 3-0 defeats in their last two games, a 3-0 humiliation at home against Sunderland – even though the Black Cats are still in 4th bottom place in the league table and just one point above the relegation zone, and then yesterday at Stamford Bridge we lost 3-0 against top of the table Chelsea – who were also in very good form yesterday.
Alan Pardew – injuries and suspensions weaken Newcastle side
And with Coloccini, Tiote, Debuchy and Cisse not available on Wednesday night against Spurs at home, and Loic Remy still having one game of his three match suspension to serve on Wednesday night, it could again be another tough game for Newcastle.
And since we went seven wins in nine league games, ending when we hammered 9 man Stoke 5-1 – we now have one win in seven, and we’ve failed to score in the other six league games – so to say the very least, things have not gone well since we hammered Stoke City for our best win of the season.
Alan Pardew has said the injuries are what’s making Newcastle non competitive in some of these games – and he could be right – even though that’s an excuse.
And for the second season running the back-up players seem to be struggling when they get their chance in the Newcastle first team – although yesterday it was good to see young Sammy Ameobi look the part on Newcastle’s left wing.
Hopefully, once we get past Tottenham and play in two weeks time at home to Aston Villa – the last 13 games should be a lot easier and with our best players back fit again – hopefully we can start to win some games.
Here’s the schedule after Spurs:
February
Sun 23 13:30 H Aston Villa
March
Sat 01 15:00 A Hull City Sun 09 16:00 H Everton Sat 15 15:00 A Fulham Sat 22 15:00 H Crystal Palace Sat 29 15:00 A Southampton
April
Sat 05 15:00 H Man United Sat 12 15:00 A Stoke City Sat 19 15:00 H Swansea City Sat 26 15:00 A Arsenal
May
Sat 03 15:00 H Cardiff City Sun 11 15:00 A Liverpool
The two toughest games are two of the last three – away to Arsenal and away to Liverpool and we don’t expect to get much out of those games.
But the other eleven games are all winnable – and we are hoping Newcastle can still have a good run-in to the season, as doubtful as that may look at the moment.
Yes – we put in the headline an improvement was guaranteed – but of course it isn’t – but we wanted to be a little bit positive – and maybe help lift the spirits of Newcastle fans – which must be down at the moment – if what we feel is any guide. 😀
Supporting Newcastle United was never easy of course – at the best of times.
But in the summer, Newcastle must have a big rethink about what the club wants to do – where do Newcastle want to be when we grow up?
It seems that a big clear-out and bringing in at least four top players in the summer must be an absolute minimum.
And Newcastle must get more ambitious if we are ever to build a top side again.
But there we go again – just like a broken record.
Howay The Lads!!
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 on us on Google+
307 comments so far
Belfast
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:41 PM
Comment #281Ah shit ex pat, that’s a lot of complaints for every time you’ve been on the blog. Lol
I’ve never complained about you, for what it’s worth.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:42 PM
Comment #282Expat
He didn’t come back in for colo Taylor did 🙁
No wonder the lads sick.
Belfast
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:44 PM
Comment #283The Willo/Mbiwa partnership was the best we’ve defended all season imo.
Strange that we’ve never tried it again.
expatmag
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:45 PM
Comment #284BELFAST
Thank you, kind sir
REBECCA
Yes, I know and I thought it was disgraceful. I honestly think we should have sold Taylor to Norwich when we had the chance.
expatmag
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:48 PM
Comment #285BELFAST
Yes, it seems strange indeed.
Pardew playing his favourites again
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:50 PM
Comment #286Expat
I’d give him away.. He’s got more chance of a oscar than a England cap.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:52 PM
Comment #287TDS you say, “Anyone claiming an off form player has been ‘Pardewed’ knows very little about football.”
Anyone thinking that a statement like that advances a point knows very little about argument.
expatmag
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:53 PM
Comment #288REBECCA
I said on a previous thread that we should sell him in the summer and replace him with a young up and coming lad like Harry McGuire from Sheffield United.
We need a few more English born players in our squad especially with Shola and Giosling going.
Ibizatoon
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:54 PM
Comment #289Bit late now no doubt, however…
Don’t pay too much attention to what Belfast “hears”, as all he hears comes from himself, his carer or Twitter.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 10:58 PM
Comment #290Expat
I’m trying not to think about transfers as I think we’re going to need at least 6 permanent signings in summer but just can’t see it.
After the man city city game this year he should never be allowed in team again, handled it twice before being sent off and loves a piggy back on the opo’s striker. I find him a embarrassment to. 🙁
Belfast
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:06 PM
Comment #291I’m an upstanding member of the blog community Ibiza.
Petty attempts to assassinate my character will not be tolerated.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:08 PM
Comment #292Rebecca – You reckon a big part of SD’s massive profits derives from its links to NUFC. Its massive business profits are derived almost entirely from its fantastic business model.
You yourself were arguing that SD was so much bigger than NUFC and asked where I thought Mikey got the cash to buy NUFC. This shows that SD was a major success before NUFC.
You’re not Rebecca Tylee-Birdsall are you, in which case I will defer to your greater knowledge and accept what you say?
Ibizatoon
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:13 PM
Comment #293“I’m an upstanding member of the blog community Ibiza.” – Belfast.
“Petty attempts to assassinate my character will not be tolerated.” – Belfasts carer.
I hope you’re all finding this helpful.
On the subject of whether NUFC has helped SD grow…For sure. Has NUFC made SD? No, it has helped.
Do we really want to debate to what degree it has helped?
Belfast
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:15 PM
Comment #294I don’t actually mind Taylor tbh
Prefer Mbiwa though.
Willo and Mbiwa seemed a good pairing.
Strange, but most of Pardews team selections and subs seem strange, so hardly suprising.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:17 PM
Comment #295So you see no links in SD opening in France and our French players?
What did Ashley tell hall he wanted NUFC for….
To push SD worldwide
I’ said we aren’t the sole reason part of it, can it be a coincidence the year after he loses 400mil then starts advertising all over SJP then changes the name all the trouble that went on and during the time opening shops in France just at the time it’s plastered all over the news.
Last years problems were pretty much a launch party for SD in France.
If you think none of it’s linked fair enough, but listen to the words of the man him self. Read John Halls interview in the Chronicle when he talks about why he sold and what Asley said.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:18 PM
Comment #296Rebecca @ 278
I agree. There’s something badly wrong somewhere when players just seem to drop from the scene without trace. The kids were great one minute, according to Pardew, and then they have a bad showing in a cup game, and they’re suddenly just not good enough.
I’ll never get my head around Pardew playing Adam Campbell so often – and on the left. He can’t get anyway near the first team now; I’m surprised his confidence wasn’t wrecked after Pardew played him completely out of position in tense games.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Comment #297Ibiza
No not really
jimmysmith
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:22 PM
Comment #298Yeah, I agree, we will need half a dozen signings in the close season. And even pre supposing we got them, which would be a long bow based on what we’ve seen up to now, then you’ve got to bed them in and also hope they are all gonna do the business. Cinder in snow stuff. Can’t see any Newcastle side over the next 18 months being as good as the side we were putting out only as recently as a month or so ago.
jimiley
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:24 PM
Comment #299With a bit of luck we can still make top 5.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:24 PM
Comment #300Blacklee
That’s why I don’t buy the squads not big enough, fair enough their not topping quality but they deserve way more than they get.
I’m disappointed with coaching from youth to first team, when Ashley stopped Pardew getting more coaching staff in summer I though he was ready to sell but no.
petey
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:32 PM
Comment #301Lol…cabaye already bumped to the bench for PSG. Big match for them as well away at Monaco.
Belfast
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Comment #302Carer ?
I’m beginning to worry about that man and his fence.
Seems he’s on the crystal meth again, or coming down of it.
Anyway,Goodnight and farewell.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:37 PM
Comment #303Rebecca
SJH said, “I was told that the man behind the deal was Mike Ashley and I sat with his representatives over 3 days thrashing out a deal. I was keen to know why they wanted the club and they were quite honest. They wanted to market their sports goods in the Far East and would use the club to help do this.”
Mikey himself once said, “I did not buy Newcastle to make money. I bought Newcastle because I love football.”
“According to one former Newcastle United manager, Mike Ashley casually admitted during one of their first meetings, that he had no idea why he had bought a football club.” I believe he bought it for the power and kudos.
Sports Direct has stores all over Europe and franchises in South Africa and the Middle East. The French link comes from the fact that Mikey recognises bargains are to be had for players in France, not least because of the high personal tax rates across the channel. Sir John Hall stated the middle east and never mentioned France or Europe.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:39 PM
Comment #304* @ 302 SJH mentioned “Far East” and never mentioned “France” or “Europe”.
Laurent Robert 32
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:06 AM
Comment #305A capable player who is made to look poor through tactical and coaching ineptitude? The term you’ll be looking for is ‘Pardewed’.
A couple of my pals use this term in general conversation now. It is a genuine descriptive word.
A degradation of ability and product over and above the highs and lows of form? ‘Pardewed’.
Sav
Feb 10, 2014 at 2:10 AM
Comment #306Mashley’s Dream: ‘If we can only manage to get down to 11th and save on those performance bonuses….’
Expat MAG
Feb 10, 2014 at 4:50 AM
Comment #307So a possible 10 to 16 points from our remaining games although don’t see us getting anything against Spurs on Wednesday.
Major rebuilding work in the summer as Cabeye already gone and no replacement purchased. Shola, Remy, Gosling and Guti will leave and possibly Collo, Cisse and Debuchy gone too…..
Hoping Luuk De Jong starts scoring and secures a contract. Would be the perfect world to use Oberton and Marv as make-weights in deals to buy the 2 young french boys; Greiner and Cabella I think!!! I like Caulker of Cardiff and if/when Cardiff get relegated, he’s a realistic target and is English for Ashley!
We need more English players, but who? Would anyone take Colbeck of Sunderland? I know he’s got red hair and plays for Sunderland, but he looks a good player and he’s out of contract this summer………..