We watched the Liverpool – Manchester City game on Sunday – and what a game it was, with Liverpool again looking great – especially in the first half when they went 2-0 up, but Manchester City came roaring back to make it 2-2 in the second half before a mistake by all people – City skipper Vincent Kompany – allowed the impressive Philippe Coutinho to get the winner.
Steven Gerrard – could win Premier League for the first time
He’s won everything else with the Reds
And Liverpool now have the chance – it’s a certainty if they win their last four games of the season – to become Premier League Champions for the first time in their history, and that would be the 19th time they have won the English League title, the last one being back in 1990.
And to think Newcastle finished in 5th position two years ago with 65 points, and Liverpool were languishing in 8th position on only 52 points – one place behind Everton – and then last year they were 7th and Newcastle were 16th – but the Reds were still one place behind Everton – but this season they could become the PL Champions for the first time.
So what’s happened in the last two years at Newcastle?
Last season could be put down to the rigors of the Europa League, and we just didn’t have a big enough squad and of course we lost Demba Ba fifteen months ago.
And this season was going to be a recovery season, and through the end of last year we were doing well, but then we sold another of our best players in January – Yohan Cabaye.
Once contrast with Newcastle is that Liverpool don’t sell their best players, and they were determined to keep Luis Suarez – and that’s paid off for them big time this season – he’s the leading scorer and also has the most assists in the Premier League.
It’s this year that things have fallen apart for Newcastle following our disastrous previous season in the Premier League, and we are on this terrible league run of 11 defeats in 16 league games.
And we’ll now be lucky if we can finish in 9th place, and if don’t get a couple of wins in the last four games, Stoke City could even pip us to 9th place.
Of course two years ago Liverpool fired Kenny Dalglish and appointed Brendan Rodgers as their new manager, and he has them playing some wonderful stuff.
And Everton appointed Roberto Martinez last summer (he would have been great at Newcastle), and he has Everton in 4th place and playing some terrific football too.
We’re sure a lot of Newcastle fans are looking at these two appointments and thinking if Newcastle could appoint the right young manager, then we could be quickly flying high too – but of course it doesn’t always turn out that way.
It hasn’t worked for Sunderland appointing Gus Poyet earlier this season, and it now looks like they will be relegated, unless they can get say three wins in their last six games.
I’m meeting my friend Peter for lunch in an hour or two at an Irish pub over here, and Peter was born and bred in Sunderland, so he’s not too happy right now with his team. 🙁
We suppose there could be some changes made by Mike Ashley if Alan Pardew cannot turn this thing around before the end of the season, but if that doesn’t happen, then we hope that Newcastle will do a reset, and bring in six or seven top players over the summer months, and let some of the fringe players leave – and then we’ll hope for the best.
But we are also concerned that the negative press on Newcastle over the last few weeks, will not help us in recruiting good players this summer.
The bottom line is that in the seven years we have had Mike Ashley running the club, we’ve had only one season when the side has finished in the top ten – and this could be the second season.
But this season feels nothing like being a success, but it’s still the second best we’ve done under Mike Ashley – and of course it’s nothing like the nirvana the Liverpool fans are experiencing right now.
What do you think?
213 comments so far
Online Guy
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:31 PM
Comment #161Piers ok’d a bad pack of crap on Newcastle United , I simply rang him at the Mirror via his sec ..I had her direct number from an earlier scrap I had . He argued that he could write it as he seen it and I told him it was a pile of crap and untruth’s ..we agreed to differ , we finished the conversation on good terms . What had been written in the Mirror that morning was bad ..really knocking the hell out of Newcastle ..same old, same old, as they say, nowadays.
Im off, nite all.
manxpie
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:33 PM
Comment #162it all sounds a bit like this mag story on elliot, tbh that everyone seems to be taking as gospel
from a guy who pretty much starts with the line “i met a guy down the pub and….”
Online Guy
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:56 PM
Comment #163Manx
I thought you were trying to second Guess me , from the off , but I thought I would answer you straight as If you have been reading how it happened you would know that what I’m saying was as it happened for real .
It was all for real and if you want to doubt me I’m wondering why. .I was not out to waste my time. I really did have a pop .
Just tell me if you want to argue about it and I will entertain you .
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:09 AM
Comment #164really online?
i must say ya quick of the mark, switched on you definately are!
i’m not arguing with ya but i think its very strange that ya haven’t answered my genuine questions that are pretty easy to answer plus i’m very surprised no one else asked them questions as are you by the looks of it!
if i sent alot of questions to nufc i’m sure i’d get the exact same reply as you did to the letter!
jimmysmith
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:20 AM
Comment #165That was an interesting exercise online guy. Ashley could hardly have refused point blank to talk to a fan who has behaved correctly, but the out come seems in hindsight entirely predictable. You got his attention though, it seems. Hopefully he saw and read your list of questions and recognizes the greater majority of Newcastle fans would like answers and are aware and concerned and of course want with some urgency to see problems addressed. Perhaps your efforts may lead Ashley to realise he needs to do more, or see the fans turn against him in large numbers.
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:27 AM
Comment #166jimmy/online have ya got an answer then?
because ya obviously the same person now undoubtably lol!
jimmysmith
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:36 AM
Comment #167Manx, I’m not saying online spoke directly to Ashley, you’d have to take his word on that, just that he could hardly refuse to talk with him outright if he has gone through the correct channels and behaved correctly. I’m not at all surprised the answers weren’t dealt with directly by him and am quite surprised online got as far as he did. If it’s BS, It’s BS, so what.
Sav
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:42 AM
Comment #168Swansea are having dressing room bust-ups, too, although they don’t make they same amount of fuss about it as we do.
As for Liverpool, in the immortal words of King Kev, I’d love it if we beat them.
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Comment #169wher’s the entertaining then online/jimmy?
seriously i can’t believe some on here who jump on stories and then form full opinions on them so called “stories”
it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a certain poster who was also the guy who got his family to post that he’d passed away!
i must just be sceptical lol
but come on he had a fight with piers morgan spoke to mike ashley, knows rick wakeman etc…
and then its a guy who says “i’ve only ever written for the Mag once before back in the days when it was printed (it feels strange to say that now doesn’t it?!).”
well yes it does mate?
so have ya got a photo of the night in question?
no! why not after meeting 1 of your hero’s?
oh yeah its because i made it all up especially the keegan part as i wasn’t there then but hey ho lets all believe utter bullshit! lol
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Comment #170Jimmy
You are now Me, according to Mad Manx !
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:55 AM
Comment #171Online
You were never going to get anywhere with questions like that.
Hi online, my plan is to terminate Alans contrat at the end of the season. Don’t tell anyone as Alan might not be happy if he finds out. So that’s just between you, me and your blog mates okay. Regards, Mike
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:58 AM
Comment #172sav totally agree but watch out the sudden total football lovers of nufc will be on ya for supportin newcastle against liverpool!!
for me i’d love it fuskin love it if we banished every liverpool supporters dreams of a league win on the last game of the season!
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Comment #173online ya posting style gives it away so don’t try and blag it!
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:05 AM
Comment #174Manx , ok gloves are off you madman…you are pretty damn insulting ..do you know I wrote out exactly the process of how I got to MA, and then I thought why should I jump for this nasty disbelieving insulting individual , who , always seems to be fighting with someone on here late on, whenever I have a late session on here there you are, ,insulting, or arguing with someone . You can go to H*ll
BY the way it was you who told me you knew Rick Wakeman . I just told you I seen him on TV and he was looking well ..just a freindly gesture to you initially..
I am getting the impression that you have mental health issues and if you have I apologise, and send you my heartfelt sympathy if that’s the case ..
You do come over as one nasty B****rd though, and very insulting.
jimmysmith
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:07 AM
Comment #175Manx, not so pal, I’m afraid.
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:14 AM
Comment #176Blackley ,
I was not expecting any answers to my leading questions , but I did try and establish a line of communication with the more innocuous question’s, I thought they could have been answered .
I was not really expecting the leading questions to get much consideration. .. I treat it all very lightly ..small beer , Its only Football.. I did try.
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:16 AM
Comment #177online haha so after all that still no answer to my initial questions?
i really think it ain’t me with the issues fella so go on tell us all with the stories of how ya met ashley and piers?
and btw i question people on there opinions which is why this blog is here and people question mine is that wrong?
was it not you who said “i’ll entertain you” if i didn’t answer you the way you wanted?
online if you put that shit up on here it should be questioned simple as and i will actually post some questions to the club just to prove that that is the exact email ya get back
there is no need to make up a big story about such email!
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:21 AM
Comment #178just for fun jimmy and online post at the exact same time then i’ll even give ya 5 mins gotta be more than 10 words!
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:28 AM
Comment #179Manx you are an idiot , the email is from the club . exactly as I reproduced on here ..cut and pasted, you crackpot .
Why the hell would I want to make it up ? why are you actually questioning me ..I posted as it happened , kept everyone well informed . If you don’t take that in that’s your loss not mine. All you have to do is read back ..Im not jumping for you ..
Please get in touch with Joy Swan, Mike’s PA at the club, Hopefully she will tell you exactly what Mike said and then how I submitted all the questions ..and she will confirm the exact email , just read it out to her ..she will confirm it .
If you do that, will you then come on to this blog and apologise to me ?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:36 AM
Comment #180online jesus you posted some questions and then posted a reply from the club
that is not proof in any way shape or form
as i said i would get the same response from asking some questions from the club
but the thing thats intriguing me is that you said you spoke to ashley directly!
is that true or not!?
and that is wat your whole “story” started of as!!
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:37 AM
Comment #181Manx , I Did answer your question ..I said to look back..its all printed for you ..go back 2 days and then read back from there .
If you do come on here Wednesday evening late on, and It’s to apologise for your patter tonight. on learning that its all true, .I will then tell you exactly how it went. Ok ? deal ?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:43 AM
Comment #182no deal online you didn’t answer my questions ffs
how did you and ashley meet? simple question!!!!!!!
and under what circumstances!?!!!!!!!!!!
not answered in any way shape or form plus jimmy’s gone missing all of a sudden hasn’t he?
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:44 AM
Comment #183Ok Manx just for you . here’s how it all went
Firstly …then again why would I want to spell it out to you how it went and my initial contact ?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:45 AM
Comment #184ya could add the piers meeting to that if ya want i’d be interested in that to 🙂
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:47 AM
Comment #185Ok, Manx I got in touch directly by going through Sports Direct.
I really don’t see why I should be answering you as you have called me some pretty damn insulting stuff.
Why would I want to jump for you ..I don’t mind the odd skirmish , so there’s an answer.
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:49 AM
Comment #186online maybe because its utter bullshit!
or maybe because its actually because ya forgot wat you said the other day which was also bullshit!
where’s jimmy gone?
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:50 AM
Comment #187Manx , I don’t know Piers ..do you ? , I rang up on a Football matter about 15 years back ..was put through to the editor ..simple .. I may have asked to speak with him ..keep throwing your insults …Its getting late though ..I will tarry a while ..next ?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:52 AM
Comment #188so you spoke to mike directly through sports direct??
and then said i want to ask you about nufc and he said yeah go ahead?
yeah thats how it went?
wat next?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:58 AM
Comment #189online yeah i do and i know he’s a c~~t and that he knows fusk all about football he wanted wenger sacked in january!
even me mate A.Sugar took the mickey!
jimmysmith
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:10 AM
Comment #190Jimmy is considering to what degree discretion is the better part of valor.
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:21 AM
Comment #191online sorry for catching you out fella but there was no need in the first place as i said your typing style makes ya stand out!
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:23 AM
Comment #192Tell you what Manx,
There is something, .I cant blow it ..so cant say much, Seriously. What I will do is tell you exactly how it went last week and this, and the chain of people I had to get through, Wednesday night ..I hope you will have your apology ready .
You know, I’m starting to think…… I wish I had never bothered with all this asking Mike a few questions.
Now I know how Torq felt .
Maybe Wednesday evening will be my last time on this blog .
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:33 AM
Comment #193Yes Manx it went that way.. almost … He said to talk to Joy.. at the club , and submit my questions to her … I did that. Christ I’m tired Manx ..falling asleep here .
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:35 AM
Comment #194Manx, I’m not Jimmy mate . what made you think I me and Jimmy are one and the same ?
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:35 AM
Comment #195yep online my apology is waiting as much as your excuse
roll on wednesday 🙂
and btw i got on with torq and appreciated his input
and you know why?
because he didn’t lead people on he just gave information! good man and he proved himself in the end!
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:46 AM
Comment #196Manx I too like torq and his input..Im just saying he got cheesed off with others doubting him and having a pop.. I wish I had not bothered , I’m being straight with you Manx .
.I just posted things as they happened . I was not leading any one on, .it was a good exercise in speaking to a man who is about as accessible as the queen.
I enjoyed the challenge .
manxpie
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:52 AM
Comment #197online there’s a big difference between you and torq fella a big difference goodnight
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:57 AM
Comment #198Manx there will be no excuses from me as you just assumed there .. no need,. just talk to JS and ask her how I came to be talking to her, and who’s idea it was .. and who sent me into her arms. and ask her about my discussions and who I spoke to at SD.. make my day Manx ..then come on and go over all the sh*t you have put my way tonight..
I wont hold a grudge as long as you are saying sorry Online, Wednesday evening …Then again ..you know what Manx..I don’t want an apology ..its ok Manx ..forget that ..it will be enough for me to know that we both know. .
Online Guy
Apr 16, 2014 at 3:01 AM
Comment #199Manx what’s this big difference between me and torq ? Please explain.
Blofal
Apr 16, 2014 at 4:29 AM
Comment #200Sorry to break up the love fest…
Call my cynical but if I was Remy I would be doing my utmost to get red carded on the weekend. He doesn’t need to sell himself anymore.
In my view we shouldnt be playing him… or Shola or Gosling or anyone else leaving for free.