Newcastle have got themselves into a perilous position by taking only 9 points this year out of a possible 45 points played for – and we have steadily slipped down the league table until we are now genuine relegation candidates, and what have we heard from the club on this – absolutely nothing.
Siem de Jong – should start on Saturday
The good news is that Siem De Jong played the full 90 minutes for the Newcastle U21 side at Derby County this afternoon in a 4-0 defeat – but it will help sharpen the Dutch International and get him more match fit so he can start playing for the first team.
It may be too soon to start him on Saturday at Leicester City, and yes we have to be careful with him – but it we lose this game and other results go against us, we could be right in the middle of the relegation struggle come Saturday evening.
At the very least, maybe Siem can come on for the second half on Saturday – because we’ll need his skill and goal-scoring prowess, and he’s one who will give us 100%.
The main news coming from Derby was that Siem came through the game with no ill effects, and he is getting closer and closer to be able to start for Newcastle United.
That’s good news because we need him.
Comments welcome.
149 comments so far
Ciaran
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:51 PM
Comment #121Obviously that is contingent on Villa getting another 3 points.
RUNAWAY777
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:51 PM
Comment #122god help us now could be a long few weeks ahead lads
BandB
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:52 PM
Comment #123BDG
I hope whoever it was took your advice to pile on the 14-1.
It’s 12-1 now.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:53 PM
Comment #124Ruddy…are you hoping or trying to reason? 😉
…5 games equal 15 points potentially!
BandB
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:53 PM
Comment #125Disclaimer,
Other odds are available.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:54 PM
Comment #126We have been a mystery and unlucky under achievers for so long, only a club sycophant would use that to defend the way we are being run. We have had our chance at winning cups and a league title, not winning isn’t an excuse to not compete at all.
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:55 PM
Comment #127Blackley,
Nipped back on to check the Hull score and saw a response. Get back to me and I will check it out tomorrow. Cheers.
We have been fighting relegation in half our Premier league seasons under Ashley, and even managed to be relegated. They made a cup final whilst avoiding relegation – something Charnley, and co. informed us wasn’t possible according to their well sone research. As it is, I’d prefer to challenge in the cups and scrape by in the Prem if that is our only option as opposed to just scraping by in the Prem and wishing we didn’t have the hassle of the cups. At least a cup run would restore some much needed pride and enjoyment to the club.
Were those results Ashley’s fault? No not his alone, but he is the person that puts people in positions of power – if they aren’t able to do the job properly, then remove them and employ competent people. If he isn’t willing to do that, then he is equally culpable as those who fail below him.
NUFC does have more commercial income, but the reason I bring up the change is because you asked me to compare NUFC under Ashley and Sunderland over the same time period. If they have increased their revenues and we have decreased ours is that a major success for Ashley? Or has he failed to improve and drive the club forward whilst Ellis Short has managed to at Sunderland?
Why would you prefer to ask that? Is it not an important part of the comparison that under Ashley we were relegated, but Sunderland in that time frame weren’t? If they go down then it is fair to add, but as either could still go down then it stands alone. Anyway, would I prefer to have a club that has managed just 2 league wins this calendar year and lost 7 on the bounce, or 1 league win this calendar year is hardly a ringing endorsement of either is it.
Relegation is a built on hazard of the game, one that clubs should actively look to avoid. I don’t see what this has to do with it. Swansea are a far smaller club, yet are able to over perform with a supportive owner and employing the right people to improve the club. Likewise Southampton.
For a truer representation of how far we have fallen behind under Ashley we should look at Spurs. Ashley’s first season in charge saw us finish 1 place below Spurs, however our commercial revenues were £2million more than Spurs. Now their commercial revenue is £16million more than ours, as for the quality of side and players, well would you swap their league position with ours?
Toon_Tom
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:55 PM
Comment #128A toon fan who accused boss John Carver of being threatening and abusive has backed him to save the club from relegation.
Karen Choake, of Chester-le-Street, had criticised the interim manager’s behaviour after Saturday’s defeat against Swansea, claiming he acted unprofessionally during a row with supporters.
The club and Carver denied he used inappropriate words and aggressive behaviour, and the coach told the media after the game he would like to meet the 34-year-old and vocal fan Allen O’Connell to discuss the incident.
And on Tuesday, Carver called Karen to explain his actions, convincing the occupational therapy assistant to get behind the team for the final four matches of the season.
She said: “I didn’t expect him to call so that was a nice surprise and I respect him for that. I has calmed down by that point and had good chat with him which left me feeling a lot more positive afterwards.
“He didn’t admit to anything but he talked about his passion for the club and seems to have just been one of those heat of the moment things. He is only human.
“I told him that I wanted to give him my support because at the end of the day we all want what is best for this club and he does as well. We are all feeling it.
“I just hope everybody will move on from this and get behind the team.”
BandB
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Comment #129Including 11-1 with Betfred.
scout
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Comment #130Only a mug would back us to go down. Whens the last time a team lost 11 in a row. Unless that happens well be ok.
Ciaran
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Comment #131Jesper
Obviously it’s football and anything could happen. I mean theoretically we could win our next 4 games and this pathetic run would seem like a blip and we’d sail blissfully into the summer. I doubt that will happen though! haha Though we’ve got very winnable games left and generally speaking our run in is more favourable than anyone’s.
scout
Apr 28, 2015 at 9:58 PM
Comment #132Theres 6 teams shorter odds than us and we have lost 7 IN A ROW. Them odds are there to attract fools.
Belfast
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Comment #133Every thing that could go wrong is going wrong like lol
It’s actually remarkably similar to the Last relegation. Spooky!
I’m still sticking to the staying up prediction though haha
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Comment #134After the weekend the table from us and down could look something like this:
Points
14 Newcastle United 35
15 Hull City 34
16 Leicester City 34
17 Sunderland 33
18 Aston Villa 32
19 Queens Park Rangers 27
20 Burnley 26
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:02 PM
Comment #135OP
I note you couldn’t find time to back up your post by quoting me. But you have time to advise me on family relationships.
Will you borrowing a ticket to enter the ground in support of the next boycott, fella? Just asking coz you couldn’t make it up.
lochinvar
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:02 PM
Comment #136Wouldn’t Sky just love it for us to hire Uncle Harry as an interim Manager and the last game against QPR to be a decider.
Is it all fixed ?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:03 PM
Comment #137Ruddy…your right if everything pan out our way this weekend we could be all smiles 😀
Ciaran
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:04 PM
Comment #138If Leicester beat us and Sunderland beat Southampton, then I’d be considerably more concerned about relegation. However, I can see Villa getting another win or two under their belt.
All of this is moot though as I do think we have enough in the locker to beat either Leicester, West Brom, West Ham or QPR.
Surely?
stuart no9
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:05 PM
Comment #139stuart no9 // Apr 28, 2015 at 9:57 PM
ashley can argue as mujch as he wants about what he brings to the club , the fact is, the media. the fans – not just us but football fans up and down the country, the press , football experts , ex legends and generally the football world KNOW what he is and what he stands for. that is enough for me . no arguement. Regarding the poll , i voted for us to gvo down – the same as i predicted in august.
damma99
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:05 PM
Comment #140Hurtling into oblivion. Still not a word coming out of the club. Do something you twats. It is though they want us to go down.
BandB
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:06 PM
Comment #141scout
I thought we were safe before the run started and said so.
We lost 10 in a row in the same season we last lost seven in a row. Records are there to be broken. Only a mug would deny it.
Hopefully we’ll win a couple. Then we can see what Carver can do next season.
Belfast
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:07 PM
Comment #142We could really do with a Southampton win on Saturday lol and the Leicester goalkeeper getting sent off after 5 minutes or something.
We definitely have to win that West Brom game like 100%
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:09 PM
Comment #143Ruddy…I don’t anymore! We should not be where we are, but are because of the way we are run and because we probably have the most inexperience manager (and probably not even good enough) in the league!
…those under us are much better managed and coached. The players should do better though but clearly some of them have lost faith (I am not really blaming them…I mean I can sympathize seeing as club gets back what they put into it)
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:10 PM
Comment #144*know
lochinvar
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Comment #145Carver to invite two fans to training on Friday to explain his tactics.
Did it never occur to him that’s a distraction and a media fest.
FFS get on with the job and sort out the team – or are you lining up to make an appearance on Big Brother or host a crap day time TV programme or appear on the Jeremy Kyle show for Anger Management.
We don’t want words just action !
Toon_Tom
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:12 PM
Comment #146We will win our last 3 games and laugh about all this uncertainty all summer (Y)
Fog-on-the-Tyne
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:16 PM
Comment #147So very right he was….
I haven’t posted on here since Keegan’s departure, at the time I was nauseated by some of the posts on here by our fickle fans criticising Keegan for walking away and damaging the club. There were those of us who tried in vain to explain that Keegan actions were because he loved the club, yes he was a man of principles but he done what he done because he love the club and would not stand united and take the money only to watch the demise of NUFC. I’m not going to name those fans, what’s the point, you all know what you were publishing and the manor in which some of you slaughtered Keegan’s was shocking. What we find now is some of those so-called dedicated fans who refuse to boycott and or protest because they’ll like to be seen as ‘real fans’ calling those of us who chose to act upon our love of the club and forgo attending the game. Yes, he already has my money, what’s the point of protesting if I have a season ticket some of you will ask.?! Simply it’s my way of showing that I will not be associated with anyone who actively supports the demise of my great club. In my opinion real fans do whatever it takes for the good of the club and if that means suffering by not attending a match or maybe watching Newcastle be relegated then so be it.
http://youtu.be/ENfD_z7yde8
http://youtu.be/Ifpb55bXkrg
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:37 PM
Comment #148Taking your points in order:
“They made a cup final whilst avoiding relegation – something Charnley, and co. informed us wasn’t possible according to their well sone research.”
I might be wrong but Charnley didn’t say it wasn’t possible to compete in the cups and avoid relegation. I haven’t got his words but I recall his thinking was that it was prudent to give priority to premier league status and not let cup distractions jeopardise premier league status. Are you telling me that our PL competitors don’t field weakened teams in cups for the same reason?
Next you say:
“Were those results Ashley’s fault? No not his alone, but he is the person that puts people in positions of power – if they aren’t able to do the job properly, then remove them and employ competent people. If he isn’t willing to do that, then he is equally culpable as those who fail below him.”
You either miss my point or ignore it. We saved Sunderland from relegation with those results. But the team that Ashley’s put together didn’t do as badly as Sunderland in the league even with those defeats. So unless Ashley was managing the team on the day, I cant see how you can blame him for those performances on the day. You could argue Pardew was at fault, as I did. And Ashley appointed Pardew and so it was Ashley’s fault indirectly. Ashley provided a squad that was easily capable on its day of beating Sunderland so how can you pin that on him?
You still haven’t satisfactorily explained why you prefer Sunderland’s commercial income which has been less than Ashley’s. You don’t mention that there has been a large increase for NUFC in the last set of accounts (over 50%? increase on the previous year).
I ask who’s position you’d prefer to be in now NUFCs or Sunderland’s with four games to go because we’re comparing NUFC and Sunderland and talking about relegation. I’m not trying yo argue that one club has done better than the other. My point is simply to demonstrate that it’s a tough league, there’s no easy fixes, and other clubs of similar size and geography find it difficult to achieve success too.
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 28, 2015 at 10:55 PM
Comment #149Lil
As for Spurs, Southampton Swansea, they’ve sold big players for big money. NUFC has had to do that. Unfortunately, NUFC hasn’t reinvested well recently.
I’d love NUFC to be a well run club that gets things right. Ashley’s not the man to do it IMO. He’s got bigger fish to fry.
But to portray him as the anti-christ and to fail to recognise the difficulties serves no good purpose to the club or his detractors. By all means criticise him, as I do, but keep it real. Any new owner is going to have a very difficult job.
Fans look back to the entertainers. But they failed in league and cup. NUFC did not have the clout to hold that team together and build on it. Explain to me why NUFC, a massive club, has had no domestic success for 60 years, easily more than my entire life? Then tell me why you don’t judge Ashley in that context?