When Newcastle went on a 9 winning streak in all competitions after the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on 24th September, we had 5 clean sheets during that run and it was important the defense play well so we didn’t need to score too many goals to win the game.
With Dwight Gayle now out for at least four weeks after his hamstring went again on Tuesday night against Aston Villa, it will be even more important that our defense is strong and on form basically for the remainder of the season.
Jamaal Lascelles – Newcastle captain and center-back
That’s especially true in the next four games against Bristol City, Brighton, Huddersfield and Reading which are massive games for Newcastle..
The good news is that the back four are starting to play well again, although individual errors cost us two points and two goals in the 2-2 draw at Norwich City last week.
Over the last four games we have kept three clean sheets against Derby, Wolves and Aston Villa, so we are hoping that we can continue that. especially in the four upcoming games.
If we cannot beat Brighton, Huddersfield and Reading – the games are all away – we certainly don’t want to lose them and allow any of those clubs to gain 3 points on us.
Once we have played Reading on March 7th Newcastle will have a better idea of how close we are to promotion.
But as we reported yesterday, even if we do not do well in the games against the other promotion seeking clubs we still have games left.
There are 10 games to play after the game at Reading, where we can pick up enough wins to secure promotion.
It will be a lot easier on the nerves if we can play well over the next couple of weeks and get some really good results.
🙂
Comments welcome.
81 comments so far
G
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #1We need to win 2 out of 3 of these games. 3 out of 3 would obviously be better, but I will take 6 or 7 points from 9.
Rotonda heights
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #2G
yes carver down the road again
G
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:16 PM
Comment #3@2, yeah, I thought so. They were not happy with him at the last couple of games, and I believe there was a riot from the Omonia fans demanding his sacking. Had to happen really.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:34 PM
Comment #4http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/02/23/carver-sacked-omonia/
manxpie
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Comment #5manxpie
February 23, 2017
Ww are you still hoping lazaar will be our new LB?
anyone else’s mobile site gone all weird?
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Comment #6https://twitter.com/NewcastleGoals/status/834767707971186689
Imagine if he hadn’t been shunted out to the wing shame he was deadly on his day
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:47 PM
Comment #7manx
Hopefully aye, will see what the summer brings though
cyprus
Feb 23, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #8It’s critical not to lose the Huddersfield game. We can dig out 6-7 wins out of all the remaining games.
Even if we lose to the other chasers.
manxpie
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Comment #9That’s some patience you have ww lol
Strange how he hasn’t had a sniff tho maybe when promotion is wrapped up we’ll see a bit more of him as a winger of course! 🙂
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:15 PM
Comment #10Win at weekend, Reading beat Brighton and Barnsley get a draw with Huddersfield.
Then a huge push to win the next 3 games, if it can be done we’ll be as good as up.
toon kk
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Comment #11I hope I’m proven wrong but I can’t see us beating Huddersfield, in fact no chance. There pace and attacking football is a step too far. It’s all about picking up points in other fixtures. Our form has dropped dramatically, we’ve been grinding out results and no more.
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:22 PM
Comment #12manx
It’s been less than a season tbf and he came from a none physical league where he was highly rated plus he wasn’t our first choice to bring in (due to him needing time to adapt) but when he’s played he’s looked fine to me
Don’t think he’s started a league game on the wing yet? Haha though tbf I’d just like to see him in the team rotation before seasons end whenever he plays (still ideally LB as I still think that’s the weakest link in the starting 11)
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Comment #13toon kk
There’s more chance we will beat them than lose to them
Spotlight Kid
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:24 PM
Comment #14European Form Table (top 10)
1. Juventus – Points: 27 – Goal difference: 17
2. Inter Milan – Pts: 27 – GD: 15
3. Levante – Pts: 27 – GD: 10
4. Napoli – Pts: 26 – GD: 21
5. Bayern Munich – Pts: 26 – GD: 16
6. Parma – Pts: 26 – GD: 12
7. Huddersfield Town – Pts: 25 – GD: 8
8. Barcelona – Pts: 24 – GD: 25
9. Manchester United – Pts: 24 – GD: 13
10. Roma – Pts: 24 – GD: 13
PS The Toon are number 29, behind Cardiff City
Spotlight Kid
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Comment #15PPS: Over the last 10 games, of course…
jane
Feb 23, 2017 at 3:49 PM
Comment #16see how well you do
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39063583
only 56% me 🙁
toon kk
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:01 PM
Comment #17WWSBRD
I hope your right mate.
sing in the corner
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:03 PM
Comment #18Jane ..An unimpressive 58% from me!
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Comment #19toon kk
People said the same before Leeds, Derby and Brighton then we hammered them
jane
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:28 PM
Comment #20sing ..that makes me feel better 🙂
Budge123
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:29 PM
Comment #2186% for me on the BBC Quiz.
Started off well then went down hill
sing in the corner
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:46 PM
Comment #22Damn. This week I have become a placca AND a footy know nowt ?
Belfast
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Comment #2378%
Belfast
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:48 PM
Comment #24You’ll probably only be bottom until jail does it. Chin up!
sing in the corner
Feb 23, 2017 at 4:51 PM
Comment #25Phew! 🙂
toon kk
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Comment #26WWSBRD
Earlier in the season we were playing far better, had Gayle knocking in goals for fun. Nerves have set in, the pressure is getting to our players and we’ve slowed down our style of football.
It’s going to be a very tough run in, believe it.
Our Toon
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Comment #2786% for me as well, poor end cost me
Our Toon
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:04 PM
Comment #28We played Brighton at home, I’d expect us to beat all the teams at home in this league.
We aren’t playing well and Huddersfield have serious momentum, it’ll be a very tough game, as will Brighton.
Reading I’m not massively concerned with but still tough
Our Toon
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:10 PM
Comment #29Toon KK
I think it’s a case of teams have adjusted to the way we play rather than nerves. Same formation / tactics weekly and at home teams know we’ll give them a chance
toon kk
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:18 PM
Comment #30Our toon
While I agree teams have sussed us out on home games in paticularly we do let the fans pressure leak onto the pitch
Our Toon
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:21 PM
Comment #31Agreed mate, hopefully we start playing well. When we have a big man upfront we go direct far to often.
sing in the corner
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:25 PM
Comment #32I don’t agree with your implied point that fan pressure is leaking onto the pitch. We are there to be shot at as a club because we are a ‘big club’ supposedly, Shouldn’t have been relegated due to the ground size, financial clout etc The players just have to cope with it. The fans are doing a great job of getting behind the team,especially lately,I don’t see the passion from the stands as a negative thing. The media always try to build it up as that.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Comment #33I know it’s not NUFC
but
I’m loving this
Sam Allardyce’s Premier League record
———-Games Win Draw Loss Win %
Bolton W 226 80 66 80 35.4
Newcastle 21 7 5 9 33.33
Blackburn 76 26 21 29 34.21
West H – 114 35 28 51 30.7
Sund’land 30 9 9 12 30
Palace —- 11 2 2 7 18.18%
Total —- 467 157 129 181 33.6
giimps
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:43 PM
Comment #34The fans arent the problem IMHO, lack of forward momentum is the problem, get us out of our seats with quick attacking interplay, one touch football at pace ,multiple options for the ballholder and plenty shots at goal.
When we do play like that its great to watch and you can feel the excitement as the roar cascades round the ground, tap into that and the opposition start to buckle…..give us something to cheer and we will, we cheer even if there is little going on but its like electricity charging the players when were at full tilt , that then gets the players up for it even more and we reciprocate and we end up with a game like spurs last season.
Thats what will win us the league, belief ,fight and determination from us as fans and them as players…..Rafa has tapped into this in the past and should tap into it again for the final lap, 14 games 42 points and glory to play for……..Come On, get it done
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:43 PM
Comment #35The crucial one – ha ha ha
———-Games Won Drawn Lost Win %
Palace —- 11 — 2 — 2 —— 7 — 18.18%
toon kk
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:53 PM
Comment #36giimps
I agree we should be playing more attacking football, the fans would love it, and we’d become the 12th man, but because we’re playing poor (imo) back and sideways lethargic football the fans get frustrated and the players know it and basically turn into a mediocre team.
We’re capable of so much more with the players we have.
giimps
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:56 PM
Comment #37I think hippoheed has done well, hes managed to turn a decent group of players into a shambles……on numerous occasions…..and still got the England job ffs……it beggars belief
giimps
Feb 23, 2017 at 5:58 PM
Comment #38Toon Kk
I agree, on the odd occasion we turn it on were right behind them and its great for us and the players, its got to put the fear of god into a lot of the championship players who arent used to big crowds……its time we made use of it
sing in the corner
Feb 23, 2017 at 6:01 PM
Comment #39Toonkk
Have you been to some of the last few home games? The crowd have been patient and very supportive,despite us playing some uninspiring football at times. Nothing for the players to be adversely affected by from the crowd. The pressure on us is all coming from the situation and some very good chasing from the other teams.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Comment #40sitc
toonkk doesn’t need to visit SJP !!
He’s played all our fixtures dozens of times on PS4
😀