Newcastle now have 39 points after 23 games in the league, and that’s just 7 points short of our overall total after 38 games last season, when we finished 12th.
Gabriel Obertan – after scoring in injury time last night
So there’s a good likelihood Newcastle can do a lot better this season, and we are on track for 64 points, and that was good enough for 5th place last seasons, which gives automatic Europa League qualification.
Of course we don’t wan to get ahead of ourselves, but at least we’re in with a shout for 5th place, but we’d need to finish above both Liverpool and Arsenal to do that.
And of course we will have Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse back for Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, and both Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye will be returning after another couple of games.
This is what the Newcastle manager said after the game last night:
“Papiss and Demba come back tomorrow (Thursday) and we have done brilliant while they have been away,” “When the guys went everyone thought it would be difficult for us.”
“We have had two big, big victories without them against QPR and this one tonight. Those results have been about resolve, resilience and grit.”
“We can now attack the second half of the season, we find ourselves fifth. It is incredible really. We are safe as well.”
“That’s a big barrier that we have overcome. We shouldn’t get away from that, to get that under our belt first is great, now with the games we have left we have to see what we can do.”
Demba Ba has been away since the Manchester United game, so Newcastle have played five games since then, and won three of them, including two wins against Blackburn and a win against QPR, and have lost two at Fulham and Brighton.
Leon Best was quite good last night but Shola Ameobi, for whatever reason, is in a bad run of form at the moment.
We think Demba Ba will start on Sunday and Papiss Cisse will come off the bench at some point in the second half, but it’s a great opportunity for Newcastle to get another 3 points in front of their supporters, if they can play somehow near their best.
Pardew continued:
“We had 80 balls into the box and we knew Tim, and all of the players, would have to be strong. I felt we were fortunate, which we weren’t at Brighton last Saturday.”
“I am really pleased for Gabriel too. He was a massive part of that 13 game unbeaten run we had at the start of the season and he has had to wait for his chance again. He took his goal well.”
“With the loss of Cabaye this morning (Wednesday), we knew it would be difficult. I am disappointed with the decision especially when Brighton and the pro game all came together to try to get him off the charge.”
Newcastle did well without Cabaye last night, although his presence was missed in those first 45 minutes until James Perch came on, and give some stability to Newcastle’s central midfield.
After Aston Villa, we have a tough match at White Hart Lane, so it would be really good to try to get the win against Villa, which is certainly possible.
Comments welcome.
92 comments so far
FloridaToon
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #1I won’t say Villa is a must win but we need at least a point cause spurs are playing well and I would be estactic with a point there.
roshan MAGPIE
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #2how many of you think ben ARFA will be dropped from the squad against villa and will get a place in the bench
Jarra_Mag
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #3Our Best Team:
Krul
Simpson Collo Taylor Santon
Tiote
Guthrie Cabaye
Arfa Ba Cisse
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #4well thank f u c k for indian must be on a break benny will 100% get dropped no question about it
Colo-Sus
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Comment #5@King Shola
I have just literally laughed out loud at work at the Pepperami comment,
He really does!
On a serious note Perch was outstandin when he came on last night. That should be his role and nothing more, Enforcer and game closer. Well done James.
I think those getting on HBA’s back are premature. the lad is never going to be a Jonas in terms of graft but we arer seeing glimpses of his class. I think that in behind the Dembas would be his best position. My strongest team to the end of the season (with all available) Is here:
——————————–Krul————————————–
Simpson————Colocinni—-Williamson———–Santon
——————————-Tiote————————————–
——————Cabaye————-Guthrie/Jonas—————-
——————————-HBA———————————————————–Ba———————-Cisse———————-
The idea that Tiote Cleans everything up and covers both Full back when needed, it looks narrow but its the formation chelsea played under Mourinho, with Makelele in that role.
Next season with Marveaux we have a real gem in waiting as well.
Obertan Impact sub role for now. I was over the moon for him last night and was pleased he pointed to the fans after he scored. Those who Booed him should be ashamed. He is a young lad trying to nake his way. More importantly he is one of our own.
The more positivity from people on here the better. We are being ran extremely well and sensibly, we are 5th in the league and Europe is a huge possiblilty now.
Pardew does not care how it looks (righly so) Its not a beauty contest, Its about WINNING!
HWTL and well done!
Dannyo
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Comment #6We certainly have the oppertunity to attack Villa.
Knowing Pardew, i doubt Cisse will start, but he’ll deffo be on the bench at the very least.
It’ll be a great game, and i think Ba will celebrate his return with 1-2 goals 🙂
jonny_ringo13
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Comment #7http://www.facebook.com/pages/Everything-Newcastle-United-20112012/169761986420510
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Comment #8johnny ringo – still? jesus make a comment when u come on man instead of just pluggin ur facebook page its embarrassing
FloridaToon
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Comment #9@dannyo
I agree. I look for Cisse to sit the bench for 2-3 games before his first start. Coming in today and staring Sunday to too much to ask. Let him get his feet first. But hey that is one hell of a sub.
Toon_Tom
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Comment #10Yeah i can’t see HBA back in the starting line up anytime soon tbh. Great flare player, however he isn’t playing to even half-the-best-of-his-ability!!!!
I would stick with Perchiniho and Guthrie in the middle, as Villa will be a tougher middfield battle and i think Perch breaks up the play really well.
I dont think Pards will start with Cisse and i think Ba and Best (if fit) will start upfront, with Cisse making an arrival (to a HUGE applause from the faithful) in the second half and we can see the DembaDemba show for the first time 🙂
Looking forward to this one, simply as it is our first home game in what seems like 9years and we have the Dembas back and Cisse’s debut. Big Game which i think we will win!
Wor Shearer
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #11Last 10 games points average:
Toon – 1.3
Villa – 0.8
me likey!
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #12“I think those getting on HBA’s back are premature. the lad is never going to be a Jonas in terms of graft but we arer seeing glimpses of his class. I think that in behind the Dembas would be his best position”
Finally somebody making an intelligent comment….regarding HBA..
Seeing comment on the previous post reaching till 7 am straight from the game is so nice to see, that’s why we are the best fans of the world…..
against villa HBA must start ut he wont…he will bin him cause he wont have the gutts, its a home game Pardew will really surprise me if he does…
Benji84
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #13This game sums up Newcastle season not playing all that well but doing enough to get the points. I am hoping we go above Liverpool this season and hit Europe and knock off Liverpool. It would make my day if this happens. Just remember I left NUFC to play in Europe Mr Andy Carroll
Klatoon
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Comment #14The sky lads gushing over Sessegnone’s pass in the buildup to their second goal,didnt they see the 2 pass interchange btn Lover and Ober? Or Stephen Ireland’s cheeky no-look through ball to Petrov for Insomnia’s goal.
Phatoon
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #15@Benji84 – I’m hoping we finish above Liverpool too. I don’t really care about Carroll anymore. We’ll never know the full truth of him leaving, but I don’t care what that truth is, it all seems to be working now.
The one who annoys me in Enrique, ever since Carroll left he was a whingy dtama queen. He definitely wanted out so he could play for “an ambitious club” (wanted more money). I hope that we get into Europe (not CL) and Liverpool get nothing. That would make my season 🙂
GeordieDan
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #16Other than the usual 6 point from the unwashed there’s no team I enjoy battering then Aston Villa.
Dirty, Brummy scum. I hope we really wipe the floor with them.
We’ll need to play a lot more confidently than last night but I think just seeing Ba and Cisse in the squad will get the other players really up for this one!
Ben Arfa will starting on the bench no doubt about it after his last 2 games. The lad really needs to concentrate and get his confidence back.
He should be doing what Hoilette did to us last night-scaring the bollox of defenders and he just isn’t at the races right now.
roshan MAGPIE
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #17http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/02/02/racists-target-newcastle-star-shola-ameobi-72703-30251800/
repo
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Comment #18We’re not safe tbh anybody knows you need over 40 odd points to stay in the league and we havn’t hit that Target yet we still 7 games short to be safe..
GeordieDan
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Comment #19Phatoon>
Us getting to Europe and Liverfools missing out would be hilarious mate!
Enrique would get all sorts of stick next time he came up here. We can wish eh! 😀
ash1001
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #20Wonder if the ‘Lords and Ladies’ of the FA look at that dive by Hoilette and dish out any punishment in the same way as Cabaye got his (110% undeniably a stitch up by commentators and the FA). can totally understand Taylors reaction one footballer to another knows whether its a dive or not, that booking could have cost us dearly, but agree with Taylor.
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #21Phatoon
mate to add on top of that…Hoilett was the biggest rat scum prat I have seen..a premeditated dives I don’t want him on tyneside.
to me it looked like the whole night they where looking at diving that 6 yard box…. terrible..
and Enrique is a moron I PRAY so hard we finish above them what a slap to the face that fool will get..
Toon_Tom
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #22repo – i think it is safe to say we are safe, maybe not mathamatically, but neither are Chelsea, Arsenal, LFool but i dont see anyone questioning their points and whether they are safe or not.
Onwards and upwards from here!
terencelim
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Comment #23It isn’t a bad run of form from Shola. It is his usual form.
ToonDownSouth
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Comment #24gorgon
The worrying thing wasn’t just that Blackburn were desperate to win penalties – it was also that Phil Dowd looked desperate to let Blackburn back into the game.
Honestly, the guy is fat. No doubt about it. I don’t mean to say that there’s anything wrong with that – but he is clearly unfit to ref in the PL.
Brutooon
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #2523terencelim // Feb 2, 2012 at 10:53 AM
It isn’t a bad run of form from Shola. It is his usual form.
HAHA well said mate
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #26Toon Down South..
heheheheh he is ….he has the belly boep the size of my wife car 😀
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #27I for one was OVER THE MOON over Obertan getting htat goal what an important goal that was for the lad I hope this will mean to much for him… in fact I feel a bit sorry for the lad from all the stick he got….from me too….but he did have some poor games I hope he gets back on his high horse now and plays us some magic…..he also has the tendency to over do it like HBA, he should just use the faint and run he would get passed 3 players in 4 steps with his pace…
Benji84
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #28Phatoon i totally agree I could not give too shits about Carroll there is loads of liverpool supports at my work so they were giving me loads this time last year. But i think he has only score 3 times in the past year, 35 mill for 3 goals thats great lol. I hope they keep Ben Arfa he is a quality player but he needs movement and style up front and too be fair Stolla and Best are not giving them that . I feel Ba and Cisse will smash in hat tricks this weekend
Come on LADS!!!!!!
zaktoon_swede
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #29i was really impressed with krul yesterday. so dominant in the air, as i remember it, wasnt corners/crosses one of his weaknesses last year?
colo class as usual, and perch did a solid shift when called upon, otherwise it was pure torture.
the one thing i cant understand is why we play such a high line with so slow defenders, lost us the game vs west brom and fulham, and nearly yesterday too. if we play the same way against agbonlahor (if fit) on sunday we’ll be murdered.
my team for villa; krul- simmo willo colo santon – raylor gosling guthrie jonas – ba best (cisse & benny to come off the bench).
just think we can play a team like this in two weeks time; krul- simmo willo colo santon – ben arfa cabaye tiote jonas – cisse demba,
ToonMax94
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Comment #30Team against Villa:
Krul
Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon
Obertan Perch Guthrie Jonas
Ba Best ( Cisse coming on as Sub)
Oba will give Warnock a torrid time and Jonas will provide the defensive duties up against their winger and Alan Hutton.
HBA is a quality player, hes just trying too hard to impress Pardew and the fans at the minute in my opinion. He just needs to relax and his ability will shine through again. Can’t see him being in the starting team for a while now though.
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #31I have a question for you lads:
WHO do you think we need to bring in over the summer?
I am so glad the Jan window is closed, p*ssed we didn’t get a CB as we are toying a bit but its out of my hands so no point in worrying…
We can be calm in getting a qual:
CB
RB
possibly another quality CM
and a LW/RW to give Jonas and co some stiff competition…
And that is key for next season look at teams like Spuds they have internal competition between players only ups their game….
gorgonzola
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Comment #32“HBA is a quality player, hes just trying too hard to impress Pardew and the fans”
I certainly think you are right….. Is it me or if you have a close look at his previous videos…he is not fit as he used to be….could it be his injury messed him up…he looks chubbier now that what he used to be…maybe its the horizontal stripes on the sox dunno….
Ian Magpie
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #33Pheeeeeeeeeeew! What a result!!! Just!!
Have been looking at the next round of games that will lead us into the final run in and it makes for some interesting reading!
NUFC 39pts from 23 games
H-Villa = W
A-Spurs = L
H-Wolves = W
H-Scum = W
A- Arsenal = D
NUFC 49pts from 28 games (5th)
Chelski 42pts from 23 games
H Manure = L
A Everton = D
H Bolton = W
A West Brom = W
H Stoke = W
Chelski 52pts from 28 games (4th)
Liverpoo 38pts from 23 games
H Spuds = D
A Manure = L
H Arse = D
A Scum = D
A QPR = D
Liverpoo 42pts from 28 games (7th)
Arse 37pts from 23 games
H Blackburn W
A Scum = D
H Spuds = D
A Liverpoo = D
H NUFC = D
Arse 44pts from 28 games (6th)
I know its crystal ball gazing but the next few matches are critical for our season and what happens in the next one to a certain extent! This is a dream scenario and we all know that following the Toon isn’t the most straight forward of lifes choices but with African lads coming back and all goes to plan we may actually be ideally placed for the run in.
No not getting carried away but just a realisation that whether you agree with it or not WE ARE INVOLVED and its been a long time since we were involved in a top flight run in. This is very real and to those younger fans who didn’t experience the Keegan run in……………………..Hold onto your seats cos your emosions are going to be tested to the extreme!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HWTL!
ToonMax94
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #34Think it depends on where we finishin the league as to who we can bring in, obviously higher the better. Desperately need a CB and I would say maybe a RB and a high quality CM. Another ACON next season so same thing will happen.
Does anyone know what the racist comments were about Shola?
Rosted Pork
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #35ROSHAN
NXT GAME ON ESPN AT 6.25PM SUNDAY
Indian Magpie
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #36Rosted pork
its a 7’o clock Kickoff
geoff777
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #37HBA has to start on Sunday.
Sure if we’re winning second half take him off for Perch to close the game down.
The more HBA plays the better he’ll get.
Can’t wait to get our strikers back.
Best & Shola could have played for ninety hours and not looked like scoring. I can’t remember either of them having a shot. Did they?
Anyway a good three points away from home.
roshan MAGPIE
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #38THANKS ROSTED AND INDIAN
ToonDownSouth
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Comment #39geoff
Best hit our bar once, and flicked the ball on into our own box once as well.
Honestly, no chance of him doing that up the other end.
Toon_Tom
Feb 2, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #40geoff – ofcourse they had a shot, can you not remember Shola walking (yes walking) about 25yards with the ball, a great walk that it was, cutting inside on the edge of the box, moving the ball on to his left, eying up the top corner ………………………… and then slicing it towards the corner flag????