There’s nothing like starting off your last 10 games of the season – the business end of the season – by winning five games in a row.
Jonas Gutierrez leads congratulations after great Ben Arfa strike
And that’s exactly what Newcastle have done, after suffering a defeat at Arsenal with almost the last kick of the game, back on 12th March at the Emirates Stadium.
And Newcastle are surging when it counts, and are currently in a Europa League place in 5th place – two points above money-bags Chelsea.
But if Newcastle can continue their sparkling form, there’s no real reason why the lads cannot finish above both Chelsea and Tottenham, and in 4th place in the league table.
Jonas Gutierrez has played his part this season, and has played in all but one of Newcastle’s league games so far, and in September of last year he signed an extension to his contract, that will keep him on Tyneside through the summer of 2015.
That will be seven years he will have spent at Newcastle, since he joined from Mallorca in the summer of 2008, and the Argentine International seems pleased with Newcastle’s recent surge:
“It’s good to have five wins in a row, especially with it being near the end of the season,” “It’s always difficult to get three points in this league whoever you are playing against.”
“So we should be proud of what we have achieved. There are not many teams who do this.” “We are in a good position and we now have a couple of weeks before we play again.”
“Hopefully when we play Stoke after our break we can continue this form and keep it going until the end of the season.”
Jonas captained the Newcastle side while his Argentine team-mate, Fabricio Coloccini, was out with a hamstring strain, but the Newcastle captain returned against Bolton Wanderers on Monday afternoon, and it was certainly a difficult game.
But some flair and brilliance once again from Ben Arfa, when the French international scored his 6th goal of the season after 73 minutes, with some unbelievable skill, and when we really needed the break-through, allowed Newcastle to go on and win the game 2-0.
In doing so Newcastle gained 3 points on Tottenham and 2 points on Chelsea last Monday.
Jonas admitted it wasn’t easy against the Trotters:
“It was really hard against Bolton,” “They tried to be compact in the defence, so it was hard for us to get the first goal.”
“But Hatem scored a great goal for us and then the game opened up which made it easier for us.”
“We know we have quality in this squad and Hatem is one of our quality players.” “He maybe didn’t have his best game overall, but he never stopped running.”
“And with that type of player you know he can always create something like that.” “It was a great three points.”
We have to hope Newcastle can keep on their winning ways when we entertain Stoke City a week come Saturday, but the Potters are always a difficult team to play against, and get most of their goals from those set-plays.
Newcastle players have the rest of the week off, and then report back for training on Saturday, and they will have a full week to prepare for the Stoke game.
Another 3 points from that game and Newcastle could be flying even higher.
Comments welcome.
134 comments so far
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:18 PM
Comment #81JP to be fair there are dead people who are closer to match fitness than dyer! I remember once when he came back training after a lengthy injury and put himself out for another 4 weeks by poking himself in the eye running between training sticks!!!
LewSpi
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Comment #82Haha TDS! I forgot about that. What a muppet.
Anyone got a link for the Arsenal game? I can’t seem to get on my beloved vipbox.tv
Spuggy
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Comment #83Check the end of the interview….Daglish is a pr*ck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTAI0QHoJy4
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Comment #84Lewspi dont know if any are up on this
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #85Honestly Swansea are crap to watch
israeli_fan
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Comment #86as much as I loved this season, I cant help but feel a sour taste in my mouth because of the match-fixing.
bassong got a red card for nothing, wigan scored a perfectly goal today and the linesman raised his flag… i will be in total shock if the officials dont get money from the top team
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Comment #87Spuggy dogleash is the most unlikable person in football an absolute embarresment jesus the bindippers must be so proud when they watch his interviews
israeli_fan
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:43 PM
Comment #88by the way, the man who predicted we will finish 4th was danish_mag in the start of the season.. and niaforn as well
ToonAndy
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:47 PM
Comment #89I also said we’d finish 4th at the start of the season… Got told I was on drugs haha
Robby Bobson
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:48 PM
Comment #90Good ol Joey…
now their 1-0 down, Swansea will react by passing the ball between Vorm and Williams even more…
Id hate to be a Swansea fan, they got 2 quick wingers, counter attack and get the running at the full backs FFS!
israeli_fan
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:48 PM
Comment #91well i predicted top 10 and said barton will be a huge loss..
munch27
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Comment #92Joey B for QPR hope this fires them on and they take points of spuds n chelskii .
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:53 PM
Comment #93I predicted a good season thought top10 but my god it’s been amazing n no matter what happens in the next 5 games this has been brilliant n Europe will jus top it off Europa or champions league
Spuggy
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Comment #94dogleash is embarrassing in interview, they even mentioned that one on talk sport.
Robby Bobson
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:57 PM
Comment #95Wigan 1-0 up…not going to be easy at all going there.
Klatoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Comment #96Love how Wigan’s goal came from a corner that never was. The shoe’s on the other foot as per poor ref calls in matches involving Manyoo.
Kurt
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Comment #97I’m hearing some disturbing news that Tiote has sold his house. Anyone who knows more about this ? Hope this dosn’t mran that he is leaving.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:06 PM
Comment #98Yes kurt it is disturbing, disturbing that a player would sell his house 2 months before the transfer window opens
davis_toons
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Comment #99Wigan is playing so well again.
And again denial a goal by the ref and Linesman.
By they come back and put in a goal from open play.
tbf to MU it shld not be a corner but the goal comes from open play
WWJBD
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Comment #100Kurt
Rumours will fly from now until September don’t worry about it end of the day if he’s going to go he will go
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:15 PM
Comment #101Lol he’s sold his house he mite of jus bought a new one, any way if he goes he goes aslong we get diame in I honestly wouldn’t b to bothered n why is tiote gonna go to a team lower than us
munch27
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:20 PM
Comment #102Alan Hansen quote
Pardew’s team looks the real deal, the full package. I never had them down as relegation strugglers but at the start of the season I would have suggested mid-table.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17664400
i hate liars.
Louis583
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:22 PM
Comment #103Anyone have a clue as to how much Olivier Giroud would cost?
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:24 PM
Comment #104Giroud would probably b about 10 to 15mill, if we’re going to France we should b looking at belhanda, mbwia, Martin n boudebouz
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:24 PM
Comment #1053-0 rangers why do ppl think rodgers should get manager of the season
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Comment #106This is being bit confident but if we did get 4th ive been looking to see who potential qualifier games could b n there’s some tough ones undinese, Lyon, psv, munchengladbach, sporting Lisbon, cska Moscow
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Comment #107Oh n Malaga or Valencia
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Comment #108Title race back on after tonight
Klatoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:35 PM
Comment #109Moses is a prospect, some aspects of his game are still raw but he and HBA on either side would be class!
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:37 PM
Comment #110just found a quality cisse song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cz2qDL3CZ0
WWJBD
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:38 PM
Comment #111Tbf Rodgers, Lambert and Martinez are all very good managers imo but manager of the year should go to a overall performance, Mancini has faltered with billions, Fergy has struggled, Chelsea have no one, Rednapp might be the darling but his fall from grace is apparent and star players are other teams and less said about Liverpool the better
Villa, Fulham and Stoke have been average. Moyes is good but has had a average season.
Pardew on the other hand has done wonders in a notoriosly difficult job and have hugely over achieved with bargain buys and some (harshly I know) average players. I doubt he will get it though
Tonytoon73
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Comment #112Same as always WWJBD is still a negger. Lol
Klatoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:49 PM
Comment #113Thats a class Cisse song and those lads are having a helluva time!
WWJBD
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:51 PM
Comment #114Tony
Can’t help being a miserable get mate way I am made 😉
Spuggy
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:51 PM
Comment #115We bought the lad from Germany , CISSE , CISSE , He’s always loved the toon army , CISSE ,? CISSE , He dreamt of playing for the toon and drinking wor Newcastle broon , PAPPIS CISSE NEWCASTLES NUMBER 9!
Tonytoon73
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:54 PM
Comment #116WWJBD I think you are the seed of chucky. Ha ha
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Comment #117Well done Wigan were gonna have to b well up for it when we go there in a few weeks
WWJBD
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Comment #118Tony
How lad I am not ginger! And I find that deeply offensive haha
Spuggy
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Comment #119Amazing how a lot of the top team are capitulating at a crucial stage in the season!
davybtoon
Apr 11, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Comment #120Spuggy that’s why I think we will get 4th bcoz there is no pressure on us to do it, we’re not expected to do it, n now were really hitting form