With Newcatsle’s 3-0 win over Stoke City yesterday, Newcastle are now 3 points clear of Tottenham and in 4th place in the league, and we are just 3 points behind 3rd placed Arsenal, with a game in hand.
Alan Pardew – money will be made available to strengthen the squad
And if Tottenham’s performance at QPR was anything to go by yesterday – the wheels have come off at the London club – and we didn’t see many Spurs’ players showing the drive, determination and commitment it needs to win games against relegation sides like QPR.
QPR won the game deservedly by 1-0, with a good goal from Adel Taarabt, and they outfought Spurs, even though the referee sent Taarabt off late in the game, presumably to give Spurs a chance. 😀
Some of the referee’s decisions recently in the Premier League have been a little embarrassing, since nearly all of the dodgy decisions, like yesterday, when Adel got a second yellow for kicking the ball away – seem to support the top sides.
Referees really need to stop giving out yellow cards for such minor offenses, because we are seeing far too many players sent off than in the days of old.
Any time sombody gets tackled these days and then rolls over at least three times – which means they cannot be injured too badly – the referee gives the other guy a yellow card.
In the 19690s and 1970s you almost had to commit capital murder to be sent off – but in those days players just got up and got on with the game, after being tackled.
Alan Pardew has talked about the possibility of making the Champions League today, and he says money will be made available, with clubs in the group stages getting an almost guaranteed £20M each.
This is what Alan told the Sunday Sun today:
“If we were fortunate enough to get into the Champions League then the money will take care of itself. It really will.” “It won’t take a lot of time to find the players who can go in at that level with the extra finance that will be available.”
“I could go and get two extra players and they would be lined up anyway. So we are all set.” “Fourth place is doable. I do, however, still think it’s a long shot for us. We have got a difficult run-in, although that might be a good thing; it could focus the mind.”
“Sometimes when you get one of those games, and Tottenham and Arsenal have them, when on paper you are expecting to win because they are against relegation-threatened sides, they can be the hardest ones to wins.”
“So I’m looking at this with a clear mind and with clarity. We have a chance.” “So to be in this situation with four games to go is fantastic and the players should feel immense pride.” “But I will tell you, the one thing that is important is momentum and we’ve got that.”
“We have confidence, so teams are going to play very well to beat us, regardless of who they are.”
It’s not that Mike Ashley will throw money away this summer, because Newcastle will continue to try to get very good bargains for the players they bring in.
But Newcastle will also have that extra cash if the lads can make the European Champions League for next season, which now has to be the number one goal for the season.
Comments welcome.
26 comments so far
lewytoon
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #13rd would be a dream
grumpy_old_sod
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Comment #2I’m just happy with our recent performances, no matter where we finish. Newcastle united played like a champions league team yesterday. I want to see the right signings for next season, not necessarily big money signings.
jimmyxavi
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Comment #3Quick question..
In terms of Champions League qualification, if we finish 4 we have to play in a qualifier, but what if we finish 3rd? Do we go straight into the group stages?
niafron
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #4Bonjour messieurs.
Just came back from the electoral office, so time to speak of far more serious matter : football!
Pardew's fist pump
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Comment #5Gregory Van Der Wiel please! He’d be the perfect upgrade for Simpson and we’d have 2 of the best young FBs in Europe. I thought his move to Valencia was tied up, but apparently it’s broken down, with Valencia only able to afford 6m and Ajax wanting 10m, think we could get him for 8m, with our straight up, no strings transfer policy.
hotdog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #6jimmyxavi – 3rd place is straight in
Pardew's fist pump
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #7jimmyxavi
Indeed. It’s tantalisingly close!
stelstyl
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #8My first ever post even though been reading the blog for years now..
just felt i had to share my story..
I am a Newcastle and APOEL of Nicosia fan since forever…
It seems that the success stories of my two clubs are almost identical this year..teams with small budgets but achieving the unthinkable stuff by playing team football and writing football history…
Ever since APOEL qualified for the groups of the Champions league, I had changed my phone ring tone to the Champion League theme song..said I wouldn’t change it until APOEL were out of the competition .it happened at the final 8 from REAL Madrid..then people were asking why do you still have it..?
I said, I think it has some kind of magic, it works miracles and I will leave it on until Newcastle qualify for the Champs League…people were laughing at me..I think this was exactly just before our 6 match run…nobody is laughing at me right now..!!
Friendly advice to all…change your ringtones to the Champs League theme..it works magic!..it really does…
I just hope Newcastle don’t draw APOEL in next year’s Champions League…that would be devastating…
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #9Pardew’s fist pump .. good call .. I think we need someone like him and a young improving RB .. was it nathan clyne or something from Palace we were linked with.. thats to make a squad a good squad nevermind first team
check the toastie
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #10Real buzz in the ground yesterday and in its own way was equally enjoyable as the Liverpool Game.
It is now noticeable how Krul is throwing the ball out and we are building up play from the back, Willo has come on loads in the last few weeks, we oozed class all around the pitch and at times seemed to be showboating which was a real treat to watch.
The duo of BenArfa and Cisse in the last couple of months have been nothing short of unbelievable, this may sound daft but i believe that Cisse is the best striker i have ever seen, crazy workrate, great technique/strength, lethal finishing and superb attitude, cud play for any team in the world.
our new 4231 fourmation is class and Tiote and Guti are superb warriors for our team, Santon again was great and it is amazing how the whole thig has come together, we are in dreamland.
If we play the same team the reat of the year with no injuries then we cud easily take 4th. Tiote is so important for us though, bowt time he strung 5 games together, lets hope this is his time.
toonfan76
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #11Morning everyone, and what a beautiful morning it is. Can someone just confirm for me, If Chelsea defy the odds and win the champions league, does that mean that fourth place will only be given a Europa League place instead of a Champions League spot? Just wondering if we would have to take third spot just to be sure.
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #12I remember the manager of Palace saying we weren’t a team big enough for Clyne ..well you can’t get much bigger than a champions league team ..
Munster Mag
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #13We wont get third. Kill me after the season but cant see it happening. A play off could be hard. Different teams out there who are far more profient than prem teams at keeping the ball. But no-one would fancy taking on the Doubld Ds, Tiote Ben Arfa etc.
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #14toonfan76 .. yep it all changed when liverpool won it a few years back
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #15Munster Mag .. agreed, we have to beat Chelsea and Man City to get 3rd .. but fourth is acheivable ..
niafron
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #16Being 4th or 3rd is absolutely not the same.
With the new Platini’s rules, the sumer qualifier would be far from easy.
And about this famous extra income of the CPL, finishing fourth, you know if you get it around august 20, so this is with only 10 days rermaining to buy players.
And with the Euro, some of our best players could be a bit tired in august.
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #17niafron .. agreed but getting champions league for newcastle is massive .. 4th or 3rd don’t care .. if we beat Chelsea and Man City we deserve 3rd but can’t see it ..
niafron
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #18@sweendog
First of all, we got to beat wigan, and will be a tough game.
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #19yep agreed .. seeing them get beat on sat shows they are hit and miss ..
sweendog
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #20Ben Arfas gonna step up for wigan I reckon .. he’s gonna have a bit of space IMO ..3-1 the toon ..
Nufc4Ever
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #21Ahh, the good old 19690s… Good Times! 😉
Magpie_Man
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #22I so hope we get CL because it just showed yesterday how much the EL can be tiring. how many games is it that stoke have played this season 50+. I dont like the sound of that.
Lee Dodd
Apr 22, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Comment #23Can You Imagine Champions League. New Players God What Would we do if we won something ???? The Players Have the Faith They Know They Can Do it We Know They can Do it !!!!
sks_toon
Apr 23, 2012 at 7:02 AM
Comment #24@8stelstyl
I am very happy APOEL made it to the CL league and hopefully both NUFC and APOEL make it next season. I would just say we shouldn’t be too presumptuous just yet, so we should hold off on the CL ringtone until we make it which could be this season or any other season. Hopefully though I will be able to put it on my phone by the end of this season, knock on wood.
sks_toon
Apr 23, 2012 at 7:05 AM
Comment #25But you keep the ringtone going for us until we join you, it seems to be working with u!
Owldman
Apr 23, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Comment #26Jimmy,,, I think you will find that only league winners go straight into knockout stage