Newcastle lost such an important game last Monday at Ipswich Town after we had been denied all 3 points in the previous game very late in stoppage time when Chris Wood scored an equalizer in a game we had completely dominated.
We thought we would bounce back and get all 3 points at Portman Road, but not only were we beaten but we were outplayed for the second successive game away from home.
It’s humbling that we have cratered in the last eight games and got only 9 points and two wins when Brighton have 21 points having won seven of their last eight games.
Grant Hanley – we must all stick together
They know when to go on a winning run, that’s for sure.
We’ve had 6 and 9 game winning streaks this season but nothing close to that this year in the second half of the season.
We have not been as good in the second half of the season by a long way and that’s not good.
Rafa’s rotation system was put in place so our players would be fresher at the end of the season than players at other clubs, but the results don’t show that.
Grant Hanley came back into the team for Chancel Mbemba and the experienced Championship player has been interviewed today and has tried to calm the Newcastle fans – who don’t exactly know what’s going on at the moment:
“The fans have been great all season, they’ve stuck by us and are always travelling away in their numbers.”
“There’s always packed crowds at St James’ Park and I know they’ll stay behind and give us that bit of support we need to get this job done.”
“We haven’t had too many wee blips this year, or patches where we’ve struggled, so now it’s time for the lads to get together.”
“We need to show our togetherness, show the strength we have in the squad, and make sure we pick it up again.”
“We just need to keep going.” “It speaks for itself really: we’ve got three games to get promoted, so it’s in our own hands.”
“It’s not rocket science. If we look after ourselves, we get promoted. That’s what we’re going to do.”
“Ipswich are a physical side who had a game plan and knew exactly what to do, which was too much for us in the end.”
“Ipswich deserved to win but we need to regroup and we will make that we have a response come Monday.”
United have lost key men to injury this season, including Dwight Gayle and Ciaran Clark, but Hanley dismisses any notion of using it as an excuse.”
“That’s football, and people get injured – that’s part and parcel of the game.”
“We’ve got one of the biggest and strongest squads in the Championship so that’s definitely not an excuse you can use.”
“That’s football and sometimes it goes for you with injuries, sometimes it doesn’t. There’ll be no excuses from the lads.”
“We need to look at ourselves, see where we went wrong, and improve on it.”
“It’ll be a tough test against Preston. Week in and week out in this league it’s difficult, as Ipswich proved.”
Let’s hope we can beat Preston on Monday night but that’s a long time to wait to see which Newcastle team will turn up and it’s still mathematically possible that Newcastle can throw away their chance of automatic promotion.
That would be too much for me if that happens.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
cyprus
Apr 20, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Comment #1I don’t think we’ll choke. I think we’ll gain the extra 3-4 points needed.
Almost already done enough.
welshgeordie9
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:02 AM
Comment #2With a big club like ours and the best squad, how and why are we at this stage of the season picking the wrong time going through difficult times, beginning yes, half way yes, now definitely not.
Ibizatoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:05 AM
Comment #3Just checked our season form and it turns out until this little run of 3 games, we’ve not gone more than 2 games without a win all season.
Yes we hit blips, but the point is we do pull out of them. Someone else pointed out the other day that it’s in the 2 games in a week where we usually struggle. Would be interesting to take a look at.
martoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:05 AM
Comment #4Hopefully with a couple of days off and then nearly 5 days to prepare we should be able to beat Preston which could see us over the line. I hate Monday night matches – such a rush to get home from work, get some food and then out into town – thanks Sky!
WWSBRD
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:06 AM
Comment #5I reckon we will get the 3 points we need Monday then pressures off and we will probably make is 9 points out of these 3 games
Ibizatoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:08 AM
Comment #6Welsh…The thing with form is you don’t get to pick when you have it or not. All teams go through it at some stage, it’s how you react and pull through it.
It’s frustrating, for sure, but this is far from over. In fact, even if we continue as we are, it’s still probably more likely that we’ll get promoted than not.
Not that I’m tempting fate. I fully expect the team to respond, as they have pretty much consistently done all season. Even with this dire football you speak of.
G
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:14 AM
Comment #7I believe after Preston we will all be celebrating. Have a funny feeling Huds will see the wheel well and truly fall off this weekend, and we will have 3 more points and promotion.
welshgeordie9
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:21 AM
Comment #86Ibizatoon
I want us to play like the way we played against Leeds rather than we played against Ipswich, our performances on the pitch unfortunately been more like Ipswich than Leeds.
Leeds match was a joy to watch, constantly attacking their goal line, how many times did we get their players putting their bodies on the line with a last ditch tackle, we haven’t done that to many teams.
anthc
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:21 AM
Comment #9Lascelles in pfa team of the year. Must be watching a different lascelles to me.
We will get promoted, our club just likes doing things the hard way. Winning our home games will be enough I hope!
WWSBRD
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:26 AM
Comment #10Gayle, Shelvey and our much criticised captain Lascelles in the team of the year not bad reckon Ritchie is unlucky to miss out though
Ibizatoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Comment #11Welsh…I get that, it’s frustrating for certain fans. However, what Rafa and the club want this season is promotion and we’re on course for that.
As you say (as did many), we probably should have reinforced the squad in January. We didn’t and the wheels haven’t completely fallen off.
This season is a case of getting the job done. That’s not to say I expect free flowing football next season either.
As for the Leeds game, I agree, it was great to watch. It hasn’t however helped much with our promotion bid. For now, I’ll take 3 points however they come. We’ve 3 games left.
Malta Mag
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Comment #12I’m not having a go but if I were any of the players after the Portman Road showing I’d have kept my thoughts to myself and done the business on the pitch not in the press. We the fans are certain to turn up and perform but can we say the same about the players? Time will tell?
martoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:50 AM
Comment #13anthc & WWSBRD – I have to say based on consistency I’d probably have chosen Clark over Lascelles and Ritchie over Shelvey!
WWSBRD
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:55 AM
Comment #14martoon
Personally I’d of had Clark over Lascelles but I’d have Ritchie over Cairney or Mooy rather than Shelvey
But it’s picked by players in the league so they are hard to argue with
SPRINGY
Apr 20, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Comment #15I don’t think theres a doubt we have the talent and ability to beat preston and go on a run of wins till the end of the season…..but do we have the baxk bone to handle the pressure of needing a win at home…..this has been the main, if only major concern this season….if result go against us this weekend monday will be tense….can the team handle it?
SPRINGY
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Comment #16Think ritchie has done well this season….but not as good as i thought he myt,i myt be being a little over critical….i just think some games the graft has been there but lacked creativity….spose that could be said of most of the side….. Ilike mooy and cairney,good players…would be good additions to strengthen the midfield/attacking side of the midfield if there are a few to leave in the summer.
anthc
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:27 AM
Comment #17Yep Clark all day over lascelles for me too. People keep saying lascelles will be a great player but he’s played in this league for three seasons so should know it well. However, he gets pulled out of position regularly and sometimes fails to do the simple thing which costs us goals. I hope he comes good but time could be against him if he dosent step up his game and also be more consistent.
Rotonda heights
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Comment #18welsh
you crack me up. you whinged saying we had the biggest and best squad and now you’re whingeing we didn’t buy more! Nothing is good enough for is it bonny lad.
If we are so negative can you explain why we are top scorers. No, didn’t think so. Muppetry of the highest order.
welshgeordie9
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Comment #19Rotanda
Are you related to jail by any chance.
WWSBRD
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:37 AM
Comment #20anthc
Lascelles plays on the right which we attack down so he has more work to do than Clark tbf who has had Dummett the entire season to play with
I think Lascelles has had a good season overall few patchy moments (who hasnt) but overall better than I expected
WWSBRD
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #21Rotonda
welsh won’t give u an answer howay haha kid just likes attention
SA Toon
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #22Monday night is a vital game. A win knocks out Reading and puts all the pressure on Huddersfield, while a loss heaps the pressure on our boys (unless Huddersfield and Reading also lose). I know most of us are getting a little jumpy at this stage, but we need another big effort at SJP on Monday night. Those of you lucky enough to be there need to lift the roof off the place. Remember the Tottenham game last season when we wanted Rafa to know that we wanted him to stay – more of that please. Let’s blow Preston away! One good win and I think it’s as good as done! HWTL
stuart no9
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #23for me again its been a season of 2 halves. After a shakey start we got it together, a fe blips but football wisewe were playing like a team that was a cert for title . At forrest we were great , but for a bent ref who IMO should have been investagated by the authorities, we would have got at least 4 or 5. All well and good going into new year , however , come the game that i think changed our season. Against blackburn we were flying in the league and blackburn were hovering around the bottom of the league, 3 points for sure , untill raffa , to everyones amazement announced 6 changes to a winning team. I was in tenerife in a pub full of geordies and the look of shock on their faces told the story, the mood changed as we watched a game we should have easily won . however , the inevitable happened . From that day we lost it , yeah we were winning games and scrapping for points but we forgot how to play football . Lascelles became a shadow of a player he was in the first half of the season and gradually got worse, we were winning games ugly, which is good but the problem is if the football dosnt get better then you cant rely on winning like that all the time , sometime your luck will run out and that is exactly what has happened to us these last couple of months . I think we will go up but only on the back of a good first half of the season. How many have we won lately ? 2 out of 8 or 9 ? that im afraid is relagation football and if we had performed like that at the start of the season then promotion would be put on hold for another season , without doubt , so thank our lucky stars for a good first half to the season but the PL is a freightening prospect at the minute.
Our Toon
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:52 AM
Comment #24Hopefully Rafa is given a good sum of money to spend in the summer! I think 2 wins should be enough to get us up!! Howay the lads
Toon kk – Malaysia is very good and incredibly hot, tough to find our games though!!
SA Toon
Apr 20, 2017 at 10:55 AM
Comment #25stuart no 9 – Let’s worry about the Premier League next season once we’ve made it up. Right now the only thing we have to worry about is getting a win on Monday night.
SA Toon
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #26Our Toon – By my reckoning, even if Huddersfield win four out of four, all we need is one win and two draws. If they lose one, then two draws will do it!
magspuggy
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Comment #27We will get the win on monday and hopefully the weekends results go in our favour first.
We have everything to play for and the lads will be right up for it.
I have no doubt we will go up its just the toon doing it our way.
Howay the lads
stuart no9
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Comment #28SA Toon, yeah your right , and i think we will nic the points on monday .but ive always thought we will go up – somehow, im just planning what players we need and who must go when we face the big boys . i cant even think about being in this league again next season , my heads already at the bridge and old trafford.
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Comment #29The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Granted we’ve slowed down a bit towards the end, but realistically we built up such a lead the others are struggling to pull us back towards the finish line. We’ll get there imo and that belief has never left me. Why should it? When the chips are down you pull together and help each other across the line. As usual, there’ll be 52k there for the last two home games and together we can force us over the line. (we might even have someone at Barnsley cheering us along as well, who knows). Being unable by the laws of physics to attend both games, I’ve opted as usual to go to SJP. I apologise for such inadequacy of being unable to be at two places at the same time, but I haven’t mastered that art yet. Still, with the crowd behind us – sorry Catchy, but fans DO make a difference – we can do this. We can. Keep the faith and get behind the lads 100% and come May, all will be well. Believe.
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #30Welshie, performance in this league means nothing mate. You’re right, Leeds was a joy to watch, but frankly I’d sooner play average and win than great and draw. Getting out of this league is all that matters, not how we do it. Fulham, great football but where are they compared to us? Who would you rather be? I don’t care if we crawl across the line by GD now, because it’s all about getting promoted. Nothing else matters does it?
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:43 AM
Comment #31Our toon
Get yourself a fire stick or android box so you can get kodi as long as you have an Internet connection. You don’t even need these as you can install kodi on ordinary laptops too. Provided a match is televised anywhere around the world you will be able to find a good quality link. I’ll let you know the links and addons I use which are easy to install.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:47 AM
Comment #32Think a few people are being harsh on lascelles, he’s not in his best run of form but it’s not like he’s been poor all season. Why just look at what he’s done or how he has performed in a few games and not look at the season as a whole. He’s had his ups and downs which young players do but for the most part he’s been solid. The professionals seem to agree as he’s in the team of the year.
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Comment #33ronaldo aarons,
I’d rate him 7/10 over the whole season, its had some awful games hes had some excellent games, but i’d say clark has done more to be in toty, but i personally hope he stays as captain, no point changing could only damage the whole team morale and lascelles’ confidence, he’s not afraid to make his voice heard, and he seems to have a very good relationship with darlow and clark.
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 11:56 AM
Comment #34meant he’s not its lol
My pfa team of the year
Stockdale
Smith Dunk Clark Sessegnon
Shelvey Cairney Ritchie
Knockaert Wood Gayle
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Comment #35Random, I think a lot on here have been harsh about the entire set up mate. 52k every home game doesn’t entitle us to win every game. Rafa took over a club in turmoil and has done a great job in a league totally alien to what he normally faces. Despite that, we’ve been top two all season and will remain there imo. Players we thought would do well this season have struggled sometimes. I know I expected us to do better, but as long as we go up I honestly don’t care. You’d think players who coped reasonably in the PL would find this easier, but not the case. Teams have seen us as a huge scalp and lifted themselves for us more than any other team. Refs have been bordering on suspicious at times! 🙂 Rafa will do a lot better in the PL and this won’t be our squad either! Sometimes fans expect too much, but we’d all have taken second and promoted if we’re honest. Be nice to win but I’ll take it all day. I reckon we’ll get second comfortably myself because we’re not the only team struggling with nerves right now.
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:04 PM
Comment #36Random? Ffs, Rolando! Spellchecker taking over. 🙂
Lindisfarne
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:04 PM
Comment #37If we win the last few matches, as we should, it doesn’t matter what the other teams do.
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:09 PM
Comment #38bobbybee
Sends shivers down my spine to think where we’d be if rafa hadn’t stayed
LewSpi v2.0
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Comment #39Anyone checked Prestons away form? Haven’t won in 9. Surely we’ll have too much for them. Fulham will do Huddersfield too. Monday is the day.
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:11 PM
Comment #40Sky: Michael Keane to leave burnley at the end of the season, coming to us?? Think not, spurs will probs get him