We don’t have Joe Willock available for our last two games of the season, at home to Leicester City and away at Chelsea.
We now need just one point to qualify for the Champions League next season, after Liverpool could only draw 1-1 at home to an impressive Aston Villa side yesterday..
Just a minute, let’s just pinch my self to make sure I am still alive and not in heaven.
Ouch, that hurt – well I guess it’s true as utterly remarkable as it is.
🙂
And Newcastle are getting very positive feedback in the press on what could be our second-highest points total ever in the Premier League.
With Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy still not available, we will make one change to the team that smashed Brighton 4-1 last Thursday night.
In comes 20-year-old Whitley Bay born Elliot Anderson in place of Joe Willock, and that would be a gutsy call if head coach Eddie Howe makes the call for tomorrow night’s game.
The best point total we have had in the Premier League is 78 under Kevin Keegan in the 1995-1996 season, when we were 2nd with a goal difference +29.
The next best is Sir Bobby Robson’s 71 points in the 2001-2002 season, when we finished 3rd behind Liverpool and the Red Devils with a goal difference of +22.
So in his first full season, Eddie Howe can get the second-best points total ever if we can pick up 3 points in our final two games, which is very possible.
Can you believe that!!
Loading ...Comments welcome.
Future of Blog.
I have decided to keep the blog going myself with some help from my son Neil.
Of course, I will need to concentrate on writing the articles and will not have the time or energy to get involved with spats between readers.
The readers will have to self moderate, and I ask our many mature readers for help in doing that.
I just cannot shut the blog down with all the great things happening to our wonderful club.
My pledge to you is I will do my very best for as long as I can.
Thanks – Ed Harrison.
330 comments so far
Munster Mag
May 21, 2023 at 1:03 PM
Comment #81Oh and when I get my C4 gig I’m going to campaign to have the black and white striped shirt abolished, as it symbolises the imprisonment of human rights activists , fuelled by geordie lust for success.
Jeez I’m warming to this.
Legolas
May 21, 2023 at 1:05 PM
Comment #82Great news Ed, and thank you to you, Neil and the family. It really is appreciated. I could only imagine how much work and effort you and Neil put in to keep this amazing blog running. Even more amazing you do it all with the health problems you suffer with. What a legend.
I don’t post much, but read all the time, and I think I would miss reading the posts that people post. As many have said before it’s like a crazy disjointed family. 🙂
Mund
May 21, 2023 at 1:05 PM
Comment #83Ledge
I worry about his attitude with the whole affair we had during the summer but if the recruitment team still deem it a worthy deal then I’d back them as I would with anyone. Time will tell bud
Munster Mag
May 21, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Comment #84You will be allowed the wear black only, as a sign of your sins against human rights activists.
With rainbow shorts though, out of respect to the gays that nufc fans helped to torture by purchasing shirts etc and FUELLING SAUDI BLOOD LUST.
Thank you.
Mund
May 21, 2023 at 1:09 PM
Comment #85Can’t see this one happening but would love it to
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwplQ6QXsAAZr3l?format=jpg&name=medium
Munster Mag
May 21, 2023 at 1:10 PM
Comment #86Ekitike might run to a club with open arms, who kept the door open for him, to get away from the psg mess. He looked like he had bulked up last time I saw.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 21, 2023 at 1:11 PM
Comment #87Ledge / Mund / Munster,
One of the really good things that sticks out for me in Khéphren Thuram, along with what yourself Ledge has read up about him, is the lads from great stock. His dad Lilian, has brought up his 2 sons to be very level headed, well educated young men. As we know one of the main attributes that Eddie looks for is a good character that will mould into the hood dressing room harmony. Khéphren, definitely has all that. Ledge you know your onions about football, so for the lad to be put in the same category as Busquets, then Dan go and get the man. He sounds exactly what we need. Along with Dom Szoboszlai. What an incredible MF we’d have next season to take on Europes elite 😉
ShaytoStay
May 21, 2023 at 1:12 PM
Comment #88Great news ED and you are your family running this blog have been amazing. Got me through the dark days of pardew and cabbage head, to name just a few lows.
Now we’re back were we belong , top 6 team and in the champions league.
It’s great to be a Newcastle fan.
Mund
May 21, 2023 at 1:14 PM
Comment #89Fenham
Going to be a very exciting few months to come…
What am I talking about it’s years of excitement!
The next chapter is also amongst us
Onwards and upwards matey
HWTL
The Ledge
May 21, 2023 at 1:14 PM
Comment #90Mund aye I taught about that .
But the kid was praised by all his previous coaches and managers for being a humble and down to earth kind of fella.
Then that agent of his got involved, and the rest is history .
I think our recruitment team is far too clever these days to bring in a bad apple, and this kid was wanted more than anyone.
Not another deJong
May 21, 2023 at 1:15 PM
Comment #91I hope Anderson finally gets his chance to score a PL league goal, he deserves it having seen his earlier attempt unfairly ruled out.
ShaytoStay
May 21, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Comment #92I reckon we’ll get some belter players this summer now
Dominik Szoboszlai
Thuram
Joao Pedro
Kim Min-jae
Tierney
And maybe a winger.
Mund
May 21, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Comment #93Ledge
Hear, hear pal
Right you are mate.
He is young and I can’t blame him for wanting to move to PSG.
Everyone deserves a second chance and as you say our recruitment team have proven to be top notch with ground work a very important aspect of what they do and they haven’t let us down yet with a great record of recruitment
The Ledge
May 21, 2023 at 1:19 PM
Comment #94Fenham …he sure does come from some goid stock alright lad.
His olde lad was some defender in his day one of the best ever .
I agree that Szoboszlai would be a dream signing and, like Thuram, would give us so many options .
He can play wide left through the centre multiple roles .
If we got them two, we definitely have a Midfield that will have plenty of cover in all positions and enough talent to scare the s.te out of many a club.
ShaytoStay
May 21, 2023 at 1:20 PM
Comment #95Ledge I agree, no chance we’ll go for anyone with his attitude. He’s thrown his toys out of the pram when not playing for PSG, ekiteke is now too risky
Ronway
May 21, 2023 at 1:20 PM
Comment #96NadJ – #77
I will not debate the maturity element either!
Perhaps when we both grow up?
😉
niafron
May 21, 2023 at 1:21 PM
Comment #97By the way, did you notice Ekitiké look like a smaller version of Victor Wembanyama?
The Ledge
May 21, 2023 at 1:21 PM
Comment #98Mund …The thing about Ekitike that sticks with me is how desperate we were to sign him just as much as we were Botman.
cleveleysbob
May 21, 2023 at 1:21 PM
Comment #99Well, today’s turned out to be another great day in the life of the blog.
Many thanks Ed. Hugely appreciated.
Of course we’re likely to get a spate of bloggers telling other bloggers to respect Ed’s wishes and start the very arguments Ed’s trying to avoid. 😆
C’est La Vie – all’s normal in a day on the blog. 🙂
My personal view…. I wish Villa had got the win yesterday. Although unlikely, the prospect of missing out on CL qualification on GD to the bindippers of all people is a horror too vile to imagine and still one that has a minuscule probability should we lose our final games.
I’d have preferred a quiet, nonchalant, relaxed 2 x games where the result is almost irrelevant instead of another nail biting, hopeful, fretful Monday night, praying for at least a draw! 😀
The Taco Taker
May 21, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Comment #100Shay we aren’t signing Pedro, he is already confirmed to be going to Brighton it was announced a couple of weeks ago.
The Ledge
May 21, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Comment #101Shay ….Pedro is joining Brighton unfortunately.
Mund
May 21, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Comment #102Ledge
That’s so true mate.
We definitely saw something in him.
Might get a better deal in the end.
Every footer is stood up now watching us
ShaytoStay
May 21, 2023 at 1:25 PM
Comment #103Ledge didn’t know that, shame
scott
May 21, 2023 at 1:30 PM
Comment #104Dr Ed,Neil & family
Tremendous news, thank you so much for continuing with the blog & giving us bunch of reprobates a place to congregate!
I hope the upcoming seasons continue to add the extra pep in your tank that the Brighton win seemed to give you!
As for the self moderating we will try our best to reel that Rom fella in but he is a right worky ticket! 😀 😀
niafron
May 21, 2023 at 1:31 PM
Comment #105To prove my point:
https://twitter.com/CanalSupporters/status/1559541177539596289?s=20
Remember, Ekitiké is 6’3″ and YES, he’s the lad on the right of the pic…
Mister Tuff
May 21, 2023 at 1:34 PM
Comment #106Come on Leeds.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 21, 2023 at 1:34 PM
Comment #107There could be a reason why Pedro is going to Brighton and that is because we have moved on from him and have someone else firmly in our sights…
Could it still be Ekitike I wonder? As Ledge pointed out in an earlier post that our recruitment team really like this lad. His temperament was never in question then as it would have been one of the main things looked at. It only became apparent at PSG? Now this club is well known to be a basket case club for many reasons, so we just don’t know what the problem was behind the scenes. I do know one thing for sure and that is Ekitike, needs to bin that agent of his (his cousin I think) as he seemed to get in the way.
If we brought Ekitike in, during the summer transfer window, I’d not have any problems at all with it, (trust the process) I’d be very interested and excited how this lad would develop with eddies training routines and impeccable man-management.
Will be a great summer transfer window. Hopefully the best ever, I wouldn’t bet against that.
niafron
May 21, 2023 at 1:37 PM
Comment #108To be more serious about Ekitiké, the last news sent him to Germany or more surprisingly, he could stay in Paris as it seem things are going better for him in training and both Messi and Neymar are going to leave.
Mister Tuff
May 21, 2023 at 1:41 PM
Comment #109Eddie Howe will appreciate he has to get players of a high standard/ability to play in the CL for next season.
No point in playing duffers as you’ll be knocked out straight away.
So I anticipate some quality players -say two or three and some, another say 3, who are promising/quality youngsters. A few on here have suggested at least 6 new faces and I would agree with that.
Dubai Micky
May 21, 2023 at 1:41 PM
Comment #110Are we all Leeds fans now (send the blue bindippers down).
The Taco Taker
May 21, 2023 at 1:42 PM
Comment #111Niafron,
I think you are right Ekitike will probably stay in Paris.
I reckon we moved on from him and Pedro the minute we signed Isak. We will still be in the market for a young striker in the summer though.
Ace50
May 21, 2023 at 1:43 PM
Comment #112This is a lovely thread about Szoboszlai: https://twitter.com/edit_kev/status/1660251425920761856?s=61&t=oE9r0YZuqCwo-geMmhvYtQ
Mister Tuff
May 21, 2023 at 1:49 PM
Comment #113Get in Leeds 1 -0
Toon Fans Good
May 21, 2023 at 1:49 PM
Comment #114When we made final they played que cera cera the rumours this time if we make it tomorrow the champions league anthem will blare out what a sight/sound that will be. Just hope it’s not copyrighted and not allowed
The Taco Taker
May 21, 2023 at 1:49 PM
Comment #115My FPL GW could be almost done by today.
Opponent with Mitoma
Vs
Kepa, Estupinan, Mac Allister, Enciso, De Bruyne and Grealish.
🙂
lesh
May 21, 2023 at 1:58 PM
Comment #116Dr Ed
Your dedication to maintaining The Blog is astonishing and is and will be much appreciated by most who have contributed to it over the years. Furthermore, I think it’s safe to say that more will do so over coming years.
Bless you Ed.
Fenham to Chalfont
May 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Comment #117Howay Leeds relegate them scumbags of Everton, as the bottom of the table stands now with Leeds currently winning 1-0 at West Ham:
16
Nottm Forest
37 9 10 18 -30 37
17
Leeds
37 8 10 19 -24 34
18
Everton
37 7 12 18 -24 33
19
Leicester
36 8 6 22 -18 30
20
Southampton
36 6 6 24 -35 24
I hope after next weeks final game the above stays just as it is.
The Taco Taker
May 21, 2023 at 2:05 PM
Comment #118Must win game for Stuttgart today.
Raj of Hailsley
May 21, 2023 at 2:08 PM
Comment #119I thought Nadj’s request #67 was perfectly reasonable.
Raj of Hailsley
May 21, 2023 at 2:13 PM
Comment #120Leeds to win today and give Spurs a right thumping would be a lovely way to see Everton off.