Alan Pardew has challenged his Newcastle squad to keep up the level of their recent performances until the end of the season and ensure that all the hard work that has been put in does not go to waste.
To be fair, he does have a point. We are all but safe now and that could be a signal to the players to take their collective foot off the pedal. It’s happened before when a team has nothing in particular to play for, but that is not the case at the moment.
Back-to-back home games against Bolton this weekend and Everton the weekend after give the team a chance of really pushing on up the table and and leave with us an outside chance of qualifying for Europe this season. If that was to happen it would be a truly stunning return to the Premier League that would have surpassed the expectations of many a fan.
The word ‘Europe’ tends to send shivers of delusion down my spine, but it isn’t me who is thinking of it, not this time anyway. Step forward Alan Pardew, who believes that Europe could be on the cards if the lads can stay focussed against Bolton on Saturday.
“Bolton is a big, big game even though many will view it is as a game between two mid-table sides. But they will be in the same mood as us,” Pardew told The Journal. “This game is pivotal in terms of attacking the top ten. If we win this we can attack the top ten – if we don’t win this game then we’ve lost a big opportunity and the opportunity might be Europe.”
“We’re on the verge of something exciting – these two games will decide whether we’ve got something to go for or we’re going to have a season where we’re just seeing things out. I don’t want that to happen. This game is to keep the season alive – and I think we need the help of the fans to do that.”
Well you can’t say that he isn’t ambitious, can you?
In a sense he is absolutely spot on, and this rallying call has come at the right time to remind he players that the hard work is far from over. A win against Bolton could catapult us to 7th in the table if Sunderland fail to beat Everton at Goodison Park, which would give us yet more bragging right over those infernal inbreeds. Massive Sunderland below a newly promoted team? I can hear the fizzing from here!
We have to win our game first though, but given that we have a decent run in when compared to other teams, and if we can get a bit of luck along the way, then who knows? Perhaps a Europa spot could be up for grabs after all?
Am I deluded? You better believe it!
About toonsy
A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.
RICHIE 😈 👿 😈
icedog(Quote)
Howay Ice, we all know it, it takes the bigger man to admit it 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
only two people i dis-like on here and dave is both of them
icedog(Quote)
I’m dissapointed with Sholas mask like, was expecting something a bit more exciting.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Ice that was decent of Richie to pull me up on that, I didn’t mean to force my way in 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Go on Andrew. Fight your corner mate 🙂
Just out of interest though, how many assists does Sky’s new wonderkid and potential best player in the world 🙄 Gareth Bale have?
toonsy(Quote)
I heard Bale had one assist…Same as Xisco 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew, where did you see a pic of the mask?
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Ice @ 153 🙁 I didn’t think you felt that way sorry.
Big Dave(Quote)
Its on the website mate
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Jonas is inconsistant but on his day is brilliant. He is the only player in the team who can get the crowd going just by getting the ball at his feet and having a run. Even though we know the end product is unlikely to be there…..
AndrewNUFC
“and a top class winger to play instead of Jonas – who offers nothing at all”
AndrewNUFC
“this season he’s played 27 times, scored once and got 4 assists”
Moreno(Quote)
“icedog
Posted February 24, 2011 at 7:06 PM
only two people i dis-like on here and dave is both of them”
Brilliant
Worky says theres three thousand people he dislikes, Dave is 50 of them, Judas Toonsy is 10 of them and I am the other 2940 of them 😆
I am surprised he dislikes any of us though – we have backsides and apparently he likes those 😆
Stardust(Quote)
Aye Bales got 1 assist…..less than about 7 give or take toon players including Willo on 3 😆 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Stardust 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
@161 Jonas has the ability, he never produces it enough, I’m the first to admitt he gives his all when he plays.
4 assists in the league and 1 in the cup, bearing in mind 2 came in one game. It is not good enough.
The fact when the players are warming up before the games Jonas goes back to the changing room before they practise crossing – it’s a disgrace.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
STARDUST is funny too at times will these wonders ever cease,keep it up 😀
icedog(Quote)
Surely Dave’s more than 50 of them? 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richie I thought that aswell maybe he dosn’t dislike me as much as I thought
But then again I would say Stardy is 1500 of them and Im 1450 but maybe im paranoid 😆 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave apparently you were 1450 but you repaid 1400 with his special “Favours in kind” 😆 😆
Stardust(Quote)
STARDUST aye i heard that off batty and we know hes a honest fellow 😆
icedog(Quote)
Hate to nitpick but think it’s 5 in the league and there aren’t that many wingers with many more, although there are a few who score more goals than Jonas though. Like Dave said it might be interesting to see how he’d do on the right as he’s right footed……that said,if I was right footed and playing on the left I’d be spending a hell of a lot of time practicing crossing with my left so I wouldn’t have to keep cutting in on to my right 😉
richietoon(Quote)
bloody bindippers have scored 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Stardy I use to be 1000 and Chuck was 450 of them but I think they are bed fellows now 😉
Chuck & Worky would make a good sun strip for a Ford Cortina 😆 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
The fustrating thing is he should have about double the assists he has.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
When a man falls for a woman in his youth after sleeping with her, many a young lad had had the term c**tstruck thrown at him. Wonder if Chuck and Worky are Bumstruck? 😆 😆 😆
Stardust(Quote)
Aye agree Andrew, like I say he’s sort of got an excuse as it’s his weak foot, but then you work on crossing with it every chance you get…..that’s what they used to do back in Ice’s day 😀 . I do think he’s been playing well recently though.
richietoon(Quote)
So Andrew if he is that **** who should have took his place then ❓ and why didn’t they
Richie I think your nitpicking hit a nerve 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Next season I hope Pardew gives Ferguson a chance, or loan him out for some games.
When he came on against West Ham he did well.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Stardy > Bumstruck?
Thats has to be a 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave i’m just saying I would play Ben Arfa when he’s back and drop Jonas.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
RICHIE you working your notice out now.
or did they just clap there hands and say now fk off 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice you might be a sour baked old git
But that is a 😆 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
bennys got to have a free role behind front 1or 2 to see the best of him imo,think hes the type that likes a kind word too
icedog(Quote)
wor lass says ime a young sweety 😛
shes never heard of spec-savers like
icedog(Quote)
Always surprises me how so many absolutely rave about HBA and disrespect other players when we have only seen him play a few times.
Reputations are made over seasons, opinions should be formed over time, I dont know about others but I havent seen enough of HBA to establish whether or not he would work hard enough defensively down the wings, so for now I agree with Ice that his best role (until proven otherwise) will be a free role probably in the hole.
Stardust(Quote)
Ice…the second one 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
she must be ganning deaf too she thought toonsy had a nice voice 🙄
icedog(Quote)
Ice I think you have a point but I just feel that to get the best out of Nolan he needs to be in that hole otherwise he is wasted, hence why I said Nolan up between a MF of Benny, Tiote, Barton and Jonas and a top quality striker ? I think that way we get the best out of them all as a team 😉
Saying that I dont know what is going to happen when all our MF’s are all back and ready to go 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice @ 184 the fact she is with you is testament to that 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE are we looking at the way BARCA play all inter-changeing,
oh sorry i must have fell a sleep,
i bloody wish
icedog(Quote)
thats 1
icedog(Quote)
Ice you are one nasty piece of work today 😯 did you get kicked out of your bed ❓ and you are right thats 1 😀 1 your still owed and thats only because I like ye otherwise it would be 2 or 3 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE kna m8 saw my bank-balance today 😥 bloody kids,
you are kind to me 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice I used to think kids were dear when they were younger but they cost even more as they get older, My Mrs use to tell me how much the Daughters Uni etc was 😯 but in the end I told her not to bother telling me anymore 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE your reet.
was thinking pity kids were not born until they were 21,then they could move straight oot and get there own place 😀
icedog(Quote)
bloody l,pool 👿
icedog(Quote)
Ice that is the best idea you have had all day 😀 only problem is the one that has just finished uni is 24 and has moved back home again 😀 but saying that I would rather she gets a Teaching job as she is talking about moving to London if she dosn’t get a job by july aug 🙁
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE divnt let her gan to london mate,what subject is she after?
icedog(Quote)
Design and Technology and Art
Big Dave(Quote)
200 comments, notice an article on .org got 2 comments the other day 😯
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno 😆 thats because all the best bloggers are on here 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Aye, ya right Dave I am.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – he said “bloggers” not “bummers”
Stardust(Quote)
stardust
😆 😆
Moreno(Quote)
Its because this place is ace 😀
toonsy(Quote)
Stardy I hope I get a pic of the house when its done 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
All the best bloggers……..and me 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Richie tbh I was counting you in there
Big Dave(Quote)
😛
richietoon(Quote)
sum nasty fckers on here
batty(Quote)
Batty @ 210 yeah yer right that Ice one can be one when his blue eyed isn’t about 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Hey, wasn’t there supposed to be some “big” announcement today?
Was it Shola’s mask? Too bad it wasn’t customized with the badge or at least black and white stripes.
Was it Pardew’s push towards Europe?
Did I miss it? Did it exist?
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
dave divent start pickin on my m8 dog ,and i see stardy is in a good mood 😉
batty(Quote)
norcal suppose too be called off till tomoz
batty(Quote)
Cheers, Batty. I guess those last minute contract negotiations can be a b!tch. 😉
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
I thought Stardy was allways in a good mood 😉
Big Dave(Quote)