An improvement on last term against Sunderland
The performances against both Aston Villa and especially Blackburn have gone a long way in enhancing that belief. Although we all know tougher tests are to come the general consensus seems to be one of quiet confidence.
Some still say we have not been really tested yet. I would agree to an extent and believe Wolves and Spurs will prove to be tough opponents in the coming weeks. That said I think there are no easy games in the Premier League any more, newly promoted QPR proved that much.
Despite what peoples opinion may be on the strength of sides we have faced or the standard of some of our performances, the Premier League is a results business. Regardless of whether you play a team off the park or grind one out with backs to the wall, points on the board is what is most important.
So going off that train of thought I wanted to compare our results to last seasons corresponding fixtures to see if our points tally does flatter us somewhat….
Arsenal (Home)
Last season 4 – 4
This season 0 – 0
Sunderland (Away)
Last season 1 – 1
This season 1 – 0
Fulham (Home)
Last season 0 – 0
This season 2 – 1
QPR (Away)
No corresponding fixture
Aston Villa (Away)
Last season 0 – 1
This season 1 – 1
Blackburn (Home)
Last season 1 – 2
This season 3 – 1
As you can probably see it makes for promising reading. We have not lost points on any opponent from the corresponding fixture last year. In fact we have improved on last seasons result in four of the five games that were comparable.
Some can say we have not been tested yet and if it is a debate on strength of other teams it may be a legitimate argument. Personally I am only concerned with our strength and against the same opposition last season our results were not good, in fact we didn’t win any of those five fixtures.
All in all we are 8 points better off from these fixtures than we were last season. As well as that we have stopped the abysmal record we have at Villa Park, sealed our first win against Blackburn at home for seven years and beaten the Mackems on their own turf.
Hypothetical of course as other results could go the other way yet, but if we had achieved those results last season with the goal difference taken into account we would have finished 8th on 54 points, losing out on 7th position to Everton on goal difference, +6 to +4.
Aside from direct fixture comparison, simply based on league position and points tally after six games last season, we are five points better off, have scored two goals less but have conceded only three goals this time around in comparison to eight meaning that our goal difference stands at plus four instead of plus one.
The obvious conclusion to draw is, to date, we look like we are definitely a better team than we were last season. Results speak for themselves and there is a clear progression there. Although there may be room for improvement and tougher times ahead, we are no doubt heading in the right direction.
Next up is Wolves away and then Spurs at home. Both good sides and personally would not be too disappointed with the same results as last season. Two points from the two games would be acceptable but in saying that the aim for the team should be more.
I think we should and will go out to beat both given our strong performances home and away lately and four to six points would be an extremely good return
What do you think?
« Santon set for Swansea return | Taylor praise for Ashley and Llambias »
Toon News 24/7
RSS
E Mail
Twitter
Facebook
121 Comments
I hate Spurs fans
This is a bit of a strange one. We may be better and they may be worse. Arsenal and villa are definitley worse but credit to the lads for the results. However we are not a top 6 side and their is no easy games for us in this division. So for people to say we haven’t been tested yet is silly imo. Beating the teams around us is what we should be aiming to do. Anything from the top 5/6 should be a bonus.
I do hope that people dont raise their expectations too high. we need to stay grounded. inflated expectations lead to bad atmosphere when things don’t go our way!
Of course we won’t stay in 4th place for much longer – seems to be the general comment and I would have agreed – but then thinking about it, I don’t see any of the other clubs with aspirations of a champions league spot with any greater credentials than we have. I don’t think Arsenal are the team they were, although I’m sure they will come again as the season develops. Liverpool just don’t look right to me and I would love it, just love it if we end up above them. Spurs for me are a big danger but seem rather inconsistent. Everton, Stoke are in there too but I have a belief that they are certainly no better than we are. Villa – don’t think so. Sunderland – err NO! No-one else with our quality in my totally unbiased opinion (???) AND one more thing – we would appear to be getting better and better each week. I am finding it hard not to get too excited but I am thinking like many others that this is the best and most exciting team we have seen since Keegan’s first reign.
The way I see it, there are the two Manchester clubs, who are on another planet, and then the rest. We shouldn’t fear any of the rest and they probably wouldn’t fancy a trip to SJP the way we are playing at the moment.
I hope it goes right to the last game and then City win the league just to see the look on Ferguson’s face.
We seem to be better against the teams who are in and around us. Its not a new thing as its been the case since Pardew arrived really. It was one of my main criticisms of Hughton – the fact we struggled against the supposed weaker sides.
As for the other ‘big’ clubs, Chelsea are an ageing side, Arsenal are having all sorts of problems and I’m not convinced on Liverpool. How refreshing after the money they have thrown around and as it stands we are above them.
It’s mad the difference time makes in football. Look at Leon Best and Colloccini now compared to when they first arrived. I just hope people give Obertan and Santon time. Already people have been calling him a headless chicken and comments like ‘I’m 99% sure he is a flop’. Are you? Are you really sure?
Look at Milner, scored for Man City at the weekend and a regular fixture in the side, remember the ‘we won’t win anything with 11 James Milners’ comment. The guy is going to win loads.
Some good points on here. We do look better against the clubs around us and to say we haven’t been tested is silly really- each week is a test.
We are going to have our rough patches this year but the points all count in the end regardless of time of year we get them or the competition we’re playing.
@DSG
youre right about giving players time, I’d like to think over the yrs we have given players time to settle.
I wouldnt support your opinion on Milner tho, although a great little player he’s went down the SRPhillips route for me, trading playing time for cash. wasted talent imo, I’d almost forgot about him until he scored at the weekend.
soz @DJG
I’m very excited by our current side. With Spurs in 3 weeks, HBA and santon could be ready to start! More pace and flair to give a great match at home.
I really don’t mean to be too excited, but there is only more positivity to come from this squad
Well… Even if we had a perfect season and finished 4th, people would be saying that we had “played above our level” whatever that means. So all we can do is keep suprising people with what we got and take pride in the fact that big spenders such as Liverpool cant buy their way to success. In fact 2-3 more genius buys in the mould of those made in the summer and the summer before that in this comming transfer window in i could see us suprise allot of people and finish around 6th. I wont be to disapointed if we just finish in the top 10 though
It’s a good job we’re not repeating last year’s results or, due to the quirks of the fixture list, we wouldn’t have won a game until Feb – home to villa (excluding the results against teams now relegated).
We’ve done remarkably well – better than anyone expected and you have to give credit to Pardew and the whole squad for the way they have performed.
I do worry about injuries though; I dread to think if one of our central defenders got injured at the moment.
I’m honestly not that bothered about bringing in another striker in January now. By the time we get to that point, Sammy will have come along even moreso to play that role if needed. Also, who is to say that Phil Airey couldn’t come back from his injury to push into the 1st team!
I would, however, want at least one fullback brought in who could challenge Simpson. Tavernier will be back too, although I really wouldn’t put much in him right now
i for one was all the way with this AP and Ashly style of business, until we let JB go… and then not getting in a STRIKER in… hmm i still want a quality striker and a backup CD for replacing if injured( probably a young talented fast defender). Then we need to hold onto our players for 3-5 years and keep bringing in new young future prospect for cheap and sell the old aging players for much more…. $$$$ for Ashole…. hehe
The dilemma is now do we go for a striker or a defender as the priority?
MAL@14-
That’s an interesting thought. The fact that we would be winless right now if we mirrored last year’s results, really highlights how poor we were at times in the second half of last year.
I don’t mean that a striker or a defender Should be our target, but what would you place more importance on?
I think a defender, as we seem to be lacking in that position. I feel that our strikers can do the job for us. They’ve certainly shown that they are able to step up and score for us. Ba had three shots on goal and each time he scored, I think he is going to be a very good player for us
Might be an idea for my next article, would create an interesting debate on here
TOONSY got to be a defender we are very light in that dept,pity we missed out on ridgewell in the last hour not a great player by any means but steady cover as i think we missed out on peters long before the last hour imo
It depends how we’re doing nearer the window what the priority will be imo
ZOE we still need a striker i know,but the way the midfield is set up our front men should hold up until a better class striker comes in which will be the summer imo,but should get a defender in jan
In terms of this season a CF, wor Ba will be off to African nations, shola and sammy might be to. maybe a striker then get a defender on loan?
or maybe fatty should fork out a 15mill kitty allowing us to get 4 decent players! LB cover CB Cover CF Cover/Challenging and something else haha.
A defender for me. One who could play CB or FB
I meant CB “and” FB
Injuries will be the key, in my opinion, meaning that defensive cover is the most important thing. Specifically CB, because mistakes at that position result in goals. We’ve gotten away with weaknesses on the outside, but Perch at CB for an extended period of time could spell trouble.
The African Cup is worrying too, but not as much. We can switch to 4-5-1 with Best up front and Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Obertan, Gutierrez and either Gosling or Guthrie in the midfield. Not too bad, especially when you look at who we were trotting out as injury replacements last year.
Neville and sky sports are the biggest arseholes ever. Race for 4th is between the Bindippers, Spuds and Gooners. What about NUFC?
They really do have something against us
If we sign someone it’s got to be a defender imo. Would love to see a good left footed left back arrive in January. Santon can cover at right back and centre half if need be.
I reckon our new striker will arrive next summer, unless things go pear shaped before Christmas when we’ll then be forced to invest to cover for Ba etc..
Toby..I would say Sky were pretty spot on there mate…..
Munich
When Bobby isn’t around it is good to dream. Haha
Fullback is definitely te priority right now
MM i will be a lot happier when santon has played 2/3 90min games as ime not 100% on this fliud carry on,ime no doc but it comes from somewhere for some reason imo
Toby, Bobby’s reality train has got stuck in the sand somewhere …!
Top 8 would be more like it, and why not if we stay clear of injuries and strenghten the squad. It’s a gradual process to improve the team, we seem to be on the right lines…
Ice…I’m with you on that one. I fear Santon may be a bit jinxed injury wise, don’t know why just have a bad feeling. Would love to be proved wrong though, time will show. The lad seems to be ecstatic to be at the toon, it’s sad for him that he cannot get mucked into it…
Pieters or Cissokho in Jan would be immense and if we could add a striker to that i would be over the moon… Would also like us to sign that young CB Situ from Lens as we are quite thin in that department, but i feel that 3 players is to unrealistic in Jan, nvm 2.
MM if we hadnt thrown away those 2 points in last game by imo pardew makeing changes at the wrong time we would have finished 9th last yr,so why cannot we at least finish there are better maybe this season
Ice…just trying to keep my expectations down, would love it to finish between 5-8 somewhere, just love it…
At 2 finaly someone with the same view as me
get in Steve bruce has a big fat heed
mackems 1 down waaahoo
yaaaaaaas Norwich!!!!
cannot understand whats going on with gosling he played really good for under21s then just bit part for club since now cannot even get on bench,strange one imo
Icedog – he might still be battling fitness or a niggling injury??? He has done alright in the first team games he has been involved in. Have no doubt we will see more of him this season.
Ice
Gosling is a mystery. Thought he would be a regular in the seventeen.
We think we have dodgy full backs these two muppets playing for the SMB’s make ours look like superstars
Toby – smbs have no real quality have they? No one in their team really strikes out as great.
We all know that the Toon will have some sort of injury crisis this season. Most likely in the African Nations Cup!
So without Ba and Tiote, we could stick with Best up top and put any of Gosling/Guthrie/Abeid in and I would feel fairly confident as long as cabaye is still alongside.
Thankfully we have great cover/ competition on the wings.
I just don’t want to see any more of Raylor at LB once Santon is back. I would actually much prefer Shane Ferguson to take that spot if needed.
@36 situ went to swansea on deadline day.
Re Gosling, toonsy at the forest match said he looked quite good but tired very early and seemed to be struggling with fitness. No need to rush him if thats the case with the team doing well; just hope its not something more sinister
ANDREWT – agree, wud be good see Ferguson playin. .. altho to be fair to raylor he has done alright .. just cant see him doing it all season tho
I don’t live near Newcastle is there any gossip about Nile Ranger these days.
The last i heard was an internet story that he was not being loaned out and was going to be given another and maybe final chance. Is that story true?
The Mackems are awful aren’t they? All that money spent and they don’t own a decent striker, have a shit midfield and have a dodgy defence.
It’s ok though because they showed ambition by wasting money
Smb’s losing to the mighty Norwich. This is great stuff. The pundits seem to love agent Bruce though. Jamie redknapp just had an article on skysports about why they should continue to let him prove himself with this new team. I wonder when they’ll realize that he is just crap?
TOBY is that before he was caught drink-driveing 2/3 wks ago?
Haha, good call Toonsy. So much ambition compared to us!
I’m not counting on it, but wouldn’t it be fantastic if we brought in all the quality reinforcements that we’re talking about right now?! I know it probably won’t happen, but how great would that be to ensure us finishing on a high!
icedog says:
September 26, 2011 at 20:31
cannot understand whats going on with gosling he played really good for under21s then just bit part for club since now cannot even get on bench,strange one imo
—————————
Dog he played in the Cup match next week, and from accounts didn’t do a whole lot. I think he is right on the fringe at the moment which surpises me because I was really impressed by him in preseason.
13 tie Sunderland have played on Monday Night Football. They’ve not won yet
Mackems
I think Gosling is just stuck in the competition that we have in our midfield right now. He had one poor game against Nottingham forest, but marveaux, HBA, and even Abeid came out better after that match! Keep up the competition!
I love Mondays
yeeeeeeha 2 – 0 nprwich
lets all laugh at 5under1and
TOONSY love it when you give good news lol
Evening all,
Back up north after a great weekend in the Toon….and the good news just keeps coming live from Norfolk!
Agent Bruce may just have blown his cover!
Dubtoon… Im pretty sure that one fell through mate
if quinn goes to m/city which there is talk of mrs doubtfire is gone,he might go anyway hope not let the dick take them doon
Sunderland are embarrassing. Horrible little shitstabbers.
When the Metro first went to Wearside there was talk of being eaten by a giant yellow snake
Lets all laugh at Sunderland!
hahahah, im loving this!
Is there a link? Want to see Bagpuss’s puss
A picture says a thousand words
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/55601000/jpg/_55601367_55601366.jpg
This is too funny! Mackems down 2 goals against the team that was called to end the season in last place!
hahahaha Toonsy, you read my mind
its like he has been counting on his pudgy fingers.
ONE
TWO
Doh
I bet Mrs Doubtfire says in his post match interview. We didn’t deserve to lose the derby game. Get over it you SMB
oshea and brown look utter dog sh*t for sunlan
How much did they pay for connor WICKham?
Valle
http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~2438127,00.html
pity
Jubilant scenes at Carrow Road as Norwich go one up. The fans celebrate in the local fashion, giving each other high sixes.
TP 8mil up front riseing to 10 later on i think with diff add-ons
Come on Norwich. Hang on
Dubtoon – That move for Sittu got cancelled. They had another cancelled aswell. Halliche? Neither could get international clearance for whatever reason.
alreet lads, what’s the crack tonight?
ICE – much happier with ba ba ba ba ba around, for ZILCH (and a couple of back handerz) …. wud have offered max 2 max 3 mill for WICKham .. thats the right price for a 17-18 year old like him … brucie f cuked it hasnt he
Fingers crossed, don’t jinx it anybody, I’ve kept my mouth shut all night.
@Andy lol
Sunderland are crap, they should try some cheaps frogs instead of ManU rejects
saying that OShea, Brown must be gutted playing for S’land, its like working in Harrods one minute then finding yourself in the warehouse of the pund shop the next.
ganning doon
ffs blow the feckin whistle ref
come on you canaries
5 minutes me arse blow ya whistle.
TP aye but i know we got ba for a few as you say back-handers,but 8mil plus back-handers racks up to a lot of bucks mate
Ha Ha Garbage.
Going mental on radio newcastle
luvin it
get in
utter tripe pmsl lmao rofl
Cheers toonsy.
My apologies valle. Just as well I’m not as “vocal” as some or I’d look a bit of a tw@t
Could be a good idea so. Wonder if Newcastle pulled out so or they were genuinely pipped originally
yeap .. mrs doubtfire and loch ness quinny monster muggin it big style
Lucky flash in the pan against tired away team.
The realist’s were right when they said a little ambition goes a long way. I can see the Mackems getting all the way to Portsmouth on the back of this form.
Evening TC .. aye, mebs we were wrong and we shud have spent some cash chasing connor WICKham or similar overpriced guff instead of Cabaye / Marveaux / HBA etceteraaaa etceteraaa … anyone else see brian ruiz miss for fulham the other day ..
Well done agent Bruce lad. Said on legends he was at the Blackburn game.
Alreet pipes.
Did you see that Cabaye ran over 8 miles in the Villa game?
That’s nearly as long as Barton’s rap sheet. And longer than Tugboat managed in 8 seasons.
Always said Wickham would be a risky that neither us or Sunderland could afford. We both needed strikers who could hit the ground running and not ones that may come good in two or three years. Its all well and good signing potential, but when you need an immediate impact potential isn’t good enough.
Bendtner also looked wank and has done since he went there.
Mackems. Forever in our shadow.
Bruce is still on target to beat the mackems all time record low of points.
Would be surprised if he lasted til xmas, so I dont know why he was on a scouting mission at the Toon.
Tugboat what a chump … 50k a week over 4, or is it 5 years even – money well spent by west ham very sensible good return
For amusement purposes, why not check out the #bruceout hashtag on Twitter. it’s comedy gold
http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23bruceout
Bender is wick .. every now and then he looks sort of ok ish and then he just doesnt give a s hit .. difference in hunger between him and Best / Ba / Cabaye / Tiote is unreal … brucie has bought all the s hit from teams he admires and they are s hit
Its good s hit that bruceout hashwag like very funny .. hes ruuuuubbish
Don’t worry toonsy, im sure like big Andy he will have plenty of time to learn his trade in the championship. (then get a big contract off some american sucker)
Aye tugger’s mugged himsel. But at least England’s best midfielder will be gracing the Champion’s League next season.
Toonsy
Oh, you are cruel, aren’t you?
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/forumdisplay.php?f=86
enjoy!
Toonsy this one is class ‘The magpies, the seagulls and now canaries, think sunderland have a bad case of birdflu’
Sorry, iPhone autocorrected “Championship” to “Champion’s League”.
Look at Bentner’s goal ratio. It’s shocking considering he was mainly at Arsenal.
aye, tugger knew we didnt want/need him same goes for barton + caroll has mugged it massively – no doubt his agent spun the business but he shud have known better than to mess with what he had even if he is thick as f uck
poor old brucie is taking a reet pounding on tweeeeter
Watching a canary get the better of a black cat….
Like an episode of Loony Toons
Anyway I’m off lads. Night
Aye Moreno… Can just picture Bruce sat in front of the press the morra saying “that’s all folks.”
Their match against west brom next week needs to be agent bruce’s last chance to stay in charge. Although, their mascot is a bird also. Tricky stuff.
Saw some mackems wanting Gary Neville to take over. Yeah, that would work
Good article and I must say I have been impressed with the way the lads started the season. I was worried about how they would start not because I thought they would be bad but because I thought they might take time to adjust like Colo and Enrique did but they were magnificent in the game against Blackburn and I hope they continue improving game by game as they have done so far. A bit off topic I know but I was checking out NUFC.com and saw that there are alot of youngsters who’s contracts end at the end of the season here is a list Samuel Adeji, Brad Inman, Conor Newton, Michael Richardson, Phil Airey, Tamas Kadar, Kazenga LuaLua, James Tavernier, Ole Soderberg and Sami Ameobi. Obviously that list is not including the ever green Alan Smith and Peter Lovenkrands lol. Danny Guthrie’s contract is also due to expire. Anyway just wondering if anyone watches the reserves regular and was wondering who they think we should keep. I have liked the look of Kadar, Lualua and Sami Ameobi from what I have seen and know Phil Airey was banging the goals in for the reserves last season. Heard Conor Newton is a Paul Scholes type player and Samuel Adeji has been described as a Ronaldo type player. Can anyone tell me what they think of the youngsters?
Lua Lua….. out of those I’ve seen then I’d like to keep Kadar(seems to have lost his way a little) Tavernier, Lua Lua(think he’ll sign for Brighton though) and Sammy’s a must.Out of the rest I’ve heard good things about all of them so we’ll just have to see how Peter Beardsley rates them.
……..and back at the top of the predictor league after getting the scum score right………lets all laugh at them
Reet. Servers clicked over now. It clicked over right whilst I was writing something but hey ho
We’ve lost about 11 comments by my reckoning.Apologies for that but not a lot can be done unfortunately.
Touch wood we should be fine to go now.Please leave feedback
Nae idea what any of that means but I’ll take ya word for it
Reality train in for repairs… it broke down after being derailed by a large dose of optimism!
Toooot… tooooot!!
« Santon set for Swansea return | Taylor praise for Ashley and Llambias »