This time last season we still had an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League although in the end we had to settle for just the 5th place in the table and Europa League football instead.
What a difference a year makes though and this time round we find ourselves only recently ruled out of the relegation dogfight by virtue of a win at QPR last weekend. In fact in terms of real prizes there isn’t a lot left to play for other than more prize money, unless you are our opponents today who still have to ensure that they can pip their North London rivals to that final Champions League place and the riches that come with it.
Amazingly United could add a thin layer of veneer to the season potentially find themselves in the top half of the table come end of play this afternoon but it’s a tall order asking for all results to go our way. The best thing we can do is try to go out with a bang rather than a fizz though and see where a result takes us in the grand scheme of things.
Standing in the way of us doing that are Arsenal who know that they must beat us to guarantee 4th place in the table. If they do then it won’t matter what result Spurs get against Sunderland leaving players like Gareth Bale with tough decisions to make over the summer.
That sort of gives you a bit more of a background about what is at stake for everyone today. For us there isn’t a lot other than a few quid in the bank whilst for teams like Arsenal the game today means everything. However if you fancy reading a bit more of a background on the fixture along with injury news, stats and facts and so on then why not have a peek at my match preview which is viewable here.
I’ll be on my way to Paris when the teams are announced so once again team news will be provided by Big Dave, who by the way I’d like to thank for helping out with things whilst I’ve been away working or babysitting or other stuff like that. It’s very much appreciated by me and others I’m sure.
The game itself is going to be shown live here in the UK on Sky Sports 1 which is all fine and dandy if you have it, if you’re in a pub that has it, or even if you are in the ultimate place which is St James’ Park. However not everyone has access to the ground or Sky or a pub so streams are still needed. For one final time this season, please leave any links to streams in the ‘comments’ section below.
That just about wraps this up really and now it’s up to the players and management to attempt to restore some pride after a season which has seen a lot of goodwill from last season wiped out. Only they can do it, we can only watch.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Harper; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), Yanga-Mbiwa; Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran.
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell
Arsenal: Szczesney; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott; Podolski.
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud
Mark – After the season we have had I’d say that they were fully entitled to.
However I personally wouldn’t have. Against Sunderland or Liverpool yeah coz there was nothing there IMO and there would have been a point to it back then. But today and against QPR the lads put a shift in and ultimately secured PL footy next season. The other reason I don’t think there would have been much point is that Pardew knows fans aren’t happy with how this season has went, but Ashley has said he’s in for next season and fans booing today wasn’t going to change his mind mate and I don’t suppose that petition is going to do much to change Ashley’s mind either.
So the way I see it we have 2 choices. We either fester in bitterness and disappointment of the ***** we’ve been exposed to this season, or we take it as given that the board and Pardew know things need improving, accept that Ashley (rightly or wrongly) has made his decision and wait to see which players we are bringing in this summer in a hopeful and optimistic fashion. Ok so that’s pushing it a bit, but you know what I mean mate don’t ya.
Sharpy17(Quote)
santi you should feel embarrassed ignoring big dave after he asked you to back up your claims that he bullied people of the blog
batty(Quote)
Kim @ 294 but when is the right time ?
Big Dave(Quote)
@Big Dave
a sidestep is better than a backstep m8.
Every fan in the Country barr a few want a top manager. Why and how do we deserve a top manager?
mark(Quote)
@Mark
Would you be happy with Steve Mclaren?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
santi @ 293 i can see nowt much makes sense to you
batty(Quote)
Oh Batty you dirty old man 😳 wanting me to tell you that. There is websites for that sort of thing you know. 😆 😆
Santii(Quote)
@sharpy, aye bud. same as me m8. hopefully improvements will be made, esp the tactics/playing staff etc which mainly falls on Pardews decisions. (given he has the funds to do so)
mark(Quote)
Batts @ 302 🙂 thats right I nearly forgot about that, it’s easy for people to spout **** on here but it is embarrassing when they can’t back their words up, and ignore you when asked because they don’t have the facts to back it up so they know they’ll look foolish
Big Dave(Quote)
santi just ask yourself whos the daddy ;lol:
batty(Quote)
Schizo blog
..or is it just me noticing stuff that other people can’t see. 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Troy No m8
2-1 😉
mark(Quote)
Batty, you’re fucking avatar confuses me cos it’s not David Batty.
Get it fucking changed now!
You ****.
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Batty and BigDave stop ganging up on Santii. cyberbullying shouldn’t be tolerated by Toonsy 😛
mark(Quote)
Earlier in the season Dave or perhaps in our next preseason game after all plenty of fans go to them. Or even via social network ,after all I’m sure Jabba knows about what’s getting said on Twitter. Dave ,why are you so sure we would take a step sideways ,Jabba could surprise us all you know .
Re today though I just like the thought that it was a nice day for Harps really.
KIMTOON(Quote)
@Mark
Rumours are circulating that he is going to be appointed. Stardust has a source.
Mclaren was at the ground today.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Batty why are you so angry you need to calm down buddy at your age high blood pressure can’t be good. 😆 😆 I see your calling your girlfriend for some help hahaha
Santii(Quote)
*your
Grammar fucking Nazis
Rodzilla(Quote)
santi i will ignore your ***** now just as you ignore dave ,wouldnt suprise me if you were the 1 putting in all the complaints against troy and dave ,once again whos the daddy 😆 noticed rod hasent sed nowt lolol
batty(Quote)
Troy i cant tell if that is a joke or not please clarify 😀
@317
Santii(Quote)
Mark we are one of the biggest clubs in the prem we have 50.000+ of the best fans in the world for most home games we are also in the top clubs in the world and you ask Why and how do we deserve a top manager? so you think all we deserve is a sidestep
Big Dave(Quote)
santi try wife of 26 years and still going strong ,listen dont blame me cos your girlfreind gives it away for free end ov 😉
batty(Quote)
@Troy Stavers
lol your source m8, i’d be very careful on here when you mention you and sources.. 😆
mark(Quote)
‘Troy and his side kick Big Dave,
I couldn’t give a toss who Ashley appoints, at this time with Pardew we will go down, the bloke is hopeless…………stop defending him.
Troysa I got thrown out of the Benton Ale House for running around naked demanding the sacking of your’s and Big Dave’s “FOOL”.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
@Big dave.
we are one of the biggest ‘supported’ clubs in the Prem. We have done jack **** since Bobby so no we don’t automatically deserve a top manager. Will a top manager really think we’re an attractive proposition?
mark(Quote)
Batty@320, a divnt dee complaints mate.
Best sorted oot indoors.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Mark i wouldnt slag troys soures mate i defo know he got it right a week before it hit the headlines mate 😉
batty(Quote)
@Mark
Not my source. Stardusts. My sources are sores 😛
I can confirm for defo that he was at the ground as well and stardust told me before the game.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Mark,
Where are you? Get the Expectation Express fired up, we are gonna railroad the so called reality train. Toot toot,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Oh batty you just have to take it to a whole new level like. What next are you going to insult my kid. Gets personal when he cant take a bit of stick. An old cretin like you should know better aswell.
Calm down old man before you give yourself a heart attack.
Santii(Quote)
@Batty which one mate, Cabaye to Spurs or Krul and Tiote to Chelsea.. 😳
mark(Quote)
@Troy how much had Stardust had to drink at the time? 😀
Santii(Quote)
…far too many avatars going on here for my liking. 👿
Rodzilla(Quote)
rod i didnt accuse you of complaining mate you should know that 😉
batty(Quote)
I’ve been in the middle-east buying some TNT to blow the realiity train off-track. given their argument looks weaker by the day I reckon a devil-banger should de-rail them now 😀
mark(Quote)
Troy,
Re McLaren (the saviour), what did I tell you last week!
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Newcastle United WFC @NUWFC 2h
@dannysimpson Good luck in whatever you do. Thanks for your support for the @NUWFC ladies. You were the only 1st team player to do so !
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Kim @ 294, I think you’re lobbying for Zeman to come here. 🙂
Wellington(Quote)
Kim the thing is there has been lots of anti pards stuff on social networks allready, as for pre season then we would have the excuse’s that it will effect the players leading to a bad pre season etc etc but for me today was the best time as the players will have a long enough break to get over it and it will be fresh on the regimes mind when they’re meeting up with pards to have their post season talk.
The fans could have caused as much **** as they wanted today and Harper would still know how well he was thought off after the 37th minute.
Kim > ” Jabba could surprise us all you know” thats what worries me
Big Dave(Quote)
@Santii
He drinks pure meths but he has his pugnose close to the ground.
Beware what you’s wish for. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Big dave there has been a lot on social network sites, its for a damned good reason.
I dont think Ashley needs a few drunk fans singing and booing to know Pardew has preformed poorly this season before they meet. he just needs to look at the table.
mark(Quote)
@Kim
There’s been anti Pardew feeling from many for a considerable time. I have never heard anyone chanting at the match for his sacking, ever.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I prefer Jenkem 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
santi i would never have have never slagged kids ,there you are again accusing you horrible little gutless gimp
batty(Quote)
TGS @ 324 ” ‘Troy and his side kick Big Dave” are you sure your not B+B ?
So you don’t give a toss if Jabba sacked Pards tomorrow and brought JFK back?
Big Dave(Quote)
@TGS
You said you brought a brolly and were practicing spinning it. At one point you took off like Mary Poppins as you sung, ” there’s only one Steve Mclaren” 😆 😆 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
mark try our captain 😉
batty(Quote)
Well he done very good in Hollond so for me he is still a step up to Pardew.
Steve McClaren does’nt have a bad manager record you would think he was Paul Jewel the way some people on here talk about him.
Plus he now has that lovely Dutch Accent 😀
Santii(Quote)
@big dave
Will a top manager really think we’re an attractive proposition?
mark(Quote)
Troy, Fatboy has the whole North East under his spell.
His SJP flirt with Spurts Direct was enough to lodge the brand.
He’s a (clever) ****.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Troy @340 😆
batty(Quote)
Mark @ 341 so you have to be drunk to make your feelings known at the game ?
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave @ 345 – he’s not trying to pick a fight with me, so I think we’re pretty safe. 😉
Wellington(Quote)
@Big Dave
it helps.. esp if you sing like me 😆
mark(Quote)
SANTI try the jeremy kyle show 😆
batty(Quote)
Batty you really are angry like lol Why are you so angry dude calm down its only the internet buddy. Go take your blood thinning medicine quickly. Take another bottle of whiskey and get yourself of to bed old fella. There there calm down now. Take deep breaths and count backwards from 10.
Santii(Quote)
****, **** ****!
Everytime we cross the ball there is only ever 1/2 players in the box – how are we supposed to score?
Not good enough!
Stuart79(Quote)
Rod have you any cake left mate as I fancy a munch
Big Dave(Quote)
santi you have a lot to say but still not answering the bullying questions ? why that ?
batty(Quote)
Insult of the Month Award goes to:
Santii
😯 😯 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
All aboard 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
..would’ve been perfect, if only for the grammatical imperfections 😐
Rodzilla(Quote)
rod can you put him out of his misery and tell him when you met her doon the big market 😆
batty(Quote)
Fucking hell man, are some people seriously saying McClaren would be an improvement in management than Pardew?!…… Frightening man.
If McClaren was so good then how come he’s been out of work so long?!. Southampton, Reading, QPR have changed their managers this season. Everton are looking for a new manager, yet I haven’t seen him heavily linked with that vacancy, WHU have just renewed big Sams contract when they could have replaced him with McClaren.
There’s one reason why none of these clubs recruited McClaren, and it’s the same reason I hope we don’t touch the mug – he’s *****!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Regarding McClaren being at SJP, I suspect it’s more of this sort of thing: http://www.nufcblog.com/2011/04/01/steve-mcclaren-helping-newcastle-in-transfer-market/
Wellington(Quote)
@welly
I bloody hope so! Phew! 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Batty I see the bigman has responded to must of what you say but he ignored you @ 302 maybe they haven’t dropped yet or he doesn’t want to admit he was wrong
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy @ 364 I think there is some see Wally as a step up
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave ,I would of thought preseason was a perfect time tbh ,half those games mean jack **** anyway .Look how **** we was prior to fizzy pop season .It had no effect on our form in the league so I wouldn’t worry about that aspect.
Wellie@338 ,There you go again trying to second guess what peoples intentions are;)
KIMTOON(Quote)
Me to. Pardew said before this game he was 100% sure he would be manager next season so to me that says he has been told he wont be sacked and i think he will be here until at least January. Though i hope i am wrong.
Santii(Quote)
@Kim
Preseason games are played just before the season starts. Would that make sense?
They are usually played abroad and only a handful of fans go.
Sorry, your reasoning doesn’t make sense.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Kim I think pre season is too late and the manager has allready got players he wants in so it wouldn’t give a new manager much time
Big Dave(Quote)
But, Batty, she said she was born a lady 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
so it looks like Williamson and Shola are leaving too. A little reluctant to see Willo go. good pro, not the best in the Prem but a good sub. hopefully one of the the young’uns can step-up. Good or Streete, good time for them to come in now.
mark(Quote)
Troy ,better then than January when they will likely hook him if we carry on like we have been.
KIMTOON(Quote)