We knew this season would be tight and the lack of investment in the winter didn’t give Rafa the tools to pull us clear of the relegation dogfight. Dropping points at Bournemouth was a big blow but I still think we will stay up, after all we are better off than we were in 2015/6. Here are some things that may help if you are panicking about our plight…
Rafa can get us over the line
It’s been said a million times, but he’s the manager you’d want in these situations. He’ll keep the players calm and you back him to pull off the big results when the going gets tough. It is worth noting in 2018 we have only lost to the top two teams in Man City and Liverpool as well.
We also finished strongly in 2015/6 but he arrived too late to turn the sinking ship around and this season already we have dug out results when we really needed. A few spring to mind, such as West Ham home and away, Stoke away and Man.Utd at home, where just when it was getting bleak Rafa has helped us get key wins to keep our heads above water. Let’s hope we do it again on Saturday.
We don’t lack fight
We lack quality but certainly not work rate and desire. This is an essential ingredient and something some of our rivals don’t have. We’re up for the battle and like Man Utd at home, I can see us being right at it at St James’ Park between now and the end of the season. The likes of West Ham and Southampton don’t look like they’ve got the same levels of desire when I’ve watched them recently and West Brom seem to have checked out already.
Strong base and Slimani to come
We look strong at the back and our attacking threat will improve – Lejeune and Lascelles look like a strong partnership, Dummett has been so reliable on his return and Dubravka has added some calm and class to the GK spot. We look very well set here, but we’ll be set for a boost in attacking areas soon too.
Slimani will give us what we’ve lacked all season when he’s eventually fit (Huddersfield 31st March penciled in) and his style may also suit a resurgent Ritchie who’ll thrive on putting balls into the box for him. Dwight Gayle has also got back in amongst the goals recently.
Tough run in – but in our hands
It’s a tough run in but I see several opportunities to get 3 points – Southampton, Huddersfield, WBA at home and Watford and Everton away are all big chances – especially when the latter two may be guaranteed safety and on their holidays when we play them.
I also think Arsenal and Chelsea at home are big chances for 3 points. Both look woefully out of sorts and they’re due to be played late on in the season – it’ll be huge for us but their players may well have one eye on the world cup so may shirk any big tackles we’ll be sure to put in. Brighton showed last time out Arsenal are having a very poor season for their standards.
There are worse teams than us
Teams around us are in worse positions than us – I look at Stoke and think they could be joining WBA in going down. They’re 2 points behind us (make that 3 with bad GD) and Man city, arsenal and spurs to play in 3 of their next 4 – if we beat Southampton on Saturday we could effectively go 6 pts clear of them. West Ham looked very poor at Swansea and seem on the slide. I still also think Huddersfield will be in real danger come May.
Let’s also not forget Crystal Palace – last night’s defeat to Man Utd from 2-0 up is a huge blow. They also have Chelsea and Liverpool in 2 of their next 3. If we can extend our lead over Southampton on Saturday then we may just be able to open up a gap.
It’s always a big if with it being Newcastle, but it’s a huge opportunity for us. They key is that 17th is all we need to do and we continue to keep out the relegation place, even if it is only just.
Are you feeling confident?
You little tareaway you ???
Icedog(Quote)
The gunners did real well tonight
Icedog(Quote)
I know you are living in Bristol, but since it is such a long journey from Newcastle to Weymouth you could have given a rendition of “I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more…” You probably don’t know the words since you hate The Proclaimers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Now…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I rant a lot, but I get things right sometimes:
Ugly John is really ugly
Pards is arrogant and ****
Mitro should be plan B and not out on loan
Wayne peaked at 25
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, I do know the words though, it’s an ear worm of a song but I hate it and the proclaimers give me the heebie jeebies for some reason.
kimtoon(Quote)
A lot of people like them I know, but not for me, they just creep me out.
kimtoon(Quote)
2-0 tomorrow. HTL!
georgio(Quote)
5 things I learnt…
1. Simon went to the Lee Ryder School of “Journalism”
2
3
4
5
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is that your life right there? I part irrelevant and 4 parts non-existent. 😮
Premandup(Quote)
i like your rants mate.its a break from footy at times.plus i sometimes agree with your rants 😆
icedog(Quote)
Oooh!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is winter in Chicago Prem. There are like 4 months when you don’t want to go outside. I have to work, dog walks and stuff, but then I just get on NUFCBLOG and talk to you. My girlfriend read a few things you wrote and says you are nice. I will agree with her for now. Say hello to Troy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And how is that irrelevant? Ryder’s tripe is disseminated to the whole of the NE and world. He is the Chronic’s Chief Sports Writer. What he says makes some people’s opinions and sets the agenda. You knew I was making 1 point about the “5 things I know” ****. So if you want to talk about how that has taken over journalism in a really bad way for THE CLICKS then talk to me about it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AND… AND…
I disagree with what Olly is Saying about Mitrovic. In my opinion it was 1 part Rafa and 2 parts money.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Managed to avoid the states. Was in Toronto in Feb once. Not for me.
I’ll talk a bit more often now. I have my online Lifeskills and personal development academy up on line now so hopefully? I’ll have a little bit more free time. Although my Wife and 14 year old can, to misquote c northcote parkinson, fill the time allotted.
Premandup(Quote)
PS your girlfriend obviously has exquisite taste. What’s she doing with you? 😀
Premandup(Quote)
February is the worst time to go to Chicago or Toronto, or anywhere in the mid-north of the Country(s). You cant judge by that. Everybody is fed up of 4 months of winter by then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
“Lifeskills”
“Personal Development Academy”
OK. Post the link and I will have a look.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Noooo, Merse, no. The Giant Balloon Head Academy cannot predict a win. Noooo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
byprem.com
hope you like it
Premandup(Quote)
How can you misquote C. Northcote – whatever his name is – when nobody has ever heard of him, let alone cares what he ever said.
Sounds like a North American which according to you nobody should really go to anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Grand Canyon. Give that one a miss!!!!! 50 National Parks. Don’t want to see them either. Miami, Chicago, New York. Just ****. Not worth a look.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How much time did you spend on that website Prem? Hopefully less than the “chimaras of the senses”!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is ****, what your 14 year old might like. A lot of pastel and what she might put on her walls when she goes to college.
You spent time on that !!!!!! ???????
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Chimaras of the senses 🙂 FFS
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You certainly do a better job of marketing the states than your government does.
C Northcote Parkinson.
Parkinsons first law
Work expands to fill the time allotted to it
Parkinsons second Law
In any organisation an executive will be promoted until he reaches hi level of incompetence
Parkinsons third Law
The purpose of any committee is to grow and expand the power of the committee. With the note that the power in the committee is wielded by less and less people the larger the committe grows.
Premandup(Quote)
Are you a lion or a goat?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pastel. C’mon. WTF.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
C. Northcote is British – I just looked him up.
I was a bit confused because they tend to use the first name as a letter and middle name as a name over here.
And put their middle names in their names Donald J Trump. George W Bush. Just call your children different names to your name FFS 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I must admit the emails were written by a ageing californian hippy. I di tone them down, but that must have slipped through. Sorry.
Premandup(Quote)
Is that on the email. coz it’s not on the webiste?
Premandup(Quote)
Everybody should go to BYPREM.COM.
It has Chimeras of the senses.. Pastel. Unicorns.
Seriously, man!!! FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is on there Prem. Maybe edit it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
not for you then 😀
Premandup(Quote)
Obviously 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wasn’t impressed by the pictures mate. College dorm room bought by her Dad stuff. You wouldn’t know that since you think the US is ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Never said that the USA is ****. It’s one of the many countries I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet. I’ll admit it’s not top of the list. I’ll track down that chimeras and eliminate it never mind. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback about the look.
Premandup(Quote)
Anyway. will get back later, I’m off line for an hour or so.
Premandup(Quote)
I did learn something PREMANDUP..
A Chimrera is a Lion with a goat coming out of its back.
From Greek Mythology.
I will slip it into polite conversation next time I wanch a mach.
YES, YOU ARE A LION WITH A GOAT COMING OUR OF YOUR BACK. A Chimera. Neither one thing nor the ‘tother.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
pastel. I am guessing 14 year old girls gave the feedback.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BYPREM.COM
If you want to look and disagree with me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And… They didn’t want to hurt your feelings.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here PREM:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=stuart+smalley&&view=detail&mid=FADDF185CC5614DE7C85FADDF185CC5614DE7C85&rvsmid=47232A74977589C4315547232A74977589C43155&FORM=VDQVAP
Eric Sykes(Quote)
PREMANUP:
I think it is a good thing to travel. When I was young there were no jobs in Newcastle so I moved to Munich for 6 months. Went to Salzburg, Zurich, Koln, Berlin. Not America though.
I am guessing my horizons have not been broadensened with the trip to Canada and Vancouver.
Perhaps – Egypt, Thailand, Morocco might have helped.
Greece, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Belgium, Holland, France, Sloviakia, Czek Rupubic.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Costa Rica, Mexico, Israell. Cuba.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Or :
California – San Diego, LA, San Franscisco , NY, Boston, Indiana, Illinois, Miami – Naples, Miami Jacksonville.
Maybe I should have sat on the couch?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Vegas, Rome, Naples, Nice, Peidmont, Innsbruck. Strasbourg. Amsterdam.
It is sort of difficult to name everywhere I have been.
BUT…
As you say the USA is ****. YOUR Website is ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It really is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem – content looks interesting but I have to agree with Eric. The colour choices are awful and not enhancing or representing the content at all. Graphic designer’s opinion.
georgio(Quote)
Dentist’s waiting room, man. And who wants that?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have traveled and worked abroad. My only visit to the states was Hawaii. I think that to suggest that I hate the states is a bit OTT. But hey.
Premandup(Quote)
Just giving you a hard time man. BUT your website is totally SHYtt. And I am serious about that. Get a different designer. OR.
Maybe your plan was to appeal to selfie teenagers?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Really. It is bad!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do I have to tell you ?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It really is shyte Prem. If you get 1 person to give you 10 quid I will match it. Double-tripe bullshit nonsense. And pastel girls-in-a-dorm **** pictures. This is what my girlfriend in college put on her wall 30 years ago with her Laura Ashley sheets and Nic Kershaw record.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How do I say it?
Newcastle
Sunderland
Sort of similar but not the same and not good, and a lot worse.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And if anybody thinks I am being a arsehole just go to BYPREM.COM and you will see that I’m not.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That is so bad it is beyond bad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
precisely. Toronto in February is not for me, becomes I hate America.
Premandup(Quote)
I will say it one more time. But to misquote someone who we have never heard of is technically a misquote but mostly boring. Unless it is an interesting quote and this one certainly is not.
Ya get what I mean man? And your website is *****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You have to call a spade a spade sometimes. It is just rubbish. Gibberish. Nowt. Nonsense. **** pictures on a **** background. I will ignore you from now on because that was the worst pile of dung I have ever seen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That is not what you said.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is what you said.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
“Lifeskills”
“Development Academy”
FFS.
Tripeskills
Arsehole Acedemia.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OTT Eric! It’s obvious the site’s been put together by coders who most definitely are not designers.
georgio(Quote)
“personal development academy” Paul Kannell. FFS, what?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am talking to Prem, not the site designers. Going OTT on purpose.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do yiou have a “personal development academy”?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem does.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Three words:
Like the rest.
Just ***** man
I love you
Bollocks arsehole perspicacity
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Personal Development Academy.
OK, C’mon. They are the 3 worst words that have ever been put together.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
PERSONAL DEVOPMENT ACADEMY.
Eric Sykes(Quote)