The 5-0 victory over West Ham on Wednesday evening was a good result, but before expectations start to rise again I feel it is only fair to point out that the win was only worth three points.
This has left us sitting in a very respectable 8th place in the table having played 21 matches and amassing 28 points in the process. This is arguably better than many of us had ever imagined, and it could have been better still had we managed to get our home form on track against the likes of Stoke, Blackburn, Wigan and Blackpool.
The main aim for any newly promoted team is generally trying to get to the magical fourty point barrier as soon as possible. That is generally enough to secure survival, unless you are really unlucky like West Ham and get relegated with over fourty points. That doesn’t happen often though, and law of averages suggests that the big 4-0 is what will be needed.
Of course, it could be more than that if the league continues in the same vein and teams continue to pick points up from each other. The unpredictable nature of the league so far means that there is no team that has been cut adrift at the bottom of the table as yet. Still that is of no concern to us, and hopefully won’t be at any point from now onwards.
I am starting to think that 15 points will make us pretty certain of assuring Premier League status for next season. Five wins, four wins and three draws or whatever, but that would give us a total of 43 points. A team would have to be desperately unlucky to be relegated on that amount of points, but this is Newcastle and you can never rule out the unlikely.
So where could we pick up those wins? What do our fitures look like for the remainder of the season? Well, broken down into months, they look a little bit like this:
January: Sunderland (a), Tottenham (h).
February: Fulham (a), Arsenal (h), Blackburn (a), Birmingham (a), Bolton (h).
March: Everton (h), Stoke (a).
April: Wolves (h), Aston Villa (a), Man Utd (h), Blackpool (a), Liverpool (a).
May: Birmingham (h), Chelsea (a), West Brom (h).
They are all tough fixtures and nothing is a given in the Premier League, especially this season. We have only two home games in the next two months, which is concerning, especially considering that they are against top four opposition in the form of Arsenal and Tottenham.
To me there is no real run of what you would call winnable games. There seems to be one or two, then a game against one of the top teams. This is a concern, but it is something that the players will have to deal with.
The big question is, can you see us getting 15 points from those fixtures?
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.
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Toonsy the recent comments bar is back on the side again 😉 so it could be the video has done it on the last thread
Big Dave(Quote)
I reckon I may have set the video a bit too wide which knocked the comments down to where there was a space.
Ah well, glad it is sorted. Off to work Catch you all later, and play nicely 😉
toonsy(Quote)
we always play fair 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
TOONSY divnt worry aboot it dont spoil the winge lol
steady away m8
icedog(Quote)
Dear me! looking a the fixture list there are NO easy fixtures in the EPL. And when you add to the mix our unpredictability I do not feel you can guess where the points will come from. Personally I think we will be OK, injuries do concern me however, with a couple of players out we look weak. On a slightly different tack, so glad for Best last night, and esp happy to see the way the whole team celebrated his 1st goal. Reminded me of Jose’s goal (against Reading??) which I think pretty much guaranteed us promotion, the way the team celebrated then and now makes me happy inside. So much better than that Mario Bolletti for Man C when he got his hat trick recently. Team Spirit is the key.
Dan(Quote)
Wolves (H)
Birmingham (H)
Bolton (H)
West Brom (H)
Blackpool (A)
Five games there we should be able to win.
Stuart79(Quote)
We always play nicely until batty turns up lol 🙂
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Stuart 79, we have played all of those teams this season except Brum and got 1 point?
Dan(Quote)
Dan I think you touched on a real important point of injuries I think if we have luck we will do well
Stuart I would agree with you on them games and I wouldn’t be surprised to pick up a few points that we wouldn’t be expected too 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
TGS your not trying to say that wor Batts plays dirty are ye 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave,
I would never suggest such a thing. 😉
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Dan – We’ve got a tactically more astute manager now who knows what is needed to break teams down at home.
Stuart79(Quote)
Big Dave any news on Toite injury , I read somewhere it was his heel. He has quickly become an integral team member who we can’t replace from within our current squad. I do like Smudger it is hard to not admire someone who puts so much effort in, but at best he was an OK striker years ago who did not really score that many goals, and admittedly he was very good as a Def Mid last year, but that was not the EPL.
Dan(Quote)
Dan-Stu
agree with both your points, but the way things are going this season, who knows who’s going to beat who, or where we’re going to pick up those points!
All I would say is, lets get them as quick as possible!
I Love Mike(Quote)
Good point Stu, I am with you on that one but think some may disagree,
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
True Mikey Boy.
We are just as likely to beat Arsenal and Spurs at home the way the season is going.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart, Ohh! is he really more astute than Hoots? time will tell I guess. I hope so!! I do see Chris going on to become a very successful manager thogh.
Dan(Quote)
Stuart79
Posted January 6, 2011 at 7:45 PM
“ILM – Any chance of letting us into the secret of where all these tricky, pacey players are who we could get instead of Bentley?”
It’s a big world out there, with lots of leagues and lots of players. For example, did you know who Tiote was before we signed him? I’m sure 99% of people didn’t.
I wasn’t being flippant towards Bentley’s talent, I think he’s a decent player and would be a fantastic, if short term, acquisition. However, what I meant with my comment was that we shouldn’t be taken for a ride when there are other options, we just need to find them.
I Love Mike(Quote)
The relegation battle will become immense as anyone from 8th top can be relegated this season.
We must take each game as it comes and not rely on others, we are potentially 2 straight defeats away from doom and gloom……………
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
I Love Mike
Posted January 6, 2011 at 8:32 PM
I just want good players but the fact is that good players do tend to cost alot of money. If it was so easy to get good players on the cheap everytime every club would be at it.
Stuart79(Quote)
I Love MIke, completey agree iro unearthing unheard of gems. Someone was complaining earlier that they did not want Newcastle to become a feeder club (which obviously I agree with) but would you call Arsenal a feeder club, look at what Wenger does time and time again, finds players noone has heard of plays then and then sells them for a vast tranfer profit. What is wrong with this, every player has a price.
I do not think Bently will become a Newcastle player.
Dan(Quote)
MIke, completey agree iro unearthing unheard of gems. Someone was complaining earlier that they did not want Newcastle to become a feeder club (which obviously I agree with) but would you call Arsenal a feeder club, look at what Wenger does time and time again, finds players noone has heard of plays then and then sells them for a vast tranfer profit. What is wrong with this, every player has a price.
I do not think Bently will become a Newcastle player.
Dan(Quote)
sorry for duel posting
Dan(Quote)
Dan I dont know about Tiotes injury but I am hoping that its just precautionary 😉
As for Pards I just think he has maybe told the players that nowt less than 100% is acceptable. from the last few games it seems as if the players have all been giving a bit more than usual, as before there was games were they looked like they were just having a kick about.
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave, which games do you mean? I will give you West Brom & Bolton, but other than that?
Dan(Quote)
i siad the same this morning 🙂
batty(Quote)
Dan
Posted January 6, 2011 at 8:42 PM
I call a club that sells their best players every season a feeder/selling club. Call it what you will but it equates to the same thing. Arsenal will never win anything if they keep selling their best players.
I just want good players if they all cost £3m then great, but I am a realist and I know that’s not always going to happen.
Arsenal have one of the best managers in the world, one of the best scouting networks in the world and it has taken them ten years to set up and get the rewards. In the interim they had to buy good ready made players who cost a fair bit of money.
Stuart79(Quote)
Toonsy – Sometimes I get a different front page than the normal one. Is it the mobile site? I’m using Safari on a Mac if it helps.
Micky Toon(Quote)
aye ya right stu
batty(Quote)
Stuart, I just trawled wikipedia to see what Arsenal have won since they sold Henry to try too prove you wrong, the answer Sweet FA.
Dan(Quote)
After these 2 wins I think we are going well atm. Especially as we were saying we relied on Carroll too much. Last night we didn’t have Carroll or Ameobi and the other strikers did the business for us. I know it was against poor opposition but I think we could get at least a goal or two in most games if they play like that. It would be nice to get a signing in now and a few back from injury. The truth is this season it’s no good looking at the fixtures and trying to predict results because like Wolves proved last night anyone can beat anyone. Sunderland are also proving that with their false league position, they got lucky again last night I see, Heskey missing a sitter and Villa getting a man sent off. We could just as easily have a top 10 finish as just scrape up IMO. It depends on what form teams like Chelsea and Bolton are in when you play them and like Sunderland have proven if you pick good times you can be quite high up the league.
DJG(Quote)
I don’t think we will actually buy anyone, I think we will be looking at loans.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Dan
Posted January 6, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Dan you could probably go back further to Petit, Overmars and Viera. Thye sold all them and won nothing since. Then we move to Toure, Adebeyour and this summer it will proably be Fabregas.
Stuart79(Quote)
DJG what have ya done too org you do a thread then it gans doon bank
batty(Quote)
He is getting the site switched to a new server and all the technical mumbo-jumbo that goes with that batty. It’s not coz of my thread 🙂 and in any case I just submitted the text it was worky that did everything else.
DJG(Quote)
arsharvin was like £12 mill or something wasn’t he, they reckon Koscielny was around £10 mill and Squillaci was around £6 mill, people forget this when they get caught up talking about ‘business models’ etc etc.
I Love Mike(Quote)
Good and hyped players can cost alot of money – but value is out there – HBA and Tiote for example!
Couple of them every transfer window and I will be thrilled.
Stardust(Quote)
Are you on the payroll now 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
man, memories, how good was that team
Pires, Petit, Viera, Ljunberg, Bergkamp, Henry,
With, Wiltord, Gilberto, Reyes, Edu, Parlour, Kanu in reserve.
Great team.
I Love Mike(Quote)
Stuart, but they are looking very good this season and the Top Teams I like Arsenal the best for so many reasons I do hope they win something soon. Any hoot this is a Toon Blog so enough about Arsenal.
Who has been your favourite player so far this season??
Dan(Quote)
Stardust
Posted January 6, 2011 at 9:09 PM
I think we’d all be thrilled but it’s unlikely we’ll get two players like them every season for peanuts. Also don’t forget that HBA has certain ‘baggage’ something you were complaining about re Bentley.
Dan – Best player this season is Carroll for me. I have thought he was a good player for a while, he just needed to improve on certain things and he is doing.
Stuart79(Quote)
so many stand oot not like the bag of ***** that got us relegated ,tiote colo carrol barton nolan but we have come too expect it from enrique ,ide have too say colo for me
batty(Quote)
msm
batty(Quote)
toonsy – Some of these comments are coming in all sorts of different order.
Stuart79(Quote)
you know what it is though, if you’re talking about best players, Carroll and Barton etc, that’s fine but Collocinni’s performances, but more importantly his improvement over the last two years has been outstanding, and speaks volumes of the type of man he is.
To come to a foreign country, not speak the language, be THAT awful in your first season, he could have quite easily said to his agent, get me a move away from here after our relegation!
But he didn’t. He stayed, settled down, fought for the team and he was outstanding last season. This season, though not as good, he has been excellent.
And to be in the position he was 2 year ago, to be the player he is now, speaks volumes of the man.
Can’t speak highly enough of him.
I Love Mike(Quote)
Reply
batty
Posted January 6, 2011 at 9:05 PM
DJG what have ya done too org you do a thread then it gans doon bank
batty, hope I don’t have the same effect here 😆
jay jay(Quote)
Naa. Joey Barton every time. Him and Tiote are pure Premier League class,
Micky Toon(Quote)
Fave Player = Mr “T”
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Sorry batty just re-read and saw you mentioned Barton.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Stuart I think it depends if you click reply at the side of the persons post ?
Jay well done Lad for your thread mate still cant believe I never noticed your name 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Of all the regular starters this season Jonas has consistantly been average, I think his position is at risk. Particularly when “H” Bomb returns.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
For me Barton has been the player of the season so far, he has shown some magic moments. He should get in the England squad in view of his performances this season but will his past misdemeanours count against him.
Dan(Quote)
Micky – Next time it happens have a look at the bottom of the page. It will either say switch to mobile or desktop version. Whatever it says, you’re on the opposite. Let me know.
toonsy(Quote)
I can’t believe I’ve finally found you guys! No one would tell me the name of the blog on .org! Congrats Toonsy, looks great!
Nathandio(Quote)
I can’t believe I’ve finally found you guys! No one would tell me the name of the blog on .org! Congrats Toonsy, looks great!!!
Nathandio(Quote)
So happy I posted it twice!!!!!
Nathandio(Quote)
Nathandio
Good things are worth waiting for mate welcome onboard Lad you will probably know must of the one’s on here mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Nathandio
where is KK anyway did you drop him 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
kna cant see that happing m8 you copy and pasted yours 🙂
batty(Quote)
big dave sed dont tell ya m8
batty(Quote)
On the phone! Not sure why he doesn’t show up!
Nathandio(Quote)
no I meant DJG mate 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
If your using the same email etc it should show, but atlest you have found us now, So how ye feeling after lastnights game 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Best player for me this season has been Tiote. He is the only one of our top performers who I can’t remember ever having a poor game. At worst, he has had the odd mediocre game.
El Toro(Quote)
stop freekin ignoring me fb
batty(Quote)
colo ?
batty(Quote)
El Toro I think he will be the player of the season if he continues on the way he has been going 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
thought jay would be on ?
batty(Quote)
Will do mate.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Completely agree.
geordie deb(Quote)
Who do ya’s think this player Pards is on about then Bentley? Is he even fit? He hasen’t played for ages has he.
DJG(Quote)
Batty did you see Colo nearly lost the ball twice lastnight with trying to be a wee bit fancy, its good when it comes off but it would be **** if he gets caught out.
I think Jose and Joey have been excellent for most of the season so far too
Big Dave(Quote)
Colo has been immense, but like Barton, Enrique, Nolan and Carroll, he has had his off days.
El Toro(Quote)
Na Collo was awsome last night m8. Never once looked like losing the ball. When he’s like that he’s unplayable for teams like west ham and really does look his price tag.
DJG(Quote)
# awesome
DJG(Quote)