You could be forgiven for thinking that Newcastle got hammered at Villa Park yesterday. However, this was not the case.
I’ll agree that our performance was very weak and I feel sorry for those who travelled to Birmingham yesterday and had to watch it. Mind you, it’s worth bearing in mind that we only lost the game because Villa were slightly less worse than us. We didn’t really get dominated for any long periods although it was glaringly obvious that we were never going to score given the lack of quality and options within the squad.
It’s worth bearing in mind though that whilst it is always disappointing to suffer a defeat, we are still on track for our goal of securing Premier League football for next season. That was the aim at the start of the season, and we look like we are going to achieve that.
This weekend was a nothing game really in terms of Newcastle United and the relegation race. None of the current bottom three gained any points and nobody above them managed to overtake us. In that sense this weekend was a ‘gimme’. Sure it was a chance to put a bit more daylight between us and the struggling pack, but ultimately it didn’t matter and we finish the weekend as we started it – both in points and league position.
It’s another game gone for us, but most importantly it’s another game gone for those at the bottom who can catch us. The maximum points that West Ham and Wolves can now get is 18, however unlikely that may be. That means that Newcastle need seven points to mathematically assure safety.
So how does the next round of fixtures look? Obviously we don’t play until next Tuesday, but the rest of the league are in action over the weekend. Let’s take an early look at their fixtures.
Birmingham v Sunderland.
Blackpool v Wigan.
Everton v Blackburn.
West Brom v Chelsea.
West Ham v Aston Villa.
That’s all the teams below us, and once again not all of them can win and consequently not all of them can gain ground on us. It’s probably a good job really as we face Manchester United, but hopefully it will be another game chalked off with nothing gained on us.
I still think one win will do it and will be enough for us to assure our Premier league status. And with players like Cheik Tiote, Kevin Nolan and Stephen Ireland ready to come back into the team for the run in I’m pretty sure we’ll get it.
Hopefully sooner rather than later!
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.
Spot on that Sy. Mind I nearly bricked it when I saw the pic of Tiote and the headline “another one bites the dust” 😆
3hourswasted(Quote)
😆 Don’t panic 😆
toonsy(Quote)
yeah, gotta agree…ED…what are you doing with those headlines and pictures? 🙂
Would have preferred some points obviously, but happy to still be sitting in 9th.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Birmingham v Sunderland. home win
Blackpool v Wigan. home win
Everton v Blackburn. home win
West Brom v Chelsea. draw
West Ham v Aston Villa draw
Those are my predications, the way West Brom are playing I can see them getting something against Chelsea.
I rekon we will beat Blackpool away…Well we should 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
The reality is that for us to go down the teams in the bottom three at the minute need to turn a 20% win ratio into a 50% and that’s without us picking up another point all season.
It ain’t going to happen. Personally I think 40 points will be enough.
Stuart79(Quote)
Nolan misses the Man Utd game because he has a 2 game suspension due to the 10 yellow cards, does he not?
I mean, Tiote has missed 2 so Nolan will too, right?
funkyjesus(Quote)
FJ – Correct.
toonsy(Quote)
Good job the cards have been cleared because Joey picked up his 9th against Villa.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Im strangely optimistic about the manure match, Our seasons been freaky enough for us to get something off them.
We should take a few points from Blackpool/Brum and West brom being on the last day has a 1-1 truce written all over it…
CC(Quote)
Could have done with Nolan against Man Utd.
funkyjesus(Quote)
funky
Be nice to see how Tiote and Ireland works out in the middle.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Do you reckon Ireland will get the start like? Or will Guthrie start with Ireland coming off the bench?
toonsy(Quote)
I would start Guthrie and Ranger and double sub both at 60 mins to give Ireland and Kuqi half an hour.
If we manage to be only 1-0 down somehow at 60 mins, Ireland’s vision and passing and Kuqi’s simple brute force may manage to steal us something.
Kuqi looked quite handy in his 10 minute cameo against Villa.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I think Ireland will start, with Guthrie probably coming on after an hour or so.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Shola had his scan today does anyone know any news?
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I think Guthrie will start, with Ireland probably coming on after an hour or so. 😉
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
cannot see us getting owt off Man Utd….sorry like… 😥 😥
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM i was thinking that,but with them being 10 points clear red nose might try a couple of diff players in,then it might give us a chance to get something if we play at the top of our game,ime looking for hope here lol
icedog(Quote)
icedog…good point mate…that could work out. If we had our full team out we could be in with a shout. Who^s missing for the Manure game…only Nolan ? Hope Shola makes it, even only for his nuisance value ! 😆
Looking forward to the Champs League this week….Chelsea and Schalke 04…howay !!!
Munich Mag(Quote)
ive got 1-1 stuck in me mind against man u
batty(Quote)
man I wish Joey Barton would shut his gob. Canny player now and then….but howay man…he just brings ridicule on the club 🙁 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
batty…would settle for 1-1 against Manure mate.
I reckon the toon are running out of steam…canny season for the first season back in the big league, we all need to remember that. Throught that in with the turbulence brought about by wor elegant management team…Carrol toast, Houghton toast, Ben Arfa crocked, Gosling crocked…….what a crazy season it^s been, could have ended a whole lot worse… 😯 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
reet…off for a couple of litres of Sangria and some scran….later alligators… 😆 😆 😆 😎 😎
Munich Mag(Quote)
i rekn our next win is birmingham at home
Army69(Quote)
ffs man get of the players backs 😈
batty(Quote)
nice 1 batty , all alot of people do on here is slag all the players
Army69(Quote)
Army….like who?
Moreno(Quote)
Good evening all 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
On this particular thread there is absolutely no mention of anyone slagging off any players so what you on about?
Moreno(Quote)
I dunno what to expect from the Man U game, they will play a weak team considering they play City a few days before hand.
With Tiote and maybe Ireland coming into the team I rekon we have a chance of getting something.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
We’re gonna have a strong last few games when HBA, Ireland, Tiote, Nolan, Shola are all back!
pearceet(Quote)
Apparently Taiwo hs agreed to sign for AC Milan 🙁
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew
Where you get that from?
pearceet(Quote)
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/marseille-fullback-taiwo-favours-ac-milan-move-1519561
I know its only tribal football but it has quotes from the player himself
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
It’s worrying that Pardew who loves to speak to the press has made no mention of Phil Thompsons quotes regarding Enrique .
It suggests to me that there may be some truth in Thompsons quote.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
£75 for a return ticket to Newcastle and that giving a months notice 😯
jay jay(Quote)
We didn’t miss Tiote against Wolves but my god we missed him against Villa.
DJG(Quote)
I’ve never liked Phil Thompson and I still don’t. 👿
DJG(Quote)
Phil Thompson has just revealed the Liverpool line-up for tonight’s game against Man City. Apparantly him and Collocini are starting at centre back
Moreno(Quote)
jay jay
Im going to Edinburgh this weekend £14 return. 😉
DJG(Quote)
Bobby – Has your source not heard anything? 😎
toonsy(Quote)
DJG – Is it Gay Pride in Edinburgh this weekend like?
toonsy(Quote)
Hope City kick their smelly asses tonight. 😮
DJG(Quote)
Toonsy – Divent knaa what it is. Isn’t Edinburgh comedy festivals.
DJG(Quote)
Hope the weather stays the same like. Knowing my luck it will lash it down.
DJG(Quote)
@toonsy
Aye, my source reckons Osama Bin Laden is hiding up Phil Thompsons nose and will never be found due to the vast size of his nostril chambers ! 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
bobby @ 45
😆
DJG(Quote)
Bobby if they couldn’t find him in the Tora bora there is no chance of finding him up Thompo’s nose,
His nose is that big because he tells so many stories 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D
Lets hope his nose just grew a bit more when he told the one about Enrique. 😆
DJG(Quote)
Shame De Jong isnt starting for City tonight so he can do what he did to Benny to Carroll.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Bobby 😆 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Andrew where did u hear about Taiwo going to AC??
pearceet(Quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycbUM53mFk&feature=related
DJG(Quote)
I’d only pay £14 to go there DJG, travelidge wanted £119.75 for a night 🙁
jay jay(Quote)
Jay – In Newcastle? Stay out of the City and get a taxi in 😉
toonsy(Quote)
@51
I tried to comment before with the link but it didnt work, might have went to spam im not sure.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew – I’ll have a look 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Sorted 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
pearceet, check comment 34
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Right, off to hand my notice in at work 😕
I’ll be back on in a bit as I’m getting driven about for the evening 😀
toonsy(Quote)
Jay Jay – Where do you get your prices from? The most expensive site on the internet? 🙂
DJG(Quote)
I don’t know the areas outside the toon toonsy, just gonna be a day trip now mate 🙁
jay jay(Quote)
Jay – I stopped in the one at Silverlink. £50 for the room plus £10 in a taxi, if that.
toonsy(Quote)
Cheers Andrew and Toonsy! **** he would have been a good signing
pearceet(Quote)
DJG wor Jay has expensive tastes he isn’t in to slumming it 😉
Toonsy im sure your work will have a party 😆 once you go that is 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D
Thats not very nice. 😮 😆
DJG(Quote)
Oh no…Ray Wilkins is back 🙁
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
you packing your job in sy ?
kevinkeegan(Quote)
I was doing a job in a bank (not robbing it 😉 ) and there was a whiteboard which read something like, ‘Rachel has now officially left woohoo’ with lots of smiley faces people had written on.
DJG(Quote)
DJG- imagine the party when you left 😉 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
Wow, Ray Wilkins is actually a decent commentator when he isn’t totally biased to one particular team.
That Tottenham game might have been an aberration.
funkyjesus(Quote)
jobey
I went in to get my coat they all had party hats on and were drinking bubbly. 😆
DJG(Quote)
DJG- I’m sure they weren’t partying cause you were leaving 🙄
Jobey07(Quote)
Carroll scores a belting goal…..
funkyjesus(Quote)
F*ck off Carroll. :/
Jobey07(Quote)