NUFC 2011-12 – The final third

Premandup

So far the season has fallen into two distinct periods, and in my opinion we are about to enter the third and final phase.

The first 11 games saw us pick up 25 points (2.27ptspg). We had won seven games, drawn four, were unbeaten, scored 17, conceded only eight with four clean sheets. We were third in the table having beaten Sunderland away and having drawn matches with Arsenal and Spurs at home.

The pundits were waiting for the bubble to burst and saying that we had not faced a real test. Our success was built on a hard working side, but also the continuity of picking the same back five with Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye in central midfield in just about every game. Add to that Demba Ba’s eight goals, including two hat-tricks, and it’s no wonder we were doing so well.

Well, whilst the bubble has not burst, we can certainly say that we have been severely tested. Phase two of the season opened with games against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. A serious injury crisis and players away at the African Cup of Nations. It included a transfer window which thankfully saw no major outgoings and although we signed a new no9 we unfortunately acquired no new defensive resources. So how did we cope?

Played 14, won five, drawn two, lost seven, scored 19, conceded 28 picking up 17 pts (1.21ptspg) and five clean sheets along the way leaving us sitting 6th in the Premier League table.

Given a stated target of top ten, with many fans hoping for best of the rest (eg 7th) we are well on target. Personally given the interviews with Yohan Cabaye and others when they signed in the summer a target of silverware or a place in Europe was implied in the camp.

Well we are still on target. Actually Phase two can be further split, as 6 games at the beginning where we lost four and drew two to a much more respectable five wins and three losses after that. So two points per game even with the ACoN players missing and Yohan Cabaye suspended.

We now have a break for players to recover a little. Our full first team available and a fixture list that means 13 games with trips to Arsenal and Chelsea whilst entertaining Sunderland, Liverpool and Manchester City at St James Park. The only worry is the strength in depth at Centre Back given our performance against Norwich, and the reality that we are ‘best of the rest’ at best with our demolition at Spurs.

So what can we hope for? A return to our invincible start to the season, going unbeaten and averaging 2¼ points per game which would give us a massive 70+ points for the season? Or a continuation of our more modest form of phase two which could give us only 55 points?

To many it will depend upon our Captains availability. Others believe Alan Pardew when he said that he was happy with our defensive cover.

Personally I fully expect a defensive crisis just when we don’t need it. Together with a struggle against the other top sides. I said at the start of the season that I expected at least 55 points as we lost a dozen points from inconsistency last season. I also fully believe the evidence of my own eyes. We are a far better team than last season. So we should get at least 60 points. On top of that we have a new Number 9 and a returning Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye.

My best guess is five wins, five draws, 62 pts and a place in the Europa League.

I look forward to the insights that hindsight will bring.

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158 thoughts on “NUFC 2011-12 – The final third”

  1. If we can gain momentum and have a bit of luck with injuries/suspensions like the early part of the season who knows where well end up, We took 7 points from arsenal (a) chelsea (a) and liverpool (h) with a weaker team last season and when ive seen them this season they havent looked unbeatable.

    If we can get 6 points from these two home games then we are in a great position to play arsenal with nowt to lose…

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  2. Good article Prem. I predicted 61 points before the Villa game and I’m sticking to that.

    I could be wrong but weren’t you talking about kicking on and getting 70+ points a couple of weeks back?

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  3. Im not predicting points totals. Im rubbish at it so avoid it 😆

    Off topic but has anyone seen the official NUFC Facebook pages offering a special deal on St James’ Park signs? Balls of steel man 🙄

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  4. Before last two games I was “wanting” “Predicting” Fantisising going unbeatan getting 76 pts. Oh well, That’s why I wrote this see if anybody can do better. :mrgreen: 😆

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  7. With the full compliment of players we now have back barring Saylor, I think we can mount a serious push for Europa and make a good fight of a Champions league qualifier spot.
    I wouldn’t like to predict a points total because I’ll scud the team lol but it’s looking healthy for a final push. 😀

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  11. I think that most years we seem to die off in the final stages of the season when alot of teams really kick on *cough* Man U, liverpool ect.
    I predict 7th place or 8th at worst.

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  12. BTW Toonsy thanks for the work tidying up this article. Is the Beilsa one right length, does it need more?

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  13. THOMAS, most years we went to grounds like stoke and such and got tonked but we didn’t this season, so don’t live on the past as this is a new era where this team can surpass all expectations.

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  15. 17 points in the 2nd phase of the season still isn’t bad considering we played the vast majority of it without our best players.
    If we can finish the season equalling or bettering 17 points I think that puts us in a great position and should see us pushing for that Europe position as I see Liverpool, Chelski and Arsenal dropping points along the way.
    When you look at our remaining fixtures you would think that with the likes of Cabaye, Tiote, Raylor, Ba and Cisse all raring there should be more points to be won than lost.
    Starting with 6 points from our next 2 home games please.

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  16. Like you say Prem, a lot depends on whether Coloccini and even Williamson stay fit but looking at the fixtures we have left with: Sunderland, Stoke, Bolton, Wolves & Norwich at home. Games that we probably should and have been winning this season.

    Add to that Wigan and Westbrom away, that’s a lot of games where with near enough our best team we could take a lot of points from.

    Tell you what I’m glad Donovans leaving Everton, they’ll make there usual end of season push and him leaving takes a little bit away from them.

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  17. Good read Prem.

    I reckon we’ll be fine once we’ve got our spine back (apart from Taylor).
    I reckon we can get 20-24 pts out of our remaining fixtures, providing we’re nut mugged by injuries or suspensions to key players, which should see us in Europe.

    Sat 25-Feb Wolves (h)
    Sun 04-Mar 12pm mackems (h)
    Mon 12-Mar 8pm Arsenal (a)
    Sat 17-Mar Norwich (h)
    Sun 25-Mar 4pm West Brom (a)
    Sun 01-Apr 1.30pm Liverpool (h)
    Sat 07-Apr Swansea (a)
    Mon 09-Apr Bolton (h)
    Sat 14-Apr Chelsea (a)
    Sat 21-Apr Stoke (h)
    Sat 28-Apr Wigan (a)
    Sat 05-May Man City (h)
    Sun 13-May Everton (a)

    I had been wondering about the Newcastle United I know best though, that’s the inconsistent one who play brilliantly one week then ***** the next. However, when we look at our results in the first third of the season there is one constant, and that’s the fact we played with practically the same line-up week in week out. This is obviously the key to us playing out the remainder of the season effectively.

    I’m hoping for no injuries/suspensions, but in all honesty can’t see it happening. I’d love to get to the end of the season with Fatty’s defensive transfer gamble coming off, but it’s definitely a concern.

    No ‘important’ injuries = Europe, for me.

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  18. Troy, BBC site says it’s been removed.

    Be funny to see how often it gets replaced 😆

    …they’ll need 24hr security stood there protecting a blank wall.

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  20. I know Arsenal are looking like they are imploding at the moment, but fact is they are hot on Chelsea’s heels now for that Champs League spot so I think we can see both those clubs up their game for the run-in and break away from us and Liverpool.

    That leaves us fighting Liverpool for 6th. It’s do-able, but we need our defenders fit. Going to be a tough, emotional run-in. A mini slump could also see the Scum sneak up on us, so we need to be consistent.

    HWTL 😀

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  21. Liam, I thought that, or the likelihood of someone reading the comments then going out. Both him and Mark were discussing it. 😀

    …I think they were discussing black paint though. The resulting graffiti was probably someone’s left over white gloss from the garage.

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  22. Sat 25-Feb Wolves (h) – new manager – draw?
    Sun 04-Mar 12pm mackems (h) – on form – draw?
    Mon 12-Mar 8pm Arsenal (a) – chasing Chelsea – loss?
    Sat 17-Mar Norwich (h) – win?
    Sun 25-Mar 4pm West Brom (a) – tough side – draw?
    Sun 01-Apr 1.30pm Liverpool (h) – tough, vital game – draw?
    Sat 07-Apr Swansea (a) – good footballers – win?
    Mon 09-Apr Bolton (h) – fighting relegation – win?
    Sat 14-Apr Chelsea (a) – champ’s lge chasers – loss?
    Sat 21-Apr Stoke (h) – win?
    Sat 28-Apr Wigan (a) – fighting relegation – draw?
    Sat 05-May Man City (h) – chasing title – loss?
    Sun 13-May Everton (a) – tough side – draw?

    Total points 18.
    Season total = 60 points.

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  24. Dont like to say it Rodz, but they are one of the form teams in the league since O’Neill arrived! They are 9th now, did not see that coming 2 months ago!

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  25. Sunderland are capable of going on a mini slump as well don’t forget, or even a mega slump.
    The Martin O’neil factor has worked but it’s not always sweetness and light. 😉

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  27. SHAMROCK, we were the form team at the start of the season.
    Many teams go on a form sort of run before settling into mediocrity but we have had a mini slump but over all we have been fairly steady.

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  29. Anyone using Spurs as a yard stick to how our season pans out needs to forget it because any team would have fell apart against that display even if they played well…..we didn’t play well but we now have all our quality back and raring to go.
    We have our major enforcers in Tiote and Cabaye, plus Cabaye’s craft and also don;t forget the 2 pronged killer strike force. 😀

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  30. Can’t see only three points from Wolves Makems & West Brom, I’m thinking 7? But then at some point I see us losing our defence and losing 2 o3 3 on the bounce hence the 62.

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  33. I’m hoping for 21pts. I fully believe we will get 6pts from our next two outings, which will then leave us with the aim of 15pts from our last 11 games. To me, that’s achievable. Home form will be crucial, though, and we must now all play our part in raising the roof even more than we normally do.

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  34. I had us down for 6pts in our next two games too, Gary. Fired up and out for revenge on 😈
    …a point to prove, and 6 there for the taking!

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  36. Off topic – I know some people see this graffitti thing as funny and a bit of a 2 fingered salute to Ashley and the board.
    But I’m afraid I don’t see it that way. To sound like a total geek, I think it’s just mindless idiotic criminal damage.
    Asides from that, what does it achieve other than to put potentially interested investors off.
    We don’t want SD signage all over the place but who else will want to replace those signs with their own if morons are going to deface the ground with spray paint.
    I understand frustration but that isn’t the answer and I for one don’t like the idea of the toon fans being portrayed as mindless vandals.

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  37. Cabaye certainly will be rested after all this…let’s hope he’s not too rusty and that Tiote can fit straight back in, focus on the challenge and play for Europe…

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  38. @Sharpy

    I went past the ground an hour or so ago and there’s definitely no spray paint where the old sign went. There’s no evidence that it’s been cleaned off either.

    Has been on the news or is it not a spoof photo?

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  39. Actually just found this;

    A man has been charged after he tagged Newcastle United’s ground with graffiti only hours after the St. James’ Park signs were removed.
    The letters were removed Thursday morning following November’s announcement that the stadium would be renamed the Sports Direct Arena.
    The words “St James” were spread across a wall where a St. James’ Park sign used to be, the white paint was removed this morning by workmen.
    Michael Atkinson, 29, of Hareydene, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, was the man charged with criminal damage.
    Derek Llambias, the club’s managing director, has said stadium rebranding could generate up to £10m a year.

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  41. Troy – there’s been quite a few reports on it so I just took it as truth, unless it’s on a different part of the ground?!

    I think I just saw something claiming a man has been arrested but haven’t read it yet.

    Even if it is bullshit though, doesn’t do us any good in the grand scheme of things

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  42. Aye Rodz . Chicken put that up earlier on the last thread. (chicken aka Michael Atkinson aged 29 from Hareydene) 😆

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  43. Sharpy, I don’t condone vandalism, but I still found it quite amusing.
    I doubt it’d put off any potential investors. Nor do I think it stereotypes all Geordies as mindless criminals, but I get your point. To me it’s petty, and that’s why it tickled me.

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  46. Apparently, the perpetrator, Michael Atkinson lived at Hareydene Park but could not spell his full address and missed off the Park. :-/

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  47. Michael Atkinson, 29, who is unemployed and of Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, said: ‘I heard that they were taking the sign down at about 3pm yesterday on Facebook. I got so angry at Mike Ashley I couldn’t believe they had waited so long to do this after selling the naming rights last year.

    ‘I couldn’t believe that they were doing it in broad daylight. It seems that whenever the club is doing well on the pitch, Ashley just kicks us fans in the knackers.
    ‘It’s such an iconic name, and Ashley is just out to promote his own business. People on Facebook were saying someone should go and put a new sign on the stadium once it had been taken down and I thought why not.

    ‘I had a few cans of lager in the house, I’d had eight cans of Fosters, so at that point I decided I was going to make a stand and speak for all Newcastle fans.’

    He was arrested at the scene.

    A police spokesman said: ‘A 1.57am today (Friday) a man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage after a wall was spray painted at the Newcastle United ground.

    Michael added: ‘I couldn’t believe how quiet the place was. I thought they would have loads of security making sure no-one did anything to the ground. I knew I was going to get arrested for what I was about to do, but I didn’t care.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2102505/St-James-Park-sprayed-grafitti-sign-removal.html#ixzz1me6vYt5o

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  48. Rod – as long as it ends at that and doesn’t encourage other fuckwits to do similar or worse.

    I certainly can’t see it encouraging sponsorship can you?!

    And trust me, stupid acts like this do tar us all with the same brush .. or tin of spray paint on this case 😆

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  49. I got so angry at Mike Ashley I couldn’t believe they had waited so long to do this after selling the naming rights last year…………………….Sounds like Michael was agitated his namesake was taking too long over the re-naming so thought he would do it himself like 🙂

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  50. “F@CKING GEORDIES, DEREK! ABSOLUTELY CLARSE! WORKED A BLARDY TREAT DOING THAT IN BWROAD DAYLOIGHT! WOUND THE F@CKERS ROIGHT ARP!”

    “YEH MIKE! BEST GET OUT THERE AND EXPLAIN OUR PLANS TO THE GEORDIE NATION!”

    HANG FIRE DEREK. MAKE THE FACKERS SWEAT! JUST WHEN THEY FINK THERE OVER IT WE WILL DROP THE BOMBSHELL WE AIN’T PAYIN A FACKIN PENNY TOWARDS IT AND NEVER F@CKING WILL BE!”

    “YOU’RE A GENIOUS MIKE! A F@CKING GENIUS!” 😯

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  52. ‘I had a few cans of lager in the house, I’d had eight cans of Fosters, so at that point I decided I was going to make a stand and speak for all Newcastle fans.’

    😆

    Love the way eejuts like this think they’re speaking for ALL Toon fans! 🙄

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  53. Troy reading your interpretation of written cockney looks more like Kevin & Perry after a trip to manchester 😳

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  54. Sharpy@48, of course it won’t ‘encourage’ sponsorship, but graffiti happens everywhere. This one’s been nipped in the bud straight away and broadcasted in the media, warning anyone else they’ll just get caught and punished. I can’t see it being a regular occurrence.

    As far as being tarred with the same brush though, there’ll always be stereotypical prejudice for us thick Geordies. My mam had to forcibly lose her Geordie accent for job interviews in the ’80s because of its connotations to people outside the north east. I think it’s still generally viewed the same way, although the emphasis nowadays is on its ‘friendly’ sounding nature rather than low intellect, and probably why a lot of call centres staff people with our accent.

    (apologies for deviating away from the thread) 😳

    …reet, gotta go, laters…….. 😎

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  59. Anyway, the final third.

    More of the same and barring injuries I see no reason why not.

    There’s going to be a slight drop in standards as Saylor made a big difference in the early stages but overall if we keep the rest fit then a Euro spot of some kind should be the target.

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  60. I can’t believe Kevin and Perry have come out and said the advertising hoardings cost £10m to make. :-0

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  62. Just a quick one, off topic.

    I’ve bought an outboard motor and rubber dinghy.

    The problem I’ve got is that there’s no board on the back of the dinghy to attach the motor.

    I took it doon the Tyne the other day to test it oot. I had to stand in the boat holding the 20hp motor in the water. At one point, the only thing holding me to the boat were my toes as I was fully stretched out in the water clinging onto the motor.

    Any ideas anyone? Can I glue or nail a plywood board to the back of the dinghy? :-/

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  64. @pootle

    Just whilst it’s quiet. You mentioned you aren’t a Geordie in an earlier post. Where you from and what made you start supporting the Toon?

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  65. Troy – what you shouldn’t do is cut 2 holes in the bottom to allow you to kick ya legs and propell yourself that way mate. Fred Flinstone got away with it on his motor but I reckon you may not be as fortunate 😳

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  67. @sharpy

    I will take your advice on board fella. 😉

    My mate reckons I spent too much on the outboard motor £1500 and not enough on the dinghy £25.

    It’s frightening like, travelling at 30 knots with your nose skimming the surface, holding into a motor whilst clinging onto the boat with your toes!

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  69. pretty sure we’ll manage 60+ points this season. They better beat Wolves on the 25th as it’s my birthday on the 28th and i really don’t ask for much just a win 😆
    Is it true Cisse away for Scum game ,he’s only just got here 👿

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  72. Aye , I bet that clown who pained St James on the wall must be right proud of himself putting back the name to it’s original .
    He must be one of those lads who felt Ashley is defacing the club and ruining it’s heritage, so what does he do?…..he goes and defaces the stadium, now how’s that for keeping the heritage eh lol

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