Europe – Guaranteed!

toonsy

Get your plane tickets ready!
Dust off your passports boys and girls, it’s now official – Newcastle United are back in Europe!

Everton’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford this afternoon, whilst very very entertaining to watch, means that we are now guaranteed to finish at least 6th in the table and will pick up at least a place in the Europa League next season as a result.

Being honest it’s no less than our team has deserved based on the course of the season. I was looking earlier at how much time we’ve spent in the top six this season and the answer is that all bar two weeks have been spent in at least 6th place (we dropped to 7th between December 21st and January 4th) so nobody can say we’ve fluked it.

Of course eyes are on bigger prizes right now as we currently occupy the final Champions League qualification position, but it’s nice to know that whatever happens from now on we won’t drop below 6th or miss out on Europe. I’m not saying we should pack our bags and head off on holiday right now, but the security blanket is nice to have.

In two years we’ve gone from Championship to Europe which signals a truly remarkable turnaround in the fortune of the club. I get called positive quite often, but not even I envisaged anything like this and credit should be given to everyone at the club, even Mike Ashley I guess!

The only question now is which competition we’ll be entering!

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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230 thoughts on “Europe – Guaranteed!”

  2. Expect more “full backing of the board” statements coming out of annfield tomorrow. 😳
    But the Taxi must be booked now surely. 😆

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  3. I still say that its all well and good now saying that I told you so about Cabaye but until he started playing more forward imo anyway he wasn’t as good as he is now, and quite a few games he looked very average.
    As for saying that I knew what we were getting with him after the leeds game I can remember thinking the same about Pancrate. 😕

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  6. Glad to see Roy Hodgson go back to Anfield and take all 3 points from the ‘King’.

    If you said at the start of the season that we’d be 16points ahead of Liverpool with 4 games to go I’d think they were getting relegated! Never mind us being up in 4th!

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  9. I gotta say, as much as yesterday’s result was nice, the results from all 3 games today are even better.
    Everton draw and give us European football guaranteed. Liverpool lose and really, that’s just fun to see. Man City win and are going to make the title race that much more exciting. I don’t really care who wins, but I am glad to see it’s going to come a little close to being decided on the last day…perhaps.
    Oh, and Wolves out…no real opinion, but I don’t really like them, so I am quite ok with that one.

    Good weekend of footy all around.

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  10. Where is Hitman, where is Troy? These neggers just like to moan .. Big Dave, yu had a moan, Beardsleys Boots – yu said yu wanted MASH dead mid-season .. Stuart 79 – don’t accept your comments, you weren’t right to question MASH + to moad, you were wrong, not MASH fault yu cudnt ustand what he was doing .. All those who said spurs had more ambition becos they kept Modric, yu cud easily argue that has been their downfall – know full well they cud yet qualify for cachamnps league – but their fans are sick of him .. MASH tek a bow

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  12. Who I would live to see on here now…Fernando/Agatha/Oliver etc. the muggy Spurs fan who frequented Ed’s blog when we were *****. Wonder how he feels now. Out of all teams going for top four, Spurs have the most to lose if they miss out. Their progress will literally be knocked back four years or so with players unhappy and forcing moves.

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  14. Big Dave – “As for saying that I knew what we were getting with him after the leeds game I can remember thinking the same about Pancrate. :???:”

    Don’t beat yourself up, Dave. Some of us can spot em and some of us wouldn’t know a class player if they punched them on the end of the nose! 😉 😆

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  16. pipes. Dont put words into my mouth pal.
    If you want to quote me fair ’nuff, but get ya facts straight first.
    Your just making yourself look even more stupid than you are. If thats possible.
    I NEVER said I wanted Ashley dead. I said I wouldn’t care less if he crashed and burned in his helicopter. And I still wouldn’t. I dont care about him full stop.
    Now come off your high horse and apologise.

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  17. Cut & Paste From the Guardian:
    Victories at Anfield did not come often enough for Roy Hodgson to convince Liverpool’s support and owners that he was the man to lead their recovery. He was sacked after six months with a better home record than Kenny Dalglish has managed in nine, however, and this was a return to savour after Peter Odemwingie’s goal brought West Bromwich Albion their first win at Anfield in exactly 45 years.

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  18. TP why is it your normally only on after we win ❓ another fair weather fan 😆 Yeah I did have a moan and I still will because a few places in the league won’t buy my loyalty to the sports direct arena, I will always back the lads, and I have even gave Jabba credit for the good he has done but that doesn’t blind me to the bad he has done, im not that cheap 😆 😆

    As for showing ambition by keeping Modric ? that has fuk all to do with spuds problems they are purely down to sloppy chops and the england job and other outside influences 😀

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  19. I just think when i watch liverpool play it’s as if dalglish has been on football manager or something, just changing tactics on a whim, 4-3-3 yeah that’d look good we’ll give that ago etc.
    With Pardew i think we have someone that is painfully thorough with his organisation of every aspect of the team, and it shows, we’ve missed tiote for such a large chunk of the season, and other than the games we have capitulated we’ve been awesome defensively. Don’t think Pards or the team can ever get enough credit for this season.

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  20. Don’t want to get all tony pulis on everyone 😯 but i genuinely think i wouldn’t swap our front 3 for anyone in the league.
    Man City’s might have more talent, but you have the volatile tevez and balotelli.

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  22. the only down side to the season was the scum sacking bruce they were only going on place if had stayed 🙁

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  24. Nah Ice I enjoy them more in the same league, nice easy few points each season!

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  25. My brother tells me in his paper Citeh are preparing a mind blowing offer for Cisse in the summer 👿 👿 I hate those moneybags bar stewards . It’s probably press claptrap, worried one of their precious top 4 are gonna miss out on a CL spot so trying to unsettle us. 👿

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  26. ST i know what your saying,but the brown stuff that comes oot there gobs gets a bit boreing 😉

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  27. Icedog- they’re still sheeehight, haven’t scored in 4 games. The god patch was just a honeymoon period. They don’t really have much quality and they play ugly football. Not great at all. Back the Brucey form.

    Good to see Agent Bruce did enough damage to last! 😈

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  28. KIMTOON just wait until the summer we will get all sorts of *****, par for the coarse let it gan owr your heed mate 😉

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  29. I disagree about Spurs’ dip in form being to do with Redknapp & England. I think it’s more to do with his tactics, or lack thereof. He doesn’t rotate enough and his teams generally fade towards the end of the season. Spurs are different. Also, teams have figured out how to nullify their strengths, which is why they’re scoring considerably less goals nowadays.
    The Redknapp to England excuse is just something the media are using to avoid criticising their good mate ‘Arry. Similar to the excuses Hansen and Lawro make when they want to avoid knocking their good mate Kenny

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  30. West Brom only a point beind Liverpool, be hilarious if Roy finished higher than Kenny!

    Just read an article (in the Sun I know… but….) about Cisse and how he sends money back to 70! relatives in Senegal. He really seems a top bloke.

    As for Cisse going to City…. The article goes on to quote him about how much he loves the no.9 shirt and wants to become a legend and be held in the same regard as Shearer.

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4270959/Newcastles-Papiss-Cisse-I-send-money-home-to-70-relatives.html

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  32. ICE- I know ,but it really gets on my tits that all the press assume all our best players will be sold. It’s lazy journo **** based on Ash selling Carroll ,plus they hate the fact that all the leaks at SJP have now been plugged and so they gotta make it up. 👿

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  33. Kim the only player I worry about is Ba, the rest will get what they want out of the game with us except for the £££££s they could get somewhere else.
    But our top players are all basically guaranteed a starting place with us and are looked on as gods so apart from ££££ what else can they get

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  34. Kid your entitiled to your opinion I just disagree with it because up untill his courtcase and the England job his tactics or lack off were doing him and spuds pretty well 😉

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  35. Never read the papers if you want to find out anything about Spurs. The pies hardly ever stick the boot in on them. What other team could have the form they currently have but not get slated? United is ether only other team I can think of.

    If you want to know why Spurs are failing I would recommend giving the Spurs blogs a visit. They sum up their current predicament better than any crappy tabloid paper

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  36. Big Dave

    Really? Their away form has been a problem since December. Way before this Capella stuff.

    Also, I would say their overall bad form has more to do with a very tough run of fixtures that they had, which just happened to be at around the same time as Capello getting the shove. Most Spurs fans say the same, but you can follow the press’ story if you like… 😉

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  37. Look. The club have made no secret of the fact, that we are vulnerable to ott offers for our players.
    BUT, we have players tied down to long contracts, so it will cost these clubs rdiculous sums of money to even raise ashley’s eyebrows.
    Also, although players are all motivated by money, its not the only driving factor in where they play football.It doesn’t necessarily mean our players will want to leave. Some will want to finish what has been started here at NUFC.
    Tevez went to shitty for the money and nothing else, but he has said on a couple occasions what a ****-hole manchester is and how he hates it because its always raining and there’s only one decent restaurant 😆
    The speculation is going to be rife this summer. 👿
    I hope we come thru unscathed. 😕

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  38. Kid what makes you think that I would follow the spurs press 😆
    As for bad run of fixtures why did they not play the same teams in the 1st half 😕

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  39. KIMTOON tell you what “really” gets on my tits all this talk of arry should get the england job what a load of pish,lets look at this great record he has been about for 40yrs we know hes a crook a big gob and **** house,how many titles has he won?hes won one cup,is this good enough to be a england manager mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,i doubt it imo

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  41. Ice but in fairness he has never really been manager of one of the top 4 that usually win. TBH I think he would be the best choice for the England job, who else is there ? Yeah I know he is a crook etc etc but without doubt he is a good English manager.

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  43. The kid > “but you can follow the press’ story if you like…”

    what makes you think I would follow the spurs press, I can form my own opinion without reading the spurs press..

    The kid > “I would say their overall bad form has more to do with a very tough run of fixtures that they had,”

    Why did they not already play the same teams in the 1st half of the season only in a different order ❓

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  44. It could be Rotterdam or anywhere
    Madrid, Paris or Rome.
    The Mags are going to Europe
    The mackems are staying at home

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  48. If you want a great manager for England, then look no further than King Kenny. :mrgreen: 😆 😆

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  49. Rossco they can go and get fuked they’re not getting him 😆

    Ice you dirty dog only Roy is English nice try but 😉 that might work with Richie 😆 eventhough I couldn’t see Fergie or Wenger being England managers

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  51. Ian Holloway would be awesome tho .
    Ha Ha I miss him this season. He was good for a laugh.

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  52. Of course all our best players are going to want to leave! After all they’ll want to play in a top 6 side that’s playing in European competition.
    Derrrrr…..

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  53. Ah, I see.

    First off, when I say the press, I mean Daily Mail etc. I say to read the opinions of Spurs fans on blogs as they watch their side a hell of a lot more than we do and are better placed to assess their current situation.

    Secondly, yes they did play the same sides e.g. Liverpool, City, Man United and Arsenal. First half of the season they lost to both Manchester clubs but beat the other two at White Hart Lane. They lost three and drew one of the repeat fixtures in the second half of the season. Not just normal losses either. Check how they lost their games to City and Arsenal. It’s confidence sapping stuff, especially when you factor in how they dropped points to the other sides too in such a small space of time. It has undeniably affected their confidence and momentum.

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  55. The Kid I still think the whole thing of will he stay or will he go is affecting the players at spuds. in their 1st 17 games up till the harrygate **** they took 38pts, from then they have took 21 pts from the next 17 games, So I don’t think its all down to tactics 😉

    Ice do you not catch enough from Richie 😀

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  57. Big Dave

    There really was no point in me explaining if you were just going to shrug it off, but hey-ho. I think you underestimate the value of momentum and confidence.

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  58. The kid 😯 I don’t underestimate the value of momentum and confidence.

    The Kid

    April 22, 2012 at 19:05(Edit)

    I disagree about Spurs’ dip in form being to do with Redknapp & England. I think it’s more to do with his tactics, or lack thereof.

    so what are you saying is the reason for spurs bad run ? is it as you said Harrys tactics or lack off? or momentum and confidence
    I don’t understand what your saying because you start of with one reason then change it to another 😀 but hey-ho

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  59. I don’t think Pardew would go. I think he’s built for club managment. His meticulous methods provide excellent results but I don’t think this would be as effective in International level, I think he thrives on the contact hours. The main attribute the England manager needs is to motivate and not become gazumped by the media and egos!

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  60. Dave a lot of the Spurs boards I have visited are scathing of Harry’s lack of squad rotation and buying older players, which has led to the number of injury problems he keeps bleating about. Then his lack of tactical nous and inability to motivate when the team are up against it which has cost them many games. Their capitulation this year follwed a similar trailing off of form last year. I think all the speculation around the England Manager job has been added to the mix but don’t think it’s by far the only reason. Will be interesting to see if the FA have given themselves enough wiggle room, but he could end up being sacked by Spurs and with no England job to go for – shame.

    Anyway well done the lads Europe here we come!

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  61. The white kit, the over-expectant fans and the total collapse in yet another big game.
    Harry Redknapp must think he’s England manager already.

    😆

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  62. we dont care about Tottenham
    they dont care about me
    all we care about
    is NUFC 😆

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  63. Deb I know that there is a lot of factors into their slump but I can’t help but feel a lot of the players have been affected by the England talk, I think Harry is a top class man manager and motivator and has got a lot of his players to buy into his vision for Spurs, but if them same players now think or know that he has sold them out im sure they won’t be too motivated to give their all if he is going to fuk off on them after selling them his vision.

    As for his lack of tactical nous when the team are up against it, I can remember loadsa of fans saying the samething about Pards only a few months ago, and I always said that we shouldn’t be blaming Pards if the players haven’t turned up or gave their all in a game

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  66. Big Dave

    Do I really need to spell things out? The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Like Deb said, when you’re off form and have lost momentum you need tactics to swing things back in your favour. A bit like what Pard.ew did after our slump around December. Spurs had a slump for reasons I specified earlier and Harry’s lack of tactical nous + fatigued squad has made it very difficult to turn it around. Is it so hard to understand?… Also, what’s with the over use emoticons?

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  67. I dont understand why fans are still yapping about ashley?? they are completely brainless. An then they say some **** like they arent pulling the wool over my eyes.. lol what?? u sound like one of them crazy people in navada!! I agree with what the guy wrote earlier if u dont like what is happening at nufc, sunderland need all the support they can get go there!! or do you coaching badges or business degree and show ashley and pardew how to run a club!! Rant over 👿

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  68. Now now BB dont get yur knickeerrs ina twist .. splittin hair tryins to say that wanting someone dead and sasaying someone die in their helcopter is diffeerente .. any way i tek it you agree wiht me now …. wheres Troy he was arguing how spurts were a bigger club than us … looks like thats another he got wrong .. calling HIIITMAANNNNNN … come on Hitman be a man come on and admit you were wrong about MASH and we were right .. seem to recall Stardust and me and Toonchicken being on the wrong end of a lot of abuse from Hitman .. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa TOON TOON — just messin like dont get upset

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  72. The Kid > ” Do I really need to spell things out?” or ” Is it so hard to understand?… ” do you think im some kid that you speak down to ? just because you think your opinion is right and others is wrong, doesn’t give you a right to speak to them like some arrogant self righteous know it all. I treat you with a bit of respect so kindly try to do the same 😉

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  73. Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. IN case anyone missed it ,we are in Europe next season :mrgreen: 😀 😯

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  75. I hope to god the FA don’t approach Pardew to be the next England manager now he has got us into the top 6 .Let them have Roy or Harry .

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