This time last season we still had an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League although in the end we had to settle for just the 5th place in the table and Europa League football instead.
What a difference a year makes though and this time round we find ourselves only recently ruled out of the relegation dogfight by virtue of a win at QPR last weekend. In fact in terms of real prizes there isn’t a lot left to play for other than more prize money, unless you are our opponents today who still have to ensure that they can pip their North London rivals to that final Champions League place and the riches that come with it.
Amazingly United could add a thin layer of veneer to the season potentially find themselves in the top half of the table come end of play this afternoon but it’s a tall order asking for all results to go our way. The best thing we can do is try to go out with a bang rather than a fizz though and see where a result takes us in the grand scheme of things.
Standing in the way of us doing that are Arsenal who know that they must beat us to guarantee 4th place in the table. If they do then it won’t matter what result Spurs get against Sunderland leaving players like Gareth Bale with tough decisions to make over the summer.
That sort of gives you a bit more of a background about what is at stake for everyone today. For us there isn’t a lot other than a few quid in the bank whilst for teams like Arsenal the game today means everything. However if you fancy reading a bit more of a background on the fixture along with injury news, stats and facts and so on then why not have a peek at my match preview which is viewable here.
I’ll be on my way to Paris when the teams are announced so once again team news will be provided by Big Dave, who by the way I’d like to thank for helping out with things whilst I’ve been away working or babysitting or other stuff like that. It’s very much appreciated by me and others I’m sure.
The game itself is going to be shown live here in the UK on Sky Sports 1 which is all fine and dandy if you have it, if you’re in a pub that has it, or even if you are in the ultimate place which is St James’ Park. However not everyone has access to the ground or Sky or a pub so streams are still needed. For one final time this season, please leave any links to streams in the ‘comments’ section below.
That just about wraps this up really and now it’s up to the players and management to attempt to restore some pride after a season which has seen a lot of goodwill from last season wiped out. Only they can do it, we can only watch.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Harper; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), Yanga-Mbiwa; Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran.
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell
Arsenal: Szczesney; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott; Podolski.
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud
@BigDave
“But it seems Pards cant really win no matter what he does ”
youre right there bud, thats why ppl want him out 😆
mark(Quote)
Solano@220- Yeah, sure do! I think the best bit is the criticism of late goals conceded where we’re destroyed because of Pardew’s tactics but the ones we score are all luck or a fluke or individual brilliance by Cisse 😉
Newkie(Quote)
I can’t understand Anita’s situation. He started his career here slowly but picked up the pace, then he was dropped. Even after Titote returned from African nations? he came on today and threaded 2 balls within 5 mins. something tiote and Jonas fail to do.
mark(Quote)
*right 😳 🙄
mark(Quote)
Mark if they really want him out and really believe we can get better why didn’t they leave Pards and the regime in no doubt today that thats what they wanted ? as there is no better way of making their feelings known
Big Dave(Quote)
BIG dave cant you ban me ? i wont hold it against you ,dont mind being called a **** but not a old crettin of some 1 who it would take a slap with a wet kipper to knock out sparkers 😉
batty(Quote)
Mark Anita’s situation is that Pardew was hoping he would wake up from a horrible nightmare and find himself with a first 11 including Jonas and Tiote actually playing well again. The only thing is it never happened. He kept playing the players who had done well for him previously and they kept playing poorly. We kept lumping the ball toward Cisse and it kept failing miserably as a tactic. Pardew kept denying we had an isolated striker with no holdup ability and we kept losing games.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MASSIVE NORKS 😯 😯 😛
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ok, what does that mean Rodz?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
@Big Dave
Its seems people are happy to vent their spleen away from the ground and demand a change, but not once at the ground have I heard one fan shout for Pardew to be sacked.
My thoughts are, people think the same as us and are frightened to taunt Ashley in case he calls their bluff and appoints someone like Alan Curbishley who is looking for a job.
We can all be brave away from the ground and on blogs but the mark of courage is to stand by your convictions and if you believe Ashley would appoint a better manager then call for his head at the ground.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/newcastle-united-sack-alan-pardew
PLS SUPPORT THIS….
C Rice(Quote)
After all that I think you’re right Big Dave. I think the majority believe Pardew will be staying on and that Ashley can’t be trusted to find us a better manager. Sigh. I surrender for now. But if this lunacy continues next season I’ll be back for a fresh fight. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
@GeordieTwo
youre not saying Pardew is to blame here? Surely not m8 😆
but aye, Pardew is from the old teaching of”if its totally broken, don’t try and fix it” or if you don’t succeed try try again until youre sacked 😛
mark(Quote)
@226
Comment of the season 😆 😆 😆
Santii(Quote)
Team 1
3-5-2
—————Krul—————-
——-Saylor-Collo-M’biwa——-
Debuchy——————-Santon
——-Sissoko—–Cabaye——-
————-Ben Arfa————
———Cisse—-Gouffran——-
Subs: Elliott, Perch, Anita, Tiote, Marveaux, Jonas, Shola
Team 2
4-3-3
————–Elliott—————
Raylor—Willo—Perch—Haïdara
——Jonas–Tiote–Anita——–Marveaux—–Shola——Obertan
Subs: Alnwick, Good, Ferguson, Tavernier,Bigi, Gosling, Campbell,
Team 3
4-1-4-1
————–Alnwick————-
Tavernier-Good–Street-Dummett
————-Bigirimana———–
Ameobi-Gosling–Vuckic-Ferguson
————–Campbell————
Subs: Street, Mbabu, Abeid, Richardson, Amilfatano, Inman, Newton
Obviously there will be comings and goings over the summer but I can not help but look at that squad and think that we should be challenging for Europe next season. However, under Pardew i worry that we simply won’t be. I hope he proves me wrong 🙄
Oblong(Quote)
@Big Dave
this is a bit of a cop-out for you and troy. Fans do want him out but are resigned to the fact it looks like he’s staying. Also with it being the last game for some of the players I don’t think we can use 2days game as a yard stick for fans being happy because they didnt boo or vent their anger. so two slightly different arguments here caught up in one..
mark(Quote)
And that goes for any game, not just today’s. I haven’t heard one person shout for Pards’ head all season
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Batty I wouldn’t even dream of banning you mate 😉
Troy are you trying to say that people will vent their anger and demand Pards head on here and other places, but don’t have the guts to stand up at the game and let Pards and the Regime hear what they think of him 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Batty calm down your going to brake a hip getting all excited…
😆 😆 😆
Santii(Quote)
season stats article sent in Toonsy
Premandup(Quote)
Lessons Pardew has learned from this season:
1. Ashley is a complete mug for signing me to an 8 year contract.
2. Llambias probably has difficulty putting on his socks let alone reaching the ground each day.
3. Being manager of Newcastle United is a fantastic spot to be in. So little is expected and if there’s one thing I’m capable of supplying it’s so little.
4. Only one more round of bollocks required by the press this season.
5. I’ve really earned my time off this summer. Things are bound to get better. I’m sure I can push us up to 15th next season.
6. The tea lady seems to think I’m quite attractive. I’ll have to do something about that.
7. I’m not sure but I think Dekka thinks I’m quite attractive as well. There it is then if the tea lady thing doesn’t work out.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Yeah, Ben Arfa was poor today. He just ran into trouble and conceded possession. Can’t believe he lasted the 90 minutes, but I guess without Shola we didn’t have a better option. 🙁
Wellington(Quote)
Well that’s 3 home games without scoring, Hmmm, the “FOOL” picks 3 DM’s, are any of you seriously suprised.
The Arsenal keeper never made a save of note, catch my drift.
The “Fool” takes off our MOM (Mbwia) and replaces him with Jonas, what the hell is going on!
Tiote was an absolute disgrace,he couldn’t pass water.
Cabaye was so deep that he was almost playing behind Colo.
By the way Harp’s could have done better for the goal if he had rushed out and blocked!
Thought Colo had a good game!
I dread next season under the poor leadership of the “FOOL”
By the way my mate Troy has never played 11 a side football!
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Mark If I really felt that we could get change I can assure you I would take any opportunity to make my feelings known to the regime.
sometimes in life you have to fight for things that you want but it seems fans don’t really want Pards head because like a few of us we can’t trust the Regime to give us better than Pards
So I really cant see how thats a cop out
Big Dave(Quote)
That petition is pathetic.
I’m not old enough to remember anything other than the PL years but it’s quite obvious to me that this isn’t one of the “low points of our history”, in fact, Pardew has brought one of the flipping high points.
Fair enough wanting Pardew out because we could get someone better. But the whole he is ruining our successful club type bollocks needs to stop.
Seventh best finish since the war.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
santi @244 rather that than your neck 😆
batty(Quote)
Best I have seen us play this season. Harper can leave with his head held high. Pity we are losing him. Collocini was supreme. What a difference he makes. Jonas wasn’t bad except for falling over at critical moments but Mbiwa was better and put in a couple of decent crosses. Can’t understand why Jonas was kept on in preference to Mbiwa. And why the hell haven’t we seen more of Anita. Best passer of the ball in the team – lovely passes with slide rule precision on the ground. Should have started in place of Jonas for me. Watch Anita when he hasn’t got the ball, he looks to get into positions to receive a pass. Webb by the way was as usual inconsistent – certainly did us no favours. Must be one of the worst refs in the Premiership.
Groucho(Quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBViQnZYgDE
Rodzilla(Quote)
😳 😳 Embarrassing lol 🙄 🙄
My neck is fine batty 😆
Santii(Quote)
i see Fat Sam has come out and said signing Carroll is his priority for the summer . The club need too move fast if they want him back at SJP ,got a feeling we are going too miss out on him . I see another bleak summer heading our way , i reckon we will loose Colo , Cabs , Hba and maybe even Marveaux .
Axel(Quote)
lol this beats pardews fist in the air to Di Canio, thinking we had scored
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/lolz-tottenham-fans-think-newcastle-have-equalised-against-arsenal-go-crazy-happy/
mark(Quote)
Batty @ 251 maybe he thinks your one of my cronies that bullied 2 people of the blog 🙂 🙂
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave,
What concerns me is that you appear to support Pardew,the guy is incompetent.
Who cares who Ashley’s next appointment is, he can’t be worse than the “FOOL”.
The Tea Lady would pick a better team than him.
Wake up and smell the fear of relegation next season,
It’s not always Ashley’s fault………………….
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
5th top to 5th bottom…………..Oh how Pardew’s boys have fallen
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Axel can you see us matching his 80k a week wages? If so then we are in for a good chance but i don’t think there is a chance in hell we will. I am pretty sure West Ham are paying the majority of his wages atm as well.
Santii(Quote)
“the devil you know”
Can the same not be said about Ashley?
Santii(Quote)
TGS far from it, I thought you knew me better than that mate, you say who cares who the next manager could be ? I do because I think there is worse men to appoint, and I wouldn’t want to see JFK, Curbishley or some other walter taking over for a year or so then us having to go through all this **** again. I am all for Jabba replacing Pards with a proper top Manager but I don’t think he will, so as a few have said for me it’s better the devil we know.
TGS so would you prefer a JFK or Curbishley over Pards ??
Big Dave(Quote)
Mark – sorry mate, I can see you’ve included me in a question but can’t figure out what it is you’re asking, I’ve lost track a bit having been off for a bit – giz a clue buddy?! 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
What happened at half time.
Apart from the Cabaye change somebody explain those other two substitutions. Have we been playing Marveux out of position all season. Never knew he was a right winger
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
@TGS
I think you know our views. Its not about supporting Pards. Did you shout for Pards to be sacked today. ?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
santi yes i can see how it could be Embarrassing for you
batty(Quote)
JFK, Curbishley 🙄
so why did he appoint KK and why was sloppychops close to signing. surely over 3mil per year..
mark(Quote)
TGS well maybe pardews next job could be at man u 😉
batty(Quote)
Thought we were better today than usual. But for me the improvements came from the players on the pitch… Colo makes a huge difference. And Mbiwa was hugely impressive. And Ben Arfa was our only midfielder who looked threatening. So good selection from Pards there. But again we were one man short in the opposition half because of his insistance in playing three deep defensive midfielders… Jonas wasn’t poor. But he needs to be sacrificed for someone more creative like Marv… And why did Cabs start when he was clearly not 100 per cent fit? I think Pards improved but same issues… Set pieces were poor no matter who took them… Too short on numbers on attack. Leaving Cisse isolated. Ie. Too negative. But at least they finally kept the ball on the deck. Which for me was the main improvement along with the defense since Colo got back…
JJ(Quote)
Oblong,
You need to concentrate on your corners.
There’s only four of the *******.
Why the long face?
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Sharpy
can we have a vote on whether Troy is right or wrong regarding:
fans should of booed 2day if they were unhappy with Pardew?
mark(Quote)
TLR-Traditionally a left winger, also used to play left back. However he prefers to cut in, always has done. Right wing is a fine place for him tbh.
Newkie(Quote)
I think its because Troy was shouting ‘Pardew for England’ not so long ago he feels a tad silly, so he’s showing him a bit more faith than others.
mark(Quote)
@ Mark
Where did you hear that sloppy chops was going to get £3m? Is it not that he wasn’t going to get that he decided not to come.
My thoughts are Ashley was stung by paying off Fat Sam and KK and decided he wouldn’t be stung again and that coincided with the cheap players policy.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
santi you want to try stick a sanitary towel to your gob
batty(Quote)
i take it that what your nick stands for
batty(Quote)
@Mark
Pards for England. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy spot on at 274 😉
batty(Quote)
I still stand by Pardew.
With a shovel.
….PANG!
😯
…that’ll lorn ‘im 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
**** off Nora@278
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Troy
I didnt but kk was on 3mill. I said. surely over 3mil. knowing Arry it may have been more. No, what i can remember it was more to do with staying on the south coast but I can remember him being tempted.
mark(Quote)
Mark did JFK not come after KK and sloppy chops getting linked to the job ? so what is the point your making.
Do you honestly think Jabba would get us a top manager ??
Big Dave(Quote)
actually he said “I thought about Newcastle’s offer, but I said ‘no’ because there is something sadly wrong at that club.”
so its an improvement on the **** wage theory lol
mark(Quote)
@Troy 😉 😆
mark(Quote)
santi are you sure you didnt post under hitman ,he was a 5ft 2 gimp as well ?you accuse dave of bullying yet your try to bully an old cretin like me
batty(Quote)
😳 Batty you old fart do you ever stop talking nonsense. Again showing your amazing wit 😆 my 5 year old son has better insults than you.
Now please its getting a bit embarrassing talking **** with a pensioner.. 😉 😆
Santii(Quote)
Batty you started talking **** first my friend so go cry somewhere else please..
Santii(Quote)
fck you rod you whitley ******
batty(Quote)
@Big Dave
No I dont think he’ll get us a top manager. but he’d be better than JFK, Pardew and Curbs. you might as well add dowie, Jewel and Christian gross to your list of potentials 😛
mark(Quote)
santi i did it for a bite of michelle 12 ,you lcaling me a kid then saying you started it ? get back to the play ground numb nuts
batty(Quote)
I’m sick of everyone bashing off Pardew 👿
Rodzilla(Quote)
freind lolol
batty(Quote)
Batty are you on the sauce again cause that last post makes no sense to me…
Santii(Quote)
Mark , As I said earlier to Troy I don’t think today was the time to do it as it was an important day for Harps ,Simmo and possibly a couple of others . I don’t buy the idea that if he is sacked we can expect JFK, Curbs ,hughes or what ever . You simply can’t second guess what the owner will do ,for all we know he may want a continental coach . He has shown he’ll splash the cash if needs be and also that he can be ruthless too . Don’t get me wrong I’m no Jabba fan but to settle for an average manager serving up such negative tactics and they are negative just because of the fear of who Jabba will appoint is nuts. It’s like never wearing a diamond ring incase you get mugged. Whats the point in having something nice if you don’t get to use it /show it off. We deserve better fayre than we been served up this season ,and injuries are not a good enough excuse. A good coach can set up and motivate even average players and we simply havn’t performed.
KIMTOON(Quote)
@Mark
Investors and managers are all tempted but baulk when hearing the contracts. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Rod
he deserves being bashed off. i’d give him a good fisting 😯 if i ever saw him in public for what hes done this yr.
mark(Quote)
well if you think iam a pensioner thats up to you ,so how did you fater a child or did a friend of your help you ,rod did say he met your missis doon the big market lolol
batty(Quote)
@ TGS
You still after the Wally with the brolly. You might get your wish cos he was at the ground today. Serious. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@KIMTOON
I agree. I think Ashley has learned a lot but some ppl still hold him to his past errors. esp when picking managers.
mark(Quote)
Mark so you don’t mind if we take another side step then be back in the same place in a yr or 2 ???
Mark I honestly believe that our club deserves better than side steps or make do’s we deserve a top manager
Big Dave(Quote)