Where do we go from here?

toonsy

Kick off. Again.
Kick off. Again.
Fresh from a mauling at Manchester City I’ve been pondering just where we are to go from here.

No I’m not pressing any panic buttons just yet and I actually saw some positives at the Etihad Stadium yesterday, just like I’ve seen positives in some of our other games this season, mainly those against the bigger teams if I’m being honest.

Now admittedly there have also been some gaping negatives which have come against sides we should have been looking to get more out of, but our start has been difficult. I the opening eight league games we’ve faced both Manchester sides away from home with Chelsea and Arsenal at St James’ Park. Swansea aren’t too shabby either and neither are Southampton while West Ham can and have taken some notable scalps so far this term. The other game was Watford where we did fall woefully short.

And it is that part that worries me.

Yes we’ve had some tough games thus far but it’s not those games in which we’ve struggled to put a shift in. Against City we should have been two or three goals up and paid for it in the second half by allowing a world-class striker the time to shot at goal. The result was five goals for Sergio Aguero and a 6-1 defeat but for 45 minutes we caused problems. Real problems.

With ten men against Arsenal for the bulk of the game we held our own and against Manchester United our draw was deserved, as was the same with Chelsea. In fact against Chelsea you could argue that we should have got more than we did.

But we now have in international break to stew on all of this and when we come back there is literally no room for error. If we play like we’ve done against the big boys, all of the time, then we will pick up points and with games against Norwich, Sunderland (who will have another new manager in time for the Tyne-Wear derby!), Stoke, Bournemouth, Leicester and Crystal Palace taking us through until the end of November there are opportunities to collect points.

I’ve heard people talking about relegation already and with the sacking season already seemingly in full swing there is always the option to make a rather large change. But we should know by now that changing a manager is extremely unlikely in our current setup. Both of those are out of the question currently.

However the longer things go on like they have and the longer we go without picking up wins then it’s only natural that nerves will jangle but we’ll learn a lot more about this lot in the next few games than we have in the first few of the season and we can then see if they have the bottle for it.

What are your thoughts?

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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620 thoughts on “Where do we go from here?”

  1. Do you want the other wrinkle? What if Stchteve has a genuine fear for his job? After all he said to judge him after 10 games so Norwich and the Mackems become almost must win given our start. Remember we are bottom of the league on 3 points and Steve has a history of walking.

    So does that mean he will play Dummett or play Tiote who is not match fit in desperation?

    He has the massive added pressure that Troy said he will judge him after 10 games as well, so I am sure he will be cognizant of that.

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  2. Sharpy: I forgot about Williamson. Oh ****, if Janmaat is not fit we may see the player we tried to hawk to PNE. Nothing would surprise me after seeing Gouffran played as defensive mid – and against Man City away FFS. Now that was a gamble, it was either going to be a master stroke or a humiliation. I think Gouffy was saved from further embarrassment by being taken off.

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  5. Stuart79, you’re right there is a REAL relegation battle going on because without doubt we are one of the 3 shittest teams in the league, and have been for a good while now.
    Throw in the injuries, the lack of goals, and the absolute garbage start to the season, and we’re up to our neck in it.

    I’m not sure McLaren has the nads for the task at hand, I can see him going into meltdown unfortunately …

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  6. Just back from some time in Nottingham and spoke to a few Forest fans and Derby fans while I was there.
    Forest fans really surprised that Darlow was not first choice keeper at NUFC . They all thought that Colo was a poor defender and that Lascelles should be ahead of him in team selection.
    The Derby fans said that some good football was played under McClaren but were not sorry to see him go as they did not believe he would have taken them up to the Premiership.

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  7. SIDEKICK welcome back,we those fans watched them week in week out so will be able to judge them better than us mate as we haven’t seen much of them apart from tv

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  10. Sidekick: I hope they are right about Darlow. Just to prove once and for all how much of an idiot he is Lee Ryder has written an article on Woodman today. On the basis of watching him in one reserve match against Man City where we were beat 3-0 Ryder says we are in safe hands. He has 11 matches in the 4th Division and is 18 years old. I wonder how many of those matches Ryder saw? NONE, I would guess. How many ‘keepers start in the PL at 18, I can’t think of any not even Krul, not Butland, not Courtois, not Forster but Ryder says we are in safe hands. He does point out that Woodman’s contract is up in July so we may lose him to Palace where his Dad is now if Charnley doesn’t act quickly. When has Charnley ever acted quiclky 🙂

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  12. I think Darlow will give Krul a run for his money for next season. He seems to be able to kick the ball better and is a decent shot stopper also.

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  13. If people (Ryder and those polled on The Chronic) are thinking Woodman will be our savior then I will ask when any teenage goalkeeper started in the PL? I can’t think of any. Jak Alnwick was 21 when he started last year and turned out to be pretty ****. He even played for England u17 and u18s like Woodman has. Even Jack Butland the current England understudy started when he was 21 due to an injury crisis.

    If we see Woodman we are in trouble even if he eventually turns into the second coming if Peter Shilton. It just seems to take them a bit longer to mature. Hell, he might not even be finished growing yet and certainly wont have full physical strength at 18.

    Mistakes by goalies are magnified because they often led to goals which is why a certain maturity and mental strength are required.

    Sorry to go on but it annoys me when someone who is paid to be lead writer for the local paper writes stupid stuff.

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  15. Where did you hear that Ice?
    Eric – Krul was man of the match away at Palermo when he was 17.

    In a chronicle poll 56% of fans wanted Woodman to start ahead of Elliott. Someone asked have they ever seen Woodman play? No was the answer but they’d seen plenty of Elliott!

    Be interesting to see who exactly is fit for Sunday, especially at the back. Norwich will be no pushovers just like Sam’s scum. 10 games without a win?

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  16. GEORGIO there is a couple of places its talked about sky was one,its said Sam is talking to him and hopes he will join him,wonder how scum fans will take it,his song will be back again I think

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  18. GEORGIO,mind its true what Big Al says if you want to stay in PL Big Sam will do that,fans might not like his brand of footy and you won’t ever win the PL but he will keep you there

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  19. Georgio: and was Krul then loaned out to get more experience and develop physically just like every other teenage PL keeper has been.

    I was giving Krul a hard time earlier because I think he was given a free ride when looking at how **** our defense has been. There are things that he should and could have been working on. It doesn’t mean I would have chosen Elliot ahead of him.

    I also hope Woodman is good but the over the top assessment from Ryder for a raw recruit was just stupid. I know we should get behind him because with our luck we will probaly need him in the second half against Norwich 🙂

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  20. Icedog: Obviously Peytar looks like a monkey, but also Sam looks like a toad. I think David Attenborough will be covering their matches from now on.

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  22. Woodman’s current stats are way better than Elliott’s.
    I’ll have to stop reading the papers and websites. It’s all so depressing.

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  23. I see the fans forum meeting has been put back again. Gutless toss pots! They’ll be expecting a win on Sunday and everything to be rosey! Have they seen us play?

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  24. Georgio: he has played 11 games in the 4th division. I hope he develops into a great keeper but there is a reason why teen keepers never play in the PL (unless maybe when there is a crisis, and I can’t think of any off the top of my head even then). Every mistake is magnified when you are a keeper and experience matters almost as much as talent.

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  26. My point was not about Woodman’s talent or lack thereof, it was about his youth and that a football writer of Ryder’s experience did not realise the stupidity of his article.

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  28. It looks like we will struggle to put a team out on Sunday. Of the injured players only Janmaat seems like he might start. Probably Colback on the bench. Darlow out for another month, and Aarons for at least 2 weeks:

    http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle/13844740.Magpies_hoping_for_fitness_boost_but_Darlow_out_until_November/?

    Thank god we got the 4 new players in because they are all fit having not been subject to NUFC training methods and “medical care” for very long.

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  29. So, by my reckoning it is:

    Elliot

    Janmaat MBemba Coloccini Anita

    Sissoko Tiote Wijnaldum Perez

    Mitrovic Cisse

    Bench: Woodman, Williamson, Thauvin, de Jong, Gouffran, Shamrock and Stuart79.

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  30. I fancy Villa to go down this season. I dont rate Sherwood.
    I also think England could win the Euros next year.
    Mock my words! 😉

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  31. Troysta: what about The Chicago Cubs for the World Series? They haven’t won since 1908. I tell you I am jinxed supporting them, NUFC and England.

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  33. Eric
    Mark my words or mock my words 😯
    England to win the Euros but if they reach the final I get a bonus point. Some poor euro sides out there at the moment. Spain. V England final

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  35. Eric I’m sure every englisman outside the top 6 clubs say the same. Can you imagine being an English man from crewe or Grimsby? 😥

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  37. Troy: but they don’t have the curse of the Billy Goat. Last time the Cubs went to the World Series in 1945 a local pub owner took a goat into a game to advertise The Billy Goat Tavern. He sat near the owner PK Wrigley who said it stank and kicked them out. The pub owner was a crazy Greek and cursed the Cubs saying they would never go to the world series again. They haven’t, but they have a chance this year. Chicago is going absolutely nuts.

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  40. Have to agree with Troy on this one as well. Rooney is the least lazy player in the England squad. He may be out of form (and possibly beginning to fade as a player) but he works as hard or harder than anyone else. Just having a look at Big Sam’s record as a manager. He wins about 30-33% of the time. I think he might just save Sunderland. They at least admit when they have huge problems and try to fix them. Our management (led by Ashley) don’t.

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  41. The Blog Hobbit plan to fix Newcastle United:
    1. Force the owner out by boycotting or just wait for the end of the season when we’ll be relegated and he’ll leave on his own.
    2. Get the city and supporters involved. Be proactive in ownership screening. The FA are useless dolts. The good and proper malarkey is just that, malarkey.
    3. Bring back the various sections that have been removed. Let people complain and sing if the football is bollocks. They pay for the right to do it.
    4. Being passive and saying everything is fine and just continuing to buy tickets and support the dolt at the top won’t work. What part of -11 and 20th place don’t you understand?

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  42. “There can be no substitute for utter failure.”
    Mike Ashley, March 2015. Beautiful words of inspiration Mike.

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  43. G2 don’t worry mate they are getting closer to jabba his right hand man and his mate up in court today for screwing people

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  44. I wonder at what temperature Man City have been cooking their books to have come up with a £11m profit?! 😯

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  45. If I may offer this link for Fat Ashley – this is City’s summer transfer activity alone (other windows aside). They can spend like that and still turn a profit! …. why?, because they employ the cream of the crop. Some of the best business people in the world to build the brand & strike the best possible deals – in short, they avoid Derek Llambias & Joe Kinnear!!.

    http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1718&teamTabs=transfers

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  46. Lots of media speculation linking us with Victor Valdes at the moment – could just be paper talk with Tim out injured, but I’d be pretty happy with Valdes in like.

    Other reports linking us with Gaston Ramirez of Saints – not so keen on that one at all.

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  47. You couldn’t of picked a team more jinxed than Newcastle Eric. I can’t see us ever winning anything in my life time but if you invent a time machine that goes back to 1955 you could at least see Newcastle win a cup.

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  48. G2 at 410. I would be more upset at Ashley losing 100 million as well mate. After all the joy his brought the toon fan’s over the years, doesn’t seem fair.

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  53. I see Mbabu could play on Sunday. 2 weeks after a hamstring pull? Echoes of Aarons and HBA there I reckon. Says he’s ready again but . . .

    Here’s the team I expect to see.

    Elliott (unfortunately):
    Janmaat, Mbemba, Colo, Haidara:
    Anita, Colback:
    Sissoko, Gini, Perez:
    Mitrovic.

    Had a premonition of an early goal for Mitrovic!

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  54. Maybe its just as well we didn’t sign Ings he’s out for the season with a injury and we have more than enough ourselves

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  55. Steve was doing a comedy routine today saying Krul gets us 18-20 points per season. Yeah, only if you have Jak Alnwick as backup. If it is true then: 1. why didn’t we have experienced PL backup, or 2. Why are we not showing more interest in Victor Valdes?

    If Schteve is serious we would have been relegated in 4 of the last 5 years without Timmy. I laid into Krul a bit on here and even those who defended him admitted he had lost form, his distribution was terrible and he could do with being more commanding in the box. A few said he was an average PL keeper. Now tell me how that equates to 18-20 points per year?

    Either pure hyperbole or setting up the excuses!

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  56. Giorgio: I think you are probably right with that team. I had assumed only Janmaat would return but it is good to hear Colback and Hadiara are fit. I am feeling a lot more optimistic now as without the return of that lot I was wondering how we would even be able to field a team.

    I think there may be a chance of seeing Tiote for Anita. I am on the fence on that one though.

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  57. I found it funny that Schteve was damning in his faint praise of Elliot saying he looked good in training but we’ll see in the match. Then goes on to say Timmy is worth 18-20 points. Way to build up Elliot’s confidence.

    There are some decent ‘keepers out there. Vorm cannot be that happy being Spurs’ backup and there are a few in Spain that wouldn’t be too expensive. This has to be a priority given we will still have half the season to go in January with ‘keepers Schteve doesn’t trust.

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  58. A lot of you have been very abusive to the owner, one Mike Ashley for years now. I, on the other hand have been very patient, kind and considerate. I’ll give just one example. At one point a couple of seasons ago I told everyone “look mates, we’ve got to be kind and considerate to this big, fat donkey.” If course you lot just weren’t interested in that. Now come on mates, spread the love!!!

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  60. I can see you lot are processing what I’m saying. Certainly the owner isn’t worth tuppence, knows nothing aboot football, and I hate the look of his smarmy face. But we’ve got to give him the respect he’s due mates! Now come on, support and respect wor big fat donkey!!!!

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  61. Hahahahahaha! That is very funny Eric mate. Minus points would be a new twist indeed. Don’t tell the big, fat donkey your idea or he’ll swoop in on it and claim it as his own!!! 😆 😆

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  64. G2 you have been very patient with Mike Ashley. He has hired some people that don’t warrant the wages they deserve here. Dennis Wise is a fine example. We need to remember Ashley saved the club from bankruptcy and going into the red. His choices in personal and lack of investment has brought us here.

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  65. If we are in the relegation it means more t.v money and more free advertising. Mike likes to live life dangerously.

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  68. At least it nice to see people like G2 on here, who try to remain positive even thou we are in last place. Fair play.

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  69. Terry mate, G2 was being sarcastic. He is one of Fatty’s biggest critics on here and on Eds. He usually likes to have fun doing humourous interviews between himself and a member of the NUFC hierarchy to highlight the hypocrisy of it all.

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  71. Eric I know mate but if we can still have a laugh and a joke at being in last place then Mike Ashley hasn’t won.

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  72. Terry: I do have a laugh just about every weekend at our attempts at defending.

    This is what Schteve said today about the table: “I don’t look. I have said before I don’t look until 10 or 12 games in. It’s a long season, the first eight games were always very tough and they proved to be that. We have had setbacks and good performances.”

    I remember he said judge him after 10 games and I know Troysta has him on speed dial to give him his verdict after 10. McClaren is backtracking a bit on what he said but given the injuries he deserves a bit of leeway. Christmas is my D-day for Schteve. I think that is enough time and also enough to PERHAPS get someone in to turn it around if it hasn’t worked. It also gives Steve or a new manager the full transfer window.

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  73. So six players this week have had season ending injury,all six had worn a type of Nike boots??,I might buy a pair for jabba and hope he wears them round his neck

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  75. No more excuses now. Never mind giving SM 12 games or more. If Ashley REALLY had ambition McLaren would be sacked today yesterday. !
    Every toon fan is living in hope McLaren will get it right. Wow! It was only 4 months ago Ashley was on tv telling everyone the club would make their own luck from then onwards. !
    Let’s see how ambitious he actually is. I can see through his honest intentions. He meant what he said in the summer. The fact is, he has a business model that he believes will work. It won’t. It’s a cheap skate model that on the surface sounds great., dig deeper, it’s ****!shallow! and obvious to the knowledgeable. I class myself as knowledgeable. It’s not hard on this blog. 😉

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