Being somewhat of a nostalgic fellow, as well as having fond memories of the ‘nearly-season’ under Alan Pardew (before it all went a bit ‘enrony’ – see Simpsons video below), I look back at our last campaign in the Championship (2009) and revel in a time where we won practically every game we played.
Of course, I’m under no illusions Newcastle are a club that should be competing in the upper echelons of England’s first tier, but much like playing your 5-year-old nephew at Chess or adjusting the FIFA 2017 difficulty settings to embarrassingly easy, sometimes it is nice to just coast through life, and indeed football matches.
Fast forward 7 years and this season our beloved Newcastle were coasting, up until last week’s treble-salvo of defeats at least.
But with the Championship top spot that we have made rightfully ours in the last two months still safe (only just), I thought I’d scour the archives and try and find how well under Chris Hughton we were doing at the same point in the 2009/2010 Championship season. And the answer, you’ll find not too surprising, is only slightly better, but better nonetheless.
The same number of wins but two extra defeats this season means we’re currently 2 points behind our 2009 total and with our form book adorned with w’s 7 years ago, our record in matches didn’t bear any resemblance to a Welsh town like it did under Pards.
With a tricky tie against Birmingham City on the cards this weekend, nothing but a win will be a necessity as we look to re-secure our place in a domestic league we so desperately belong in.
Alan Pardew’s stint at NUFC summed up in a Simpsons parody of Enron.
Surely that would be “bear a resemblance” and not “bare”
Bronwyn(Quote)
Does it matter
Premandup(Quote)
Someone’s a bit grizzly today 😆
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
But yes you’re right, that was paw spelling by me.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
no it does not,bloody spelling police thought we got rid of them,dont comment on the thread just pick faults.
Richie has just talked roughly the same thing,made a point of Boro being top of the lge for so long a couple of years ago but got pipped at the death
icedog(Quote)
Andy I’m not going to pick holes in your spelling mate. I make spelling errors and miss words out all the time. I think fan’s are a little grumpy because we lost 3 game’s in a row and will be perk up after our next win.
Stem(Quote)
I never expected us to beat Chris Hughton’s record in 2009/10 season anyway. We are in 1st place and have no distraction’s. From now until the fa cup 3rd round we have a chance to build a gap so we can afford to lose from time to time.
Stem(Quote)
Andy my biggest fear is Newcastle winning promotion and being in a long depressing relegation fight. I’m glad we have a experienced manager in but what good will it do if the player’s aren’t good enough and Ashley wont back him to buy player’s.
Stem(Quote)
I missed the word ” us ” out 😆
Stem(Quote)
Thanks Andy, two articles in one day, you’re spoiling us.
I didn’t expect us to do as well as last time round, mainly because we are missing players like Carroll, Barton and Nolan. But I have been pleasantly surprised by Gayles form and for all his detractors even Mitro has scored most times he’s played. We have a healthy goals for and as long as Rafa doesn’t tinker too much with the back line and GK spot we will hopefully be ok. I do feel we need to strengthen in January though, mainly because of the ACON.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – what do you think we need? The only thing I’d look at is replacement for 4 games/competition for Shelvey but that kind of quality to be replicated in the PL would cost an arm and a leg. You’re right about back 5.
georgio(Quote)
I think we need a playmaker and a winger. Maybe a number 10 as well, but would only want these signings if they are likely to hit the ground running in the PL next season – otherwise they would be pointless signings unless on loan.
Shamrock(Quote)
just a thought like but sammy Lee got the boot from England,he worked with Rafa at L/Pool can we see him working with Rafa again???
icedog(Quote)
yeah quite possibly Ice, Cathro has left us hasn’t he.
kimtoon(Quote)
Could be Stevie G ?. I don’t really believe that by the way ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – I’d go with those positions as priority for strengthening – LW most for me. Goof is doing ok but not natural to that position & strengthen LW and Goof could be used as a 10 – he did well when Remy was with us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy with Cathro leaving this gives us a golden opportunity to go after Lee Clarke 🙂
Think of all the advantage’s.
1. He get’s to learn from Benitez
2. His a Geordie
I don’t believe it will happen either but Troy would have a field day with Eric 😀
Stem(Quote)
Wayne Routledge & Nathan Dyer don’t seem to be getting their game at Swansea for some reason – would they be decent options on the wing?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stem – wow that’s a can of worms you just kicked mate ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy and Shamrock I would go after loan player’s in January because if there not good enough we can always send them back or an option to buy.
Stem(Quote)
Sharpy it would be good for the blog if something like that did happen 😆
Finger’s crossed mate 😀
Stem(Quote)
Troy’s probably hoping Lee Clarke achieves what Sir Alex Furguson accomplished in Scotland.
1. Winning a league title without being Celtic or Ranger’s
2. Win the Europa league back then Cup winner’s cup
If Clarke achieves that sack Benitez and give him the job.
Stem(Quote)
Sharpy agreed re; left wing. I’d like to see us have a go at Knockheart (left footed) again or maybe spend a bit on Demarai Gray from Leicester or Sheyi ojo from Liverpool.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kilmarnock now up to 7th in a 12 team league with a massive 17 points from 16 games. That is actually OK for a team with a population of only 46,000. It is not Brian Clough good but Clarky is doing OK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yep, Knockheart is a good call sham .
kimtoon(Quote)
Cheers mate, although I do like to pride myself on my spelling. Mixing up bear and bare is something I do a lot actually so I don’t mind people calling me out on it!
Regarding your second point, I doubt we’ll get promoted this time and then get sucked into a long relegation fight. The pedigree of players we’ll be able to attract in the summer with Rafa at the helm will far exceed that of summer 2010 with CH.
Like others have said, Atsu hasn’t blown me away and see him as a bit of a ‘speed boat, no driver’. Ritchie is fairly quick but I’d like to see someone brought in the opposite flank who has a bit more about them in the final third.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Funny you should all mention him, was watching the highlights of that famous watford v leicester play-off semi final from a few years ago. Anyone remember that where Knockheart missed that pen and Watford went up the other end to score. I have pretty neutral views towards both clubs, but what a footballing moment that was! Just days after the ‘Aguerroooooooooo’ moment too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrFOTT_y8C0
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Quiet on here today.
Should I start a fight with someone? Sir Sharpy of Sharpytown? Lord Troysta of Pards Place?
The disappeared Aussies?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is my birthday BTW (true). I just turned 12.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
dont tell fairy stories i know your 15 😆
icedog(Quote)
I still think we need a better striker going forward. Very hard to find that one though. And I’m not all that keen with our defense still. Hanley has been a disappointment and Mbemba seems to have faded as well. With what we have at the back, including Dummett we would be a bottom 10 club, possibly even bottom five. A long way to climb. We should have been able to beat Hull with 10 men. It suggests a very difficult struggle if we do get promoted without signing another four or five players of high quality.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
dont worry mate Rafa will get the cash to get us mid-table at least,walk before we run
icedog(Quote)
If Cathro has left us who has replaced him by the way? I missed that one completely.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I hope you’re right ice mate. The squad is fine for the Championship but the Prem is so difficult now. I look at the likes of Swansea and shake my head. That could be us next season. Or West Ham with 12 points and Leicester with 13! I worry about Mitro’s lack of playing time and the inconsistent midfield as well.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Rafa says hes in no rush to replace him,Sammy Lee has been sacked by England so maybe he might come in as he worked with Rafa at L/Pool (guess)
icedog(Quote)
pleased we didnt sign that Ross McCormack the Leeds owner has been fined £250,000 and banned from the club for 18 months,his agent has also been fined £75,000 and banned.what the hell went on there???
icedog(Quote)
Is anybody here into hang gliding or paragliding? I’m drawn to hang gliding and will be taking lessons in the summer, but just looking for opinions of anybody experienced in either field.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham: don’t do it mate. We need you as a writer on here and not another statistic.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just kidding. That sort of stuff doesn’t look that dangerous. Now, if you said it was the wingsuits I would say you may as well just lie down in the middle of the A1/M1 on Monday morning at 7am.
Judging by all of the roadworks last time I was back that would probably be safer. You could actually get out of the way of a car coming at you at 2 MPH.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Those wing suit people are mental but it looks crazy good! I’m just really drawn to soaring like a bird and enjoying the unparalleled views, albeit I would be very scared on taking off and landing the first few times.
Shamrock(Quote)
a mooted swap deal being talked about?? Mitro for Carroll 🙄 🙄
icedog(Quote)
Ice – that was only a matter of time though wasn’t it?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
as much as i liked Carroll i would not swap a pretty sound player for a sick note
icedog(Quote)
Hi guys, there will be a new thread going up tomorrow. It will be looking at the game against Birmingham. It is scheduled early, so I will link it in here sometime tomorrow as well! Also, for what its worth, I don’t think that a Mitro/Carroll swap would be a good idea! I’d sooner take Sakho from West Ham, when he is fit! Cheers!
Jake Swinburn(Quote)
Loved Carroll when he was with us and when fit he’s a beast but he’s never fit for long enough to be an asset anymore. Real shame.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, is it really your birthday mate? If it is, have a good one.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah happy birthday Eric. ??
Shamrock(Quote)
Yes it is my Birthday. 51. How can someone so young have gathered so much information on Pards? Thanks for the congrats.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Go for it Jake, you write good stuff. If I seem a bit ornery sometimes I am just trying to rock the boat a bit to get a bit of crosstalk going. PLUS, I am a bit ornery sometimes 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ornery. Good word.
Shamrock(Quote)
lol , Eric has been in the states too long, that’s not an English expression.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/12/09/nufc-vs-birmingham-city-two-in-from-the-cold/
New thread
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Happy Birthday Eric 😛
Stem(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/12/09/nufc-vs-birmingham-city-two-in-from-the-cold/ here is the link to the new thread guys! I have to say Eric, you have made me laugh a couple of times with your comments on my articles! haha
Jake Swinburn(Quote)
I see your blog needs some fresh content. Writing
manually is time consuming, but there is solution for this.
Just search for – Masquro’s strategies
PFYThorstena(Quote)