The victory over Huddersfield was a massive step to safety and meant March ended on a real high for Newcastle, now boasting three home victories on the belt. The seven point cushion we have over the drop zone should mean a more comfortable April than we imagined a few months ago.
Momentum is with us and the next four games give us the platform to mathematically seal safety before May. Three of the four look relatively tough, but here’s a look at each and how I think we’ll get on:
Leicester City (A)
Our next fixture sees us travel down to the King Power Stadium, as Leicester are on a good run under French boss Claude Puel. They have some excellent players and of course have the threat of Vardy and Mahrez going forward. They will be aiming to finish 7th with the hope of securing a Europa League place. They cut us open on the counter on their way to 3 points earlier in the season at St.James’ but we seemed far more resilient defensively these days. It will be a tough game but a point would be a good return for us, keep the momentum going and another point closer to staying up.
Danger man – Jamie Vardy
Prediction – 1-1
Arsenal (H)
Next up sees Arsenal travel up to St.James’ off the back of a two day turnaround from their crucial Europa League game in Russia. With such a poor season in the league by their standards Europe is their main focus and they main visit us with their eye off the ball and jet lagged. They of course still have quality layers, especially going forward so it’s still a tough ask. We have turned our home form round though and fancy us to come away with something.
Danger man – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction – 1-1
Everton (A)
We then travel down to Goodison Park for a reunion with Sam Allardyce, who himself is under pressure to keep his job past the summer on Merseyside. His style of football has not been welcomed by the locals (who can blame them) and they are stumbling towards mid table obscurity. This game is hard to predict (along with the Leicester and Arsenal ones), but if we got 2/3 points from them (with 35 already on the board), it wouldn’t be a bad return at all.
I’ve got a feeling Big Sam will get them right up for this one (he doesn’t like Rafa). It would be typical too if Tosun grabs the winner, with us heavily linked and outbid in January for the Turkish striker.
Danger man – Cenk Tosun
Prediction – 1-0 Everton
West Brom (H)
We see out the month hosting West Brom who unfortunately won’t be managed by ex- Toon boss Alan Pardew. It is likely the Baggies will already be down by this game as they complete a miserable season. This could be the game we confirm our safety as we have to target a win. Like the Huddersfield game, we may have to be patient, but I think we will get the job done.
Danger man – Salomon Rondon
Prediction – 2-0 Newcastle
If we can get 5 points in April it would put us on 40 points and surely safe, which would mark a wonderful season and achievement from Rafa and the players. Let’s be honest, we would have grabbed at the chance of this opportunity at the start of the season and to not be in the mix for ‘Survival Sunday’ would be a big relief.
What points do you think we will pick up this month?
KImtoon from the last thread: I think both Pardew and the Baggies had every intention of hanging on until the end of the season when there was supposedly a reduced payoff clause. They did not expect a record 8 defeats in a row though. All they had to do was call me and I could have told them about the death spirals 🙂 I think the atmosphere was turning toxic as evidenced by Ugly John’s outburst so their hands were forced and they had to come to an arrangement.
Pardew has been asking, literally asking, for the sack in his press conferences in recent weeks. Gives us all the chance to see him on the pundits couch for the WC where after a few refreshing weeks in the sun he will be as arrogant as ever. Why anybody would want the football opinion of this serial failure beats me but I bet someone will hire him. Thankfully he will never be a PL manager again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I just got my Troy Stavers Clueless Crew badge out and shined it up. I will wear it with honour. I wonder if he will have the balls to come on and admit he was wrong? He shouted anybody down on here for a year or more who dared question Pardew’s (and Carver’s to a lesser extent) ability.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to be optimistic and go for 8 points, with a draw at Leicester and a draw at home to Arsenal then wins against Everton and West Brom.
sidekick(Quote)
Back to this topic! More on Arsenal. They have a deep squad but there is a lack of quality. I think they will have to play their good players like Lacazette, PEA and Ozil against Moscow so we will either see a knackered or depleted side. I don’t even think they can rest them for the second leg after that scare in the last round where they were 3-0 after the away leg but supposedly played some of the worst football Arsenal fans had ever seen in the home game. I doubt they will have a cushion anyway.
And after watching them against Stoke, I really think this is our best chance in forever to beat them. 2-1 the Toon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I did see from the last thread that we only took 1 point from the corresponding fixtures of our last 7 games. Since then though we have got the defense sorted with the return of Dummett and emergence of Lejuene. And out of nowhere Diame has turned into Patrick Viera. I think 8-10 points might be possible which would probably mean a top half finish.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh, and we have a goalie who can actually catch a cross and does not cause panic in the crowd every time one comes in. Darlow was OK on the easy ones hit straight to him but whenever there was a 50/50 he looked vulnerable.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t think we’ll beat Leicester but have a feeling we could get at Arsenal . Everton will be tricky and the Baggies are gone so will either play with complete freedom and beat us in a shock or be completely demoralised and roll over.
3 to 4 points imo
kimtoon(Quote)
As long as we have 39 at Aprils end I’m happy-ish
kimtoon(Quote)
We have a chance as we have a different team to last time against Leicester. I think Gayle is in decent form as well even though he was unlucky on Saturday. Ritchie has got over whatever was up with him, Kenedy is a handful and Shelvey is now freed up to dictate play.
I read the comments in The Chronic and there were quite a few giving Gayle a lot of stick and basically saying he should never play for NUFC again. I don’t know what planet some fans are on. Gayle gave Huddersfield a hard time and was very unlucky.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dwight is probably not good enough to be the main forward but is definitely worth a start against teams with static, big bruiser defenders like Stoke. If he can accept a role as impact sub he is definitely worth keeping. His pace coming on for the last 20 minutes would scare a lot of teams. He only has about 70 minutes in him anyway so he should be OK with that. He is not going to one of the top teams and his alternative is a relegation battler or to be perennially chasing promotion in The Championship. Who else are we going to get for 15 million?
He could definitely fit in as a squad player as long as Rafa makes subs a bit earlier.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t forecast games it comes back and bites yer *** but I think we will get enough points anyway if not having enough now.
Ha
Icedog(Quote)
Talk about Karma,looking at vid of scum fans saying if we were in the ccc like yous we would be top of ccc playing Burton /S/W every week oh yer
Icedog(Quote)
Leicester 3 toon 0
Toon 1 Arsenal 3
Everton 2 toon 2
Toon 3 West Brom 0
Danny(Quote)
Sorry Danny, but Leicester are not the team that won the league. They are 8th and that is about right. They also still play on the counter which is also not best at home and Scheichel has a mistake in him. They have 2 star players, Mahrez and Vardy. Possibly three but NDidi is suspended for our game. The team that played a tentative Brighton does not strike fear into my heart:
Schmeichel
Simpson
Morgan
McGuire
Chilwell
Mahrez
NDidi/Gray
Iborra
Albrighton
Okazaki
Vardy
You might say then why did they loan Slimani if they are not that good? Because they want to sell him and get some of their money back which would be unlikely if he doesn’t play and he has had 3 give up on him at Leicester.
We are only 8 points behind them, 5 if we beat them 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Normal service resumed – Mackems lose at home. 5 points from safety with 6 games left.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We’re actually teams who will have nothing to play for;
Leicester (Nothing but mid table to play for)
Arsenal (Will be more concerned about EL QF
Everton (Nothing at all to play for and Big Sam will be on his way and they’ll know it)
WBA (Will be relegated by then)
Watford (Nothing but mid table left)
Spurs (Will already have qualified for CL)
Chelsea (Won’t be able to finish better than 5th and Conte will be his last game)
Stuart79(Quote)
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2018/04/02/comment—alan-pardew-destined-to-go-down-as-one-of-west-broms-worst-ever-managers/
Bloody hell he really is a vile little man.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu: Spurs might have the FA Cup to think about as well. If they beat Man U the Spurs fans would be happy with a reserve team against us as they want the Poch no-trophy off their back.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry but Leicester have a place in Europe up for grabs
Icedog(Quote)
I was a bit surprised that he didn’t get a bit of a bounce because that has been his usual pattern. From that article he lost the Baggies’ dressing room almost from day 1. I really think Ugly John was the final straw. They had nothing invested in him unlike at NUFC when he went off on the fans. He had coached under Robson and Pardew and was Manager. After “taxigate” I think this was final proof that the Pardew regime was broken and the Chairman must have feared trouble from the fans if they kept him on.
I saw that his golden handshake is half a million quid. That’s the only reason he didn’t resign as as I said earlier he was asking to be sacked, literally asking.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dread to think how many good players Pardew knackered I know he told Dummy he would never make it
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: from all of the stories that have come out about him over the years you can tell he is a bit of a c@nt. And they continued at West Brom. Have you heard the one where he took food off one of his Assistant’s plate who then objected only for Pards to say “when you are king you can do anything”. Do you know why he is called Chunky? The legend is that he told fellow players he ate pineapple chunks so it would make his cum taste sweeter for the ladies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anybody else and you would think they were making a joke but with Pardew you just know he was serious and meant it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hopefully that is the last we will see of them but I doubt it. Pards will be on the Pundits couch and give it a couple of months and Ugly John will be doing interviews in The Chronicle.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just have to stick the boot in one more time until he turns up at the WC. Some good comments from NUFC and WBA fans. The thing is that the press and the ex-players defend this man and never have to account for it down the line. We NUFC fans were ridiculed and called delusional in the National Press and especially in the ex-player columns for wanting rid. But that is all now forgotten, never to be mentioned again, and they will all be Pally Pally as if West Ham, NUFC, Palace and West Brom never happened.
There is a good picture of Ugly John as well. Shows what being angry gets you. His face is like an ordinance survey map of The Alps, Yoda after forgetting his face cream or Gordon Ramsey without the botox. He’s only 53.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alan-pardew-newcastle-united-brom-14483317
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pardew is an utter tool professionally and comes across as a horrible person but he’s not alone in that thought .. loads on here criticised dummett too. Wether he should be sayin that to his players?? .. well see my thoughts above.
Anyway it’s refreshing to see dummett give his critics two fingers ?
GlosMag(Quote)
Don’t see anything from Leicester or everton for us sadly .. hope I’m wrong. I really Can’t stand the slob managing everton.
Depends if arsenal give a toss .. if not a point would do.
If we dont beat the baggies we need a slap given their position
GlosMag(Quote)
Unless Southampton win the FA Cup 7th place is up for Europa League Spot. Therefore Burnley Leicester and Everton have a target to aim for and will not be switched off on holidays.
PremAndUp(Quote)
That could be more of a curse than anything.
Stuart79(Quote)
Here here mate, guys an arrogant fool and most of us could see it. His post match chats told you everything about the man, from the ‘we and I’ when his teams won to the’ they’, when they lost.
He takes throwing under the bus to a whole new level that one. To say what he did to those young players and Dummett and as you say god knows who else sums him up.
I swear, if Rafa leaves and Ash rehired him then I would be done with Toon.
kimtoon(Quote)
The Chronic have added up the points we would have according to Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Head. 24. I knew he was a no nothing biased tw@t. I wonder what Lawro’s number is?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This may come back to bite me but I have watched a few Leicester games this season and they are about the right place in the table. They caught lightning in a bottle when they won the league but they are not that team anymore. And we are not the team that played them earlier in the season. Our defense is much stronger and we are playing away so we will probably play a more counter attacking game. Could be cagey as that is Leicester’s game as well and it will not be another game of pinball.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am seeing in some comments on Blogs and The Chronic an almost inevitability that we will lose to Leicester. They are not that good. When we played them in December we were in that awful run of form where the speculation of a takeover had taken over what was actually happening on the field. In that game Diame and Shelvey were on the bench and Darlow was in goal. Lascelles and Dummett were injured. This is a different team, in different form with a belief in themselves that was lacking in December.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We’ll get something at Leicester. 1-1.
georgio(Quote)
Prem: depends on which Everton side turns up, or if Big Fat Sam lets them play. I think they set a record for lowest amount of possession in PL history against City. Really, that is not hyperbole, I read it was the lowest ever. And Rooney and Schneiderlin were abject. I know we are not City but that has been the case a few times this season against lesser teams. Has there been a slower central midfield pairing in the history of football?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
so are new guy wants to leave and go back to Spain already,took the pip as hes not playing,hope Rafa tells him no
icedog(Quote)
i remember the day arsehole Pardew blamed the fans for us getting beat the mans a joke,but has made plenty money out of being useless
icedog(Quote)
Asking for a move at this time is bloody bad timing from him
Icedog(Quote)
It is from Teamtalk Ice. Have you read the drivel on that site? You know that Rafa will tell him to train well and fight for his place. If we get safe we should try him as a number 10 which I think is what you a have suggested in the past and where he has played for Spain U21s. We would be daft to give up on a Spain U21 star. His bad back affected him as I am sure anyone who has ever had a bad back understands.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC aye your kinda right i think mate
Icedog(Quote)
I have to use Pards as a stick to beat these stupid pundits with.
Here is a quote from Richard Keys when WBA hired Pardew:
“Welcome back Pards! Perhaps things are changing a little – and it turns out British coaches know what they are doing after all”.
How did that work out Richard? And for ‘Arry at Brum or Lambert, Hughes, Moyes, Big Fat Sam?
And from Tony Cascarino when Pards was at Palace before Conte was hired:
“There is one obvious candidate to be the new Chelsea manager and that is Alan Pardew… He has the ability, ego and the bravery”.
It is almost like they all play golf together and meet for a drink in the hotel bar after a hard day on the pundit’s couch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have nothing against British managers, in fact some of the best ever have been British – Busby, Robson, Clough, Paisley, Ferguson. What gets on my t!ts are the suck-ups and sycophants like Keys and Grey championing the retreads and failures, like
Pards – gone after 4 months, serial failure
Big Fat Sam – will be out in the summer.
Moyes – 50/50 and doing a mediocre best job.
Lambert – will be gone
Hughes – already sacked once this year but will be given 3 months next year
There are 2 that are doing OK, Hughton and Howe. But even then the pundits cannot help themselves and tout Howe for the England job. I suppose he is as qualified as Southgate although he did fail at Burnley just like Southgate failed at Boro.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Forgot Mr. Roy who is just about keeping his head above water with the best squad in the bottom half. Out in group stage of WC, beat by Iceland, let Rooney run the team, had resignation letter prepared even whilst Iceland were still celebrating on the pitch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Has there ever been such a bunch of sorry-*** loser British coaches? It obviously has something to do with the recycling of the same old, same old failures. Younger coaches from lower leagues are not given a chance because of the high price of failure but what they should realise is that the existing rogues gallery, championed by the punditry class, will assure failure as well. I mean, bloody hell Macliesh just got the Scotland job. And the last thing is that ex-players like Giggs and Neville are not willing to do the hard work and learn their trade in a lower league team.
Rant over. It was Pards’ fault. He got me started.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pardew is just a total fraud. When ‘he’ did well Graham Carr had given him Tiote, Cabaye, Ba, Cisse and HBA. I’ll never forgive him for his mismanagement of HBA. Total ars*hole.
georgio(Quote)
second that mate on HBA, very harshly treated by Pards. I really think he gets jealous of flair players taking any glory away from him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, I been saying play Merino as a 10 a few times now. He gave a good interview to the chronicle a week back singing the cities praises and how he has no desire to leave, so the latest reports are very odd.
kimtoon(Quote)
I know I am one of many to complain about hiring the same old tired Managers but somebody just wrote an article on F365 with a lot of facts to prove it. What it doesn’t say is that they are conning their way into jobs with the help of the press and their pundit pals who never question their credentials even if you have the worst CV in the history of football management. Joint winner: Pards and Ugly John who was sacked by Toronto, NUFC and that Cyprus team.
http://www.football365.com/news/f365-says-finally-no-country-old-men
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: he might be homesick as he is only 21. More likely he just wants to play. He only had a couple of games at Dortmund so he should be patient. I am pretty sure if he keeps his gob shut he can usurp Hayden as the 3rd midfielder or even, as you say, Perez as the number 10.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Watching rerun of Bayern/Dortmund. I am not against older Managers per se. Jupp Heynkes is 74 and won the treble including the CL when he was 70. The difference is that he is very good and has adjusted his tactics with the times. For all Big Fat Sam’s belief in sports science etc. he is still picking the same sort of team and playing the same way he was 25 years ago.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When Pardew did well it was all down to Carr’s picks according to some.
When Toon did bad it was all down to Carr’s picks according to some.
HBA – Only had himself to blame. Has blown it everywhere he has been except Lille or whoever it was. Always the same from managers – lazy, self entitled. Even his mate Benzema said he only has himself to blame.
But Pardew is still a ****.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well the Swiss wonder has put the cat among the pigeons at Stoke saying the rest of the players at the club are not good enough!!!
Icedog(Quote)
Wouldn’t wanna be him in that dressing room, also wouldn’t want him in the trenches with you would you.
kimtoon(Quote)
They were going on about it over here before the Arsenal game. Said the quotes were from 4 months ago so they have been out there. Somebody stirring the pot which I don’t mind as I have no love for Stoke and especially Ryan Shawcross.
On the stuff written on here about a possible takeover. I have said before that if Stoke go down I think that Fatty will get his 350 million. Simple supply and demand because Stoke are really the only alternative to NUFC if someone wants a PL team.
I don’t really blame the FCB either when you see that 80% of Southampton went for 250 million and that Everton are about to build a new stadium at a cost of probably 500 million and the Spurs stadium is costing close to 1 billion. We have everything set up except the training facilities and academy which would not cost that much to fix.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we do get some money Rafa could do a lot worse than just using Carr’s contact in France. Most of his good purchases were from the Mondial Agency so Carr really didn’t have to do anything. Lacazette and Aubamayang were on their books as well but we underbid (surprise, surprise).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dam right
Icedog(Quote)
Finally, the press are speaking out against the British Old Fart Merry-Go-Round Managers. Alan Tyers of The Telegraph even refers to Merse as a “useful idiot” for the way he always puts forward the same (British old fart) names whenever there is bottom half PL vacancy. Finally someone has called one of these know-nothing pundits out. I doubt Merse will be happy next time he see this particular Journo which is inevitable since they probably move in some of the same circles/go to some of the same games.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/03/does-alan-pardews-west-brom-departure-suggest-english-managers/
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mackem Watch: 8 points off safety with 6 to play. They need a miracle.
I really think now is the time for revenge for the fly-by at SJP. I know NUFC fans took the high road for their last relegation but this is an epic fail and something must be done to commemorate it. I doubt Ellis Short will even be able to give the club away now with their wage bill and squad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
“Doing a Leeds” should now be known as “Doing a Sunderland”. Leeds were relegated to The Championship in 2004 but did not get relegated to League 1 until 2007. It looks like Sunderland will do it in successive seasons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mitro Watch: another goal, so that is 8 in 8 for Fulham. You can add his 2 in 2 for Serbia for 10 in 10. Rafa said tongue in cheek that he hoped Mitro would score 15 or 20 whilst on loan. He might get close and the questions of why he wasn’t played will get louder.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I always liked Mitro .. despite questions around his temperament .. simply because he Seems to care, so it’s good to see him doing well
As gor questions , i Suspect there won’t be too many if we’re not relegated .. and it’s still an if .. and a hefty fee follows his expected move should Benitez stay.
There certainly seems less questions around Benitez’ decisions since our up turn in form
GlosMag(Quote)
Agree on all that mate, I too like Mitro and would loved him to of stayed and played but for what ever reason Rafa didn’t want to keep him at Toon. Whether it’s his system, temperament of Alex or attitude or a falling out it’s done now and by and large it’s working out for all concerned . Mitro is feeling the love and scoring and we look all but safe.
As you say less rumbles being heard since we started looking in better shape .
kimtoon(Quote)
Mitro and Arma really are on top form. 10 in 9 and 9 in 9.
I’ll never understand Rafa’s decision on both of them and to play Joselu over 20 times.
georgio(Quote)
Arma is playing 2 leagues below us. He was pretty rubbish last season in the Championship.
Dwight Gayle scored for fun in the Fizzy League last season but is struggling this season.
Ut Jose lucky at Fulham or Blackburn and I bet he would have a decent return too.
Shamrock(Quote)
That should have Said put Joselu in the Championship and I bet he would have a decent return too. It’s all relative. I don’t really understand using League 1 or the Championship as a comparison the PL when it comes to a players success.
I would gwt it if Motor or Arma were banging them in on loan at a PL club.
Shamrock(Quote)
I don’t know how old Armstrong is now but he’s showed promise for the last 3 years. When does it finally come to fruition?
Stuart79(Quote)
RIP Ray Wilkins. always seemed like a decent chap. Very sad at a relatively young age.
Stuart79(Quote)
RIP Ray Wilkins, sad they couldn’t save him, 61 is no age these days.
kimtoon(Quote)
One of my favourite players and pundits. A good coach as well. RIP
PremAndUp(Quote)
IT must have been a real bad one as he got help quite early God rest his soul,they say keeping real fit is good for you?.
Icedog(Quote)
Pity about Ray Wilkins. He was never one to court controversy just to get his name in the papers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This could be bad for the Mackems. When Leeds went into administration they were deducted 15 points and went down the trapdoor from Championship to League 1. I think if Ellis Short lets the Mackems go into Administration he can probably take a tax loss which might be preferable to him to running a zombie club that he is not interested in. Even with continuing parachute payments I think the wages would eat it all up, especially with declining gate receipts. I doubt anybody would buy Sunderland for even $1 and take on the bank debt in its present state. Without a miracle, I think they are in real trouble on and off the field.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And if you put a club in Administration there is a clause that the players wages take precedent over any other debts. Therefore, if they owed the catering company 70k they would have to get in line BEHIND Jack Rodwell to get their money. It is not a way to cancel contracts as they are paid first and I think they would still get the parachute payments, but I don’t know for sure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mackems are well and truly screwed. They play Wolves in their last game so if anybody turns up I would guess there will be a mass walkout at half time. 2nd last game is Fulham – Mitro to stick the boot in 🙂
Leeds away
Norwich home
Reading away
Burton home
Fulham away
Wolves home
I see a maximum of 7 points and they are already 8 behind.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice, yep it’s a cardiac arrest, not to be confused with heart attack, folk are normally conscious with the latter. arrest is an electrical problem and much more serious . Poor guy.
kimtoon(Quote)