We really could qualify for the Europa League...

[Deano 0]

If Arsenal win the LC and one of the top 6 win the FA Cup and we finish 7th then we would qualify for the Europa League.

 

Look at the teams around us, look at our form....have a bit of faith....allow yourself to dream.

 

---Harper---

---Simpson---Taylor---Coloccini---Enrique---

---Barton---Nolan ©---Tiote---Gutierrez---

------Carroll---Ben Arfa-----

 

Subs: Krul, Williamson, Kadar, Gosling, Guthrie, Routledge and Best.

 

Back Up: Campbell, Raylor, Perch, Smith, Vuckic, Shola, Lovenkrands and Xisco.

 

I actually think that squad there is more than capable of finishing 7th....im not saying we will but look at the teams around us!

 

A few more signings albeit on loan or not and it will only boost our chances.

[LeazesMag 0]

If Arsenal win the LC and one of the top 6 win the FA Cup and we finish 7th then we would qualify for the Europa League.

 

Look at the teams around us, look at our form....have a bit of faith....allow yourself to dream.

 

---Harper---

---Simpson---Taylor---Coloccini---Enrique---

---Barton---Nolan ©---Tiote---Gutierrez---

------Carroll---Ben Arfa-----

 

Subs: Krul, Williamson, Kadar, Gosling, Guthrie, Routledge and Best.

 

Back Up: Campbell, Raylor, Perch, Smith, Vuckic, Shola, Lovenkrands and Xisco.

 

I actually think that squad there is more than capable of finishing 7th....im not saying we will but look at the teams around us!

 

A few more signings albeit on loan or not and it will only boost our chances.

 

a route into europe that was once scorned........

 

Problem is, we won't anyway.

[Deano 0]

If Arsenal win the LC and one of the top 6 win the FA Cup and we finish 7th then we would qualify for the Europa League.

 

Look at the teams around us, look at our form....have a bit of faith....allow yourself to dream.

 

---Harper---

---Simpson---Taylor---Coloccini---Enrique---

---Barton---Nolan ©---Tiote---Gutierrez---

------Carroll---Ben Arfa-----

 

Subs: Krul, Williamson, Kadar, Gosling, Guthrie, Routledge and Best.

 

Back Up: Campbell, Raylor, Perch, Smith, Vuckic, Shola, Lovenkrands and Xisco.

 

I actually think that squad there is more than capable of finishing 7th....im not saying we will but look at the teams around us!

 

A few more signings albeit on loan or not and it will only boost our chances.

 

a route into europe that was once scorned........

 

Problem is, we won't anyway.

 

Scorned by who? Finishing 7th and giving yourself that chance is deserving of it imho.

 

Its possible and lets me honest we have a pretty fuckin good startin 11.....apart from man u, man citeh, arsenal, chelsea and tottenham who have a better starting 11? Liverpool are shit....so are villa and everton....mackems arent as good as our best side neither.....who then?

[dbsweeney 0]

You're right, Leazes, we won't.

 

Nevertheless, your relentless insistence that we should be spending 150 million RIGHT NOW and bugger the possible consequences of bankruptcy do grate.

[Deano 0]

But why wont we? Like i said....who are better for 6th and 7th?

 

I predict the top 10 to finish....

 

Man U

Man Citeh

Arsenal

Chelsea

Tottenham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Everton

Aston Villa

Sunderland

[StevenL 0]

No Bolton?

[Deano 0]

11th...they'll fall away.

[Christmas Tree 3997]

Ofcourse we've got a chance were already 8th with a game in hand ffs.

 

I get the negativity to Ashley but the negativity to our chances of finishing 1 place higher than we currently are seems petty and stupid to me.

[Monkeys Fist 38911]

That'd be some comeback from villa.

[Park Life 70]

But why wont we? Like i said....who are better for 6th and 7th?

 

I predict the top 10 to finish....

 

Man U

Man Citeh

Arsenal

Chelsea

Tottenham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Everton

Aston Villa

Sunderland

 

Villa might get relegated mate and Liv won;t finish in the top 10.

[Queerside Jack 0]

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=554835

[LeazesMag 0]

You're right, Leazes, we won't.

 

Nevertheless, your relentless insistence that we should be spending 150 million RIGHT NOW and bugger the possible consequences of bankruptcy do grate.

 

link ?

 

Or shut up.

 

FWIW, the accountant of this board, who he says specialises in dealing with "unsustainable business spending" encouraged such spending previously by the club, not me.

[LeazesMag 0]

Ofcourse we've got a chance were already 8th with a game in hand ffs.

 

I get the negativity to Ashley but the negativity to our chances of finishing 1 place higher than we currently are seems petty and stupid to me.

 

we have absolutely no chance, barring investment in quality players and no major sales in this transfer window.

 

How long will it take for some numpty who wasn't at the game tonight, and they are obvious, to claim that I haven't enjoyed the win tonight despite laying down solid cash to watch it and every other game for the rest of the season come what may.

 

You really couldn't make up the stupidity of some people

Edited January 6, 2011 by LeazesMag

[LeazesMag 0]

But why wont we? Like i said....who are better for 6th and 7th?

 

I predict the top 10 to finish....

 

Man U

Man Citeh

Arsenal

Chelsea

Tottenham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Everton

Aston Villa

Sunderland

 

Villa might get relegated mate and Liv won;t finish in the top 10.

 

correct on both counts.

[Deano 0]

But why wont we? Like i said....who are better for 6th and 7th?

 

I predict the top 10 to finish....

 

Man U

Man Citeh

Arsenal

Chelsea

Tottenham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Everton

Aston Villa

Sunderland

 

Villa might get relegated mate and Liv won;t finish in the top 10.

 

Well that only increases our chances then no?

 

Last year Liverpool finished 7th on 63 points...look through our remaining fixtures i reckon we could finish on about 57...which was enough to finished 7th the year we went down.

 

Sunderland A DRAW

Spurs H WIN

Fulham A DRAW

Arsenal H LOSE

Blackburn A DRAW

Birmingham A DRAW

Bolton H WIN

Everton H WIN

Stoke A WIN

Wolves H WIN

Villa A DRAW

Man Utd H LOSE

Blackpool A WIN

Liverpool A LOSE

Birmingham H WIN

Chelsea A LOSE

WBA H WIN

 

The bit in bold is the top 7 finishing form, form we are well capable of. You could even throw another loss or 2 in there and still probably finish 7th.

[Christmas Tree 3997]

Pardew predicts STRONG finish (And he should know)

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6636779,00.html

 

 

 

 

Alan Pardew believes Newcastle could be a force to be reckoned with during the second half of the season after thumping West Ham 5-0.

 

With top scorer Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi both injured, Pardew gave Leon Best his first Premier League start for Newcastle and the former Coventry striker marked it with a well-taken hat-trick.

 

Best made a £1.2million move to Newcastle a year ago and finally opened his account on his 15th appearance for the club, bagging a first-half brace before Kevin Nolan pounced on the stroke of half-time.

 

Best then completed his treble on the hour mark before strike partner Peter Lovenkrands scored Newcastle's fifth just three minutes later.

 

That wrapped up the Magpies' third win in five games under Pardew and moved them up two places to eighth.

 

"It was a special night tonight," Pardew told Sky Sports. "We were very, very good.

 

Organised

"It was a great performance from individuals but what pleases me most is the organisation of the team. There's a real structure about us and we looked solid tonight.

 

"If we can keep like that, not lose our way, and when we get beat make sure we react well, we could have a really good season."

 

A miserable run of injuries have hampered Best's progress on Tyneside but he made his first appearance of the season in Sunday's 1-0 win at Wigan.

 

The 24-year-old striker was then handed just his second Premier League start after appearing for Southampton in October 2004 and took full advantage.

 

But Pardew also paid tribute to a fine all-round display, particularly from a midfield which featured Nolan, Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton.

 

"He (Best) has been banging on my door to play and he knew over the Christmas period there was going to be an opportunity," Pardew said.

 

 

Real hunger

"You have to admire him because we haven't done a lot of work on the training ground because of the conditions, but he kept his focus and I could see a real hunger in his eyes.

 

"And he had a midfield behind him today that put in a display that was outstanding.

 

"He was the beneficiary of some great play, particularly from Joey Barton, who has given a performance here tonight that's as good a midfield performance as I've seen."

 

Tiote and Steven Taylor are doubtful for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at Stevenage after being forced off against West Ham, while Carroll, Ameobi and Alan Smith are already out.

 

"It was a big result for us and we're really pleased because it puts us in a great position in the league," Pardew added.

 

"We were losing bodies left, right and centre over this period, and we lost a couple more tonight.

 

"We're really up against it for Stevenage so hopefully we can repair some for that game.

 

"It's beginning to be too much for the squad that we've got but if we can make sure the discipline of the team is the same, and that the players that come in are motivated and show the application they did tonight, we'll keep winning."

[Christmas Tree 3997]

Ofcourse we've got a chance were already 8th with a game in hand ffs.

 

I get the negativity to Ashley but the negativity to our chances of finishing 1 place higher than we currently are seems petty and stupid to me.

 

we have absolutely no chance, barring investment in quality players and no major sales in this transfer window.

 

How long will it take for some numpty who wasn't at the game tonight, and they are obvious, to claim that I haven't enjoyed the win tonight despite laying down solid cash to watch it and every other game for the rest of the season come what may.

 

You really couldn't make up the stupidity of some people

 

 

So you are seriously saying that its impossible for us to finish one place higher than we are now?

[dbsweeney 0]

Stop to consider that we are still just a newly-promoted side.

 

Only two games ago we had only lost two games in a row but we had the deadly 'Relegation' thread up and running.

 

Now we have had two wins in a row and we'll be qualifying for Europe?

 

Let us consider this if we can string together 3 or 4 wins, or at least 5 or so non-defeats in a row.

 

Let us strive for safety, and once (and if) that's achieved, see where we can push on from there.

 

Maybe we should consolidate for safety, and then concentrate on a good Cup run?

---------

 

And Leazes, all you ever go on about is current lack of ambition and the glory days of life under the all-spending Shepherd.

 

If what you want is not funded by large amounts of spending, how will it occur?

 

I don't mean to have a beef with you, it's just that by belittling the idea of the Europa League as being something we once only laughed at is delusional considering the circumstances we are in.

Edited January 6, 2011 by dbsweeney

[Deano 0]

You make a fair point sweeney but im not saying we will.....my pre season prediction was 13th.

 

Im just an optimist and prefer to look forward rather than back. We are in a position where we HAVE a GOOD CHANCE and finishing 7th. The PL has been very inconsistent and it is at its tightest for years, we could go the oher way with a few more defeats but we have just as good a chance to push on from here.

 

Im just a positive guy.

[LeazesMag 0]

Stop to consider that we are still just a newly-promoted side.

 

Only two games ago we had only lost two games in a row but we had the deadly 'Relegation' thread up and running.

 

Now we have had two wins in a row and we'll be qualifying for Europe?

 

Let us consider this if we can string together 3 or 4 wins, or at least 5 or so non-defeats in a row.

 

Let us strive for safety, and once (and if) that's achieved, see where we can push on from there.

 

Maybe we should consolidate for safety, and then concentrate on a good Cup run?

---------

 

And Leazes, all you ever go on about is current lack of ambition and the glory days of life under the all-spending Shepherd.

 

If what you want is not funded by large amounts of spending, how will it occur?

 

I don't mean to have a beef with you, it's just that by belittling the idea of the Europa League as being something we only laughed as is delusional considering the circumstances we are in.

 

I'm not having a go at you mate, I realise that you aren't one of the idiots on here, and I admire your optimism, but I still say the club is not geared to success. That is all there is to it really.

 

I'm laughing at those who demeaned the regime that ran the club while it was qualifying for the Europa League [and even the Champions League] in the past, and claimed how embarrassing it all was, but would take it like a shot now, that's all.

 

I know for first season up we are doing OK, but that's all, OK. I say that because I think a mid table position isn't OK for NUFC , I think it isn't good enough for NUFC under any circumstances whatsoever. The point is that expectations have been lowered and so it is now considered success. I think in 2 or 3 years time it will still be considered success by the owner, and that is the crucial difference.

 

FWIW, I also think Pardew could well end up making a lot of people eat their words, although his hands are still tied so he won't succeed to the degree that NUFC ought to, but I think he will do better than Hughton would have done, although that can never be proven now. No disrespect to Hughton who did a great job and deserves the respect he has been given for it.

Edited January 6, 2011 by LeazesMag

[shackbleep 0]

Steady on...

[OTF 6198]

I for one am still more worried about who and what is behind us rather than those ahead of us.

 

In my mind our last two wins have kept us out of the bog, not brought us closer to Europe.

[The Fish 9034]

Stop to consider that we are still just a newly-promoted side.

 

Only two games ago we had only lost two games in a row but we had the deadly 'Relegation' thread up and running.

 

Now we have had two wins in a row and we'll be qualifying for Europe?

 

Let us consider this if we can string together 3 or 4 wins, or at least 5 or so non-defeats in a row.

 

Let us strive for safety, and once (and if) that's achieved, see where we can push on from there.

 

Maybe we should consolidate for safety, and then concentrate on a good Cup run?

---------

 

And Leazes, all you ever go on about is current lack of ambition and the glory days of life under the all-spending Shepherd.

 

If what you want is not funded by large amounts of spending, how will it occur?

 

I don't mean to have a beef with you, it's just that by belittling the idea of the Europa League as being something we only laughed as is delusional considering the circumstances we are in.

 

I'm not having a go at you mate, I realise that you aren't one of the idiots on here, and I admire your optimism, but I still say the club is not geared to success. That is all there is to it really.

 

I'm laughing at those who demeaned the regime that ran the club while it was qualifying for the Europa League [and even the Champions League] in the past, and claimed how embarrassing it all was, but would take it like a shot now, that's all.

 

I know for first season up we are doing OK, but that's all, OK. I say that because I think a mid table position isn't OK for NUFC , I think it isn't good enough for NUFC under any circumstances whatsoever. The point is that expectations have been lowered and so it is now considered success. I think in 2 or 3 years time it will still be considered success by the owner, and that is the crucial difference.

 

FWIW, I also think Pardew could well end up making a lot of people eat their words, although his hands are still tied so he won't succeed to the degree that NUFC ought to, but I think he will do better than Hughton would have done, although that can never be proven now. No disrespect to Hughton who did a great job and deserves the respect he has been given for it.

 

 

Thing is Leazes, you can't leap from promoted to title challenge any more. Not even with an unlimited warchest. I'd be far happier with a steady improvement than I would be for an idiot to spunk £150m on the squad, only to get bored and leave us crippled by debt.

 

I'm not saying I think Ashley is definitely going to lead to a period of stability and prosperity. I think he's far too much of a prick for that. Blackburn are going to find out that the Venky's aren't going to make them title challengers. There are too many rich-boy playthings in this league as it is.

 

If we can finish 8th this season I'd be delighted, but that delight would be tempered if we were to fail to build on this and end up selling players here and there, signing shit (or trophy) players and stumbling back into the mire. A James Perch is as bad as signing a Duff imo. By that I mean, James Perch isn't good enough and is just a waste of a squad place, Duff wasn't needed, wasn't good enough, didn't care and was on big wages.

[dbsweeney 0]

Sunderland A Draw/Loss

Spurs H Loss/Draw

Fulham A Loss

Arsenal H Loss

Blackburn A Draw

Birmingham A Draw

Bolton H Draw

Everton H Win

Stoke A Draw

Wolves H Win

Villa A Draw/Loss

Man Utd H Loss

Blackpool A Draw

Liverpool A Loss

Birmingham H Win

Chelsea A Loss

WBA H Win

 

 

Maybe it looks bleak, but it gives us a total of 44/47 for the season ... which would keep us up.

 

However, the next 4 games are definitely going to be tough.

Edited January 6, 2011 by dbsweeney

[The Fish 9034]

Sunderland A Win/Draw (they're missing a lot of players and our tails are up)

Spurs H Loss

Fulham A Win/Draw (They're a poor side whose strength is in being disciplined and good at set pieces... We're better)

Arsenal H Loss

Blackburn A Draw

Birmingham A Win (Honestly, they're not great, strong and drilled, but they're not likely to score past us)

Bolton H Win (decent footballing side again, but I think we're too strong for them and Ben arfa should be flying )

Everton H Draw/Loss (They'll have picked up by now)

Stoke A Draw/Loss (They're a good side)

Wolves H Win (they're shit)

Villa A Win/Draw (Villa aren't the force they have been recently and I reckon they'll be poorer after the window.)

Man Utd H Loss

Blackpool A Draw

Liverpool A Loss

Birmingham H Win (again, not great)

Chelsea A Loss

WBA H Win

 

 

Maybe it looks bleak, but it gives us a total of 44/47 for the season ... which would keep us up.

 

However, the next 4 games are definitely going to be tough.

Another 20/28 pts which would give us 48-56 for the season. Keep us around 8th I reckon, obviously if we meet Birmingham and they're already down we could meet a team playing with freedom or a team destroyed, similarly if Chelsea have already cemented their final place, their home game might hold nothing for them, while it might be the difference between 11th and 8th for us... Also, the way we've been playing this season, we could as easily lose to Wolves and West Brom and beat Liverpool and Man U!

 

but I reckon we'll stutter around mid-table between 8th and 12th, which, if you'd offered me at the beginning of the season, I'd snap your hands off for.

 

What did I say I'd buy CT if we got European Competition?