Last time out Newcastle were beaten, badly. Alan Pardew achknowledges this. So hopefully this means he has a plan? I’ve noticed in the past when Pardew tells the media he will be playing his own game, we win. Stoke, Manchester United, Sunderland. But since the loss of Steven Taylor, Newcastle are a less capable defensive unit. And we are trying, almost too hard to make up for that. With Europe still a possibility for the first time since 2006, Newcastle really need to win more than they draw, and draw more than they lose.
The January Transfer Window:
You would be a fool to say it was a failure, as on December 31st, you’d have said “I’ll be happy with nobody in, aslong as no-one leaves”. Alan Pardew kept his big guns, in Tiote, Cabaye, Ba, Krul, Coloccini, and he brought in Ba’s Senegalese team-mate Papiss Cisse. But that was after promising no attackers coming in, and definitely a defender coming in. All is not as it seems at Newcastle.
The Rest Of The Season:
With Sunderland just around the corner, the team need to get back into good spirits and win at home against the now Mick McCarthy-less Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Key Players:
Fabricio Coloccini has been the heart of our defence this season and deservedly so, Captain Colo has been of such a high standard that teams have been taking an interest, reportedly Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. What Mike Ashley and Pardew really need to do is tie him down to a two or three year contract.
Demba Ba:
With Demba Ba netting at least one every two games on average, teams are beginning to take a real interest. Harry Redknapp reported Ba has a release clause in his contract, this needs to be resolved, give him a new contract with no buy out clause.
Steven Taylor:
The Forgotten man. He has been well and truly missed. Williamson is better in two departments. Strength and heading. Pardew noted that is something we needed. Someone who could head a ball. But Taylor doesn’t need to head a ball, when he has the best goal line clearance average per game. 2 clearances from the line per game.
Europe:
Are Newcastle strong enough? To be honest I don’t care. I don’t care if we get beat 20-0 every game in Europe. As we will have gotten there. But evidence says yes. Let’s not forget there’s only 8 really good teams in the Champions League. Barcelona, Man Utd, Madrid to name but a few. The rest are all beatable. And if we get to Europe, it will intice players to come to Newcastle, and make us stronger.
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Click on the image below to see the 01/02 and 11/12 Newcastle Starting XIs go head-to-head!
Europa will be even easier, just watch out for the dutch and portugese, they dominate europa every season, but they should be no match for a newly strengthened NUFC!