Chicken Dancer

It's easy to fall into the trap looking at their result at Arsenal and panicking like fuck. But we're 3rd top.

Most of us have said all season we'd take anyone at home. We now have 2 actual finals at home under the lights to 2 teams who are both below us in the table after 35 games. 

They're a really team and can beat us, but we can definitely beat them. No fear, make it as hostile as possible. Remember since 19th December 2021 we've only lost 3 home games in the league (not counting Cambridge ). A Liverpool side going for a quadruple, Liverpool a week before a cup final without our best player and with 10 men for most of the game. Finally to an Arsenal side who've been pretty brilliant all year, who needed to win to keep their title hopes alive - we did go toe to toe. We're mint at home is the point.

Think it might actually suit us that we need to win both. If we needed 4 points we'd have maybe (subconsciously) approached this differently. If we start like we have in the 'big' home games we will score within the first 20 which will settle any nerves.

11 minutes ago, Doctor Zaius said:

Lisbon in the QF remains the biggest surrender ive ever seen from a Newcastle side. 2-0 up on aggregate and an away goal with them needing to score 3 with just just over 45 minutes to go. They scored 4.

Was a horrendous week that. 

Done 3 Europa League trips in 2012/13. Can't wait to be back in Europe.

Understand that it's cost permitting but those who can who haven't before, I can't recommend doing a European away enough. It's very special.

1 hour ago, LFEE said:

 

Would hope we never go down that route. I can understand why, but if we extend by say 10k, I'd like to think at least 8k would be made available for Season Tickets.

I appreciate it allows more people to get to games per season, but I'll be fucking devastated if you see people in the Gallowgate all with their phones out as Isak scores an 85th minute winner like you see at Old Trafford and the likes. Less ST also opens the door to touts.

I was worried about Everton away but quality mainly shines through in the end.

No reason we shouldn't be beating these by 2 or 3. They're shite. They'll be more organised but don't be fooled by their result at City last week. Could/should have been 5-1 easily.

Get the first goal, just like at Goodison, and we could have a field day. When we've went away to sides really struggling this season;

- Southampton 1-4

- Leicester 0-3

- Forest 1-2 (flattered them 100%)

- West Ham 1-5

- Everton 1-4

No reason it shouldn't be like that tomorrow. A lot will have to go wrong for us not to win. I'm a huge worrier and can't pretend I'm not nervous, but logically we should be beating these. They're crap.

1 hour ago, Lotus said:

That's a tricky one.

I wonder if our perception of BL players has been adversely affected by the Chelsea signings of Pulisic,  Werner and Havertz?

Fwiw, I'm pretty sure I said at the time that Werner was a very risky one. Apart from pace he doesn't have much else that raises him significantly above the average player to have justified his price tag. 

Havertz has got quality but it's not working out at Chelsea. Lots of potential reasons there though.

 

Also Joelinton. As a forward, I think we can consider him a flop. If we're being honest. 

 

On the other side you have players like Son, De Bruyne, Firmino, Konate, Matip and Guendogan.

 

I'm trying to keep this to current or very recent players rather than going back to Ballack, Mertasacker, Kompany, Can, etc.

 

The BL is definitely a lower level than the Prem. Munich and Dortmund apart. It's a bit slower so quick players can look better there. But I'm not so sure it's a high risk league to buy from if you do your research and the club culture the player is moving to is supportive and has a good management team to help the player adapt and develop.

Recently there's been a few big money 'flops' from Bundesliga - the ones you mentioned + Sancho, Keita and probably more. 

I do actually agree with you though. I'd argue Keita is the most shocking as Liverpool tended to do extremely well in the transfer market under Edwards, but with the correct thorough scouting & coaching there's no reason why the top Bundesliga players can't replicate/enhance their stats & production from over there.

Definitely wouldn't be starting Anderson in such a high stakes game.

Probably be the same as Arsenal, with the exception of Almiron in for Wilson I reckon. Murphy out left.

1 minute ago, PauloGeordio said:

Is worthy of a thread! 

It's a shame the clean sheets have dried up since January. Would have been nice for Pope to get Golden Glove.

As someone said on another thread, win on Saturday and it's better than drawing with Arsenal and then Leeds.

Feels like I've thought this a million times but it really does have the feel of our biggest game of the season - certainly in defining what happens. Win and two back-to-back home games to get 4 points. Party time. Win and we're 6 clear of 5th with 9 points to play for.

Draw/lose it will probably go to the final day, although we should definitely be looking to beat Brighton & Leicester if we draw and that would also be enough.

You never know, Leicester could do us a favour on Monday night....

41 minutes ago, Doctor Zaius said:

Whats the deal with the last game of the season on TV. Obviously they all kick off at the same time but do the broadcasters announce what they're showing on the the week before depending on what teams have to play for or what? Trying to work out whether we'd be on TV V Chelsea. Can only ever remember watching us on TV on the final day against Villa when we went down. Guessing we were V West Ham too but I was there. 

 

 

 

Praying we don't need to be on as it's a dead rubber  

I think it will be, so depending on if the league is wrapped up or not, they'll probably have the deciding relegation games on. They'll probably be announced as late as the Thursday prior, when Man U host Chelsea.

Agree about people leaving. It was a good performance, I'm sure that pint can wait an extra 5 minutes, clap them off and enjoy your bank holiday.

The atmosphere just prior to the teams coming out when EIEIEIO was bouncing round the ground with the sun shining was magic, like. Shame we didn't get the result but I actually enjoyed it nonetheless.

If we start like that against Brighton & Leicester we will have no bother, especially the latter.

Hopefully this safe standing trial goes well and we can have another in Leazes L4. Will help the atmosphere bounce round a lot more.

Always wondered how there's a coordinated effort at Old Trafford, Liverpool, Leeds & others to get full stands standing for the duration of (maybe big?) games. I think even Arsenal & Man City have large sections that stand.

Standing improves atmosphere a lot, although not sure of the logic to it.

Not sure why I'm doing this but... I will apologise for being worried constantly. Not entirely sure why I'm like that but I think it's mainly just due to sheer desperation of wanting it so badly. I do think people should be allowed to vent that they're worried as much as those who are really upbeat remain positive. It's a forum.

FWIW I've never once said - or believed - we won't do it post-Man U in April, just that I was worried. 12 points (after Liverpool drew with Arsenal at Easter) has became 3 so I understand why people are nervous. Thank God Salah missed that pen  

But yes, apologies for worrying and rubbing people up the wrong way. I can be canny anxious as a person tbf so I'll refrain from posting in this thread for my own sanity as well as all yours!

P.S Yes @LV I've got my nappies ready to take on the train to Leeds this weekend. Got a feeling I'll need them for kick-off  

Just now, LV said:

Take your pampers just to be sure 

Sorry mate. Forgot how cool it is to just think we’re going to coast it. My bad

Just now, LV said:

Do you change them when they’re wet or do you just sit in them for a bit? 

Nah mate I just forget it’s like proper cool to not express any worry when a 12 point lead has been cut to 3.

Good news is we generally respond quite well to a defeat. I’m down Leeds next week so fingers crossed.

Is it still proper cool to not be worried or is everyone allowed to be a bit nervous now?

If you assume the absolute worst and we lose both our games in hand to Arsenal and Brighton, we need to get 6 points against Leeds, Leicester and Chelsea. 
 

However we won’t lose both them games so it’s sound - draw one and that’s 2 games (4 points) they’d need to swing out of 3 games left. 

Just now, Yorkie said:

I think you can look at today with a positive slant tbh. We can all assume Liverpool are going to finish strongly and a win today was all but a given; but the narrow result means we're a step closer to us only needing six points instead of seven. If they'd stuck five or six past Brentford and Fulham then that would be keeping us very honest. But they've snuck through, really, and GD becomes more and more like an actual point. 

Correct. Been shitting my pants for weeks with their games, but the GD not being dented is a huge bonus. Sadly they have Leicester next week  

Saying that, we could have have an extra 4 points by then meaning we will only need to win 1 of Brighton, Leicester and Chelsea to confirm it.

Win tomorrow and we’ll coast it. Lose and we’ll still do it, it just might need go to the final day. For my sanity I hope not. 

It would actually make it all the sweeter if they go on a 9 game winning run and they finish 5th.

I actually despise Man United but I’d sooner they got Top 4 than this lot. Cunts.

I hope that those who divulge get their throats nice and lubricated with some shit pints pre-match on Sunday, ready for 90 minutes of noise.

We should be talking about this as the best it's been inside St James' for years to come. 

Buzzing for it.

He's the second coming of KK man, except this time we will end up with a trophy.

I was definitely sceptical at the appointment, mainly due to the fact we openly courted Emery and were rejected by him. My heart was set.

Looking back - and indeed forward - I can't think of a bloke more suited to being Newcastle manager than Howe. He's just perfect for us in every way.

2 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Even Liverpool win on Saturday and we lose on Sunday we're still in a really healthy position. 

We are indeed. It's just how we cope with the pressure is what I'm saying. It wasn't too long ago the gap was 12 points (after they'd drew with Arsenal).

Thankfully, the manager and players we have should give us overriding confidence that the job will get done. As Trippier says; Pressure is a privilege. 

My overriding worry is how we deal with the pressure. Let's be honest - Liverpool will be 3 points behind us before kick off, granted with 2 tricky games in hand to Arsenal & Brighton. IF we lose, then that trip to Leeds becomes huge. 

To contradict my worry though, we play with no fear. It's just the lack of experience in this moment which gives me a slight worry, but even the worst of us should relax if we beat Arsenal.

I actually became more confident - despite shitting myself for the past 2/3 weeks - when Liverpool beat Fulham. Dodgy pen decision against a team on their holidays missing a good few of their key players. They've not been impressive recently at all.

They do have it in them to smash a team which will probably be Brentford now I've said this, but Brentford and Villa will definitely give them a game.

It's Man United who should be bricking it in all honesty. I stuck £50 on Liverpool to qualify at 8/1 about 2 weeks ago, thinking they'd displace us if anyone. If we get in alongside them then I'm a very happy man  

4 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

Going to be some forced boot licking ahead of kick off unfortunately, hope it doesn't ruin the atmosphere a la the Bournemouth home game.

I doubt it this time mate! Much bigger game and obviously flags/pissed/Bank Holiday. Will be rocking. I'm up town from 11:30  

Hope the DJ doesn't play something ridiculous. Can imagine him playing Rule Britannia at like 5000 decibels or something.

Feels like an absolutely massive game. As the American's would say - PRIME TIME! 16:30, Bank Holiday Sunday, (hopefully) going to be sunny, a pissed-up St James' baying for blood.

2nd vs 3rd, both teams good on the eye. A lot riding on it for both. Lots of global attention. Huge.

The type of game we could only dream of on the 6th October 2021.

Fucking come on Newcastle. Hopefully rains when we're 3-0 up so we can see Arteta's hair dye spill down his face.

Need 4 HG players for Europe. Makes sense and will be quite cheap you’d think. 

1 minute ago, Disco said:

Shame it’s not an evening kick off

To be fair a 1630 on Bank Holiday is almost as good. Should be rocking.