James Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I truly believe that Newcastle have an extremely good chance of claiming the UEFA Cup. Newcastle have consistently performed well at home against the big clubs this season - in fact our problems have been down to our squad not really designed to cope with the typically British physical and well drilled sides such as Chelsea, Bolton, Everton, Fulham and Sheffield United, not to mention injury problems. In fact, the squad that we have right now is probably one of the more continentally styled in the Premiership, if you exclude Manchester United (who we drew against), Arsenal (against whom we drew at Ashburton in our only game so far) and Liverpool (who we beat at home). The three mentioned teams are doing better in the league because they have a more British football orientated core in their defence, combined with more continentally styled attacking players, a balance we currently do not have. Like many continental teams, we share the same problem when playing British teams - defending set-pieces. Most European teams will not only be unable to defend against some of our players who are good at set-pieces ie Bramble, Sibierski and Taylor, but will be much worse than British teams at attacking set-pieces. Therefore, results will be determined by individual brilliance on the pitch, and with a highly motivated Obafemi Martins, Emre, Solano, Milner, N'Zogbia and Kieron Dyer on the pitch, not to mention the possibility of Duff finding form, or michael Owen being available for the latter stages, we have more players on the pitch that can win us matches than any of the opposition will. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I think you've got a point, I'm only worried about the fact that we have more potential to make a mistake that will cost us a game than any of the opposition do. It's only that inconsistency that might do us in I think. That or an injury to Martins! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 We can the UEFA Cup what? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 WIN Of course we have the chance, of course we can.. its down to whether we bottle it again or continue the momentum of the intial stages and pick up the results we can acheive. There is enough talent in our squad, but we will need a bit of luck and everyone to be on top of their game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 We haven't played anyone yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howaythelads Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I think you've got a point, I'm only worried about the fact that we have more potential to make a mistake that will cost us a game than any of the opposition do. It's only that inconsistency that might do us in I think. That or an injury to Martins! How do you know that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howaythelads Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 WIN Of course we have the chance, of course we can.. its down to whether we bottle it again or continue the momentum of the intial stages and pick up the results we can acheive. There is enough talent in our squad, but we will need a bit of luck and everyone to be on top of their game. The last time we had a chance to win it we didn't bottle it. The shithead manager threw it away to feed his ego. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUFC06 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 We can win it We just need some luck and our key players to stay fit But lets just mention some of the favourites wining the UEFA cup: Seville-the current UEFA cup holders,2nd in Spain Primera Division Werder-2nd in Germans Bundesliga.Have some quality players Benfica-IMO they are very good team,knocked Liverpool last year in the Champions league I think these are the 3 teams which have the biggest chance of wining the UEFA cup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I think you've got a point, I'm only worried about the fact that we have more potential to make a mistake that will cost us a game than any of the opposition do. It's only that inconsistency that might do us in I think. That or an injury to Martins! How do you know that? Fair point, I don't. I just meant that we do have a tendency to make howlers that end up costing us goals, and I wouldn't be surprised if we got knocked out because of it. The spirit of the post was more about our lack of consistency. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Firstly, this is nonsense: We haven't played anyone yet. The four teams that we have played in the group stages are probably in the top 6 or 7 teams we have played in our entire UEFA Cup campaign since 2003/04 (when we returned to it for the first time in a few years). And secondly - yes. I do think we've got a chance, without a doubt. But the standard of opponents is far stronger this year. If we beat ALkmaar in the last sixteen, i'll be very, very optimistic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 WIN Of course we have the chance, of course we can.. its down to whether we bottle it again or continue the momentum of the intial stages and pick up the results we can acheive. There is enough talent in our squad, but we will need a bit of luck and everyone to be on top of their game. The last time we had a chance to win it we didn't bottle it. The shithead manager threw it away to feed his ego. We were tearing Sporting Lisbon apart until Dyer came off injured, the team bottled a great oppurtunity in my eyes. Like the last two FA cup finals and the Marseille game we failed to turn up and play to at least an accpetable standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest teepee Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 i also fear werder and sevilla - both are much much better team than us. but i do somewhat agree - we're in it with at shout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Just because they were better than we've played before doesn't mean they were any good. When we meet a Champions League team we're done for imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUFC06 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 i also fear werder and sevilla - both are much much better team than us. but i do somewhat agree - we're in it with at shout! I think Werder and Sevilla are the favourites to win it but if we could get some luck in the draw we can go trough the last 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I worry about Fenerbahce tbh - we only beat them 1-0 at SJP and it was a fairly even game, and we'll have to go to Turkey in the second leg - although Alkmaar aren't bad either. Ooooh dear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Dave, they were good teams - Fenerbahce and Palermo especially. Fenerbahce are Champions League regulars and top of the Turkish league above Galatasaray, and Palermo were top of Serie A at the time; they weakened their side, granted, but so did we. We weren't playing shit in that group stage like we normally do in the earlier rounds. Or like Boro. You look at the ties we've been faced with and you look at the muck they were dealt with, and how they very nearly ended up throwing it away, it's sickening and i'm very bitter. By God i hope we win it. On the whole - i'm rather bitter about the UEFA Cup in general. I've lived a short life so far so i don't have proper experiences of many United 'catasrophes', and we were simply shit in the FA Cup finals, so nothing hurt me more than when Sporting Lisbon knocked us out. That killed like nothing else. On my birthday aswell. I crave for us to win this competition, now. We'll beat Zulte. Fenerbahce/Alkmaar (probably AZ) will be a majorly difficult hurdle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 WIN Of course we have the chance, of course we can.. its down to whether we bottle it again or continue the momentum of the intial stages and pick up the results we can acheive. There is enough talent in our squad, but we will need a bit of luck and everyone to be on top of their game. The last time we had a chance to win it we didn't bottle it. The shithead manager threw it away to feed his ego. The time before that we bottled it though, don't you think? Granted we had an injury crisis, but even so.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Aye, we bottled it against Marseille. The amount of chances we had over two legs - unbelievable. Gary Speed missing an open goal at the Gallowgate End sticks in my mind. Michael Bridges shaved the post in the home leg, aswell. We were doomed as soon as we didn't win at St James'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Aye, we bottled it against Marseille. The amount of chances we had over two legs - unbelievable. Gary Speed missing an open goal at the Gallowgate End sticks in my mind. Michael Bridges shaved the post in the home leg, aswell. We were doomed as soon as we didn't win at St James'. Didn't Shola miss a guilt edge one from about 6 yards too? And hit it straight at Barthez? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Aye he did in the first half, yeah. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kenton Magpie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 You have to be in it, to win it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nufc_geordie Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 If someone had of said to me in July at the start of the European campaign that we would have Zulte Waregem in the first knock out phase followed by Alkmaar or Fenerbahce in the last 16 I would have snapped their hand off. Very winnable games although when you get to the last 16 of a european competition what do you expect- a walkover. Get to the quarters and anything can happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Deep456 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Alkmaar are quality I hope Fenerbache win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I haven't read the pre-match thread, but if their a team made up of detectives and cobblers, how are they in the last 16 of a major European compeition? Do a spurs or something? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 WIN Of course we have the chance, of course we can.. its down to whether we bottle it again or continue the momentum of the intial stages and pick up the results we can acheive. There is enough talent in our squad, but we will need a bit of luck and everyone to be on top of their game. The last time we had a chance to win it we didn't bottle it. The shithead manager threw it away to feed his ego. I agree. That night I felt horrible. Souness' dismantling of such a good squad still was not enough to stop us getting as far as we did - but then his selection policy interfered, and he greeted Robert's Sheareresque rally cry with contempt!! 4 injuries during the game meant that fans saw Newcastle saw their best chance of winning anything disappear for a long, long time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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