Will Newcastle end up in a relegation battle?

Is Keagan in trouble?

As a staunch supporter of Newcastle for the last 13 years or so... I have to say:

Relegation battle? NO. Are they in trouble? YES, but Keegan will be safe for a while. Assistant Nigel Pearson has quit, and Keegan should now be able to bring in the staff that he needs to to get this team turned around.

The season is far from over, and despite their despicable form, I don't honestly think they are as bad as Derby, Fulham or Birmingham.

Well, everyone was tipping sunderland to be relegated, a month ago...look who is just one place and only 2 points behind N'castle in the current table? :rolleyes:

GO DOWN TOON! B)

Hank glares.....

<_< <_< <_< <_< <_< <_<

Remaining schedule:

Manyoo H, Blackburn H, Liverpool A, Birmingham A, Fulham H, Spurs A, Reading H, Pompey A, Sunderland H, West Ham A, Chelsea H, Everton A.


Do you see 12 points there...?

for who?:lol:

seriously: I think Newcastle is better than Fulham, Sunderland, Birmingham, and Reading. If we win those I'd say we're safe.

I'd be happy with draws on the rest.

Will Newcastle end up in a relegation battle? Yes, I dearly hope so.

Is Keagan in trouble? Yes. Troubled? Yes Yes!

Where's Santiago Munez and Gavin Harris when you need them to save the club? :lol:

I can definitely seem them being dragged into the fight for the drop, but I do not think they will go down.

I'm just not that lucky :D

Keegan will not go before next season. I don't think the ownership have any expectation of him for this season other than staying up. If they start next season well, he could be their longest-serving manager in ages. Might even last 2 full years. :lol:

Given the number of teams that have are in the potential drop zone, I don't think that the magic 40 points will apply this year. This being said Newcastle will be part of the fray, however, I don't think they will go down.

I have two words for you - Dennis Wise - He will help turn the team around with his rousing team talks, followed by a good clip 'round the earhole. Which is what Big Sam should have done. The individuals are quality enough they just need some discipine to function as a team.

A couple of years ago I saw Newcastle away to Bolton and the players walked past all the kids who wanted autographs like premadonas they only one that paid any attention was Shay Given. Giving me the feeling that the were too good for the fans, hence to good for the club.

Well they aren't, so someone needs to make them buckle down and work. End off.

newc are quickly making king kev look like a queen but as bad as they've been, they're no worse than reading or bolton.

Newcastle is simply a poorly balanced side. They have a few top class players, but the rest are very average indeed and they are under-performing. They have some good defenders and some poor defenders, very few top drawer midfielders and some talented though erratic strikers.
Mourinho had an interesting quote when he was speaking about discipline in relation to quality of teams. To paraphrase - when you have a talented team, you can be a bit relaxed when they play because they have quality, they can invent, they need room to invent. But when you have a team that is of medium quality, you must be on them constantly, always trying to get every little bit that they have out of them.
It doesn't appear than Newcastle have had that discipline. I certainly don't see Keegan as that person. It is maybe why Capello is a good choice for England. He is going to have to squeeze everything he can out of those players because on the world stage, they simply fall short. Newcastle is no different. They NEED discipline, they NEED a rigorous system.
Everyone is keen to talk about how they need to work on defending, but really, it is their absolute inability to put together quality attacks and establish any kind of flow that really kills them. If they didn't have to chase the game for 60 of the 90 minutes, they would undoubtedly give up fewer goals. They don't need Alan Smith running all over the place and tackling everything with boots on. They need one or two holding midfielders that can solidify the middle of the park, establish a tempo and give the ball to someone who can play in Michael Owen, or Oba Martins. To play the ball wide to wingers who can cross for Viduka or Owen. Nicky Butt simply can't do the job, he was very average at Man U and his lack of quality is being seriously exposed at Newcastle.
Maybe they can get Xabi Alonso from Liverpool since Mascherano now owns their midfield, whatever, but Newcastle needs things that they don't have and aren't getting and until that changes, it will be a precarious season indeed.

Hey Warren! Nice to have you back buddy!

You coming up for the First kick?

no

Yes, they'll be there. They'll stay up, but they 'll have to work for it.

Hello all, just started watching soccer(football) at the beginning of the EPL season so what do I know? But I feel 'No', the toon army will be singing in the top flight next year but it will be close. :)

I know many of us have been watching English football a very long time (for me the 70's on, far enough back to remember the great Notts Forest & Leeds Utd teams). Back then I would never have considered their fall, so, when it comes to predictiing the future, you are probably just as qualified...lol

Cheers

Kevin

Well said. It can happen to anyone. Size, number of fans even money sometimes won't stop the drop. We have come too bloody close in the past as well. I think NFC will stay up as long as Keegan doesn't explode his head. He's too entertaining to leave the Premiership. Hey! maybe he's the new Setanta Puppet!!