Faye: We have got top-six potential

[Scottish Mag 3]

DESPITE a campaign in which they have looked more likely to visit the Championship than the continent, Abdoulaye Faye is convinced everything is in place for Newcastle United to become a top-six club next season.

 

Faye admitted he came to Newcastle from Bolton in the summer believing the Magpies would be pushing for Uefa Cup qualification this season. As a result, the subsequent struggles which cost former manager Sam Allardyce his job and led to an unexpected battle against relegation came as a major shock to the Senegal international.

 

But with new boss Kevin Keegan finally sparking some sort of revival, Faye is starting to see signs that United will be a force to be reckoned with again next term.

 

“When I first arrived I really thought we could get into the top six,” said Faye, who has been singled out for special praise by Keegan following the back-to-back victories over Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. “This was Newcastle I was signing for, they don’t struggle like this. This season has been not what I expected.

 

“Of course we can get in the top six at this club. Everything here is ready for that. When I came here I was joining a club with big names, big players around the place. I thought we’d do well this season. I thought top six, top five or even get in the Champions League. It’s not happened like that at all.

 

“Everybody wants to play in the Champions League and after very difficult times that’s something we think we can still get to next season. Sometimes things don’t go well and they haven’t this season, but things are improving and hopefully next season, I think, will be better.”

 

Although Newcastle’s decline was a shocking one, the manner in which they have returned to form under Keegan in the last couple of weeks has been thrilling.

 

The 4-1 away win over Spurs last weekend was one of the best performances from any Newcastle side in recent years and Faye could not hide his excitement at what it suggests for the future.

 

He explained: “I think it is better because everybody has confidence now. Last Sunday, we played very well and you can tell that everyone was very happy. Everything is good in the dressing room now and, from the games we have left, I’m sure that the fans will see that.

 

“There may be games where things do not go right, but we played very well at Tottenham and the new confidence we have will help us in the final matches. Before it was difficult. Before, every game we seemed to lose – whether we played away, played at home – we would lose. There was no confidence. Everyone would be miserable when they were around the training ground. It’s different now.

 

“After our last three games, at Birmingham, Fulham and Tottenham, things have improved a lot. Things are much better. Everyone has confidence and everybody is happier now. There are smiles, jokes. We all think we can win on Saturday (against Reading) now, before we didn’t look forward to games as much.”

 

Faye’s presence in the back four has been a sizeable one and his experience has also benefited England Under-21 international Steven Taylor. But if Faye is the senior man in the central defensive partnership, he is also confident Taylor will go on to become one of the best defenders in the country.

 

He added: “He is good, a good player. He’s 20, 21 years and he plays very good. He is strong and he works very hard, I like Steven and he is also a very good person. He can get to England level, I’m sure of that. But he’s young, with little experience. He’s playing a lot now and that will help him. One day he will be in the England squad, that’s for sure.”

[Jusoda Kid 1]

Two swallows don't make a summer....or something like that

[Happy Face 29]

Two swallows don't make a summer....or something like that

 

Two bosoms don't make Tit monday iirc

[The Fish 11080]

nice to hear some genuine positivity, instead of "We know we can turn it around, blah blah blah"