Season Summary

[Deano 0]

IT HAS been a big dipper ride for the Geordie foot soldiers who have marched the length and breadth of this country in unwavering support.

 

There has been controversy, as there always will be with Newcastle – the sacking of Chris Hughton quickly followed by the sale of top gun Andy Carroll were two large dollops of sickening reality.

 

However, come judgement day last Sunday United had comfortably retained their Premier League status, which above all else was the one-eyed aim for a debut season back where it counts.

 

For that we are grateful, as we are for the mass effort from the dressing-room which overcame all obstacles placed before them.

 

A respectable 12th place could have been better – would have been but for a last-day collapse when three goals to the good.

 

However, it is fine. We will accept it and happily cast a glad eye back over a season which never failed to grip the imagination.

 

Here are my personal highlights:

 

BEST MOMENT: Kevin Nolan's funky chicken goal celebration not once, not twice, but three times against Sunderland. Daft but dandy!

 

BEST PLAYER: There were many who could lay claim.

 

Joey Barton for solving a huge problem on the right flank with his impersonation of David Beckham.

 

Fabricio Coloccini, who completed his graduation from muppet to master.

 

Kevin Nolan for his many invaluable goals from his midfield station, and Cheick Tiote for a first Premier League season of snap, crackle and pop.

 

However, and this is not sitting on the fence, it is too close to call and an insult to all others in my opinion to select but one.

 

This was essentially a TEAM effort, nothing more and nothing less, and should be recognised as such. The collective spirit of the players was exceptional and the biggest reason for survival.

 

BEST GOAL: No question, it has to be Tiote's missile which capped the most incredible comeback I have ever witnessed against a battered and bruised Arsenal.

 

BIGGEST SHOCK: Being humiliated 3-1 at League Two Stevenage to be dumped out of an FA Cup, where Stoke City got to the Wembley final.

 

The defeat, heightened by the sending off of Tiote, came just three days after a high – the 5-0 dousing of West Ham.

 

BEST HOME MATCH: Yeah, 4-4 Arsenal would need consideration as the Best Half Match of the Season, but there can only be one winner. To beat the Mackems is satisfying, to have a hat-trick hero unusual, but to literally slaughter them 5-1 with devastating, pacy football is, well, something the memory will retain for many a year.

 

BEST AWAY DAY: Did you realise the Mags won as many away PL matches (five) as champions Manchester United? Out of the five I will go for the 1-0 victory at Arsenal back at the beginning of November when the Gunners were still a quality team and not the men of regular surrender they became in the last few matches of the season.

 

This was the Magpies at their potent best – a clever Barton free-kick and a towering leap by Carroll undoing Arsene Wenger.

 

MANAGER VERDICT: Let's deal in facts first.

 

Chris Hughton piloted United to 11th, 19 points gained from 16 matches (five wins, four draws and seven defeats) before he was promptly jettisoned.

 

Alan Pardew then took the Mags on to finish 12th, 27 points from 22 games (six wins, nine draws and 7 defeats).

 

About level given Pardew at the same 16-match cut-off point as Hughton had but one extra point to show for his efforts.

 

Therefore, it could be concluded, there was little reason to change generals. Except it can be argued Pardew had to operate in a potentially more difficult climate during a long run for home without Carroll who was always at Hughton's side.

 

He had at his disposal only two strikers who could start, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands, given that United's manager did not trust Nile Ranger and only signed OAP Shefki Kuqi for the most dire of emergencies.

 

That was quite an achievement, and so was Pardew's ability to pour soothing words upon a dressing-room ready to revolt at the treatment meted out to Hughton.

 

The jury remains out, however, because the biggest test of acceptance is still to come. Summer signings will reveal all.

 

LOW POINT: Was it an honest man Hughton going so ruthlessly – or all the lies over Carroll? The latter, because now Geordies are again wondering who they can believe, which means cynicism is awash across the terraces. Honest explanation delivered calmly is still the best policy.

 

 

 

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-u...l#ixzz1NSi9kz6k

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-u...-name_page.html

 

So we won as many away games as the champions? Cant be bad then.

[ewerk 31236]

Aye but their away form was shit, at least by PL winning standards.

Edited May 26, 2011 by ewerk

[Deano 0]

Aye but their away form was shit, at least by PL winning standards.

 

Aye but still won then league...not that shit then ay?

[ewerk 31236]

But shit by PL winning standards.

 

As I clearly stated in my previous post. You fucking mong.

[Ayatollah Hermione 14086]

Our away form was the 8th best in the league and it wasn't particularly good. Won 5, drawn 5, lost 9.

[ewerk 31236]

On the other hand, our home form was on a par with Birmingham's.

[Guest alex]

Apparently if you combine our home and away form it was the 12th best in the league.

[Deano 0]

But shit by PL winning standards.

 

As I clearly stated in my previous post. You fucking mong.

 

Haha your the mong.

 

If its good enough for the champions then its good enough for me.

 

Alex you are a legend of comedy by the way....total pure legend!

[LeazesMag 0]

we should now play 38 games away from home next season on this basis

Edited May 26, 2011 by LeazesMag

[Meenzer 15742]

Except it can be argued Pardew had to operate in a potentially more difficult climate during a long run for home without Carroll who was always at Hughton's side.

 

He had at his disposal only two strikers who could start, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands, given that United's manager did not trust Nile Ranger and only signed OAP Shefki Kuqi for the most dire of emergencies.

 

Could've sworn some fella called Best scored half a dozen goals after Christmas.

[Neville Neville Neville 0]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-u...-name_page.html

 

So we won as many away games as the champions? Cant be bad then.

 

great post!!1!!

 

we also scored the 2nd most goals at home in the season. what a great team.

oh, but we're in the bottom 5 of home games won. what a shit team

and we scored the joint least number of away goals. what an abortion of a team.

 

tell you what, all we have to do is get the players to concede less goals at home, score more goals away and keep the same/improve the goals scored at home and conceded away. and ask everyone else in the league to politely act the same and we'll rocket up the table. i'm not quite sure what combination of signings and returning players are required to do that but it seems straightforward enough.

 

i'd also get all your money on blackburn to qualify for the champions' league. 4th best team in the league at half time. all they have to do is replicate that form in the 2nd 45 mins of 38 games and the owners will realise their dreams.

either that or get all your money on blackburn being relegated. what happens if they bring their form in second halves to the first half.

 

(stats courtesy of http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics)