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Post by Stokie in Geordieland on Apr 9, 2009 9:20:58 GMT
The prem is getting down to the real business end of the season now, with almost every game seaming like a six pointer for most clubs, be it for relegation or for europe/title race.
I've been thinking about the teams involved at the wrong end of the table and I've come to the conclusion that we stand a really good chance (regardless of the fact we're 6 points clear at the moment).
I think its all about how the teams cope with these high pressure six pointers. A good few of our regular first 11, and a lot of the squad were involved in last seasons promotion, when the pressure was huge in those last remaining games against the likes of Bristol, Colchester & Leicester. We've been here before. Ok, so its a different position to be in (going for promotion or fighting to stay up). But I think the mindset in the camp is the same, we are still playing well unlike other teams around us.
I wonder when the last time anyone in the Newcastle squad had a high pressure game like the one approaching? For a lot of their players, like Collocini, Duff, Owen, Martins, Guthierez, they're not used to a relegation dog fight and I'm betting they don't like it one bit. Our manager, our players and the fans have been there before, and come out smiling at the end.
Lets hope this experience counts for something in the next 2 games!
GOARN STOKE!!!!!
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Post by assessornum1 on Apr 9, 2009 9:22:41 GMT
Good post friend
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 9, 2009 9:26:19 GMT
Probably a bit different, but I suppose you could say a lot of their players have played in frenzied atmospheres in South America and the latter stages of European tournaments and World Cups, as well as big European derbies and fighting for titles .
It's not the same but it does take a certain kind of mental toughness to play for elite teams when you're the target for the tiddlers every week.
But, it has to be said, they haven't stood up to the pressure at all well so far - and long may it continue now the pressure at the wrong end is on for real
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Post by ersaurebot 1, 000, 000 views on Apr 9, 2009 9:30:53 GMT
we also expected to be where we are (well worse actually) Castle and boro expected to play some nice football and push for the top ten. THey werent bought in by their respective managers because they would be good in a relegation dog fight, nor was that the job that they were sold.
Hopefully we will be ok, we are playing reasonably well, if we keep playing resonably well, we will pick up some more points. Saturday is crucial though that we dont lose (loose) as newcastle are down there, a draw is not what they are looking for and they have their messiah now so three points is expected.
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Post by Stokie in Geordieland on Apr 9, 2009 9:30:54 GMT
There's a growing expectation on tyneside that Shearer will guide them to a win on Saturday, Newcastle expects, so the pressure continues to mount.
By the time they walk out in front of a packed Brit they will be bricking themselves (I hope)!!!
EDIT - Reading the local papers up here, a few of them have already been thinking about their futures. Bassong wants to go to Arsenal for example, and Collocini has been dropped from the Argy squad because Newcastle have been performing so badly! And the likes of Alan Smith will be wondering where his next £60k a week contract is coming from.
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Post by frasiertruffles on Apr 9, 2009 9:44:32 GMT
I have a bad feeling about this one.
Rather than them bricking it, i think they will be really fired up, to make amends for the Chelsea match.
Hope i'm wrong.
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Post by mark71 on Apr 9, 2009 9:54:31 GMT
I have a bad feeling about this one. Rather than them bricking it, i think they will be really fired up, to make amends for the Chelsea match. Hope i'm wrong. I tend to agree with you, Newcastle have got some quality players but they are individuals not a team, Newcastle on paper should beat us just like most other teams in the Premiership should, but our togetherness has been the deciding factor in many games. My only concern is that we keep a clean sheet, I fancy us to score against any team so for me a clean sheet will give us the win we need. |
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Post by assessornum1 on Apr 9, 2009 11:21:57 GMT
We dont play on paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Bick on Apr 9, 2009 11:31:28 GMT
I agree, Stoke have a close knit team with a great team spirit. I don't think the same is true for newcastle so that is likely to be their undoing.
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Post by Paul Spencer on Apr 9, 2009 11:54:40 GMT
Are Newcastle really THAT much better man for man than us on paper though? On a thread the other day somebody suggested that if you merged the two current first XI's together that the team might look something like this: Sorensen Beye - Shawcross - Faye - Enrique Lovenkrands - Delap - Nolan - Etherington Beattie - Martins Harper Wilko Bassong Whelan Lawrence Fuller Owen You could argue that Bassong might get in ahead of Shawcross but equally Lenny might get in ahead of Lovenkrands or Whelan ahead of Nolan. However the point being that it's not like Newcastle are better than us man for man across the whole pitch, more like 50/50 or at worst 60/40. Our home form is excellent as where Newcastle have only won one more away game than us all season, we ARE and always have been psychologically better prepared for the game and of course we haven't even mentioned the Bear Pit crowd to throw into the equation. No Squeaky Bum from me ... more like, just bring it on!  |
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Post by stan on Apr 9, 2009 12:11:21 GMT
I think, at best, they'd have one of our centre-halves* and Beattie (although, clearly, he's not in the same class as a fully-fit Owen). I really don't think they'd want any of our midfield; throws aside, Delap wouldn't be near their team and Ethers would struggle to dislodge the likes of Gutierez (who looks brilliant at times) and Duff.
We are a better *team* than Newcastle, though.
*As highly as we rate Shawcross, I'd guess they'd take Taylor ahead of him.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 9, 2009 12:12:50 GMT
That Argie winger, Gutierrez, seems one to watch.
You'd definitely take him over Lawrence.
It is hard to separate out reputation over consistent performance without watching these people consistently.
On the surface, Bassong/Taylor and Shawcross/Faye is close-ish but Bassong is supposed to be a damn good centre-half and Taylor keeps attracting plaudits.
Harper and Sorensen is a close call too?
On form you'd have to have Barton ( at least the Man City on-the-pitch version, although he's unfit) and Nolan (at his Bolton best), Duff (the Blackburn and Chelsea version), Beye, Owen and Martins.
Maybe even Butt ahead of Delap in DM?
We seem to be a sum greater than our collective parts though, and they're clearly the opposite
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Post by Paul Spencer on Apr 9, 2009 12:45:46 GMT
I think the key word in my original post was the word 'current'. After all it is 'current' that will be important on Saturday. Barton is injured, Nolan has been poor since he arrived and Duff and Butt have both been well below par for a while now. Watch them all have blinders on Saturday now though!  |
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Post by vestanpance on Apr 9, 2009 12:52:21 GMT
Goerdie,
They seem a little over-confident to me...the fans at least.
Is the belief up there we'll simply be swept aside by them on Saturday?
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Post by JoeinOz on Apr 9, 2009 12:54:20 GMT
Yes my bum is officially squeaking.
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Post by Stokie in Geordieland on Apr 9, 2009 12:58:22 GMT
Geordie, They seem a little over-confident to me...the fans at least. Is the belief up there we'll simply be swept aside by them on Saturday? It really depends who you talk to up here. For some fans (generally the ones you see outside the ground singing Shearer, Shearer in front SSN cameras) we are a tiny club that will roll over and die because Alan Shearer says so. They see nothing other than a Newcastle win. The more knowledgeable Toon fans know exactly what to expect from saturday, and they are extremely concerned. To the second set of fans, this really is a MUST MUST MUST WIN game. |
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Post by Paul Spencer on Apr 9, 2009 13:22:58 GMT
Goerdie, They seem a little over-confident to me...the fans at least. Is the belief up there we'll simply be swept aside by them on Saturday? It's a mixed bag here, although a lot though are very realistic it would seem: www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,61157.30.html |
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Post by jimmygscfc on Apr 9, 2009 14:21:14 GMT
I'm expecting at least one sending off on Saturday and I hope it's from Newcastle. This is a massive game for both and there's an argument that it's bigger for them than us. A point for us wouldn't be a disaster but would leave them still some way behind even though they've got a few winnable games. I'll take a point from each of our remaining games now!!!
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Post by suttontiger on Apr 9, 2009 14:29:41 GMT
I have a bad feeling about this one. Rather than them bricking it, i think they will be really fired up, to make amends for the Chelsea match. Hope i'm wrong. I tend to agree with you, Newcastle have got some quality players but they are individuals not a team, Newcastle on paper should beat us just like most other teams in the Premiership should, but our togetherness has been the deciding factor in many games. My only concern is that we keep a clean sheet, I fancy us to score against any team so for me a clean sheet will give us the win we need. Seen them 4 times this season, and they are truly awful. They are exactly where they deserve to be, they are the worst team I've seen in this division. It wont be pretty, but I fully expect you to win |
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Post by Stokie in Geordieland on Apr 9, 2009 14:34:43 GMT
I hope your right SuttonTiger!
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Post by barmystokie1 on Apr 9, 2009 14:39:47 GMT
i definitly hope your right suttontiger... i am very nervous but still have us down to win 2-1 after a very tense affair!!!
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Post by suttontiger on Apr 9, 2009 14:49:46 GMT
i definitly hope your right suttontiger... i am very nervous but still have us down to win 2-1 after a very tense affair!!! This Shearer thing is a desperate act IMO, and I think its too late, their squad is still crap. The odd decent player, but losing Given was the biggest blow for them. He had a superb season with them, which just shows how bad their defence is. |
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Post by edouardlapaglie on Apr 9, 2009 14:51:33 GMT
I actually have a squeaky bum, crazy poop
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Post by Denis Smiths fow staith on Apr 9, 2009 14:57:45 GMT
I feel more confident going into this match than any other this season. They have got our narrow pitch to cope with along with the Stoke fans. The biggest factor I feel, and I noticed this with West Brom last week and at home to Middlesborough, is that when a team is struggling at or near the bottom of the table they get desperate when in front of goal. I can see Stoke winning this 2-0.
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Post by jacka118 on Apr 9, 2009 15:01:31 GMT
good post...GOOARRNN
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Post by Stokie in Geordieland on Apr 9, 2009 15:04:22 GMT
I feel more confident going into this match than any other this season. They have got our narrow pitch to cope with along with the Stoke fans. The biggest factor I feel, and I noticed this with West Brom last week and at home to Middlesborough, is that when a team is struggling at or near the bottom of the table they get desperate when in front of goal. I can see Stoke winning this 2-0. I see your point about desperation in front of goal, particularly with Boro in mind, but I wouldn't tarnish the Toon with that brush, Owen is still one of the divisions best finishers and always seems to pop up in the right place. We just need to cut off the supply. On a plus point, along with the narrower pitch and the hightened atmosphere at the brit compared with last season we also have the likes of Abdy, Ethers and Beattie! Plus a rejuvinated Glen Whelan and vastly matured CB Shawcross. We're a different prospect to the side the Toon played earlier this season, let alone last season!  |
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Post by ST1 Stokie on Apr 9, 2009 15:07:44 GMT
My penneth(for what its worth).I think this is a massive,massive game for the Geordies because,if they win it not only reels us back in but it gives them a shot in the arm in confidence.Lose and the gap not only widens with us but a good chance with other teams around them,plus a few heads may drop among them.I'll take a draw now if offered 1-1.
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Post by Denis Smiths fow staith on Apr 9, 2009 15:14:46 GMT
I don't think they will cope with the pressure. Another early goal for us will do very nicely Mr Fuller or Mr Beattie thank you.
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