15th March 2007 – the attendance was a little over 16,000 and AZ Alkmaar won 2-0 on the night; 4-4 on aggregate and went through on away goals.
That sentence will stick in the minds of many Newcastle. It was the last time they were in a European competition. Now back into the Barclays Premier League and seemingly here to stay they may just have their eye on Europe again.
Newcastle, who just three seasons ago were relegated to the Championship, bounced back up at the first chance under Chris Hughton and managed to avoid relegation quite easily that season but not under the same man. Hughton was sacked in December as the club thought they should bring someone in that ‘could take the club forward’. At the time it seemed like the wrong decision, well that’s what the fans, Alan Shearer, Colin Calderwood, Sol Campbell and even Lord Alan Sugar thought. Maybe Hughton did deserve to stay, maybe he even would have saved them from relegation, who knows he might have even got them within one point of a top half finish.
Alan Pardew was the man that managed to do all that. Brought in after Hughton was left go, he not only kept them in the league but was only one point away from the top half of the table. On his appointment Pardew stated that Newcastle are one of the top five clubs in England; something you could maybe have to disagree with him on as they are probably a number of clubs that have moved past them, but that could why this season’s ambition has to be a European spot for the Geordies.
It may be early in the season and teams are still getting to know each other but they’ve already managed to grind out two draws against Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers when they hadn’t played the best they can and managed to beat both Fulham and Sunderland. Surely nothing should stand in the way of Newcastle trying to better themselves from last season, only eight points more last season would have got them that European spot. With an unbeaten start to this season, while playing not to well to say the least, they’re a team that will only get better and more confident as the season goes on, they also have lady luck on their side.
Unfair to say they’ve been lucky and pretty poor, I think not. When you compare them to bottom of the table Blackburn who have had a dreadful start to the season, the statistics are very compelling.
| Newcastle | Blackburn | |
| Games |
4 |
4 |
| Completed Passes |
1037 |
1038 |
| Shots on target |
10 |
11 |
| Shots off target |
18 |
26 |
| Goals |
3 |
3 |
| Clean Sheets |
3 |
0 |
| Points |
8pts |
1pt |
So does it come down to luck, or is it all about keeping clean sheets and taking your chances when you can? Probably a bit of both. Newcastle though, shall look at the last four matches thinking they’ve got more points than they’ve bargained for and can now push on from here. Will the bubble burst soon? Of course it is likely it will at some point, they will drop points and possibly go on a bad run.
One thing is for sure a club like Newcastle shouldn’t be down at the bottom trying to avoid relegation. A top half finish should be the minimum requirement and with an average of only seven points splitting seventh and tenth in the league over the last three season then why can’t we see Newcastle Football Club in Europe again?
Photo courtesy of maughany90.
Interesting article – especially when you compare our stats to Blackburn’s.
3 clean sheets out of 4 is impressive for us!
We rode our luck against QPR, but defensively we have played well. We have a very good young keeper in Tim Krul and central defenders Taylor and Colocinni and Danny Simpson is improving at right back.
My only concern is our make shift left back, Ryan Taylor. He was found out against SWP when we played QPR and Gervinho had some success too. OUr newly acquired left back, Davide Santon is out for a month at least as well.
Tiote and Cabaye in central midfield do a very good job protecting the back four as well.
Our problem is up front – we look very toothless and 3 goals in 4 games emphasise this. We’ll have to find a solution to this in January, if we’re even going to think of European prospects.
Thanks for commenting Colin, I have to agree with you on your left back position first and foremost as the times I’ve saw Ryan Taylor play he just doesn’t look like a great, in fact not even a good defender. The fast Santon is fit the better.
If you can add to the squad in January, up front mainly and ride your luck and perform well until then, I personally think Newcastle have a great chance at a European spot.
Those stats compared to Blackburn are very interesting though aren’t they.
Fantastic prediction. Not many Toon fans would have agreed with 4 games gone but here we are with 4 to play and we’re guaranteed at least Europe league!
You were even spot on about strengthening up front in January.