Can Newcastle take advantage of Chelsea’s tough fixture list and cause an upset?
Newcastle United have a chance on Sunday of making an impact in the Premiership – which they have failed to do all season.
They play Chelsea at St. James’ Park where last year – in the last game of the season – they won by a solitary goal scored by Titus Bramble.
In the two games they have played against Chelsea this season they have played extremely well while losing both games 1-0.
With the fans right now very unhappy with the team - the players have an excellent opportunity to produce something to send them home happy – a win.
While Chelsea are on a tremendous run of form, Newcastle could nevertheless make a dent in the London club’s pursuit of a third successive championship.
It will depend on which Newcastle team turns up on Saturday but every player should have motivation as Roeder has made it clear that they are all playing for their futures at the club.
The game will come too early for Michael Owen – but the last thing Newcastle want to do is rush Michael back this season. Newcastle’s quest for Europe is very likely over – for the second time in three years - so it may be best to keep Michael fback or next season. Whether he should be allowed to play for England in June will come under intense scrutiny from the club.
Glenn Roeder must get the best out of his players in these final games of the season - as his motivational abilities are under intense scrutiny from the fans.
This is what he had to say Friday about the game:
“Every game of football is worth winning, wherever you are in the league. Every game of football is a challenge.
It is quite weak to say, ‘the season is petering out, we are in the middle of the table, it does not matter if we finish a couple of places higher or a couple of places lower’.
That is a weak mentality. We are playing for a lot of money - every place in the Premiership is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds - so that is very much to play for.
And then, of course, there is the issue of pride. You try to finish as high up the table as you can.”
If only for pride - the Geordie fans will expect their team to challenge Chelsea with 100% all-out effort – anything less will simply not be tolerated.
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Discussion - 31 Responses
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seems there’ll be a lot of “intense scrutinizing” going on then…. deep stuff there mate deep stuff
Newcastle beat Chelsea last year after Chelsea ware crowned as champions. Chelsea had many players rested in that match…
I don’t count it as a defeat….pls talk sense.
How’s that? (laugh)
chelsea team is a very strong one this season.newcastle will try to be tough.but i think chelsea will have the day;’cos it doesn’t look like we are willing to lose any match again this season.we are set for the quadruple.God willing,we will achieve it.
Stiju - to imply that Chelsea ‘threw’ a game is bound to get you a bitchslap from Lampard, Terry and Drogba
Rex - correction on that one mate - Chelsea was strong last season. This season, they’ve looked vulnerable, but gotten through on spirit. Newcastle will be banking on breaking that spirit.
Rex - it should be a decent game - Newcastle always seem to do well against Chelsea at St James’ Park - the season before last we beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup with the winner being a fine header from Patrick Kluivert after 3 minutes. That’s the game when Wayne Bridge broke his leg.
I don’t see this Newcastle fixture being a banana skin for Chelsea. Newcastle might give Chelsea a fight (and fright) up front and maybe in midfield, but they’re not that great defensively for me. Drogba will exploit the aerial areas and someone will just clean things up for Chelsea. I think Newcastle’s best bet of stopping Drogba is to play Gooch.He seems like he’s a good physical presence, and hey…he can’t be much worse than Bramble or any other Newcastle defender.
All in all, I hope Newcastle do us a favor but i can’t see it happening. Look out for Chelsea keeping another clean sheet
Ed, did you see the Sheff Utd-Man Utd game? Did you notice the whole Sheff Utd side man-marking the Man Utd players?
Would work against Chelsea
lol…yous lot couldnt beat chelski reserves. joke team , joke manager, joke supporters….NUFC=laughing stock of football
Ahmed - I didn’t see the game - but hope Roeder did - NUFC players have chance to put this poor season behind them with one game on Sunday - to show they are not as bad as they look.
Hope the players really fight - and if they give 100% I’ll be happy enough.
Karan - it may be that Roeder will play Bramble (ahhh….) - Newcastle fans have had it with him - although 95% of the time he’s good - the other 5% he gives goals away.
I like Gooch a lot - but it may be that we don’t keep him at the club - would like to see Gooch play Sunday with Steven Taylor - who’s a real star in the making.
Gooch had great game against Liverpool - when we won 2-1.
You’re right Ed, Steven Taylor is a really bright prospect. I agree with the Gooch-Taylor combo in central defense, but doubt if it would happen. Bramble just makes too many key mistakes for me, so if Gooch makes an exit in the summer (which is very, very likely) i’ll be interested in seeing who Roeder brings in. Who knows how far Newcastle could go with a fir Michael Owen and re-jinked defense?
For an hour and half , on sunday 22nd of April , I will become a temporary jeordie , and only for that time being in my life will I be cheering for Newcaslte ! Com on Newcaslte !
Ed - just got done writing the piece on Arsenal v Tottenham, and after watching Jenas I realised just how much he’s improved in the these two seasons.
Regrets on selling him?
Any idea why he went?
And while we’re on the subject, why do Newcastle sell players cheaply?
I am and always will be a Newcastle fan since first standing in the gallowgate in the mid sixties as a boy.
This side who are not a team shame the city and its people.
Geordies mean nothing to them, Zog is a spoilt brat as is Luque while Bramble has the attention span of a 5 year old.
Dyer, Parker, Duff and Milner run, but so do chickens and they score as many goals.
Milner could be good if he played in a team.
Given has saved NUFC from the Championship in all of the last few seasons.
As a fan I hope that the “Spirit” of the Chelsea multi millionaires teaches this pathetic bunch of hoors a 5 or 6 goal lesson.
Nol is an honourable but aged exception, Oba must keep thinking “How did Shearer keep his spirits up to carry this trash week in, week out?” and no other player is worth mentioning. My grandson (8 years) asks “Dont they care grandad?” and I can’t bloody answer him!
Sad to say, Chelsea will smell blood after our poor result against Boro, can’t see Newcastle do anything but loose 3 points.
Our defence is completly fucked.
Completly and utterly fucked.
Nick - that’s the sort of positive thinking that gets you into relegation brawls at the start of the season, and mid-table obscurity towards the end of it.
Faith, my man, faith
Ahmed-I have faith we can still get the Title, I just don’t have faith Newcastle will help us on our way today.
Chelsea seemed more tired than ever…. I’ve never seen a more I-couldn’t-care-less performance. Pathetic passing today, but then I guess with the excellent run they’ve made recently this draw is an ok away result - these players are human after all. They never looked like playing to win…. although Kalou SHOULD HAVE SCORED!!!!!! But anyhow, relief for ManU…. too bad Chelsea couldn’t capitalize - today’s 3 points could’ve been their title.
Haha….
stop complaining Azar
coulda, shoulda, woulda, and you’re back where you started.
Well played by Newcastle - they gave it everything they had.
Msg #6: “…to imply that Chelsea ‘threw’ a game is bound to get you a bitchslap from Lampard, Terry and Drogba”
I don’t see why it should. None of them played in that game.
In fact, that was the game ref’d by Mile Riley, where he first let a Chelsea player (Carvalho) get carried from the field with a head-wound spurting with blood and gave the decision (in the area) to Newcastle. This was the precursor to Riley reffing the Reading v Chelsea game where both Cech and Cudicini were carried off directly to hospital with head-wounds with one free-kick and one drop ball resulting. In the most recent game Riley ref’d of Chelsea’s he failed to give a stonewall penalty when Ballack was elbow’d in the back of the head in the area by Antony Gardner.
On two other occasions, Riley has been nominated as the referee of Chelsea games (Newcastle and West Ham) and has pulled out (or been advisedly withdrawn) on the day of the match.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Welcome back Sid
Don’t let Mike Riley’s incompetency fool you into thinking that he’s capable of something sinister.
Blaming the ref for your loss is a bit petty, don’t you think? The incidents you mention, especially the Cech / Cudicini one, I support you completely on that as being horrible refereeing and an extreme case of incompetency by the FA, but how does that justify Chelsea losing to Newcastle?
Ahmed - Everything I said was hardly far from truth
…”Kalou SHOULD HAVE SCORED” - If you saw the match, you know what I’m talking about.
“I guess with the excellent run they’ve made recently this draw is an ok away result - these players are human after all”
And you suggest I’m omplaining :P? I guess you had already planned a line for Chelsea fans without even reading what they’d write
You’re too easy to provoke bud
No comments on Newcastle’s performance? They played really well and while Chelsea were tired, can that be used as an excuse? A reason for their performance, yes, but an excuse for not winning? Come on
Actually I only had a line prepared for Mourinho - that he would bitch about penalties. For Chelsea fans? Nope, no point in bothering with them, we’ve got a CL game to prepare for with no Rio or Vidic, remember?
Nah man, I’m not one of those people who can forget tons of matches coz of one draw (not even a defeat). Chelsea players don’t need an excuse for ANYTHING this season…. they’ve been pushing it to the limit. And it was AWAY, man c’mon cut them some slack…. after all Newcastle was in the ground to play as well, you can’t just keep winning. And I think Newcastle played ok - I wasn’t impressed, probably because I was judging them by Chelsea/ManU/Arsenal/Liverpool standards whom I’ve seen play lot more. Really, I think the fault was with Chelsea yesterday… they never REALLY attacked the way they do - if you saw the match you know what I’m saying.
I’m still biting my nails though - ManU has to play 3 Away 1 Home, Chelsea has 3 Home 1 Away (which includes ManU at Bridge). Let’s see what the Blues can do despite this lost opportunity…..
He wanted the move - and it’s been good for him quite honestly.
My point is that if they can do that every game there is enough talent in the side for us to do well - top six. But we let ourselves down against the weaker teams…..which we must start beating home and away.
I’m glad Newcastle got the draw - think it is good for the Premiership that Chelsea NOT win it 3 times in a row.
And very good for ManU to come back like they have this season - Ferguson is a genius.
I agree many players have let the club down - particularly this season - we want only those who want to be at Newcastle - and who will give 100% every single game.
See my comment above - if the players play with spirit every game that should ensure we get to top six.
But Roeder must drop the players who don’t perform and don’t care - whoever they are.
He’s big and strong and only 25 - currently playing for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain.