Things are looking up at the moment.
Posted on September 1st, 2010 | 329 Comments |
At this precise moment in time I don’t think things could be going much better for a Newcastle fan. It’s all relative of course, and we could be in the Champions League, 1st in the Premier League and so on, but we’re not.
However, we have made a rather solid start to life back in the Premier League. It’s only three games in and I understand that it may be a bit too early to judge things, but surely most fans are happy with the start we have made this season? A solid performance at Old Trafford, a 6-0 hammering of Aston Villa, and a point away at a ground that is notoriously tough to visit all combine to add to the feel good feeling. I mean, if you were offered four points after playing two of last seasons top six and away at a relegation rival in the first three games of the season, you would have taken that before the season started wouldn’t you? I would.
A lot of the positive vibes so far have been as a result of, wait for it…… A largely successful transfer window. Shock horror. Mind you, it’s hard not to feel good about our transfers dealings after the “no capital outlay” statement. A lot of fans expected nothing so were just happy to be seeing numbers coming into the squad. Sensible money spent on sensible investment.
Things could have been better mind, and we probably could have done with another striker at least, but the fact that we had bids for Keane, Erdinc and probably a few other names who ply their trade as a striker would suggest that this is a known area for improvement and could be made a priority for the January window.
Then there is Chris Hughton who is adding to the feel good factor. Even his staunchest doubters have had to hold their hands up give the quiet man his portion of credit. Hughton has played a blinder this window, especially given the fact that he has had such limited resources available to him. He has conducted himself brilliantly and has shown he can get the best bang for his buck.
Then there is the type of football we are trying to play at the moment. I think a lot of us were expecting hoofball football this season, especially given the fact we have a beast in the air up front in the shape of Andy Carroll. However, we have tried to play proper football, passing football, and some of it has been brilliant. Against Aston Villa our passing was immense. Little passing triangles popped up all over the pitch as Newcastle made Villa look silly. It impressed me no end and was lovely to watch.
Last up on my list of positives has to be Andy Carroll. I said all along that he would make an impact in the Premier League, and that is what he is doing. Whilst he didn’t score at Old Trafford, Nemanja Vidic, who is probably about the most physical defender in the league, will have known he was in a game. Aston Villa felt the force of Carroll as he smashed a hat-trick against them, and those cloggers from Wolverhampton were left battered and bruised by both his physical presence and goal scoring form.
Seeing a local lad do well will put a smile on all of our faces. It’s the local hero story that people love to love. When you combine all of what I have just written together I think it safe to say that so far this season, the positives have far, far outweighed the negatives. I haven’t felt this upbeat about my club for a good few seasons now, and I think applies for quite a few people aswell.
Long may it continue!
NUFCBlog Author: toonsy
toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.
even a mackem admitted at work that he would rather have had our transfer window than theirs!!
Incredibly happy with how things are at the minute, be even more with 50 points come April :D