This time two years ago, when Newcastle United were a Championship team, many would have never believed they would be in the position they are today. With their unbeaten run in the league remaining intact until a meeting with Manchester City mid-November, Alan Pardew’s men looked the real deal; and the Tyneside club are still going strong.
After his controversial replacement of the popular Chris Hughton, Pardew was brought in by owner and businessman Mike Ashley in December 2010. Newcastle finished a respectable 12th, and the summer transfer window saw several new faces for the club.
Most notably, super-striker Demba Ba was brought in on a free, signing a 3-year deal after West Ham were relegated to the Championship, enabling the 26 year-old to leave the Londoners. Pardew has never looked back to the Andy Carroll days; especially as Ba’s 16 goals so far this season sees him in sparkling form, and an essential part of the squad.
Midfield magician Yohan Cabaye was also a new arrival to the North East, putting pen to paper on a 5-year deal after leaving the French club Lille. Cabaye, capped 9 times by France, has been a pivotal element to the Newcastle midfield, providing inspiration and composure so far this season.
A more recent signing, £10m Papiss Demba Cisse, also of Senegal recently made his debut as Newcastle’s new No.9. Albeit unproven in the English game in the long run, his sweet left-foot winner overall performance against Aston Villa gives the Toon’s faithful fans much more to anticipate in front of goal.
Pardew’s managerial masterminding teamed with a squad of determined players means Newcastle are sitting comfortably in 5th position at the time of writing-a single point behind Chelsea and 2 points above Arsenal.
But can they stay there all season? Or even push forwards to fourth? If so, the Magpies will have some serious obstacles to overcome in the coming months.
Despite being in a state of transition and uncertainty, Chelsea look a likely team to secure the final Champions League place (with United, City and Spurs looking pretty certain as the top three), and as the acrobatic Andres Villas-Boas gains experience in the English game whilst shedding ageing players, the Blues will be looking to knock the Manchester clubs from the top of the tree.
However, Chelsea are not the only club reminiscing better days. Over at the Emirates Stadium, more and more seats are lacking an owner who would usually gaze in awe upon Arsenal’s magnificent football. Yet, this has not been the case; dips in form from the Gunners and a lack of that money spent improving the team that fans are crying out for means that the prestigious club are slowly slipping backwards. Additionaly, Arsene Wenger has come under much fire after his managerial decisions of late. Is it the Frenchman who is reluctant to spend? And why did he substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Manchester United? There are many questions that Arsenal fans want answering, and soon; their beloved club are hardly the ‘invincibles’ they once were.
Posing a little less threat, but certainly pushing to be right up there again is Liverpool. Under Kenny Dalglish, the Reds are certainly are force, knocking both Manchester clubs out of the League and F.A cup and picking up numerous wins on the road. On the other hand, their home record is not so good. Anfield has witnessed too many draws this season against opposition which Liverpool fans expect to be beating; teams like Norwich and Swansea have left Merseyside with a point. Several adjustments need to be made, but the Red half of Merseyside are not far from becoming a Champions League team again, and possible title contenders.
Given the fact that Newcastle, going into the final third of the season, lack recent experience that would suggest they could call the 4th spot their own come May, the Tyneside club will most certainly have to over-achieve and prove many wrong.
However, Alan Pardew has already pulled strings at Newcastle that were recently very much out of reach, and to even gain a Europa League place this season would be a miraculous achievement (given that the Toon’s form continues, of course). Therefore, Newcastle fans should be very proud to see their club flying high again and remain optimistic about what is to come.
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