May 2014

[Pete3206]

A very generous assessment of Newcastle given their current state of disarray.

[paul_e]

Points and goal difference are the key for me.  50 points and a positive goal difference are my targets.  I also believe both achieved would sit us 7-8th in the league.

Agreed on the targets but does that really get 7th or 8th historically?

No, but it will do going forward I think, the top clubs are pulling away because of the champions league and rest of the league is gathering up because of the TV money, I can't see the gap between 8 and 18th being much over 10 points, so given 40 is usually safe for 17th 50 is a good shout for 7-8th.  This is why predicting anything outside the top 5-6 and bottom 2-3 is so hard this year, the gap is very narrow but the gap between the CL challenging side and the rest is just going to widen.

[exigo]

A 0.3% chance of the Champions League? It's the hope that gets you.

[curiousorange]

12th with an FA Cup, 8th without.

[ez]

No. Its only crap sides below us.

[TonyD]

No - min 6th

[cheltenhamlion]

Its tough to predict what is good this year in the league. Winning a cup means it is a fruitful time however.

There are that many variables on who has come up, or signed whom and finished in what way last year, that the cheap seats are wide open.

We will score sixty. We might concede ten less. Depending on the composition the goals? 6 to 13.

[Dante Lavelli]

I reckon we'll be flying but lose our mojo somewhat after winning the League Cup at the end of March.
As a result, 12 is about right.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Its not so much finishing 12th that counts. It's the manner in which we finish 12th.

[pauliewalnuts]

Its not so much finishing 12th that counts. It's the manner in which we finish 12th.

I was going to say similar.

My initial reaction looking at that table was "no", but it doesn't tell the whole story, as it is also important to see us develop the way we play through the season.

For a team in transition as we are, you can't really go on league position alone.

If you were going to do that, you'd have to say that last season was only very marginally better than the McLeish season as we only finished one place higher, which we all know isn't really remotely true.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think we will be finishing between 6-8 and a a very good cup run with possible cup silverware.

[olaftab]

Load of bollox. Some predictable stuff however as soon as I saw Newcastle 8th it lost all credibility.

[olaftab]

I reckon we'll be flying but lose our mojo somewhat after winning the League Cup at the end of March.
As a result, 12 is about right.

Especially as we will have the FA cup final to be concerned about!

[danlanza]

No. not settling for that load of shite. Top six Villa, easy street. Europe here we come.

[garyshawsknee]

I'll be happy enough with 12 th, if Newcastle finish 8 th ill be effing amazed.