da bet7：
da betcris：
I am hoping that a slow start to the second half of the season does not disguise what has been a fantastic season for Newcastle United. The Magpies have been in the top seven of the Premier League season pretty much the whole way through and Alan Pardew has built a solid team that includes undoubted quality all over the pitch.
After Andy Carroll’s departure to Merseyside around 13 months ago, with Chris Hughton harshly sacked just a month before, it would be easy to assume that the formidable soap opera tag could return to St James’ Park after years of ups and downs. But thankfully Pardew got the best out of a mediocre squad until the end of the season, when he was able to bring in his own players that have taken the club to the next level.
Arguably the signing of the season, Demba Ba, has notched 16 goals and unsung heroes Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini singed long term contract extensions last week that has once again signalled the aspirations of the board and management alike. The £9million investment of Papiss Cisse looks promising and there is sure to be some more shrewd business done by the underrated Pardew in the summer.
[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]
However, as far as European football is concerned, I fear this year could be to Toons’ best and only chance of qualification for a long time. As well as Newcastle have played, especially in the first half of the season, clubs that are consistently challenging for the top four, five or six spots have underachieved this season and that could all change next time out.
Mega-rich Chelsea find themselves just two points clear of the North East club and currently occupy the Europa League spot after majorly disappointing this season. Andre Villas Boas has paid the price by losing his job at Stamford Bridge as Champions League qualification is the minimum expectation from the impatient owner. Rumours are spreading as to who will take charge in the summer, with Jose Mourinho’s name among the favourites. With a summer clear out of ageing and disruptive players on the cards and a new boss at the helm, the Blues may well be a force once again next season and leave the likes of Newcastle flagging behind.
A much improved Arsenal side since the turn of the year currently sit in the fourth and final Champions League spot and five points clear of the Geordies with the sides meeting on Monday night at the Emirates. Robin van Persie is the best striker in the world at the moment and at times has carried a below par Arsenal squad. However, a new confidence has clearly been installed in the players and the often criticised defence even looks solid now as the business end of the season nears. Arsene Wenger resisted the temptation to invest in the squad in January and may well bring in some more quality this summer as they look to hold on to that fourth spot for seasons to come.
Liverpool were the big spenders of last summer and the January before, revamping their depleted squad with well known fresh faces that have disappointed throughout this season. However, a Carling Cup final triumph has secured their Europa League spot for next season and crushed Newcastle’s hopes of gaining an extra spot via league positions. The Reds’ reputation has been majorly tarnished this season with race rows both on and off the pitch and the clubs shameful attitude to stick by players who were clearly in the wrong. The new owners at Liverpool are clearly putting their money into the club and will continue that this summer, fixing any cracks in the side that have developed in this disappointing league season. Many neutral football fans would agree that Newcastle deserve to be playing European football next season after the year they have had, but it is becoming more and more unlikely.
The Magpies will be hoping for two clubs that have already qualified for European football to be in the FA Cup Final, which could guarantee a Europa League spot for the North East club via sixth spot, or maybe even seventh in the league with Liverpool’s Carling Cup situation. However, this year has got to be the year for them, as I fully expect the top five sides to improve next season and also the likes of Everton, Sunderland and Aston Villa will be closer to the European places and put more pressure on Pardew’s side to be consistent. It would be great to see a club such as Newcastle representing England in any European competition but there is certainly a lot more work to be done to secure it.
Disagree? Will Newcastle fade away in seasons to come? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
[ffcvideo file=”tfcb5″ type=”mp4″ image_type=”jpg”]