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We're Newcastle and we're gonna win the league!

Posted by Marc Duffy on 10/18/2011

What a start to the season. The boys are doing us proud.

A lot has been written about our superb start and many media pundits claimed before last weeks 2 v 2 draw with Tottenham that “Newcastle haven’t played anyone yet.” Utter nonsense. We have played 5 out of last seasons top 10 so far.

So how do we literally compare vs. Last season on (and off) the pitch?

Here are a couple of head-to-head result and attendance statistics comparing this season to last, further highlighting how much improvement looks to have been made on the pitch:

Alan Pardew

HOME
.............................Last season...............................This season
Arsenal...................4 v 4 (1 point)..............................0 v 0 (1 point)
Fulham....................0 v 0 (1 point).............................2 v 1 (3 points)
Blackburn................1 v 2 (0 points)...........................3 v 1 (3 points)
Spurs......................1 v 1 (1 point).............................2 v 2 (1 point)
Wigan.....................2 v 2 (1 point).............................1 v 0 (3 points)

TOTAL.....................4 points, -1 GD..........................11 points, +4 GD

AWAY

mackems..................1 v 1 (1 point)............................1 v 0 (3 points)
QPR.........................Did not play..............................0 v 0
Villa..........................0 v 1 (0 points)..........................1 v 1 (1 point)
Wolves......................1 v 1 (1 point)............................2 v 1 (3 points)

TOTAL ......................2 points, -1 GD.........................7 points, +2 GD (excl QPR)

OVERALL

Last season we picked up only 6 points from the equivalent fixtures and had a goal difference of -2. This season we have picked up a fantastic 18 points (QPR excluded) and a +6 goal difference.

Whether they think we have played anyone or not, no-one can argue with those results!

In all competitions we are 14 games unbeaten – the last time we lost was on May 1st at Anfield, 169 days before the time I wrote this.

Our home attendances are consistent this season. It is a little bit of a surprise that the average is very sightly down on last season, but televised games (Arsenal and Spurs this year) had an obvious impact.
................................Last season...This season

Arsenal.....................51,561......................................46,894......................(-4,667)
Fulham.....................44,686......................................42,684......................(-2,002)
Blackburn.................41,053......................................46,236......................(+5,183)
Spurs.......................51,010......................................46,420......................(-4,590)
Wigan......................44,415......................................48,321......................(+3,906)

AVERAGE...............46,545......................................46,111

This weekends attendance vs Wigan was superb given that they only brought approximately 400 supprters.

The Wigan match was also the first home game in which Alan Pardew's name was chanted by more than a small minority - a real sign of how things have gone so far this season on the park.

And finally, Level 7 lads (and lasses) – I’m glad you were moved, for selfish reasons! The atmosphere in that last 20 minutes vs Tottenham was superb and I know that many of you were the driving force behind it.

You can follow me on Twitter @MarcSDuffy

Comments

Posted by Marc Duffy on 10/23/2011

Excuse the layout here - I am trying to adjust the formatting!

Posted by Darren Grant-Hall on 10/23/2011

Nice to hear from you again Marc, We've been having a great time of it, but we've not really been playing that well.

If we get wins over Stoke and Everton do you think we'll have a chance of getting a win/draw against any of the big 3?

MD: you're right - we were poor in spells v Spurs (but also excellent at times) and pretty awful on Saturday but as long as we win, I'm happy! I think we will lose both games in Manchester but will take something from Chelsea.

Posted by Dominique Kee on 10/24/2011

Hey there Marc.

Hardcore Toon here from Malaysia. I don't mean to be a troll, but I think there is a typo up there - you missed out on 1 point from our draw with QPR - making a total haul of 19 points from 9 games in the Premier League so far (not 18...)

Cheers!

MD: Hi Dominique. No, there is no typo there - it is a direct comparison between the teams we have played this season and how we fared against them last season when QPR were in the Championship. Thanks for reading. Marc

Posted by fendyoasis on 10/24/2011

We will win with both manchester clubs if Steven Taylor dont give out stupid penalties, other than that our defense...SUPERB! (Like Pardew shouts near the touchline). I like Taylor but he should watch out whenever he is in the penalty box.

Yes we will win the league this year..and im also from Malaysia. Wish i had money so that i can buy Newcastle United..oh well.

Posted by fiezzy on 10/24/2011

Gud job Marc..I love the stat..Number show facts!!Only our home attendance show slightly decrese compare to last season..I juz read that we can get 1/2 price on season ticket for the remaining season..Wish can go to SJP when get enough money..huhu!!Actually,i'm from Malaysia too..

P/S:Marc,can Newcastle United come to Malaysia as a tour in the end of this season? Please.. =)

MD: The Malaysian Toon Army are out in force today!

Posted by KJ Wang on 10/24/2011

True Newcastle Fan From Singapore. It's been a while to get to see the team playing with some better determination and direction. This current team has a great heart and spirit that makes them such a stubborn team to score against.

Tim Krul is currently the best goalkeeper in the league. We are always so blessed with Goalkeepers but i'm worried about our striking department. We need a very good striker. Hope we can get the next Dennis Bergkamp. Yes, a Dutch Master for a change.

And hopefully we can be the first team to have a lethal striking partnership. These days, partnership is near to none.

Newcastle United, the time to shine again, has come!

Posted by Mal on 10/24/2011

Interesting comparison with last year. Already 12 points up and hopefully this will get better as we lost all of our next 4 fixtures last year.

Posted by Dileep Kannan on 10/25/2011

Great comparison Marc!!! Nothing speaks as crisply as hard data in the face of all those 'pundits'.

The Toon is on a roll and I for one (have been following the club from India for 11+ years now) am as pleased as punch!! Seems the Geordie-French Revolution is steaming full-on ahead!!

Keep the posts rolling in mate. The boys in B&W are gonna need every supportive word we can muster. Cheers.

Posted by tinyfeet on 10/26/2011

Time to spend the money from Carroll's sale.. sure we can get some quality players.. go toons

Posted by sasalleh on 10/26/2011

NUFC makes me proud again. Continue the good run.

Posted by Khairi on 10/28/2011

I hope the League Cup loss will give more motivation for the Magpies to put in more for their shifts on the field.

Yes. We are unbeaten in the league, but so what? Not only for the Spurs game, another performance that the team has to be critical about itself was that against Wigan.

There was a lack of urgency, and our much-fancied winger that of Obertan, who at first gave quite a positive impression via his first few games, did not even dare to take on a defender one-on-one. His offensive attitude was severely lacking, and most of the time, he prefers to pass back.

Of course, our defence this season is very refreshing, compared to our recent previous seasons. Nowadays the frequency of our backline wanting to pass the ball from the back, instead of pumping them up, is higher. And so far, no real catastrophes of bungling balls (Remember the likes of Bramble, Dabizas, Hughes?). I so pray that those days never come back

Posted by Andy on 10/28/2011

NUFC always shows that if you have a LOYAL fan base and the players are following the rules of the game, great things happen. Kudos team, I am proud of you....like always. Toon for life!

Posted by Andy on 10/29/2011

not so fast. i am just happy to be where we are today.

Posted by Oh really? on 10/30/2011

Haha you toons, a few early wins and speaking like you are going to win the league, oh really? This sounds almost as erractic as your dear Mike.

Please pardon me having a go at it, couldn't resist. By no means am i a troll or hater, but it always bemuses me how fan emotions can swing so radically from one end to the other just because of a few wins. The league is 38 games after all not 9.

Nevertheless I would really congratulate Newcastle on this fantastic start of the season. Like arsenal, many have written you off because of the sheer talent that left in the summer and the lack of replacement. But you managed to grind out deserving rezults for the last 9 games! That's something that really bewilders me about Newcastle, which I think you should be proud of as well, that no matter what sh#t comes along your way, u are never knocked down and come back stronger. I for one never expected you to be above mid-table,so kudos to toon army!

(From a neutral who favours NFC B'coz AS)

Posted by issai on 11/12/2011

i am a newcastle united die hard fan in east africa tanzania and am proud of the way my team is performing now and i am praying that we make sure that the toons take the tilte this season i love the toons and will love them to my day i bite the dust as for other clubs i have no comments

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