I doubt that they will get the spot, however not a bad thing aiming high However, if they were to get it, admittedly instant party mode for them and such, but with a small team, their fitness would go down in PL matches, meaning a poor season next year? Could be interesting if they actually do achieve it
Never going to happen. Chelsea are far too strong and this will tell eventually. Pardew will be aware of this and will be keeping everything crossed we can maintain our top 7 place. We've survived well enough without 5 of our spine, but even adding 4 of those guys back in can only do so much. Chelsea have had a slow start as they adapt to Villas Boas but they will click at some stage (good players always do). I think 99% of NUFC fans would be over the moon with 7th. As for Europe and next season, it will depend what happens in the summer in terms of player movement whether w ecould cope. If we could squeak into the Europa League, then I'd want us to just play the youngsters and take our chances because we are about 4 or 5 short of having a squad strong enough to cope.
He's never actually said it. It's just the usual tabloid headline. I think his actual quote was something along the lines of how we were above Arsenal and Liverpool, so we'll aim for Chelsea next. It's hardly madness to aim to overtake a team one place above and only one win better off is it? Regardless of the position. We're not exactly gonna get Chanpions league football are we lol. Targets don't always have to be achievable. I'd hope with extra game next season though (for any of the European competitions) it would mean summer squad investment and youngsters to get time in some games
Typical Newcastle, declaring their over ambitious intent.I personally think its great because their team is clearly not CL standard and I still think they've been punching above their weight for a while now.Let's hope Mr Pardews openly declared intent dosent come back to haunt him
We'll aim high, you keep aiming to finish higher than us every year. We'll all continue to live our lives.
Badger don't get me wrong, ambition is not a bad thing, but broadcasting it can leave you vunerable to criticizim if things don't work out
In this situation no. No one expected us to be any where near Europe, let alone the top 5, I doubt even the players or Pardew expected it. If it doesn't work out then oh well. Had we been in a relegation battle and Pards said we'll stay up and eventually went down then yes, you'd criticise. You can't criticise him in this sense though.
Sitting in 5th at this point of the season, it would be defeatist in the extreme to not at least hope you had a chance. They won't make it, but whatever happens, it's been a good season for them. If they could win a cup, would crown it.... oh...hang on...
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted for the first time that they are aiming for a UEFA Champions League spot. The Magpies are currently in fifth place in the Premier League, just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for a top four finish. Live on Sky Sports vs Chelsea v Man Utd February 5, 2012 3:30pm .Remote Record..Pardew has now challenged his players to catch Chelsea and achieve with it a place in next season's Champions League. "We've got to keep it going and chase down Chelsea," said Pardew. "It's a great opportunity now and hopefully we can achieve something special. "It's incredible. We're fifth and above Arsenal and Liverpool. "We've got 39 points and we're safe so that's one job done. Now we've got 15 cup finals and it's all to play for." . Champions League your having a laugh
Can't see us getting Champions League but it is a target for us to aim at, the same way as I've heard Sunderland fans discussing whether they can get into Europe now, both unlikely but you never know, football can be a strange game sometimes.
Three points off after 23 games, we're obviously in the hunt even if we're massive outsiders. After ten games people were saying we would drop, we're still in there. At some point the established order are going to have to start taking us seriously, I'd say we're approaching that point. I don't think we'll finish 4th, I think we'll do well to finish top six and even seventh would be an excellent achievement given our expectations at the start of the season.
You've got to have a plan and a goal. Fair play to them, they've earned the right to go for it imo. Whether Dr not you think they can actually get there is a matter of opinion but 5th spot after 2/3rds of the season is worth a pat on the back. Now fail you b&w scum. Lol
I know it sounds mad, but it seems that Ashley isn't afraid to spend money if its the right move and if the numbers add up. Just look at spending £10mill on Cisse. If we reached the CL spot (I don't think we will at all, but IF we did) I suspect that Ashley would consider that now would be the best time to invest to consolidate our position. The extra income from the CL would obviously help towards us and give us more room for spending. I don't mind aiming high though. Stops a team getting complacent. And we're 5th just outside the CL spots, so to me it seems the only actual thing to aim higher for is 4th and above, i.e. the CL spots.
is it possible for them to finish top 4? yes is the answer but very unlikely, if anyone would like to wager with me then bring it on. 7th for them imo but still a very successful season and pardew has done a very astounding job so well done to him
Why Not? We aren't going to go down and we are under no pressure to finish top 6 from anybody so we can go out there and play with a bit more freedom. Doubt it will happen though .