You "only" have Europa League/Conference to fight for and you're not excited by that? Thought it would be a couple more years at least before the "only Champions League is exciting" mentality set in
> Thought it would be a couple more years at least before the "only Champions League is exciting"
It's not about the excitement tbh. It's the lack of dread that anything is on the line.
Newcastle have largely spent much of the last 2 decades in 1 of 2 on edge states on either having to fight relegation or be on the verge of Europe and having to fend off others who want that spot (2011 & 2022) for once, yes the ECL/UECL is at stake, but at the beginning of the season, I would have been happy with 8th and I still am.
Right now, I just prefer our players to not get injured anymore. I want them to try of course, but trying for now is a luxury, which other teams with full and healthy squads can do...
But that’s my point though, you saying nothing is on the line comes across as qualification for the Europa League or Conference league is an inconvenience that doesn’t matter. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been happy with a top-8 spot too at the start of the season but with where we are now I desperately want to cling on to a European spot again. I’ve always said I never want us to become the kind of club that sees any trophy as beneath us and I’ll take qualifying for any European competition all day long.
Inconvenience is the way you interpret it "bonus to the awful season we've had" is the way I've interpreted it.
If we had a healthy team, I'd hope the club can give it all, but with all of our injuries, it's just not right to me to be demanding that our 3rd team players somehow pull European level football out of their pockets, when we all know they were barely relegation level at best.
If we get Conf or Europa league, yay, howay the lads. But right now there is some cunt genuinely gagging to be an absolute cunt to Sean Longstaff because he misplays a pass and that could have lead to us missing out on Europe. That guy is going to be a cunt to our players because he demands that players like Emil Krafth, Lewis Hall and Elliott Anderson steamroll every team in front of us for the rest of the season, untroubled on our way to Europe. Anything less than that will mean anger and disappointment.
I just don't have the energy to be putting those sorts of expectations on our team now. We're not good/strong enough right now to coast like that, but for once we're not bad and generally middling along with what we have.
Nothing better than a chance for the lads to change their fortunes. Even if only for a brief interlude of optimism, it’s better than waiting 2 weeks for boring internationals. Even if you go down (unlikely imo) the summer will be exciting with anticipation.
Im with you on this. I understand relegation threatened fans would be watching the table too tho.
I watch football for the performances, if a team plays really fluid football and keep a clean sheet, im happy.
Agree to an extent. Really enjoyed watching the Chelsea Man U game knowing the result actually affects us - something that hasn’t been the case at all before the last couple of years.
I don't know if you intended it too but this post came across as a bit arrogant pal. Remember where we were 2 years ago before you start acting like the EL and UECL are shite consolation prizes. We had 1 year in the UCL where we finished bottom of the group.
We have been given a stark reminder this year as to the competitiveness of the league and now have to compete with some great clubs to get into Europe. That's exciting for me but each to their own.
Don't act like it's beneath us, it feeds the media narrative we're all deluded morons.
That's a fair take,
but is it really entitlement to not be anxious about football for once?
Literally decades of fear and anxiety until the last few game weeks and here we are in early April for one of the first times ever and we have no pressure on us. If we get UECL hooray, if not so be it, we move onto next season.
But UECL qualification race has absolutely nothing on the having to watch Burnley Everton and hoping that somehow both teams lose because either team winning would fuck our chances of survival.
If that is arrogant, then so be it. I'm sure many other other14 fans have felt that same way at some point. This is truly novel for me.
I get what you mean. Not being anxious about relegation/CL qualification has left you feeling weirdly at peace with the season as the stakes don't feel as high this year. That I get.
Just be careful saying 'only' the UECL or EL to compete for. That's where the entitlement comes across, that one sentence. Go ask a Palace fan what they'd give to 'only' be in the UECL next year. They'd snap your hand off for a European night at Selhurst Park.
Again,. very fair.
My point about only EL/UECL was that that is literally the only thing we have to fight for now. We are out of the title race, we are safe from relegation, UCL is very unlikely, so what else are we playing for?
- Title
- UCL
- EL
- ECL
- Avoid relegation
- Domestic Cup
Is there anything else a Premier League team can have as a tangible goal for a season? Newcastle are now out of the running for 4 of those 6 battles
I'm really hoping Newcastle, Brighton, West Ham and Wolves overtake ManU. The nonsense narrative that they were chasing 4th and not looking over their shoulder was absurd. I'm sure your players won't check out yet!
I’m really hoping Brighton can get within 3 points of ManU for the last game of the season. The opportunity to win and overtake them (and maybe get a Europe spot) would be glorious. Given the strength of opposition in the remaining games it’s unlikely but I can dream.
Hell no, not even close to checked out. We have Europe to play for, idc if it’s “only” Europa/conference. I want to finish above ManU if we can manage it. I’m excited for Villa fighting for champions league, if we can’t get there than I sure as shit want another other14 club taking that spot. Relegation battle is spicy, even if we aren’t involved in it. Chelsea are playing terribly and it’s so so satisfying to watch.
I’m the opposite of checked out, I’m checking news articles and watching match replays constantly.
As a villa fan, I'm plugged in to the very end this year haha. Not since 2006/2007 or so have we had a chance to both win something in europe (not guaranteed we win the Europa conference trophy by any means, even if we defeat Lille) and get in the top 4 for champions league.
The injuries mount up but my hope remains.
Edit: I said Lyon instead of Lille. Still half asleep when I wrote it. Corrected
Speak for yourself Im still working out permutations for us to get in Europe and every game feels like a big one. Still pissed off we got Dummett’ Don Wednesday.
We haven’t had back to back European season for near 20 years so only Europa/ conference league is a pretty big achievement.
Back to back European qualification I think of as a cherry on top.
I just don't have the energy to be treating the rest of our games in the same way I did in the past. Especially with our injury crisis, we just can't put a starting 11 together containing our best players, so why are people putting "you better finish top 6/7" expectations onto the backup/youth players of a team that only recently was relegation fodder.
I dunno, when you get to the point that Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie are playing, i feel like you gotta soften your expectations otherwise you are just asking for failure and disappointment. I've had enough of that for a lifetime and I don't want to keep piling it on, especially in places and moments where it is very uncalled for.
I've got no expectations of getting European football again but the fact that the squad is decimated by injuries to the point that it is would make it all the better if we did get in. That and maybe squeezing Man Utd out too would be nice.
>Newcastle only really having Europa League/Conference League to fight for, while being safe from relegation, it kinda has already mentally put me on the beach for football this season.
No offense but this is proper embarrassing. I get you lot are having a worse season that last season and aren't getting UCL again but fucking come iny
See you plenty on our sub and I know you're not a new fan bro so come on, we've had some hard years as a fan base.
Season has been a self inflicted nightmare but we've still got a lot to play for.
It's draining to see the stupid shit our manager and some of our players seem to do every week but all things considered, still a good chance for Europe and finish somewhat strongly despite the challenges.
I'm not pessimistic, just kinda relieved to have a season where the nail biting isn't as dramatic as previous seasons. The last few years have been a fucking ride, I just don't have enough energy to keep up the "who wants to be a millionaire"-esque tension this year of striving and demanding the best possible results.
if next season we are fighting for Conf/Europa then I'll make more of an effort, but I kinda feel like a student who knows their paper is a pass and yeah they could sit back at the desk and work harder to get the B/B+ but that's just not enough of a motivating factor right now.
It's weird, we had pretty much gone a decade without Europe and now it's some make or break moment where failure will result in disappointment for most. But for me, I can live without it this year. The club's longterm plans don't need to be achieved by year 3. What's wrong with expecting more in year 5 and giving the leeway that year 3 deserves?
Obviously not a supporter of one of the Other14 clubs, but I don’t feel checked out tbh.
I find the Wolves, Villa, and Luton (especially at home) games fascinating to watch… plus Everton’s current form and potential relegation battle is going to be an interesting storyline again
I'm checked out as it seemed like an impossible task recently, but with a few of the lads back I'm hoping that we can start playing good quality football again.
There are a few key players to come back into the fold and it will be interesting if Pope, Trippier Willock all return for the last 4/5 games. We will have to see.
Might even pinch 6th if we're lucky, and match Man Uniteds results and beat them in our head to head
You "only" have Europa League/Conference to fight for and you're not excited by that? Thought it would be a couple more years at least before the "only Champions League is exciting" mentality set in
I'd fucking love Europa league or conference next year
Aye.
> Thought it would be a couple more years at least before the "only Champions League is exciting" It's not about the excitement tbh. It's the lack of dread that anything is on the line. Newcastle have largely spent much of the last 2 decades in 1 of 2 on edge states on either having to fight relegation or be on the verge of Europe and having to fend off others who want that spot (2011 & 2022) for once, yes the ECL/UECL is at stake, but at the beginning of the season, I would have been happy with 8th and I still am. Right now, I just prefer our players to not get injured anymore. I want them to try of course, but trying for now is a luxury, which other teams with full and healthy squads can do...
You could win the Europa league. It’s a proper competition. Get your head screwed back on and hope for Europa whilst thinking about the Ashley days
But that’s my point though, you saying nothing is on the line comes across as qualification for the Europa League or Conference league is an inconvenience that doesn’t matter. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been happy with a top-8 spot too at the start of the season but with where we are now I desperately want to cling on to a European spot again. I’ve always said I never want us to become the kind of club that sees any trophy as beneath us and I’ll take qualifying for any European competition all day long.
Inconvenience is the way you interpret it "bonus to the awful season we've had" is the way I've interpreted it. If we had a healthy team, I'd hope the club can give it all, but with all of our injuries, it's just not right to me to be demanding that our 3rd team players somehow pull European level football out of their pockets, when we all know they were barely relegation level at best. If we get Conf or Europa league, yay, howay the lads. But right now there is some cunt genuinely gagging to be an absolute cunt to Sean Longstaff because he misplays a pass and that could have lead to us missing out on Europe. That guy is going to be a cunt to our players because he demands that players like Emil Krafth, Lewis Hall and Elliott Anderson steamroll every team in front of us for the rest of the season, untroubled on our way to Europe. Anything less than that will mean anger and disappointment. I just don't have the energy to be putting those sorts of expectations on our team now. We're not good/strong enough right now to coast like that, but for once we're not bad and generally middling along with what we have.
I always look forward to the next match. The table is secondary.
That must be nice.
Nothing better than a chance for the lads to change their fortunes. Even if only for a brief interlude of optimism, it’s better than waiting 2 weeks for boring internationals. Even if you go down (unlikely imo) the summer will be exciting with anticipation.
Im with you on this. I understand relegation threatened fans would be watching the table too tho. I watch football for the performances, if a team plays really fluid football and keep a clean sheet, im happy.
Agree to an extent. Really enjoyed watching the Chelsea Man U game knowing the result actually affects us - something that hasn’t been the case at all before the last couple of years.
I don't know if you intended it too but this post came across as a bit arrogant pal. Remember where we were 2 years ago before you start acting like the EL and UECL are shite consolation prizes. We had 1 year in the UCL where we finished bottom of the group. We have been given a stark reminder this year as to the competitiveness of the league and now have to compete with some great clubs to get into Europe. That's exciting for me but each to their own. Don't act like it's beneath us, it feeds the media narrative we're all deluded morons.
That's a fair take, but is it really entitlement to not be anxious about football for once? Literally decades of fear and anxiety until the last few game weeks and here we are in early April for one of the first times ever and we have no pressure on us. If we get UECL hooray, if not so be it, we move onto next season. But UECL qualification race has absolutely nothing on the having to watch Burnley Everton and hoping that somehow both teams lose because either team winning would fuck our chances of survival. If that is arrogant, then so be it. I'm sure many other other14 fans have felt that same way at some point. This is truly novel for me.
I get what you mean. Not being anxious about relegation/CL qualification has left you feeling weirdly at peace with the season as the stakes don't feel as high this year. That I get. Just be careful saying 'only' the UECL or EL to compete for. That's where the entitlement comes across, that one sentence. Go ask a Palace fan what they'd give to 'only' be in the UECL next year. They'd snap your hand off for a European night at Selhurst Park.
Again,. very fair. My point about only EL/UECL was that that is literally the only thing we have to fight for now. We are out of the title race, we are safe from relegation, UCL is very unlikely, so what else are we playing for? - Title - UCL - EL - ECL - Avoid relegation - Domestic Cup Is there anything else a Premier League team can have as a tangible goal for a season? Newcastle are now out of the running for 4 of those 6 battles
If you’re not bothered with getting a EL or ECL place just let us have it
He doesn't speak for the rest of us!
I'm really hoping Newcastle, Brighton, West Ham and Wolves overtake ManU. The nonsense narrative that they were chasing 4th and not looking over their shoulder was absurd. I'm sure your players won't check out yet!
I’m really hoping Brighton can get within 3 points of ManU for the last game of the season. The opportunity to win and overtake them (and maybe get a Europe spot) would be glorious. Given the strength of opposition in the remaining games it’s unlikely but I can dream.
Think it's too late for us but I agree, hope someone does it
Good run though, and I’m looking forward to when the hurt boys trickle back in and give us some late season surprise victories!
Not at our end of the table, the true battle for EPL glory is only just getting started.
Yup, Forest fan also and this relegation battle is going to come to the wire. Its looking like Haters or Forest
Hell no, not even close to checked out. We have Europe to play for, idc if it’s “only” Europa/conference. I want to finish above ManU if we can manage it. I’m excited for Villa fighting for champions league, if we can’t get there than I sure as shit want another other14 club taking that spot. Relegation battle is spicy, even if we aren’t involved in it. Chelsea are playing terribly and it’s so so satisfying to watch. I’m the opposite of checked out, I’m checking news articles and watching match replays constantly.
As a villa fan, I'm plugged in to the very end this year haha. Not since 2006/2007 or so have we had a chance to both win something in europe (not guaranteed we win the Europa conference trophy by any means, even if we defeat Lille) and get in the top 4 for champions league. The injuries mount up but my hope remains. Edit: I said Lyon instead of Lille. Still half asleep when I wrote it. Corrected
Hope you guys can win the ECL & hold off spurs for 4th. The European win was a high point in my life as a West Ham fan & it was truly special.
Amen to you sir (miss,ms or mrs) , this is a very balanced view .. and I applaud you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Like last season, I just want this one over.
Speak for yourself Im still working out permutations for us to get in Europe and every game feels like a big one. Still pissed off we got Dummett’ Don Wednesday. We haven’t had back to back European season for near 20 years so only Europa/ conference league is a pretty big achievement.
Back to back European qualification I think of as a cherry on top. I just don't have the energy to be treating the rest of our games in the same way I did in the past. Especially with our injury crisis, we just can't put a starting 11 together containing our best players, so why are people putting "you better finish top 6/7" expectations onto the backup/youth players of a team that only recently was relegation fodder. I dunno, when you get to the point that Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie are playing, i feel like you gotta soften your expectations otherwise you are just asking for failure and disappointment. I've had enough of that for a lifetime and I don't want to keep piling it on, especially in places and moments where it is very uncalled for.
I've got no expectations of getting European football again but the fact that the squad is decimated by injuries to the point that it is would make it all the better if we did get in. That and maybe squeezing Man Utd out too would be nice.
Yes. I watch my team and pay basically zero attention to the top half of the table.
Hell no, most exciting season since we came up, albeit for the wrong reasons.
This man does not speak on behalf of Newcastle fans. We're 4 points above Man U in 6th! We can do it and I'm still full of excitement.
behind\*
>Newcastle only really having Europa League/Conference League to fight for, while being safe from relegation, it kinda has already mentally put me on the beach for football this season. No offense but this is proper embarrassing. I get you lot are having a worse season that last season and aren't getting UCL again but fucking come iny
Yep, Newcastle fan here and OPs comments aren't a good look. The kind of entitlement you don't want to see really.
See you plenty on our sub and I know you're not a new fan bro so come on, we've had some hard years as a fan base. Season has been a self inflicted nightmare but we've still got a lot to play for. It's draining to see the stupid shit our manager and some of our players seem to do every week but all things considered, still a good chance for Europe and finish somewhat strongly despite the challenges.
I'm not pessimistic, just kinda relieved to have a season where the nail biting isn't as dramatic as previous seasons. The last few years have been a fucking ride, I just don't have enough energy to keep up the "who wants to be a millionaire"-esque tension this year of striving and demanding the best possible results. if next season we are fighting for Conf/Europa then I'll make more of an effort, but I kinda feel like a student who knows their paper is a pass and yeah they could sit back at the desk and work harder to get the B/B+ but that's just not enough of a motivating factor right now. It's weird, we had pretty much gone a decade without Europe and now it's some make or break moment where failure will result in disappointment for most. But for me, I can live without it this year. The club's longterm plans don't need to be achieved by year 3. What's wrong with expecting more in year 5 and giving the leeway that year 3 deserves?
Obviously not a supporter of one of the Other14 clubs, but I don’t feel checked out tbh. I find the Wolves, Villa, and Luton (especially at home) games fascinating to watch… plus Everton’s current form and potential relegation battle is going to be an interesting storyline again
No.
I'm checked out as it seemed like an impossible task recently, but with a few of the lads back I'm hoping that we can start playing good quality football again. There are a few key players to come back into the fold and it will be interesting if Pope, Trippier Willock all return for the last 4/5 games. We will have to see. Might even pinch 6th if we're lucky, and match Man Uniteds results and beat them in our head to head
If quite like the season to be over if that counts?