Newcastle eye second spot in the Premier League

05 November 2011 00:21
Things will be the same as always in Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime. They will be  different, too, however. The Three Bulls Head on Percy Street will be standing room only almost as soon as it opens its doors. [LNB]Nearer St James' Park, The Strawberry and Rosie's Bar will not be any quieter. As always in Newcastle, there will be optimism crammed in between the pints. [LNB]On Saturday, though, there will be a difference. There will be a sense of pride, purpose and progress that this great football club has not felt for quite some time.[LNB] What a start: Demba Ba has helped Newcastle off to a flying start[LNB]On Saturday  the equation is simple. If Newcastle beat Everton at home in the lunchtime  kick-off, Alan Pardew's team will be second in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]It may not happen, of course. David Moyes's side will be doughty opponents. Even if it does, it may not last. Manchester United will end the day ahead of them if they beat  Sunderland at Old Trafford at 3pm.[LNB]Nevertheless, opportunity knocks for Pardew and Newcastle today and who can really begrudge them their moment in the winter sun? [LNB]This football club have been quiet for too long, at least on the field a club synonymous with protest, instability and uncertainty for so long one had begun to wonder if they would ever raise their head high again.[LNB] Pride: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has brought the feel good factor back to Tyneside[LNB]A laughing stock? Not quite, but almost.[LNB]'When I've been in and around fans and in the city, most of the people are just really pleased with the way things are going,' said Pardew this week. 'There's a pride and maybe this team have gone a long way towards putting a spring back in everyone's step in the city.[LNB]'It's a huge motivation to potentially go  second. In my mind, there are a couple of goals for this game. The first is to possibly go second, even if it is just for a few hours in the afternoon. And the second is for us to get to the next game unbeaten because I think that would be a real coup for us as a club.' [LNB] Through the pain barrier: Steven Taylor is playing on with a broken nose[LNB]After Saturday, Newcastle's fixtures will tell us much about them. Successive visits to the two Manchester clubs are followed by a game against Chelsea at home. It could be a difficult November.[LNB]Nevertheless, Pardew has already built a platform sound enough to withstand the buffeting that may yet come.[LNB]Free from the distractions of the Europa League and out of the  Carling Cup, Newcastle have been able to field the same back five for their 10 league games this season. This, as much as anything, is the reason they remain unbeaten and only a point behind champions United.[LNB]Goalkeeper Tim Krul a young Dutchman unheard of until a year ago and central defender Fabricio Coloccini, who was signed by Kevin Keegan but made skipper by Pardew, have been the stand-out performers. Steven Taylor played in Monday's win at Stoke with a mask protecting a broken nose. [LNB] Safe hands: The relatively unknown goalkeeper Tim Krul has been one of Newcastle's stars[LNB]That  perhaps says much about a spirit fostered by Pardew a manager so unwelcome he was booed during his first game last season and helped by the summer departure of players like Joey Barton.[LNB]At Stoke, we saw Newcastle at their best. Ahead after two goals by the revelation that is forward Demba Ba, Pardew's side looked up against it when the home team pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go. It was telling, though, that Newcastle not only stood firm but responded with another goal of their own to win 3-1.[LNB]It is a sign of the times that Stoke average attendance 27,209 spent the best part of ?20million towards the end of the summer transfer window while Newcastle average home gate 46,093 spent less than half of that on Ba, Gabriel Obertan and the influential midfielder Yohan Cabaye. This, of course, after selling Andy Carroll to Liverpool for ?35m last January.[LNB] Star signing: Yohan Cabaye has been in fine form this season[LNB]The issues of money and, for that matter, attendances remain moot at Newcastle.[LNB]Pardew's frustrations at being unable to spend on another forward in August almost boiled over at one stage as he raged privately at the conservatism of his board.[LNB]It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in January if the likes of Cabaye or midfielder partner Cheik Tiote were to suffer long-term injury before then. [LNB]Newcastle's squad is many things but it is not deep. As for the attendances, Newcastle's stadium may be full to its 52,000 capacity this afternoon but, if it is, then it will be the first time this season.[LNB]'The Geordies put the attendance at the ground high on their list of priorities and we're thankful for that,' said Pardew. 'It means so much to them and that's great. If we do get 50,000 in this weekend it would be fantastic. [LNB] Enlarge 'We're trying to encourage that because I genuinely do think the players deserve it.[LNB]'Whether we can back it up again, I really hope we can.' [LNB]Some inventive ticket strategies, such as selling cut-price season tickets this week, have helped Newcastle's cause recently but it seems that a small percentage of the club's fanatical following still needs  persuading to join the bandwagon.[LNB]On Saturday, surely, should be the day to turn up. Newcastle are back in the spotlight. Hurry, hurry, it may not last. [LNB] NEWCASTLE v Everton: Marveaux could make first league start in place of ObertanTeenagers arrested over racist abuse on Newcastle striker Ameobi's Twitter accountHat-trick's a treat for Ba as Toon star tells Britannia boo boys to turn their anger on the boardAll the latest Newcastle news, features and opinion[LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail