Liverpool’s failure to defeat Stoke at Anfield means that a Newcastle win against QPR on Sunday would see the Geordies move up to sixth in the Premier League. How much has Kenny Dalglish spent? How much have Newcastle spent? Oh yeah, and Liverpool have Stevie G. the world’s greatest ever midfield player (ahem).

Pardew will want the Newcastle players to push on after great results against Man Utd and Blackburn. All that hard work will be for nothing if the Toon don’t get a result this weekend. The QPR players will be looking to impress new boss Mark Hughes by showing them what they can do, and at what better place than St. James’s Park?

We last played QPR back in September when none other than Joey Barton made his QPR debut in a 0-0 draw. Newcastle didn’t exactly do themselves any favours in that game, so anything less than a win tomorrow will be seen as a disappointment.

The conundrum for Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is who to start on the right and what to do with NUFC’s strikers. Does Ameobi start up front with Hatem Ben Arfa playing just behind him? Or do we go with Best and Ameobi up top and Ben Arfa on the right? Obertan definitely hasn’t set the world on fire, so it would make sense that Ryan Taylor or Ben Arfa could be given that right midfield role, with Obertan dropping to the bench. If you were Pardew, what would your line-up be?

Whatever the line-up, the Geordie faithful will be hoping for a win tomorrow and continue their push for a top six finish.

According to Jim White, Sky Sports News presenter, the talk of last night’s game against QPR was all about Joey Barton. Barton, who had been handed the captain’s armband would turn out to be the least of Newcastle’s worries as a total of six players made their debuts for QPR.

The London club put Newcastle on the back foot right from kick-off as Taraabt and Wright-Phillips were running the show. Time and time again Wright-Phillips ghosted past Ryan Taylor as if he wasn’t there. It’s clear for all Newcastle fans now (if it wasn’t earlier) that the purchase of Davide Santon is now looking like a master stroke. Integrating the Italian defender into the team will be Pardew’s main task.

QPR’s three centre midfielders ran Tiote and Cabaye ragged. Tiote looked off the pace at times and struggled to get himself involved in the game (although he did put in an ‘enthusiastic’ challenge on Joey Barton – to which Barton referenced on Twitter). Cabaye showed moments of class playing one or two great balls to the front two, but that was about it really. He was often watching the ball fly over his head as Newcastle resorted to playing direct (read long ball) to the front pairing of Best and Ameobi.

Best did have a chance after a great turn but keeper Paddy Kenny thrwarted his effort and pushed it wide. Jonas Gutierrez arguably had the best of Newcastle’s chances as he sent one over from just a few yards out. Newcastle’s attacking options were somewhat thwarted though as we were constantly having to deal with QPR pushing men forward.

With that being said, thanks has to go to Danny Simpson and Steven Taylor who both made goal-line clearances. Even though we did nothing going forward, the Newcastle backline were resolute. Yes, Ryan Taylor did have a bit of a mare, but with Santon ready to come in that’s an area which will be improved upon.

This was a Newcastle performance to forget as many of our players were under-par. However, to leave Loftus Road with a point, remain unbeaten in the Premier League, and sit in fourth place is something to be satisfied with – and we haven’t even played well yet!

John Carver and Cheick Tiote both committed their long term future to Newcastle United as they both signed contracts today. Tiote, who Newcastle signed from FC Twente last summer has been a revelation in midfield alongside Kevin Nolan. Tiote goes from an £8,000 p/week deal to a £50,000 p/week deal according to the Sun (we all know how reliable they are). The contract is until 2016/17.

John Carver meanwhile, who was brought in on a temporary basis by Alan Pardew, signs a five-and-a-half year deal to keep him at St. James’s Park for the forseeable future. It’s Carver’s hometown club, so we can only expect the signing of the contract to be a formality really. He would have had to really mess things up for a long term contract not to be offered.

However, before we all dance into the Strawberry and toast Mike Ashley for investing in the club, we have to remember that not long before he was sold, none other than Andy Carroll signed a long term contract. I hate to put a downer on things because I’m all for quality players committing their future at NUFC, but there’s something about this which seems too good to be true.

If we get Barton and Enrique on long term deals, then I may start to lighten up the tone. I just have that sneaky feeling that Mike Ashley isn’t finished messing with Newcastle just yet.

The latest name doing the rounds for an outgoing move away from St. James’s Park is none other than Wayne Routledge. It’s true to say that Routledge hasn’t hit the highs we’d have liked him to, and with Barton doing so well playing the right side of midfield, Wayne hasn’t really figured as much. However, since Newcastle’s squad is a little light on numbers, could we really risk losing the winger for the remainder of the season? QPR are said to have a definite interest in the Newcastle player, but who would be his replacement?

Surely we would only let Routledge go out on loan if we had another right midfielder lined up? Shaun Wright-Phillips’ name has been mentioned as one of those who could come in, and that would certainly be a good deal for Newcastle in my opinion. Wright-Phillips most definitely has the credentials to play in the Premier League and with City’s squad being one of the biggest in Europe, perhaps the lure of first team football would appeal to him.

In other news, Newcastle United and Joey Barton are said to be negotiating a new contract – Barton has gone on record as saying he wants to finish his career at NUFC. The wide midfielder’s current form has led to many (including the player himself) saying that he’s one of the best English midfielders right now and deserving of a call up to the England squad – not many would argue with that.

When you have players who are playing well, and who make up the core nucleus of a team, the last thing you would do is sell them, right? But guess what? This is Newcastle United and apparently anything and everything out of the ordinary is capable of happening.

According to this article on Sky, the St James’s Park heirarchy (aka Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias), are prepared to let Mr. Joseph Barton leave the club on a cut-price £1.5m transfer in the January transfer window – West Ham and Villa are said to be monitoring the situation carefully.

Barton has been the creative spark we’ve needed this season, and has shown through his performances on the field that he is a fine footballer and that the plight of this club matters to him. Letting him go at all would be bad for the club, but a poultry £1.5m? That’s just outrageous. If the club want to sell players to raise money for funds, and cut the wage bill, why not sell the following players?

• James Perch
• Xisco
• Alan Smith
• Leon Best

Selling one of our most capable players just shows the arrogance of Mike Ashley. When Nolan, Barton, and Carroll have played, we’ve won more than we’ve lost. To take Barton out of that mix would be nigh-on admitting that you want the club to fail. Even Barton haters have admitted that he’s settled down this year and has played some decent football. But come on, just what has Alan Smith (40k p/week), Xisco (40k p/week) contributed to Newcastle United this season? And they’re going to be staying? (By the way, those weekly estimates are conservative – I reckon both Smith and Xisco to be on closer to 50k p/week)

If true, this is just one more reason why both Mike and Derek need to leave out club before it turns into even more of a farce.

Howay the Toon

Joey Barton has pleaded guilty to charges brought upon him by the Football Association. This means the Newcastle midfielder will be suspended for three games and will miss out against Fulham, Bolton and Chelsea.

Quotes attributed to Barton on the official website claim full responsibility for the fracas with Morten Gamst Pedersen. It is also likely that Barton will face some form of internal punishment in the form of a fine.

It’s now time to draw a line under the situation and move on. Barton will be a big miss for three games because he’s been in some good form recently, but this is now an opportunity for Routledge or Guthrie to step up and make it difficult for Joey to reclaim his place.

Newcastle United went into yesterday’s game against Blackburn in confident mood after defeating West Ham, thrashing Sunderland, and performing very well against a full strength Arsenal side. NUFC’s winning run though was brought to an end after Jason Roberts capitalised on defensive errors which meant that Sam Allardyce left St. James’ Park with the full three points.

It was Roberts’ second goal in as many games as he put Newcastle to the sword. It wasn’t all Roberts’ doing though, as Morten Gamst Pedersen got Rovers off to a flyer in the third minute. Man of the moment Andy Carroll managed to grab an equaliser for the Toon with a towering header on the 47th minute mark.

Sam Allardyce’s game plan was clear from the outset – be very hard to break down and fight for all the 50/50 balls. It worked like a treat as Newcastle lacked the creative spark of Ben Arfa – they have the graft and guile, but when teams put up shop and play five across the back, we struggle.

However, the night won’t be remembered for the football, but for what Joey Barton managed to get himself into. TV cameras caught Barton jab Pedersen in the ribs, and Pedersen’s way over the top reaction drew more attention to the matter than was probably needed. Pedersen did stick out an elbow which caught Barton, but Joey has got to be smarter than to get caught up in the heat of the moment and react.

The annoying thing about this situation, is how quickly the Football Association have jumped on this and handed out a three match suspension. What about the tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa by Nigel De Jong – where are the repercussions for that? That was potentially a career ending tackle, but Barton digs Pedersen in the ribs and he’s suspended for three matches?

What about the stamp by Tom Huddleston on Bolton’s Johan Elmander? Where’s the action by the F.A for that? Yes, Barton made a bad decision, there’s no denying that, and any punishment that comes his way is justified, but let’s have some consistency here. If the Football Association want the support of the Geordies for the World Cup bid, they’re going the wrong way about it.

After all is said and done, Newcastle are still fifth in the league, six points ahead of 18th place. Our target for this season has to be a 17th place finish. The good form we’ve shown recently has gotten the Geordie faithful in a confident mood, but we’d be ignorant if we didn’t remember where we were last season.

If it wasn’t for our away from, we’d be much lower than we are right now, and surely Chris Hughton’s primary task is to sort the home form out. If we are able to play against Arsenal at the Emirates and come away with a win, why do we roll over for teams we are expected to beat at St. James’s Park? Only Chris Hughton and his players can answer that one. Let’s hope the answer comes sooner rather than later.

Sam Allardyce brings his merry band of thugs to St James’s Park in his first reappearance since his dismissal by the Newcastle hierarchy back in 2008.

Blackburn could be without a number of first team players with Diouf, Nzonzi, Keith Andrews, Vince Grella and Benjani all doubtful.

Gosling, Ben Arfa, Harper, and Leon Best are all definitely out for the Toon, while the injury Shola Ameobi sustained against Arsenal on Sunday has yet to be determined (publicly). An interesting tidbit to acknowledge, of all the players Big Sam signed during his stint as Newcastle manager pie eater, only Barton and Enrique are likely to start, with the former definitely being the more vocal in wanting to get one over on his former boss.

Needless to say, it would be a shame to let our recent form go to waste against a Blackburn side who are there for the taking. Make no mistake though, Blackburn wont be pushovers, and the Newcastle United players will have to show the same dogged determination and tenacity if they’re to come away with the three points. Four Premier League wins in a row would be the result should Newcastle defeat Blackburn, something which hasn’t occurred since Glenn Roeder’s time in 2006.

In a week which most Newcastle United supporters thought couldn’t get much better, a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal loomed on the horizon. After the euphoria of thrashing Sunderland 5-1, Toon fans could be forgiven thinking that history would repeat itself and Newcastle would leave the Emirates empty handed as per usual.

Gunners fans saw Newcastle as an easy three points, and hoped to cement their placing toward the top of the league. Arsene Wenger however praised Newcastle and gaffer Chris Hughton throughout the week saying how impressed he was with how Newcastle were playing. A couple of weeks ago Newcastle United fielded a team of youngsters and reserves in the League Cup and rightfully lost to an Arsenal side who were impressive on the night.

The Premier League though is where it’s at and the senior players for Newcastle have proven themselves to be no pushovers recently. Barton, Carroll, Tiote, and Nolan in particular have been impressive, Tiote especially showing just why he’s so highly regarded by the NUFC coaches.

The NUFC faithful who made the long journey south could quite hardly believe their eyes when Andy Carroll headed in just on the stroke of half-time. Even with minutes to go, Arsenal are more than capable of unlocking the sternest of defences but the Newcastle rearguard held on, with Williamson and young Tim Krul doing a sterling job. yes, we did have the post and crossbar to thank on a couple of occasions, but make no mistake, Newcastle dealt quite comfortably with everything a full strength Arsenal side could throw at them – Tiote having Fabregas in his back pocket throughout the game.

Turmoil and front page headlines have dogged the Newcastle United camp throughout the past couple of weeks, but the Newcastle players are made of sterner stuff than they’re given credit for and are showing everyone just what they’re capable of. While our target remains 17th place and Premier League survival, Newcastle fans across the globe can be proud of their team, and their team proud of them.

Howay the Toon

Newcastle, guilty of missing some great chances to put the game away, ended 2009 firing blanks. There was plenty of endeavour, and arguably we’ve played worse and won, but the match against Derby was one that won’t be remembered fondly by many NUFC fans.

Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, and Nile Ranger were the Newcastle players who failed to take their chances.

However, I reckon that we can take some positives out of the game. Yes, West Brom gained some ground on us, but if someone had offered you the position we’re in now at the start of the season, would you have taken it? I know I would. After last season left a bitter taste in my mouth all summer, it’s great to have the promotion job half done.

One thing that should be recognised though is that we need to bring in a couple of players to strengthen the first team. We’ve been fairly fortunate with injuries and still have Joey Barton to return, but there’s just over four months of hard work to come and we’re going to need some reinforcements.

An attendance of 47,505 were on hand to see the game. A Championship game which was shown on the telly, played in bitterly cold conditions, and right after Christmas. Best fans in the country? By a country mile.