We’re all off to sunny Spain

This Saturday sees Newcastle United travel to Stamford Bridge for a 5.30pm kick off in a game against Chelsea. Stamford Bridge has generally been a fairly miserable trip for Newcastle fans in recent years but given Chelsea’s form this season it is by no means a game that we should be afraid of. We are capable of going there and winning and this is exactly the mentality that I hope Steve McClaren instills in his players during the build up.

The previous league visits have seen us lose 0-2, 0-3 and 0-2 and we have never really looked like getting anything from the games. Cisse’s mind boggling outside of his foot curler in to the top corner in a 2-0 victory in the 11/12 season seem like a distant memory (much like Cisse’s good form) and of course who can forget a Shola Ameobi inspired victory (4-3) in the League Cup the season prior to Cisse’s wonder goal.

We can win, we can perform but I suspect this Saturday will see the usual Newcastle United collapse following a promising display and home victory against WBA last weekend.

It’s an odd scenario we are in as due to Manchester City’s progression in the League Cup, our game against them the following week has been postponed, meaning that, after the Chelsea game, we have an 18 game break until our next game, a tough trip to Stoke on Wednesday, 2nd March.

I’m not expecting much from our game against Chelsea this weekend although it has to be said that when we have played the so called bigger sides in the league, we have often performed well and either come away with a point or three or been unlucky in defeat. The break does however give the teams around us chance to make a bit of a move up the table. That said, it could of course go the other way.

Looking at the next few games our rivals have (I’m excluding Aston Villa here, sorry fellas but you best start looking for your new messiah sharpish - Nigel Kennedy? Prince Harry?)…

Sunderland

Manchester United (H)

West Ham (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Norwich

Leicester (A)

Chelsea (H)

Swansea (A)

Swansea

Tottenham (A)

Arsenal (A)

Norwich (H)

All three sides have a tricky two games in the next two weeks so I fully expect us to go in to the Stoke (A) game as things are. Due to the 18 day break, Newcastle United have announced a summer training camp in Malaga (including a couple of friendlies I believe). Given the number of signings we made during the January transfer window, this break has actually come at a good time. It gives the squad time to bond, gel, and get over some of the injuries a lot of them seem to be carrying.

I have been extremely critical, and quite rightly I think, of our performances this season, especially away from home but this is not something new. Under Alan Pardew we turned in some of the worst performances I have ever seen and if anything, this season is simply a continuation from the last one. We have a lot of new players in the side and this process of rebuilding takes time. I do see the club as a work in progress, I do have doubts over the manager’s credentials to lead the rebuilding but you know what, this is what we have and for this season at least, we will be sticking with it.

The relegation battle will go down to the wire but I have confidence that we will pick up points to see us to safety. Whilst a lot of performances have been woeful, we have seen some good football being played, albeit only at home. Call it blind faith, maybe I am overly optimistic, but I think we will be ok. I just don’t see us getting anything at all from Saturday’s game so thought I better put a positive article out there before the fairly regular doom and gloom submission on Sunday!