First of all I don't think we'll win the league - if we do it will be down to the other teams losing it as much as anything as they have a better first choice eleven.

However, there have been a lot of comments about our supposed lack of strength in depth in the team. I tend to disagree with this. If Liverpool or Arsenal got Owen or Henry injured, they would simply not score half the goals they do with them. If we get Shearer injured would we suffer to as great an extent?

Liverpool lose Hyppia and who can they bring in? It is no coincidence that Liverpool's relatively good defence is down to a settled partnership of Hyppia and Henchoz - I can't remember either of them being injured in the last year. Arsenal as well - Adams is well past it, they have Campbell and Keown - Upson is not good enough for a top half team. We have Dabizas, O'Brien and Distin, three centre backs in top form at the moment. Even Hughes will do the job well if called on.

Midfield we would suffer if Dyer dropped out again, but Arsenal would without Vieira, Liverpool without Gerrard and Man Utd without Keane. You will always miss your top players. However, in Rob Lee (at the moment) you have someone who has handled the midfield of Man Utd almost single handedly (in the first half).

Up front we have options as well. Although Lua Lua and Ameobi aren't exactly world class, they still have the capabilities to embarrass the likes of Laurent Blanc and others.

My point is, unless we get some VERY bad luck from now til the end of the season, we should have a top 6 place at the absolute minimum sealed up. If we were to lose two central defenders, a striker and a couple of midfielders then we would struggle, but who wouldn't?

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

Answers

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

So, assuming none of the catastrophes you specify occur Paul, why don't you think we'll win the league ? Seems to me, as long as we keep playing the way we are, there's nowt to stop us. As long as we continue the way we are, it doesn't matter a jot what the rest of them do.

I'm not so naive as to believe we won't have set backs, but as long as they're no worse than the set backs the rest of them suffer, the championship is as good as anything to aim for.

I'd much sooner we went for broke and ended up 6th, than just to go for a qualifying place and end up 10th.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

I don't think we'll win the league because our first choice squad isn't as strong as some of the other teams. If they get their acts together (which is likely in the next few months) they will probably overtake us.

I must say it seems more likely that we'll win the league than it did a month ago, but I still have a feeling Man Utd are going to do it.

My dad put a 80/1 bet on us winning the league in a Sunderland bookmakers and got laughed at. It would be nice to go back and claim the prize there wouldn't it?

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

I think the main point is to keep the players' heads down. As soon as you start to think "title", you lose focus. You start to look beyond the next game, when you can't afford to. Bit of a cliche, OK, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

I think we're mostly playing on momentum at the moment. The test will come when we lose 1 or 2, to see if we can come back from it. Knowing us, this will probably be against Derby and Leicester.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

It's an interesting debate this - the factors that could materially influence what happens here on in.

Clearly, form fitness and suspension are key factors - but also factors affecting all the contenders. For instance - under Whinger, Arsenal have had a player sent off on average every 5 games (40 in 201 games). An appalling record, and it could hurt them. In this regard, Craig Bellamy's indiscipline could hurt us over the full season.

As the season progresses towards it's conclusion I reckon the mental/phsycological side of it will become increasingly important, and lest we forget, this is probably what really killed us last time we were in pole position to win the PL.

I was listening to John Anderson on Metro Radio as I drove in to the Smoggie match, and he rather surprised me by saying he thought the present squad are better equipped mentally to go the distance than KK's team were - including the presence of a nucleus of highly experienced players who could help guide the younger ones through.

He may be right, he may be wrong - only time will tell - but it's interesting conjecture.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

I think it was Frank MacAvenie or perhaps Graham Sharpe that said the exact opposite on Soccer Extra yesterday - ie thet Newcastle didn't have the experience in the squad to deal with the pressure in the later stages of a Championship run-in. Speed, Shearer and Lee are I suppose the experienced players - none of the others have even come close to a Premiership or equivalent title, despite the fact many are internationals. Personally I think the reason we are doing so well, is the decent blend of young players and older under-achievers hungry for success. Experienece at winning the top prizes can be a double edged sword if it breeds complacency - something the pre-season contenders are all suffering from.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

I dont think we will win the league beacause I dont even dare to think that thought. But right now we are the team with the best chance of doing it. If Liverpool win they have the same chance as we.

Also I kind of agree with you Paul, we got more options this season. Im not so afraid of injuries now.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

various things need to come together to win the league and really no one outside of Salford or Highbury has any experience of doing it. Shearer and Speed have been there but an awful long time ago, Lee never made it, and really should be no more than an experienced voice in the rest of our season.

The key to the 'experience' requirements is that the manager either hides it from the players, or uses it to motivate them. Our first XI contains Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Dyer, Solano, Robert, Speed, Bellamy and Shearer who have played at international level. They must have gained from this.

The other area of concern is squad depth. Ultimately we all want Shola, Lua2 et al to come through and become star fixtures in the side but it isn't going to happen this year. We need to strengthen, from a position of strength. We may be lucky and get Cort back but it would be a big bonus rather than something to depend on. The key players are Dyer and Bellamy as they are the pace players, everything else in the team we can about cope with, but we cannot compensate for their pace. I don't see us being able to buy anyone with that sort of pace so we're going to have t live with the situation for the mean time.

It isn't always necessary to buy a pleyer who is a world beater. In 1988 (?) Everton bought Wayne Clark at the transfer deadline, a real journeyman lower level goalscorer. He (somehow) scored 8 or so goals between then and the end of the season and Everton won it on the back of that.

The most important thing in all this is that we have a manager who's been their lots of times before. He will know, he'll be seeing the players who are starting to crack and should have the experience to handle it. My worry is that he is too close to a couple of the players and may not be able to say 'enough', although the demise of Barton did give me hope.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

and of course the dream scenario is that we lose Shearer after the transfer deadline and we're forced to use Chopra and he comes in and scores the 8 goals :0) (well it's Xmas)

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

... may be your dream Macbeth: it's actually my recurring nightmare, because imo Shearer is actually a vital cog in our machine right now, irrespective of how many goals he is scoring.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Worry about each game as it comes. We are pretty much safe from relegation and can enjoy our football on a match by match basis. Who knows what the end result will be?

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

.......that's also very true, dougal. I've been a paranoid wreck for 3 seasons now, and am having some difficulty adjusting to relative success!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

I think it's Bobby Robson who'll make the difference between what happens from now on and what happened when Keegan blew it. Bobby's seen it all, done it all, whereas, as a manager, Keegan hadn't. There's no way I can see Ferguson psyching out Bobby the way he did Keegan.

I also believe that Bobby really is going for the Premiere title, he's just covering his ass, and keeping us lot in check by denying we have anything more than a remote chance.

Can you imagine how utterly unbearable we'd be if we convinced ourselves we really can win it. :-{E}

I'm not saying we will win it, but I believe we have as much chance as any of the rest of them. We look more the part than we have since Keegan's days, and I'm not even convinced that losing Bellamy or Dyer temporarily will be that much of a tragedy.

Both being missing together might take some wind out of our sails, but I'm sure the replacements would show better in a winning team even with one key player absent than in a side that's losing consistently.

Clarky is right IMO. Losing Alan Shearer would make a big difference. I think he's playing out of his skin these days, and I find it amazing that he's been able to adapt his game to having lost a bit of pace, and nobody, but nobody, shields the ball better. Once he gets a couple of Shearer Specials from open play, he'll be nearly back to his best.

And anyway, even if he is a semi cripple :-{E}, most defenses are still sh1t scared of him, which means while he's being taken care of, there'll be openings for the rest.

I make no bones about, I feel very positive about what's going on play wise at SJP. We look good, we're making people sit up and take notice again, and we're beating teams we wouldn't have had a sniff at just a year ago.

Sorry if the superstitious among you are having kittens, but we're bliddy good at the moment, and I'm making the most of it.

Roll on the morrer. Jimmy Floyd who ? :-{E}

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Superstitions? What superstitions? ;-)))

Seeing is most definitely believing this season, particularly in person vs on telly. I still can't get over how well we played the other day. I don't recall us ever playing the entire 90min, stringing countless passes together, movement off the ball. If we can keep working like that for the rest of the season, we'll be well placed. True we may not have as strong a squad as other teams, but we're working together now which is HUGE improvement. Not sure what to do with myself in this new relaxed approach. My nails may start to grow again, and my hair may quit going grey! ;-D

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Totally agree RE Shearer, he is absolutely vital. However, we have shown we can still play football without Dyer and Bellamy - look at the Ipswich game.

Remember that this all comes with our "weak midfield" and virtually zero defensive work from Robert - who has created more and won more penalties this season than anyone else in our team remember.

I reckon it's not just our form, or the form of the other contenders, but the form of the mid table / lower table teams. If we catch Spurs on a bad run and beat them at their place it could be the difference between UEFA and CL place. If Boro hit top form when they play Arsenal (or whoever) and beat them then we could get an upper hand.

We would need a bit of luck to win the league, but so would anyone else.

Blackburn's title winning team wasn't as strong as Man Utd's that season, yet they had luck with injuries, playing the fewest number of players over the season and ended up winning it.

If we are still top on 11 May then I might just believe we can win the league. However, a title deciding match away to Southampton is the stuff of nightmares for us. :(

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

I follow the word of Lord Sir High Priest Master of the Universe St. Bobby Robson, 'If we're 4 points clear with 1 match to play, I'll talk about (winning the league)' ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Yeah, but at his age he has to hedge his bets Ciara. :-}E)

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Bollox re non experience, sorry I have been unwell for a couple of days so this reply is late.

Does the experience of playing in Greece, France Sth America not count? Ok different to the EPL however these are not 18 yo playing in their first mens competition. The pressures of playing in the teams they have come from is very similar. Only Robert is the newcomer, even Bernard has been here over 2 seasons.

We are playing as a team, not groups of 3 or 4 players. The defence are a unit also. We are playing with a light weight midfield. Come on you lot with selective memories. We are doomed with Solano Dyer and Robert in midfield etc. Still do not think Speed is doing the bizzo in m/f either. As per Dougalrobert report he should be able to pass in both directions.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

What exactly is it you want us with 'selective memories' to do Gus?

I'm quite prepared to admit I didn't think playing Solano, Dyer and Robert in the same m/f would work, Gus. It has worked brilliantly in two games so far - so, I was wrong! So what? Dare I suggest the time to properly assess this would be at the end of the season rather than after two games?

BTW, one of the principal reasons it has worked so far is that Gary Speed has played absolutely superbly as the holding player - as well as scoring/making a goal against Boro.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001

Experience is the key. As we all know, you'll never win nowt with bairns. Unless of course, you have a manager with shedloads of experience to make up for them. Enthusiasm is a canny ingredient too. And in YBR, we've got more experience and enthusiasm wrapped in on one magical little package (so what if he did f@ck up against Spurs) than anybody else. Canny bit of enthusiasm and hunger in them bairns too if only the Master can unlock it and keep it focussed.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001

I've wanted us to get Carrick for ages, but I think it would be better to wait for the summer money before we get him. He'd know exactly what winning something would mean to the club and may well crack under the pressure. It is better to have foriegners and hard Geordies like Shearer and Elliot than players who would actually realise how we are feeling

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001

.....that's an great point Macbeth. At this stage too many "enthusiastic" but relatively inexperienced Geordies could become too emotionally involved - like us for instance!!

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001

Shearer plays his cards pretty close to his chest but yesterday he remarked that the squad has the same feel about it as when he was at Blackburn wrt confidence.

The problem with the lightweight midfield hasn't gone away, we just turned up the attacking quotient to compensate. Against Blackburn, when Dyer came on, it was total capitulation in midfield and we couldnt get the ball out of our half except to score (which is a neat trick if you can do it). Arsenal murdered us but didn't put their chances away. During the Leeds and Boro games Gary Speed sprang to life and started playing out of his skin - it's not just me, nufc.com mentioned it as well - and against Boro Dyer was actually putting himself about which is fantastic for a player who could be excused for shielding himself just now.

When we played lightweight last season it just resulted in pretty pictures but no penetration: this season they've all scored (Kieron will today) and have the faith to follow the ball in. We've won less corners this season than I can remember and that's down to players looking to score rather than settle for a set-piece.

One of the biggest lifts for me was when Rob Lee looked at our tough batch of fixtures and broke his self-imposed ban on talking to the Chronicle to call for us to copy Liverpool and get mean: i.e. clutter the place up with slow, defensive midfielders. Bobby has responded with all out attack and we're top of the league. Brilliant.

p.s. macbeth, just to disturb your slumber....Warren was back on the bench on Wednesday.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001