European Eureka

The answer to my last blog has proved to be 'Second Wind' and I say that with as much pleasure as expectation.

Having done my utmost best to not raise expectations beyond those from the start of the season, Alan Pardew and his underrated squad have left myself and the rest of the Toon Army faithful with no option other than to expect a top 5 finish.

With ability sparsely present in the Newcastle United roster, I anticipated end-of-the-season injuries to be the downfall of the team's respectable league position.

However where there is ability, it is in abundance and where there isn't, there is determination and endeavor - a formula that Pardew has compounded to sustain the hope, dream and possibility of St. James' Park staging  European football next season in the Europa League or dare I say it, the Champions League.

A mention has to lend itself to Hatem Ben Arfa who has been the marquee player and difference maker in securing 3 points as opposed to just 1 or even 0 in the team's current five game win streak. It appears that the Frenchman's bit-part role has now retired whatever the reasons, be it a maturity boost from HBA's part or a man management masterstroke from the Gaffer.

There has been premature likenings to Leo Messi and these come at no surprise in the current climate which frequently sees the term 'Legend' labelled to anything positive that lasts for more than five minutes. HBA is however inundated with attributes of skill and has the 'get off your seat' factor when he receives the ball so as a supporter I'm pleased to see this development.

After digesting comments regarding the current Senegalese front pairing that spearheads the NUFC attack, I would like verify that Demba Ba is still every bit the same player he was before his fellow countryman arrived. I say this because there has been questions marks instigated over Ba's form because the goals have recently belonged to Papiss Cisse and not the club's pre-Christmas goal machine.

As a frontman myself, I can identify, analyse and appreciate the balance that Ba brings to the starting XI, his link-up play and on-the-ball contributions cannot be faltered and while his positional role has changed only slightly his peformances should not be overlooked, especially when a shortage of team goals could not be further away!

Looking ahead, this weekend will see no NUFC fixture take place giving the Magpies the opportunity to reenergise for the upcoming WWE match with Stoke City on 21 April. I will be there to witness the wrestling match between the two sides and I expect it won't be a pretty contest given the Potters' philosophy of how to play football.

That said, I'm confident that the long ball signature move of Tony Pulis' wrestlers will give the Toon Army no problems and that NUFC will move just one game away from equalling the club's current record of 7 consecutive Premier League wins which has stood since 1994.