Liberating points from The Liberty Stadium

Having reached the total of 56 points three days ago – the same number of points Sir Bobby Robson managed to scramble together in his final full season, finishing fifth – if Newcastle United beat Bolton Wanderers, they will exceed the 58 points of 2005-06, when, as caretaker, Glenn Roeder rescued a season that threatened to end in ignominy.  That resulted in seventh place and entry into the now departed Inter-Toto competition (success in this prompting progress to the full UEFA Cup).  It is the irony of the league table but Newcastle could finish with more points that when finishing third in 2003, yet finish sixth and not in contention for Europe (if Everton beat Liverpool in next Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final and Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea win the final but finish fourth or higher; or if Everton wins the trophy outright).  This season has been a surprise even to manager Alan Pardew yet it would be galling if all that effort resulted in no significant prize (even if the Europa League is held in dubious regard).

But first comes Bolton.  No game in the Premier League is a given this season (unless you are Manchester United) and so the win over Swansea at The Liberty Stadium in Wales was impressive. Brendan Rogers (in Arsene Wenger mode when Arsenal have been defeated by less silken opponents) moaned that the home team was the best side.  I have to question in what way.  Swansea had more than two-thirds possession of the ball, completed seven times as many passes as the visitors and had thirteen shots on target to Newcastle’s four.  But goals are the currency of football and that is what the Magpies dealt in, Swansea not bulging the net in their favour once (despite Newcastle having only one recognised, fit centre-half defender).  So the best side was that in orange (a bizarre away strip for a team of black-and-whites) in that they did not waste their passes, were clinical and had the telling quality.  Pardew had set his side up in a manner that even baffled commentators but it worked a treat and paid tribute to the threat of Swansea.  Here we are – now try to break us down.  Ultimately, Swansea couldn’t.   Possession is no longer nine-tenths of the law.  Moreover, given that the Toon should have triumphed in the north-east, this was a redressing of the balance in favour of the ‘best’ team.  How good Newcastle United are in the remainder of the season is tantalising but still to be seen.