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Newcastle can challenge in Europa League - Alan Pardew

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments121

Newcastle celebrate their goal against Metalist Kharkiv

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes his side can give the Europa League "a good go" after reaching the last 16 with a 1-0 win at Metalist Kharkiv.

After a goalless home first leg, Shola Ameobi scored a penalty to set up a tie with Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa were both missing from the win in Ukraine.

Pardew said: "With Ben Arfa coming back and Cheick to add to that side, I really feel as though we can give this competition a good go."

Having only just recovered from a hamstring injury, attacking midfielder Ben Arfa was not risked while Tiote was taken ill and replaced by Vurnon Anita.

"We lost Cheick just before the game, but Anita did an excellent job coming in late," said the Magpies boss. "He only knew an hour before we kicked off that he was going to play."

Pardew also praised Ameobi, who scored his 15th goal in European competition. Only Alan Shearer has scored more goals in Europe for Newcastle.

"I had a little quiet word with Shola before the game because, in the last few weeks, I thought his contribution could have been greater," he said.

"But he's shown tonight what quality he has. Against this team, I always thought he might influence the game.

"He did that all night really and it bodes well moving forward."

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121 comments

  • Comment posted by Ewok63, at 09:46 22 Feb 2013

    To all the Sad Mackems adding comments on this.

    Last night was our 130th game in Europe, 126 games more than you have ever played in Europe.

    Now go back to your play stations and leave the big computer to the grown ups

  • Comment posted by User0342164241, at 10:17 22 Feb 2013

    I don't see how people are critizing Pardew for saying he'll 'give it a go'? Is that not what he is expected to do?
    Even if he was saying that he wants to win the trophy (which he didn't say) then fair play to him! Wegner is getting all sorts of critizism because he isn't showing a desire to win, Pardew shows a slight desire to win and gets slated? Good logic!!

    Also, one word; Bradford.

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 13:40 22 Feb 2013

    Liverpool fan here.....just wanted to say big well done to Newcastle. Best of luck in the rest of the competition. You have great fans who deserve some success :-)

  • Comment posted by User0624810855, at 11:54 22 Feb 2013

    A few facts that might be interesting to note:

    Sunderland top five premier league finishes: 0
    Newcastle top five premier league finishes: 7

    Sunderland seasons in Europe: 1
    Newcastle seasons in Europe 17

    Big woop you won a trophy 4 years more recently than us, in 1973 versus 1969.

    So basically neither of us are big clubs, but you're definitely smaller

  • Comment posted by User0096843936, at 09:33 22 Feb 2013

    Just keep quiet, keep battling through, get Ben Arfa back to create the spark for the next round and I'm confident we can get to the quarter finals, then who knows. Possible geordie invasion of Amsterdam in May. Nobody fancied Fulham, Boro or Rangers to get to the final when they were in it either.

  • Comment posted by Complete and utter horse, at 11:32 22 Feb 2013

    Totally agree with Pardew. Anything is possible in this competition if you play tight, effective football; just have a look at who we eliminated on the way to the final a few seasons ago.

    From, a Fulham fan.

  • Comment posted by User0501541021, at 14:09 22 Feb 2013

    As a Liverpool fan a couldn't care less who wins as long as they are a English team. I'll be supporting Newcastle and any other English teams left in this competition. The same goes for the Champions League, It's only good for English football.

  • Comment posted by Ralph, at 12:22 22 Feb 2013

    Some pretty silly comments on here. Of course Newcastle are a big club and it would be great for them if they go on and win it. Just as long as my team, Saints, beat you this weekend :)

  • Comment posted by bluemoon_noisy, at 11:28 22 Feb 2013

    I genuinely hope that Newcastle do go on to challenge and even win the Europa League, it would be great for English football to have NUFC winning trophys!

  • Comment posted by Chill out, at 12:23 22 Feb 2013

    @86 Better to score 1 and go through than score 3 and go out !

  • Comment posted by little waster, at 12:15 22 Feb 2013

    The BBC is Anti Scotland"newcastle are a club with no city rivals meaning a decent support" Like Leeds, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sunderland, York, Wigan, Swansea, Norwich, Reading, Hull, Brighton, Derby, Burnley, Ipswich, Wolves, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Peterboro, Middlesboro, Coventry, MK, Doncaster and quite a few others. Don't see any of them getting 50,000 mate.

  • Comment posted by User0170425735, at 12:49 22 Feb 2013

    73 wins from 130 european games, not bad for a small club in the north east @SaChingford

  • Comment posted by SultanA, at 12:15 22 Feb 2013

    This group of players are are very well-drilled unit and concede little, so every chance yes, but sadly I think they'll fall short because there's some real quality to surpass.

    Cabeye and BenArfa upping their games is essential in these possession-dominated battles, but so far look real solid even without BenArfa.

    Pardew's not too bad now isn't it?

  • Comment posted by User0241446625, at 11:40 22 Feb 2013

    Billy Shears, we're that size because we eat people like you for breakfast. Along with twelve packets of Pop Tarts and a big bowl of Golden Grahams.

    Yeah, we're all huge for sure. I'm having to type this one character at a time using the end of a pencil because my fingers are too fat.

    You have provided me with much amusement this day. Thank you Billy Shears, the clown prince of the BBC forums.

  • Comment posted by MagpieG, at 11:29 22 Feb 2013

    @58 So a football debate has descended into you deciding that the North East should be used for nuclear testing. What a sad twisted little person you are. Keyboard worrier of the worst kind.

    As for the the other slagging off Geordies and the Toon. If we're so small and insignificant why are you bothering with us?

  • Comment posted by MagpieG, at 09:49 22 Feb 2013

    @3 Stevat, Lucky to get through? Did you see the disallowed goals from the first leg, or the number of chances Newcastle created. Metalist didn't score a single goal in 180 minutes so credit where it's due.

    As for Pardew saying we can win it, what do you expect a manager to say. that we have no chance? As long as we're in it we can win it.

  • Comment posted by James, at 14:16 22 Feb 2013

    Too many people define the size of a club by trophies. Newcastle are a bigger club than Chelsea and City (who are only winning trophies because of sugar daddy owners). They are behind only United, Liverpool, Arsenal & Spurs and in a similar ball park to Everton, Villa and Leeds. Hope Newcastle or Spurs lift it. Newcastle now need to apply some of this solidity in the league esp away from home.

  • Comment posted by User0739761529, at 10:44 22 Feb 2013

    Thats still not 'yoyoing' though is it you pleb. We don't bounce up and down like Sunderland have in the past.

    I don't understand why people like to verbally bash Newcastle. Is it jealousy that our fans turn up week in and week out despite our lack of success?

  • Comment posted by User0906769329, at 16:24 22 Feb 2013

    @107 well said.

    The size of a club surely has to be based on it's size, not its achievements. And this article is about chances in the Europa league anyway, not club size.

    Any team still in it could win it. That's what you get with knockout competitions. Much the same as some of teams mentioned in 105.

    By your logic, SAFC are a bigger club than NUFC!!! Quite laughable.

  • Comment posted by User0632233255, at 12:38 22 Feb 2013

    If you only have something bad to say go away, nothing to do with yous. Idiots.

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