Newcastle United Friday Links: Run-By Edition

Hello, folks-- I apologize for no links yesterday, but I'll make up for it. Tomorrow. A quick run here as I should already have left my house this morning- not much reacting in this one. Here's the links!

Alan Pardew: We must be alive to Sunderland five - NUFC News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

Pardew told the Chronicle: "It will be an interesting point of the game to see how well we cope with their five-man midfield. "That’s what they’ll play. We need to cope better than we did against Wolves with our two strikers on the pitch. "We have done that in the past and we hope to do it again on Sunday."

John Carver studying bigger European picture - NUFC News - NUFC - JournalLive

"We have got a fantastic opportunity but it’s funny because – and this is me talking with my ‘fan’ head on – my thinking is ‘if we win this, we’re 13 points away from Sunderland’," he told The Journal. "The fan part of me is saying that’s all I’m bothered about! But from a professional point of view it’s a chance to kick on and get closer to and consolidate that sixth or seventh spot. "That has to be the goal now. I think that people look at the season and if we finish 10th or 11th it will be a disappointing season after the start we had. We’ve got to maintain that, we’ve got 12 games to go now and lots of points to play for. "But again – we get the right result and it opens that huge gap, which is good."

A draw won’t be good enough for Newcastle boss Pardew - Newcastle United - Shields Gazette

"It is an important game in terms of our league position as well, and not just playing Sunderland. "We are very much aware of how much it means to the fans. "I hope they create the atmosphere that will give us the platform to win the game."

I'm pretty certain that any concern Pardew has over this is misguided at best...

Alan Shearer on Newcastle United v Sunderland - NUFC News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

When asked if playing at St James’ will make it advantage Newcastle, the Geordie said: "Oh yeah, of course it is. "We have had decent results there in recent years, well for a lot of the last few years. "We’ve had the upper hand over Sunderland. We all hope that continues, but it is going to be a lot tougher than it has been." Last season’s 5-1 still holds a special place in the memory of all Geordies, and looking back on the victory, Shearer said: "It’s very rare you go out and score five. I hope we do! But I think it will be a lot tighter.

I think that we all agree that 5-1 or better would be great. I, too, think it'll be a little tighter ... but who knows?