Krul’s transfer relief after Magpies emerge unscathed from sales (From The Northern Echo)

Krul’s transfer relief after Magpies emerge unscathed from sales

11:07am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Newcastle United News By Steph Clark

NEWCASTLE UNITED keeper Tim Krul admits it was a huge relief to see the transfer window close without any departures and believes the spirit within the squad is big reason why the club sit fifth in the Premier League table.

Just over a year ago, Newcastle were rocked by the surprise departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool on deadline day with no replacement brought in to fill the void left by the striker.

And given the Magpies’ performance in the league already this season, there was fear that history could repeat itself this year with several players, including Demba Ba and Cheik Tiote, attracting interest.

However, the deadline passed and instead of dealing with the loss of a key squad member, Newcastle were toasting the arrival £9m striker Papiss Cisse, who signed from German club SC Freiburg a fortnight ago.

Cisse is yet to make his Magpies debut having been on international duty with Ba and Tiote at the African Cup of Nations, but the strike pair were expected back on Tyneside yesterday.

Given the pivotal roles Tiote and Ba have played this season, the Magpies were largely expected to struggle in their absence, but things couldn’t be more different after Wednesday night’s win at Blackburn Rovers saw Pardew’s side climb into fifth in the table.

Krul played a big part in the result after saving David Dunn’s penalty and the Dutchman revealed how relieved he was to see the squad remain intact on deadline day.

“There was definitely relief that the transfer window passed,” he said. “It is fantastic that we have been able to keep the squad together and to keep the group together and on top of that we now have a top class striker added too. That’s the way we will progress as a football club.

“We can push on now.

Everyone feels like that – we have 30-odd points and we can really progress now.

“We’ve seen everything at this club over the last few years and we’ve had lots thrown at us already this season.

But everyone believes in each other, everyone works for each other and that’s the most important thing.

“The major plus over the last few weeks has just been the attitude of the boys. We said before the Blackburn game that if our attitude is right then we can beat anyone and we believe that.

“We fought for each other – there were tackles, blocks, a clearance off the line again. I think it was a proper Premier League game.”

Wednesday’s result saw the Magpies move onto 39 points after 23 games and like his manager, Krul feels the squad can now concentrate on trying to finish as high as possible come the end of the season, starting with the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday.

He said: “We’ve had a disappointing couple of games but we always believe in each other. That is the most important thing. We know our targets and we’re far above them.

We’re flying – our confidence is sky high and we’re ready for the Sunday game.

“We are 23 games in and we’re fifth. That is no fluke, we deserve that position and that gives us the belief that we can really achieve something this season. Of course we believe in ourselves now.

We deserve to be there.”

Meanwhile, defender Danny Simpson believes the win at Ewood Park will give the squad a boost after last weekend’s FA Cup defeat, but he believes two in particular deserve immense praise.

Gabriel Obertan came off the bench to score his first goal for the club in the 90th minute, while James Perch was a half-time introduction in midfield and Simpson, who reach a century of appearances for the Magpies on Wednesday, admits the pair are unlucky not to be in Pardew’s starting XI.

“I thought Gabby was excellent when he came on and Perchy was brilliant. That is what we’re all about,” he said.

“They probably haven’t got the minutes that they’d like this season but they’ve kept their heads down, worked away on the training ground and when their chance comes they have taken it.’’