5 Goals That Could Have Changed Newcastle United Forever

1. Demba Ba (0-2 vs Manchester City) - Premier League 2012

Given the positives that can be taken from Newcastle's shock 5th placed finish in the 2011/2012 season, it seems odd to end this list with one of the closing games of that season, but as flights of fancy go this is one that's stuck with me for some time. Going into the final fixtures of an extraordinary campaign - the one which won Pardew that LMA Manager of the Year trophy he keeps next to a can of pledge - Newcastle had won 7 of their last 8 games and found themselves within spitting distance of a Champions League spot. This from a club who regained their top flight status less than two years ago and failed to replace two of their best players in the summer. The mathematics of the situation were complicated, with Spurs and Arsenal both a point or two ahead, but Newcastle could more or less guarantee entry into Europe's premiere club competition with another 4 points. Manchester City had their own ideas of course, with the intoxicating scent a first ever Premier League title in their cavities, maximum points from their last two games was vital. The two teams met on largely equal footing, and the resulting game swung back and forwards for the better part of an hour. Chances were at the proverbial premium for much of that, but early in the first half, after being slipped in by Guiterrez, Demba Ba had the best chance for the game. With City's defenders scrambling desperately to recover, Ba allowed the ball to roll across his body before whipping around to shoot, Zabaleta and Lescott both peeling the other way try and cover the run of Papiss Cisse, only Gael Clichy remained in close enough attendance to attempt a block. Ba, so composed in front of goal that season, could have cut back inside to present himself with an unmissable chance, but instead cannoned his effort of the outstretched foot of the Frenchman, forcing Ben Arfa to attempt a rebound from an angle that had become unfavourable at best.

That remained the side's best chance of the afternoon, and looking back at the highlights it seems odd to pick it out as a moment that could have changed the club forever, but can you just imagine, even for a moment, how both the club and the league would have changed had Newcastle cashed in the Champions League payday over Liverpool and Chelsea? The following season was one of incredible turmoil for the club who, after only really adding Vurnon Anita to the squad in the summer, stalled and struggled their way to a pitiful 16th placed finish. Demba Ba departed for Chelsea, dissent reemerged amongst the supporters, and the club's still not showed a fraction of the promise it did in the closing stages of 11/12. 4th then would have been a gifthorse even Mike Ashely wouldn't have looked in the mouth, and surely some finances would have been speculated to potentially accumulate a consistent top 4 side. Then again, we might have got Partizan Belgrade in the qualifier...