The Relegation Thread

[claret50]

BFS couldn't organise a win against the Dagenham girl pipers 2nd eleven let alone against Newcastle...2 -0 home win...hope I'm wrong though.

 

[mistermagic]

Reckon he just doesn't care no more after his great first half of the season. Shouldn't get rid though. He's proven his worth with the Sakho and Valencia acquisitions.

It doesn't really matter what Newcastle do tbh. I just can't see Hull winning.

 

[claret50]

Reckon he just doesn't care no more after his great first half of the season. Shouldn't get rid though. He's proven his worth with the Sakho and Valencia acquisitions.

Except that Allardyce didn't want to sign Sakho but he was over ruled by David Sullivan who made the decision to sign Sakho and not BFS.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

Yeah I remember your ever classy owner going on TV to say the exact same thing.

 

[mistermagic]

Except that Allardyce didn't want to sign Sakho but he was over ruled by David Sullivan who made the decision to sign Sakho and not BFS.

What about Valencia, you got an excuse for not praising Allardyce for this buy? He's shown that he knows the league very well in the first half of the season but I reckon he didn't want EL football so dropped it once survival was confirmed. Sad but that's the best West Ham and a whole host of clubs can expect these days.

 

[LondonOrn]

Although there are only two clubs involved now, it could be an interesting tussle tomorrow.

The criteria for either club's survival is pretty straightforward - Hull have to win and hope Newcastle don't, if Hull win then Newcastle have to as well, otherwise any result for them will do. But there could be a few twists and turns during both games - form book tends to go out of the window at this stage of the season and I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Hull won't beat Man Utd - even the top teams can slip up if they've got nothing to play for, as witnessed by Chelsea being beaten 3-0 at West Brom, and Arsenal being held 0-0 by Sunderland at the Emirates.

The question is, how will John Carver and his players approach things? Will they go for a win from the outset regardless of how Hull do, will Carver pay much attention to the other match and set his tactics accordingly? By that I mean they might want to keep it tight and only really go for it if Hull are winning (or their game remains level with half an hour to go), as they won't want to get too careless chasing a win only to go a goal down and then suffer the agony of Hull scoring in the last minute when they haven't managed to get the required 2+ goals back.

(That's assuming of course that Carver actually has anything remotely resembling tactical nous and the players give a shit, of which there's been precious little evidence during the last ten or so games - so a throw of the dice and hope and pray scenario is more likely for Newcastle...)

 

[claret50]

What about Valencia, you got an excuse for not praising Allardyce for this buy?

Not at all, Big Sam did well in acquiring the signature of Enna Valencia plus one or two other signings, and has done what was asked of him by the owners, but in my view he hasn't the ability to take the club any further.

 

[dedwardp]

Off to Aston Villa v Burnley this afternoon - I had been hoping it would be a bit of a relegation showdown and that Villa would drop, but instead it looks set to be an anti-climax in the drizzle. Great.

 

[mistermagic]

Not at all, Big Sam did well in acquiring the signature of Enna Valencia plus one or two other signings, and has done what was asked of him by the owners, but in my view he hasn't the ability to take the club any further.

I don't think West Ham should be aiming for higher at this moment in time. You were in deep trouble not so long ago and wanted Allardyce out because you were struggling. Now you want someone else because you're not happy enough with mid-table mediocrity. Unless serious money is invested in transfers, I don't see many managers who could do a better job than Sam at West Ham.

 

[Dazza]

I think Hull will win today but so will Newcastle.West Ham have been playing poor for weeks.

 

[dedwardp]

I'm sure that Blackburn and Bolton would rather have kept Allardyce, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

To be fair, I do think that this time it's a tricky one as they have been so awful since Christmas. I know you can put it down to complacency after basically securing their safety in the first half of the season, but it's a bit dangerous to just accept that and assume it won't roll into the next year.

 

[JimJams]

I think Hull will win today but so will Newcastle.West Ham have been playing poor for weeks.

Newcastle haven't exactly been in the best form either.

 

[LondonOrn]

Hull and Newcastle's games are now two of only three that remain goalless, shows what's at stake and the tension involving both clubs - not surprising given those are the only two teams left that have anything to play for.

 

[LondonOrn]

Newcastle now leading! If that result along with Everton vs Spurs (0-1) and Palace vs Swansea (1-0) stays the same, then Palace will finish a very creditable 10th.

 

[mistermagic]

Unrelated but does anyone know what happens re the EL spots? Will Villa make it regardless of the FA Cup final result?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Unrelated but does anyone know what happens re the EL spots? Will Villa make it regardless of the FA Cup final result?

No. We win, we qualify, if not, it goes to 7th (so Southampton), UEFA have changed the rules.

 

[mistermagic]

No. We win, we qualify, if not, it goes to 7th (so Southampton), UEFA have changed the rules.

Ok cheers. Guess Southampton and Villa will make a refreshing change on Thursday evenings.

 

[Super_horns]

Southampton want to be in Europe too.

West Ham will get in via Fair Play.

 

[mistermagic]

I never got that Fair Play thing. What exactly have they done to warrant getting European football?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I never got that Fair Play thing. What exactly have they done to warrant getting European football?

They're good boys and girls who don't make nasty tackles.

 

[Super_horns]

Nice touch for Jonas to get the goal that seals safety.

 

[G.B]

FFS Stand to win £100 if Newcastle go down. for that to happen Hull have to beat United

Unlucky fella. You'll have to find a new way to fund your MUTV subscription.

 

[LondonOrn]

Ok cheers. Guess Southampton and Villa will make a refreshing change on Thursday evenings.

If Villa get in the EL, Southampton won't, because then it will only go down to 6th place through the league.

 

[mistermagic]

I meant either of them.

 

[mistermagic]

Just updating this thread given that it's all I'm going to be talking about from January onwards.

If anyone has any early contenders, come forward.

 

[JimJams]

Chelsea.


Someone was going to.

 

[gjb]

Stoke

 

[The Iron]

Sunderland

 

[Benji]

Should Newcastle start to worry? They've had a tough start, but their heads drop as soon as they concede. There's no team spirit. Looks rather damning, the Watford game will reveal a lot.

 

[Super_horns]

They will probably beat us now - loads of pressure and people waiting for further bad news.