The Relegation Thread

[Six pints of STELLA]

Sunderland
Watford
Newcastle

It's really about time Sunderland went down.

 

[mistermagic]

I look forward to GB and GG insightful in this thread in the forseeable future.

 

[Super_horns]

The worry for Sunderland and Newcastle might is that how many people are that surprised they lost to Bournemouth and us respectively?

Last week I was delighted to get 3 points - this time I hoped for a point at least.

 

[JimJams]

Their problem is that they were down there last year after a fair start to the season. They've had dreadful starts this time round so currently there's no reason to see why they'd get out of it. Sunderland haven't actually played too badly in their last few games but Newcastle have been piss poor. Janmaat took more shots than any other Newcastle player in their last match and without seeing the stats I'm guessing he probably did the same today, especially as he's the bloke on the scoresheet. Newcastle just don't seem to have enough goals in them. It probably doesn't help that their lineup has changed every game I think.

 

[Letsby Avenue]

"He's Short
He's Fat
He's gonna get the Sack....
Advocaat"
Loyal Scot Fans 2003

..............................

IF they keep their present managers:
Sunderland
Newcastle
Villa

If they change their managers by Christmas:
Newcastle
Sunderland
Villa

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Sunderland are just shot of confidence. Their keeper was at Man City not long ago. Now he shanks the ball out for a throw in every 5 minutes.

Kaboul has years of experience but looks like giving away a foul every time he goes in for a challenge.

Borini has bags of talent, but can't get past his full back because he's got lead in his boots. Despite our full back being less than fit yesterday.

Coates keeps trying to play the ball out from the back but can't find a Sunderland shirt for love nor money.

Defoe has made a career from bread and butter chances two of which he had and missed yesterday, which would have changed the game.

Clearly good players in there somewhere.

 

[GodsGift]

They've been saying that for the past three or four years though. Their problems are far deeper rooted than just low confidence.

No comment on Newcastle.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

The more I watch us, the more I think that this is finally the year that our mismanaged club (I'm talking from the top here, I can't attack Tim yet, he's had nowhere near enough time yet) can no longer avoid the drop. We'll be bottom, or near to, after our next 9 (league) games unless we pull off a miracle...

Liverpool (a) - Seem to do well at Anfield recently, but can't see that happening this season. L
Chelsea (h) - Jose broke his duck at Villa Park, and I can see that continuing. L
Swansea (h) - Tend to do ok against Swansea. D
Tottenham (a) - We don't do well against Spurs. L
Man City (h) - Does this need explanation? L
Everton (a) - Another team we don't beat away with the exception of last season. L
Watford (h) - On a high, but I think after the run preceding this, I can see us winning this one. W
Southampton (a) - Nope. L
Arsenal (h) - If it was at the Emirates, I'd be more optimistic... L

Leaving us on 8 points after 15 games.If this did play out, I think that Tim would have to go, not that it'd make any difference at the moment. I really think we're going to drop this year. We needed points from these first few games, and we've just failed horribly. Obviously I get that this is due to the new team, but good God it needs to gel quickly, or we're fucked.

 

[Murphy]

Sunderland deserve everything they get if/when they go down. What sort of long-term thinking is it appointing a manager who at most will be there for 3 years? He'll probably leave at the end of the current season. It's ludicrous - if I was a Sunderland fan (thank god I'm not), I'd be going spare.

Sunderland are a club in need of a fresh approach, a young manager with a plan and some ambition. Instead they've gone for the short term option that is looking increasingly shite. And to be quite frank, any club who signs Younes Kaboul has it coming to them in my book.

 

[Hank]

Sunderland deserve everything they get if/when they go down. What sort of long-term thinking is it appointing a manager who at most will be there for 3 years? He'll probably leave at the end of the current season. It's ludicrous - if I was a Sunderland fan (thank god I'm not), I'd be going spare.

Sunderland are a club in need of a fresh approach, a young manager with a plan and some ambition. Instead they've gone for the short term option that is looking increasingly shite. And to be quite frank, any club who signs Younes Kaboul has it coming to them in my book.

All of this is correct. He only signed a one year deal and doubt he'll see that out. A mate described us as "that annoying piece of shit that just won't flush", it's hard to disagree.

 

[G.B]

I look forward to GB and GG insightful in this thread in the forseeable future.

Why? Are you gonna incorrectly predict us to go down for the 3rd (?) year running?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Y'know what would be seriously fucked up? If us, Newcastle and Sunderland went down... The Premier League's average attendances would nosedive and the Championship's would skyrocket.

 

[G.B]

Nah, Sunderland's average attendance would drop 33% like last time. Dem bitches aint loyal.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Nah, Sunderland's average attendance would drop 33% like last time. Dem bitches aint loyal.

To be honest, ours probably would too. The old adage of Villans being fickle does, unfortunately, have some credence.

 

[FishyMackem]

Sunderland deserve everything they get if/when they go down. What sort of long-term thinking is it appointing a manager who at most will be there for 3 years? He'll probably leave at the end of the current season. It's ludicrous - if I was a Sunderland fan (thank god I'm not), I'd be going spare.

Sunderland are a club in need of a fresh approach, a young manager with a plan and some ambition. Instead they've gone for the short term option that is looking increasingly shite. And to be quite frank, any club who signs Younes Kaboul has it coming to them in my book.

Couldn't agree more. It doesn't help Advocaat's cause that he said in the press today that he would happily leave if he thought somebody better was available to take over...

 

[Benji]

Newcastle United have 3 wins and 5 draws in the league since the beginning of 2015. The best thing about Newcastle is that they lost to West Ham, which puts them in good company with Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal.

 

[mistermagic]

They've been saying that for the past three or four years though. Their problems are far deeper rooted than just low confidence.

Quinn?

Why? Are you gonna incorrectly predict us to go down for the 3rd (?) year running?

When did I predict you to go down?

 

[G.B]

don't play dumb with me monsieur magic

 

[JaseTheVillain]

We're fucked.

 

[FishyMackem]

Newcastle take over from Sunderland at the foot of the table on goal difference.

 

[Super_horns]

I'd love to keep the 6 points gap all season but not sure we look like scoring enough.

 

[The Iron]

We're fucked.

I didn't realise that Villa were struggling that badly, until i saw the updated table. The good news is that they won't lose a game for two weeks now.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Until our run of 6 losses, including crashing out of the cup.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Newcastle and Sunderland both look like going down this season, but I reckon both teams will have a change of manager in the next month, which might work in their favor. Villa are also 4 points adrift, they really need to start winning games.

 

[FishyMackem]

Sunderland looked promising today but couldn't hold onto a lead when it mattered most.

 

[Blitzballer]

Until our run of 6 losses, including crashing out of the cup.

Since Wilkins has come in as Sherwoods no.2 we have turned to shit. Not sure if something fucked up on the training side of things.
Not good times mate, it hasn't been for 4-5 years

 

[The Iron]

Since Wilkins has come in as Sherwoods no.2 we have turned to shit. Not sure if something fucked up on the training side of things.
Not good times mate, it hasn't been for 4-5 years

On the positive side you are only playing Chelsea next, so 3pts surely

 

[AFCB_Mark]

This international break is very welcome for us. A chance for restbite and assess how our shorter term injuries are, maybe get Arter and / or Elphick back in action and allow a few knocks to settle.

The fact that we have Man City and Spurs after the break isn't exactly ideal, but cluthing a straw at least they give us a chance to work on the new style of attack we require with Murray, against a good class of defence. If we can at least create chances against them it'll bode well.

 

[JimJams]

I think we all need a good restbite now and then.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Respite!