The Relegation Thread

[JaseTheVillain]

You look at Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich and think that not one of them is really good enough to survive. Still time for Villa with this dross in front of them.

Don't be daft.

 

[PDS]

A very good set of results for us, Swansea aside. I make us probably 2 wins from survival, which would put us on 38.

With Newcastle and Swansea as our next two there's a great opportunity to pick up at least one of those.

Looks like Villa, Norwich and one other, which could be anyone from us below. Norwich just don't look like they have the goals in them to get out of trouble

 

[JimJams]

Playing Jerome makes sure of that.

 

[PDS]

Can re-sign Grabban for £12 million?

 

[SUTSS]

Don't be daft.

Of course that last bit was tongue in cheek. Newcastle, Sunderland and ourselves do look pretty determined to get relegated though.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Unfortunately, we've been trying to do it for 6 years, so you're all a bit behind us and have so far done a far better job at fucking up our season than any of you lot.

 

[mistermagic]

It's between the bottom 4 clearly. Sunderland will stay up because of Big Sam.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

Because Defoe.

 

[SUTSS]

It's between the bottom 4 clearly. Sunderland will stay up because of Big Sam.

I don't think Swansea are out of it just yet. If (and it's a massive if on our current form) we beat them tomorrow they would be right back in it. Although I am making the long trip to Swansea so they will win 3-0 and be safe.

 

[SamScfc]

Why is Bamford not getting a game for Norwich? Is he shit or injured?

 

[SUTSS]

Why is Bamford not getting a game for Norwich? Is he shit or injured?

He looked good in the 10 minutes he's had. Couldn't play against Chelsea obviously. If he doesn't play tomorrow has to be question marks over his ability if he can't get in the squad.

 

[Abertawe]

I don't think Swansea are out of it just yet. If (and it's a massive if on our current form) we beat them tomorrow they would be right back in it. Although I am making the long trip to Swansea so they will win 3-0 and be safe.

We're safe as houses.

Enjoy your trip tommorow, fucking long away day.

 

[Abertawe]

9 points clear, gotta see us safe now.

 

[Super_horns]

Thank goodness we've got such a gap otherwise I'd be a bit nervous!

Cannot see past the current bottom 3 now TBH.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Newcastle need to sack that clown. Had them playing about 3 different formations throughout the game, until some point in the second half when the entire notion of a system or shape went out the window and it resembled kids football.

Must confuse the shit out of those players. Back 4, back 3, wing backs, no wing backs, what?

Think we can count us lot out of this now...? Maybe another few points needed at some stage?

 

[SUTSS]

We've picked up 1 point from our last 9 games, how have we not been cut adrift yet?

 

[mistermagic]

Only a matter of time before Big Sam gets a run of wins under his belt and sees Sunderland safe.

Poor Newcastle. And Geordie Boy.

 

[SUTSS]

Do the problems for Newcastle this season go deeper than McClaren? That could be the question that decides who stays up. If they sack him and get a bounce then they should stay up but if the problems are deeper then it won't make a difference. You feel this is the last chance to sack the manager for the teams down the bottom but with Allardyce looking like he has got Sunderland putting in some good performances, if not quite getting the results and us seemingly deciding that Alex Neil will be in charge for the first game of next season no matter what then it looks like McClaren will be the only casualty.

I've always been of the belief that we were capable of putting together 3 or 4 wins but I have to say that that belief has gone now. Swansea weren't very good yesterday and only really had one clear chance which they scored from but, as with many teams this season, they didn't need to be any good. On top of that we had a referee that was seemingly doing his best to give us every advantage possible but we were not good enough to take that. Klose taking down Ayew in the first half was one of the clearest penalties you will ever see and there were a couple of other incidents where Swansea players were clearly fouled but nothing given. Although when a foul was given against us a card seemed to follow but they were all deserved and Gary O'Neil and Ryan Bennett could've been sent off multiple times. Sadly, we're just not very good.

 

[GodsGift]

Do the problems for Newcastle this season go deeper than McClaren?

I think you know the answer to that question.

 

[G.B]

From our point of view at least it's in our hands, having to play the teams around us. Trouble is we're shite and persist with the things that make us shite ie. playing systems that require wingers without actually selecting any wingers. We're literally relying on Shelvey pulling a 50 yard wonder pass out of his arse at this point.

McMuffin pulled the "press agenda" card on Thursday and walked out of a press conference when questioned. He should go at this point but who could we realistically bring in? Moyes? Would make us more difficult to beat but creating chances and scoring goals is our major problem.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Clearly the best coach in the league should be given another chance.

 

[G.B]

John Carver?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Oui.

 

[G.B]

Wouldn't put it past Jabba tbf. He's a winner, not a quitter dontcha know.

 

[PDS]

Just got back from a frankly amazing weekend in Newcastle, but the mess that club is in is unbelievable

Not just in terms of performance, but the vitriol being directed at McClaren and the players surely makes his position untenable. £80million or so spent on what isn't a bad squad, but they were a shambles yesterday. The players need to take a large portion of the blame too, but tactically it was a mess, and when the whole stadium turns there's surely no way back

 

[East End Hammer]

I've said all along Big Sam & Defoe will keep Sunderland up.


Villa, Norwich, Newcastle.

If Palace wasn't already over the 30 points barrier I would have said them. They are on a terrible run.

 

[Munkiki]

I've always been of the belief that we were capable of putting together 3 or 4 wins but I have to say that that belief has gone now.

There was a similar feeling October to mid-December (admittedly not as bad as our current run) then out of nowhere we won 3 out of 4 games. I wouldn't completely rule it out but I still struggle to see us doing enough to stay up. The only thing we can really take heart from is that despite picking up ONE point from a possible 27 we're still only a point adrift (and 8 ahead of Villa).

Some fans are turning/have turned on AN already but I think we've failed across the board, so I don't buy sacking him will solve all our problems. Our scouting/transfer system has been poor for years so that clearly goes beyond the manager. I'd also argue our coaching set-up needs looking up - our fitness is questionable - so while the manager takes some heat here, again this isn't something new so must go deeper. Then we get to the manager, who obviously isn't immune to criticism. He lost his way after the SJP disaster. Frustratingly, every time he's stumbled onto something that could work, he's changed it before having given it a proper chance. Most recently we'd gone to 3 at the back with wing-backs. Yes, we lost both games but narrowly and performances were better. We should have looked to build from that but instead he changed things up yet again for the trip to Swansea. Whether it's purely him doubting himself or outside pressure, he needs to pick an approach/formation and stick with it. He's young, he's inexperienced, he's going to make mistakes. If you're not going to give him time to learn from them, try to put things right and build something, then it's folly to appoint him in the first place. Regardless of what anybody says, relegation isn't the end of the world. (Players also should be looked at. There have been a lot of games where AN has got his tactics spot on and they've massively let him, and themselves, down. They're the ones actually on the pitch, they're the ones who have blown 2 goal leads. They're the ones whose lapses in concentration are seeing us concede soft goals week in, week out.)

Whatever happens (relegation the most likely outcome), I really hope we stick by AN. Not a fan of the whole changing managers every 6-12 months and praying a 'new manager bounce' sees you over the line thing. Football fans are fickle as anything though and they're always out for blood, most of them, no doubt, the same ones who were proclaiming him the messiah 10 months ago. They're quick to point to examples where a change of manager has been successful but in truth, twisting is just as risky as sticking. You'll certainly be able to find examples of success and failure for both. Looking at last season: Leicester stuck with Pearson - they were in a far worse position than us and survived; QPR changed manager - still went down and are doing fuck all this season; Hull/Burnley stuck with Bruce/Dyche - went down but are looking good for an immediate return. Newcastle/Sunderland/Villa all changed managers and look just as shit this season. Rather go down and start over than go into another season hoping that we're slightly less shit than 3 other sides.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Whatever happens (relegation the most likely outcome), I really hope we stick by AN. Not a fan of the whole changing managers every 6-12 months and praying a 'new manager bounce' sees you over the line thing. Football fans are fickle as anything though and they're always out for blood, most of them, no doubt, the same ones who were proclaiming him the messiah 10 months ago. They're quick to point to examples where a change of manager has been successful but in truth, twisting is just as risky as sticking. You'll certainly be able to find examples of success and failure for both. Looking at last season: Leicester stuck with Pearson - they were in a far worse position than us and survived; QPR changed manager - still went down and are doing fuck all this season; Hull/Burnley stuck with Bruce/Dyche - went down but are looking good for an immediate return. Newcastle/Sunderland/Villa all changed managers and look just as shit this season. Rather go down and start over than go into another season hoping that we're slightly less shit than 3 other sides.

Just as shit??? We're far worse, mate. Looking at things, I honestly think Lambert would have done just as good a job as anyone, and I was one of those baying for blood from him at the time. Not often I'll admit I'm wrong, but the problems are rooted far deeper than the manager at our club. Sherwood needed to go, and I'll stick by that, but Lambert I'm now not so sure he deserved his sacking in hindsight. He'd probably have invested the money in the summer far better for a start.

 

[Blitzballer]

 

[silkyman]

Villa remind me of City in the 90s. Shit for a long time, but it doesn't feel right and then the shitness catches up with you and suddenly Alan Ball is in charge.

If you are in with a chance on the last day and someone says a draw is enough.... Don't believe them!