The Relegation Thread

[Skinner]

Nah, they'll get out of it, they'll turn a corner before it's too late

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

So... the bottom three is currently made up of West Ham, Sunderland and Stoke. I mean, I know it's only September, but we should probably call a halt to proceedings now, eh?

 

[G.B]

a few interesting sunderland stats there

 

[mistermagic]

Is 11 games that far in a season? You'd think oh well it's only a bit more than 10 so not that big but in 7 games, the season will have reached its halfway point so maybe it is time to worry about West Ham United considering that they meet Spurs, Man Utd, Arsenal & Liverpool immediately.

Regarding other candidates, I refuse to consider Middlesbrough given their quality and I still believe that David Moyes is a good manager but does he have this Allardyce/Pulis thing of not going down? Not sure. Hull and Swansea look dead certs. Hull may have won against Southampton but reckon the squad isn't up for it and a couple of January signings (if they do happen) won't change that. Swansea made a very silly move in sacking Guidolin and appointing the yank who never did shit at Le Havre (they're in fine form since he left btw).

Discuss.

 

[PDS]

It would take a good year to stop everyone laughing if West Ham and their soulless giant red herring of a stadium went down

 

[Pagnell]

I'd laugh if West Ham went down purely because Karen Brady is associated with them. The tax payer subsidised stadium deal would just be the cherry on the cake. Unfortunately, there is no chance it will happen, they're too good a team to continue this form and I expect them to finish around midtable come May. They might be in 19th but there is only 3 points between them and 10th place.

 

[mistermagic]

Anyone else reckon the current bottom 3 will stay there without being even close from survival?

Not sure who they could leapfrog? Palace? Pardew won't have that. Watford? Maybe. I'm clutching at straws here...

 

[PDS]

With our defending I'll never rule us out.

Even the teams famous for being crap in front of goal (Boro, Southampton, Burnley) have field days against us.

 

[TubularBells]

With our defending I'll never rule us out.

Even the teams famous for being crap in front of goal (Boro, Southampton, Burnley) have field days against us.

We Burnley fans know all about Eddie Howe's sides. For a former defender, he doesn't put much stock on defending. Except he didn't get it right at either end with us.

 

[Leewilson]

Anyone else reckon the current bottom 3 will stay there without being even close from survival?

Not sure who they could leapfrog? Palace? Pardew won't have that. Watford? Maybe. I'm clutching at straws here...

Sunderland stay up for me. Probably at the expense of Burnley. I'd love Burnley to stay up but their away form is horrendous and I don't see their home form being quite enough to keep them up.

 

[mistermagic]

I actually forgot about Burnley. I can see it being interesting between them and Sunderland. Burnley have this jinx that no matter what, they go straight back down and Sunderland somehow manage to stay up.

I'm ruling everybody else out though.

 

[epic73]

Feel like although Swansea have improved they'll start to fall away again, Hull simply have the worst squad in the league, think Sunderland will go down as well. Surprised to see Palace near the bottom, thought they were doing well. Reckon Leicester will be in the battle as well, but Burnley definitely have the talent to escape and I think they'll finish mid-table.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

As staunch Sunderland supporter, I have faith that we (yes we) will stay up.

 

[TubularBells]

but Burnley definitely have the talent to escape and I think they'll finish mid-table.

It all depends who we (and others) sign in January. We're two or three players short but that could/should be rectified in January. I think we'll be ok. 15th/16th.

 

[Skinner]

As staunch Sunderland supporter, I have faith that we (yes we) will stay up.

What? Since when?

 

[TubularBells]

Sunderland will be hoping they don't suffer any injuries. Particularly to Anichebe and Defoe. They can't afford to sign any replacements and it'd be hard to see them scoring without one let alone both. Anichebe seems to be the catalyst to their improved results so they'll be praying he stays fit to support Defoe. Hull are in a similar predicament in that their squad has been decimated and with the off field drama it doesn't look good but they are putting up a good fight considering the size of their squad in terms of fit players. Swansea have some decent attacking options but look very poor defensively. The former two will struggle to strengthen. Swansea (I assume they have money) and the other seven occupants of the current bottom half, will all strengthen in January.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

What? Since when?

Since I vowed to support them for a season if Brexit won.

Forgot about that.

 

[Benji]

I think Burnley will possibly go down in place of Sunderland. Hasn't Heaton had to make the most saves of any keeper in the league? He's in good form now, but he can't keep them in games forever. Either they sort out their defensive system, or start sliding into 18th.

Sunderland always survive.

 

[TubularBells]

I think Burnley will possibly go down in place of Sunderland. Hasn't Heaton had to make the most saves of any keeper in the league? He's in good form now, but he can't keep them in games forever. Either they sort out their defensive system, or start sliding into 18th.

It's not our defence that's so much the problem as the way we have set up away from home in midfield and the quality of midfield. Lumping the ball forward and hoping for knock downs A) Nullifies our midfield and B) Leads to our midfield being over-ran as we just surrender possession straight back to the opposition.
We need a couple more midfielders and a winger with pace in January who can dictate the flow of the game, slow it down or speed it up accordingly. We need to be able to turn over possession and counter at pace.
We looked a more solid unit last night at Spurs because we played a 4-4-2. We'd been playing 4-2-3-1, or a variation of that away before last night and while it works effectively at home. Leaves us massively exposed away.

 

[TubularBells]

As an addendum. We don't play with any wingers (at the moment hopefully addressed in January). We have two inverted wide men who are naturally more of a number 10 and utility midfield. So we don't really have any width or pace. So we have two leggy wide men who don't offer as much protection to our defence or offer enough of a threat to relieve pressure on the break. Hence again putting our back line under pressure. This also makes our full backs less likely to venture forward as they could be exposed down the flanks.

 

[shane]

Since I vowed to support them for a season if Brexit won.

Forgot about that.

So you reneged on your original promise. Interesting.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

So you reneged on your original promise. Interesting.

It'll start in full when article 50 is triggered.

 

[epic73]

Sunderland are relying almost completely on Defoe, whereas Burnley are more well rounded. If Defoe gets injured, Sunderland are going down.

 

[PDS]

We Burnley fans know all about Eddie Howe's sides. For a former defender, he doesn't put much stock on defending. Except he didn't get it right at either end with us.

I would never want us to change the way we play, because when we get it right it's such a joy to watch. And I'd rather go down having a go than go down parking the bus and boring people to tears.

But Christ is it frustrating when we regularly ship 3 goals a game. We're capable of scoring in every match, but we can't be expected to get 3/4 every match, sometimes you need to just grind a result out.

 

[Deranged Drunk Guy]

Anyone else reckon the current bottom 3 will stay there without being even close from survival?

Not sure who they could leapfrog? Palace? Pardew won't have that. Watford? Maybe. I'm clutching at straws here...

Agree with the bottom two Hull and Swansea are gonners, Sunderland will fight could well escape again, there's a bit of fight left In them.

 

[TubularBells]

I would never want us to change the way we play, because when we get it right it's such a joy to watch. And I'd rather go down having a go than go down parking the bus and boring people to tears.

But Christ is it frustrating when we regularly ship 3 goals a game. We're capable of scoring in every match, but we can't be expected to get 3/4 every match, sometimes you need to just grind a result out.

I agree with you on the style of football. Would rather go down playing football the right way than some of the dross Dyche serves up. Which is annoying as when we get the ball on the deck, we can play some decent stuff. But he persevere's with hoof ball, which is not the way we fans like us to play. You're right. Bournemouth do play some lovely stuff but Howe was the same with us. We needed to score four just to win a game at times, which got bloody frustrating. You, as do we, require players who can slow a game down, hold the ball, dictate play and hold out for a win without having to score a hatful just to get a point!

 

[Super_horns]

Swansea need to find a manager quick - just to get some organisation into them.

 

[You Orns]

Hello.

 

[Super_horns]

Well we might just stay up but like last season won't be down to our good form/play.

What worries me is the number of injuries and amount of ill-discipline in our team.

We have good players either injured all the time or banned meaning we have to play people who are so badly out of form its untrue or in unsettled positions.

That would cause issues in any league - never mind the Premier league.

 

[TubularBells]

I had previously thought Watford had enough to stay up despite their performance at our place. No disrespect, but we have beaten better teams this season. I thought that was a one off. Now, having seen that display today. Your team looks devoid of ideas, confidence or structure.
Not helped by suspensions etc, but that is what a squad is for.