The Relegation Thread

[mistermagic]

Nah, 34

I stand by my comments mate, I really can't see the current bottom three making 30 points.

Villa will be fine.

 

[JustinQPR]

Really feel today is make or break for us. Lose and I can't see us getting back out of it.

 

[Pyeman]

A few weeks ago I said that Hull were goners. I've now officially revised my opinion and I really can't see any of the bottom three doing enough to stay up. If we have any chance we'll have to make the most of our last five fixtures which are [theoretically] all winnable games. I reckon we'll need around nine points from our final five games if we have any chance of avoiding the drop.

My only shred of hope comes from the fact that only a month ago Hull looked dead and buried and now they seem to have turned around their fortunes.

 

[Madejski]

When was the last time the three promoted teams got relegated?

I think it could become more often with the widening of finances between the divisions.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Not really, I think it's just more the fact that the three promoted teams this year have been frigging awful. Leicester play well but can't see out games to save their lives, Burnley, everyone thought would fuck off because they spent nothing, and while admirable, generally isn't going to get you anywhere in the Premier League. QPR are just shocking, every time I've seen them (with the exception of when they played us unsurprisingly), they've been terrible. Very lucky for us really that there seem to be so many utterly awful teams in the league this year or we may as well be relegated already.

 

[Madejski]

But you say they are bad, and two of them (Leicester and Burnley) completely destroyed the Championship last year. No teams could get close to them.

It is only three Premier league clubs massively underachieving (Sunderland, Hull and Villa) that give them any hope of survival.

Then you look at who could come up and whilst it is better this season, a high flying Bournemouth team got knocked out of the Cup to a Villa team who couldn't score by 2 goals to nil. There is a large gap. This will only get larger when the £5 billion TV deal comes into effect.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Bournemouth are a team that's had a damned good season, not really looking like a proper Premier League survival possibility, would be in the same boat as Burnley. Leicester just haven't spent well, and much as Pearson has done well, I think they'd have done better with another manager. Obviously Bournemouth could just as easily do a Swansea/Southampton. Of the contenders for promotion in the Championship, I believe Derby, Watford, Norwich, Ipswich and Middlesbrough would do a decent job. I only see Bournemouth, Watford and Brentford who'd probably struggle badly in the Premier League.

I could obviously be horrendously wrong here.

 

[Jockney]

Why do sub-editors always lead with pitch invasions for match reports and why do they always insist that they've 'marred' the game?

Does trash talk between fighters during the weigh-in 'mar' the bout? Do scuffles during ice hockey mar those games? Nobody gives a fuck, they're at worst a nuisance.

 

[Jockney]

Bournemouth are a team that's had a damned good season, not really looking like a proper Premier League survival possibility, would be in the same boat as Burnley. Leicester just haven't spent well, and much as Pearson has done well, I think they'd have done better with another manager. Obviously Bournemouth could just as easily do a Swansea/Southampton. Of the contenders for promotion in the Championship, I believe Derby, Watford, Norwich, Ipswich and Middlesbrough would do a decent job. I only see Bournemouth, Watford and Brentford who'd probably struggle badly in the Premier League.

I could obviously be horrendously wrong here.

Derby, Norwich, Watford and Boro could do OK. Seem to have a decent structure in place (Derby youth, Norwich experience, Watford their foreign connections and Boro's Karanka has got good contacts). Brentford and Bournemouth are both well-run clubs who would at the very least give it a real good go.

Ipswich would flop I think. Theirs is a McCarthy project through and through, and his sides always struggle badly at that level.

 

[Jockney]

Why do sub-editors always lead with pitch invasions for match reports and why do they always insist that they've 'marred' the game?

Does trash talk between fighters during the weigh-in 'mar' the bout? Do scuffles during ice hockey mar those games? Nobody gives a fuck, they're at worst a nuisance.

wrong fred, fack.

 

[Pagnell]

I wouldn't write Villa off just yet. A couple of wins would see them right back amongst it. If Lambert was still at the helm they'd be doomed, but Sherwood might still bring back a bit of confidence. And let's not forget they're still level on points with QPR in 17th.

Like I said. Certainties to stay up now.

 

[Master D]

"It's not easy to play when you're 4-0 up". What a manager this Sherwood.

 

[Hank]

We're fucked.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I love playing Sunderland when we're in trouble. 6-1 a couple of years ago and now a nice 4-0. Please don't go down lads, we need you when we're in trouble.

 

[Pyeman]

We need someone to fuck up, because all the teams that seem to be within touching distance have the habit of putting a run together and steaming ahead. Palace left everyone for dead, then Hull strung a few wins together and now Villa are back from the dead. It looks like Sunderland are our best chance of avoiding the drop, but as with Villa I think they'll have just enough.

 

[smat]

Telegraph reckons Poyet's being sacked this week.

 

[Pagnell]

With 4 wins from 29 league games this season, it's little wonder. And with form like that, it's truly amazing Sunderland sit outside the relegation spots. It says a lot about the teams underneath them.

 

[smat]

GONE

They're in talks with Dick Advocaat?!

 

[HarvSFC]

Whoever's next he'll keep them up and then get sacked next season.

The Sunderland manager cycle.

 

[Hank]

He had to go. We are a horrible team to watch and at the moment look lost. After escaping relegation last season I really thought we'd do ok this season and progress under him.

 

[Super_horns]

Sean Dyche for manager of the year if he keeps Burnley up.

Not many people have talked about Sunderland as candidates really but they are in it.

 

[HarvSFC]

Koeman's got manager of the year sewn up.

 

[Pyeman]

FUCK!!!

We needed Sunderland to implode. If they get their acts together there'll be no-one left to fill our spot in the bottom three.

 

[last request]

Bad result for Villa yesterday, but at least all the teams below Villa who played yesterday lost.

 

[Pyeman]

I really don't see Villa as being a serious contender for relegation now. You'll pick up enough points to be clear by game 36/37.

Sunderland losing in the last couple of minutes was a big help. Thanks Hammers!

 

[JustinQPR]

Today is a perfect day for us to fuck up another lifeline we were handed with yesterday's results.

A dull 1-1 to all but confirm bye bye.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

Well we're not out of it yet, tough games coming up, plus Benteke went off with a hip injury.

 

[mistermagic]

Still doubt any of the current bottom 3 will do much better than 30 points...

 

[Hank]

Our game against Newcastle is huge, if we lose I think that's it for us.

 

[GodsGift]

Adam Johnson will score and you'll win.