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Off Topic Reporters from the bottom 7 clubs predict who'll get relegated

Discussion in 'Hull City' started by Red top reader, Mar 25, 2017.

  1. Red top reader

    Red top reader Well-Known Member

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    Premier League relegation battle? Rival reporters have their say
    By Hull Daily Mail | Posted: March 25, 2017

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    THE DROP BATTLE: Hull City boss Marco Silva.

    Interesting read, most think city will stay up... apologies if this has been previously posted..


    As the teams take a break from the hurly-burly of the Premier League drop fight, we talk to the reporters about their club's chances of survival.


    RON WALKER, WATFORD OBSERVER
    How would you assess Watford's chances of survival? Work done earlier in the season should be enough to keep Watford up. With 11 games to go and 31 points on the board, a few more are going to be enough for survival. Seven points is a big gap for those teams at the bottom. The chances of Watford finishing even 17th, which would be a major disappointment, is looking more and more likely though.

    Do Watford have momentum heading into the final straight? Absolutely not. Three defeats from four following a brief respite has knocked the stuffing out and they looked devoid of ideas at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Since the start of December, the club has been on the slide, and has picked up 10 points from its last 13 games.

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    What does the run-in look like for Watford? Bad, in a word. Chelsea and Spurs away, coupled with Manchester City and Liverpool at home, make difficult reading. Watford do need to pick up a few points to get some momentum back and make sure they are safe, and also restore the positive atmosphere ahead of next season. There are two real six-pointers against Sunderland and Swansea in a fortnight in April which Watford will identify as must-win. Trips to Everton and Leicester will also be tough.

    Who'll be Watford's key men? Troy Deeney has five in his last seven – six if you count his own-goal on Saturday – and his return to form will be vital with goals rarely flowing from elsewhere. Centre-back Sebastian Prodl looked a shoo-in for player of the season earlier in the year but his form has dropped a little in the past couple of months – although it's still acceptable – and the club could do with him getting back to the ball-winning commanding centre-half he has shown himself to be.

    Will Watford stay up? Name your three to go down... Yes, just about. It's difficult to look beyond Sunderland and Middlesbrough, and I think Hull's run-in is slightly easier than Swansea's, so I fancy them to surprise a few people and get out of trouble.

    JAMES SMAILES, HULL DAILY MAIL
    How would you assess Hull's chances of survival? The fact City are still in with a genuine fighting chance to stay up with nine games remaining speaks volumes for the job Marco Silva has done since arriving in January. Hope may not have been lost following a nine-game winless run that preceded Mike Phelan's departure, but it was certainly on the cusp of being shattered into pieces after a promising start to the season quickly eroded away. Hope, rather than confidence, may be all that remains, but with an unbeaten record at home since the Portuguese arrived at the KCOM Stadium, the Tigers have a fighting chance.

    Do Hull have momentum heading into the final straight? A 4-0 defeat at Everton before heading into the international break would suggest not. However, on their return to action City face two home games which hold the key to survival. With three wins and a draw at home under Silva in the Premier League, momentum at the KCOM is behind the Tigers. The fact they have back-to-back home games provides that opportunity to claw their way out of the bottom three and build some momentum at the start of a busy April which yields six games which may not make the season, but can certainly break it.

    What does the run-in look like for Hull?The fact City have more home than away games left is a major factor. Not since the embryonic days of the season have City tasted victory on the road in the league. You have to go back to August 20 and Swansea away for the only time the club have won on the road. With difficult trips to Manchester City, Stoke, Southampton and then relegation rivals Crystal Palace, in the penultimate game of the campaign, points away from home look difficult to come by. West Ham and Middlesbrough are up next at home, which must also yield six points if safety is to be attained. Watford and Sunderland also visit the KCOM in a favourable run-in at home, before Tottenham arrive on the final day.

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    Who'll be City's key men? Tom Huddlestone's red card at Everton may prove very costly. The former Spurs midfielder has recaptured his best form this season and in recent weeks, has been the stand-out performer. Having sold Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass in January, City needed Huddlestone's controlling presence at the heart of the team and he's stepped up. The concern is how to replace such an influential player. Sam Clucas, a player who is quickly growing into a future international, looks the man most likely to step into that void, while in defence the partnership of Harry Maguire alongside January signing Andrea Ranocchia are a handful for any strikers, as the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have both discovered in recent weeks.

    Will City stay up? Name your three to go down... On the back of the club's home form, they've a chance, but I'm expecting a gallant effort which comes up just short. It really does come down to the next two home games with West Ham and Middlesbrough. Win, and that chance will increase from slim to reasonable, but anything less than six points and I don't hold out much hope. It's a shoot-out between City and Swansea for the last relegation place with Middlesbrough and Sunderland doomed. The trouble is Swansea have a three-point lead and significant points difference, with winnable home games themselves.

    ROB TANNER, LEICESTER MERCURY
    How would you assess Leicester's chances of survival? Extremely good. The change of manager has had a huge impact and Leicester have won four consecutive games, three in the Premier League. Craig Shakespeare has reverted to the same system and personnel from last season's title success and the players appear to be playing with more confidence and energy. Their turnaround has fanned the flames of the accusations the players downed tools for Claudio Ranieri, but it may be they just feel more confident and settled in a system that served them so well last season.

    Do Leicester have momentum heading into the final straight? Yes. They are getting up a head of steam and the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are scoring goals and providing assists again. Confidence is growing, especially following their Champions League win over Seville.

    What does the run-in look like for Leicester? City have two home games after the international break which will be huge. Wins over Stoke and Sunderland would give them huge breathing space. However, they have a very congested April with the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. They face six games in 18 days and have eight in total in April, with the postponed visit of Tottenham still to be arranged. Besides visits to Arsenal and Manchester City, their run-in isn't too bad.

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    Who'll be Leicester's key men? Kasper Schmeichel has been in great form and the keeper will play a huge role, but it is in attack City really need to be firing. Vardy and Mahrez are of huge importance and when they are on form City tend to score goals.

    Will Leicester stay up? Name your three to go down... Yes, City should stay up comfortably now. The decision to replace Ranieri was controversial and the owners and players faced a huge backlash, but so far it looks to have been the right decision. Sunderland and Middlesbrough look in trouble, while Hull are showing some signs of fight, but it will be difficult for all three to avoid the drop. However, as City experienced at this stage two seasons ago, it is not impossible.

    ROB WARLOW, CROYDON ADVERTISER
    How would you assess Palace's chances of survival? Much better than they were a few weeks ago! When Palace were beaten 4-0 at home by Sunderland in early February, they did hit rock-bottom and were beginning to look doomed. But since then, the Eagles have improved considerably and after three wins in a row, they have a four point cushion to the bottom three. They also only have a goal difference of -10, which is considerably better than some of the teams around them, and that could be invaluable come the end of the season.

    Do Palace have momentum heading into the final straight? They are an in-form team after three wins in a row, and with three clean sheets too, they have turned the corner in recent weeks under Sam Allardyce. They have shown that they can grind out results, with the 1-0 wins at home against Middlesbrough and Watford proof of that, and they have given themselves a platform for survival. But they are not out of the woods just yet.

    What does the run-in look like for Palace? This remains the concern for Palace fans, despite the recent upturn in form. Palace still have to play each of the current top six, and having not picked up a single point against any of them in the corresponding fixtures earlier on in the season, it looks a daunting prospect. Their four other games are where, realistically, they must pick up the points to ensure survival, although none of them will be easy. A trip to an inconsistent Southampton side could be tricky, and home matches against Leicester City, Burnley and Hull City could well be critical.

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    Who'll be Palace's key men? Palace have found a winning formula and keeping players like defender Mamadou Sakho and defensive midfielder Luka Milivojevic fit and in the side will be important. They have made a significant impact and helped Palace tighten up defensively, while at the other end, Palace need Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend to stay in form, and get Christian Benteke scoring again.

    Will Palace stay up? Name your three to go down... On the basis of the last three games, I think Palace will be alright. They have turned a corner and seem to be playing the way Allardyce wants them to, which is getting results. As for who goes down, I can't see past the current bottom three, who I think will struggle to overhaul those above them. It looks like being one relegation battle too many for Sunderland, and Middlesbrough are not scoring enough goals to survive, while Hull may just fall short despite showing signs of improvement.

    ANDREW GWILYM, SOUTH WALES EVENING POST
    How would you assess Swansea's chances of survival? Significantly better than they were when they were bottom and four points from safety with 19 games to go. Paul Clement has made a big impact, but back-to-back defeats to Hull and Bournemouth have been a setback. Their fate is still in their own hands, and there is encouragement from their vastly-improved home form, but their next game against Middlesbrough may well be pivotal for both sides.

    Do Swansea have momentum heading into the final straight? They did prior to those defeats at Hull and Bournemouth. Swansea won five of their first eight games under Clement, and were within an ace of snatching a point at Manchester City. That momentum has been punctured and their injury problems will do little to improve things. Swansea know they can perform much better than they have in their last two games. Return to the levels shown under Clement and you would fancy them to stay up.

    What does the run-in look like for Swansea? Not too bad. Of the top seven they have Tottenham and Everton at home, plus a trip to Manchester United to come. Home games against Boro, Stoke and West Brom will provide hope that Swansea can get the points required, while their away games include a trip to Sunderland. It's not easy, but others have tougher final furlongs ahead.

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    Who'll be Swansea's key men? It's probably obvious to most people Gylfi Sigurdsson will be vital. His superb deadball delivery and goalscoring prowess mean the Welsh club will be looking to him to help them finish the job of securing survival. But it certainly would not hurt if a defence that has shipped the most goals this season could find a way to shore itself up over the closing stages.

    Will Swansea stay up? Name your three to go down... I think Swansea will stay up. Their last two results have made it harder for them, but they remain in control of their own destiny. Under Clement they have shown they are a better side than their league position has suggested, but must make sure the last two weekends are nothing more than a blip. Repeats of those displays will not get it done. My three to go down? Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

    JON TAYLOR, THE GAZETTE
    How would you assess Boro's chances of survival? Under Aitor Karanka, Boro were sleep-walking towards relegation playing a style of football that kept them in games, but lacked attacking imagination. It was no surprise the Spaniard departed and now it looks like Karanka's No 2, Steve Agnew, has been handed the reins. There was a slight improvement on Sunday against Man Utd, and the team showed a bit of attacking zest that they've lacked for so long. But Boro's situation is critical – five points from safety, and given their final few matches, they need to get a lot of points in the next few weeks to give themselves a chance.

    Do Boro have momentum heading into the final straight? I wouldn't say so, given their 11-game winless league run, but a change in manager so often provides a bounce. Boro will be hoping that is the case and with their next three matches away at Swansea and Hull and at home to Burnley, there is still optimism that it's not quite mission impossible. They probably need seven points from their next three matches to give themselves a decent chance, but the players feel Agnew is the man who can guide them to safety. And if he does implement a more attacking style, there's no reason why they can't pick up the results. They have the players – a goalscorer in Alvaro Negredo, a top quality goalkeeper in Victor Valdes – but it's just the creative spark they've been lacking.

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    What does the run-in look like for Boro?The next six, on paper, look decent with away matches at Swansea, Hull and Bournemouth, and home games against Burnley and Sunderland. A home game with Arsenal makes up their next half-dozen, but every side will look at Boro as a team they 'should be beating'. Boro will probably have to double their win tally of four, but it's all about momentum. If they can reverse their form and get a couple of big wins in the coming weeks, then the confidence will flow back. The last four are tough – home games against Man City and Southampton and trips to Chelsea and Liverpool – but funny things can happen. For Boro, it's the next six that will define their season.

    Who'll be Boro's key men? Goals are top of the agenda so with that in mind, Negredo will be the man tasked with firing the club to safety. £6m man Rudy Gestede has also got on the scoresheet a couple of times and there's mounting calls to play the two of them up front together. Other than Valdes, the likes of Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing will also be pivotal.

    Will Boro stay up? Name your 3 to go down... It's a tall order, but Boro's decision to change their manager could be a game-changer. But for a team who have almost forgotten how to win, asking them to come out on top in nearly half of their remaining games is a huge challenge. If Boro can win at Swansea, I'd say yes they can stay up. If they don't, I fear that may be curtains. But if I had to pick my three, it would probably be Sunderland, Hull and Boro although I think Watford are a team in freefall.

    PHIL SMITH, SUNDERLAND ECHO
    How would you assess Sunderland's chances of survival? They have failed to score in seven of their last eight games. Most of the other teams near the bottom made considerable improvements either through the January window or the dug-out, in many cases both. Sunderland haven't been able to do that and it is difficult to see the spark they've found in previous seasons coming round again.

    Do Sunderland have momentum heading into the final straight? They look lethargic and lacking momentum. Jan Kirchhoff's return was giving hope but a recurrence of his knee injury, the German is out for another month minimum, has summed up their season. Their last big hope to find momentum is the return of Victor Anichebe and Lee Cattermole. Both will be struggling for match fitness but their presence might be the boost needed.

    What does the run-in look like for Sunderland? One of the reasons you can't entirely rule out another great escape is the fixture list does offer plenty of chances to land wins. They still have to play Middlesbrough, Leicester and Hull away, as well as Swansea and Bournemouth at home. Their final two games are away to Arsenal and Chelsea, so they will need to get out of the bottom three before the last week of the campaign.

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    Who'll be Sunderland's key men? Jermain Defoe, quite clearly. A really crucial figure is also likely to be Adnan Januzaj. He has not been a consistent player this season, but he possesses that real dribbling ability and the ability to change the pace of an attack. The Black Cats rarely succeed on the counter when he has an off-day. He is more likely than anyone to set up Defoe for the goals that will keep Sunderland up.

    Will Sunderland stay up? Name your three to go down... At this stage the common consensus is no, but the caveat is almost everyone has said the same at this stage for the last four seasons. Injuries mean this is their tallest order yet but in previous campaigns they have won high pressure games against fellow strugglers on the home stretch. They have five of those to go. I would go for Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Swansea. I think Hull are onto something in Marco Silva.
     
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  2. over18and legal

    over18and legal Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't Smailes cover Hull FC games?
     
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  3. Chazz Rheinhold

    Chazz Rheinhold Well-Known Member

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    That picture of Daws and Keane is creepy
     
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  4. GLP

    GLP Well-Known Member

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    Most tipping us to escape - I'll take that!

    I'd also say we've been playing really well at home with the pressure of being in the bottom 3. It will be interesting to see what happens if one of the teams above us drops into it and how they respond.
     
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  5. Amin Yapusi

    Amin Yapusi Well-Known Member

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    Glowing praise from Leicesters reporter going on record to say we should stay up comfortably. You'd have thought he'd think we're doomed after what we showed at the king power.
     
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  6. armchairfan

    armchairfan Well-Known Member

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    Picture of Livermore there for some reason.

    I'm not as positive. Sure staying up is possible, but it's still a relative long shot. The defence needs to tighten up and not concede cheap goals, and we really cannot afford the injuries and suspensions we seem to get. Sometimes there can be too much focus on run ins, you can't always account for how the opposition will play. Silva does get a lot of hype, but we can't live on that, it depends on the players we've got and whether they perform.
     
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