It's 3 points dropped, that's all... now to get 'over the line'....

So today is another day and on reflection it was only three points dropped so I'm treating yesterday like I do any bad defeat... just a bad day at the office.

We now need to focus on the following 5 games to guarantee out premiership status:

West Brom (A)
Liverpool (H)
West Ham (A)
QPR (A)
Arsenal (H)

Out of that little lot I reckon 4 points will be enough to do the job (given we are already 5 points clear of the trapdoor).

That is assuming Wigan start to pick up points.

Now.. I just want the season to be over so that the club can pick the bones out of the season and fix some of the things that are wrong.

It's not about knee jerk 'Pardew Out' or Ashley Out' sentiment... it's about several factors... some of which I see as:

- Set Pieces - we need a specialist coach
- Injuries- we need to get to the bottom of why we are statistically one of the most injury prone clubs
- Players- a bottom up clear out is needed to replace below standard personnel
- General coaching staff - yes we have a few Geordies... but can we improved our quality of coaching?- even if it means letting one or two go?

Onwards and upwards as we seek to limp across the line....

 

Good post.

I personally think 3 points should be enough, though of course we need as many as possible as soon as possible so that everyone connected with running the club can start planning a way forward as soon as possible. Totally agree that we need a well thought out response to some of our problems - especially fitness/injuries. We have been too unlucky for too long with injuries to keep putting it down to chance entirely.

 

On a whole I agree however this could be more damaging then a normal defeat.
We have lost to a very weak Sunderland team, I believe it was all down to the preparation of the game

Pardews pre match interview just before kick was like we were having
A summers afternoon kick about on the park and that attitude must have been reflected in his pre match talk

We need to lose pardew but not till the end of the season, for me all season nothing has ever gelled and we always
Look out of sync.

We have a real battle to stay up now and that down to us nobody else.

The players acted as if all we had to do was turn up yesterday

 

It's not just 3 points dropped though. The psychological effect that getting knocked out on Thurs and spanked off the Mackems will have is MASSIVE.

The entire stadium and all the players just deflated like a popped balloon yesterday and it will take a monumental effort to steady the ship now.

I don't think anyone could honestly call the criticism for Pardew as 'knee-jerk'. We've been God-awful ALL season long. Since January, I'd go so far as to say that this is the best squad of players we've had since Bobby Robson was in charge, yet after a brief renaissance, he's got us back to playing static, slow, sterile, predictable football.

We're extremely lucky to still be above the drop zone. A few last minute goals to gain wins (in games where we were really poor - Stoke, WBA, Fulham) have kept us afloat.

Look at our team yesterday man... I wouldn't trade anyone for any of Sunderland's players. Maybe Gouffran for Sessegnon.

And blaming tiredness is crazy, man. Tiote, Debuchy, Gouffran Taylor all didn't play Thursday. Marveaux only played half an hour, as did Ben Arfa.


He continuously plays Sissoko behind the striker, in a role that Sissoko himself has publicly said he can't play, and doesn't enjoy.

Why would ANYONE do that? He's been running into crowds of players for weeks, completely ineffective.



Where are we going to get the next win? Liverpool and Arsenal are our home games. Fancy those two?

West Brom, West Ham and QPR away. 1 win in 11 months away from home. Fancy those three?



We'll survive maybe by the skin of our teeth, and for the players we have at this football club, that's completely unacceptable.

 

I actually think it will have a galvanising effect.

I actually DO fancy us to beat Arsenal by the way.

It will be the last game and I can't see them having anything to play for.

The same could be said for West Ham and WBA.

Oh... by the way there's a chap called Ben Arfa would should be able to make his first start in a long while at the weekend.. remember him?

 

Is this the same Arsenal currently in a 3-way fight for a Champions League place, with only 1 point separating all 3 teams? The one that has lost once in 10 games?

Aye, Ben Arfa is a genius. Did nowt yesterday though.


Christ... I wouldn't want to be having to rely on getting a win against Arsenal. Saturday is a must-win away game for me. Or rather, a 'must not lose'.

 

Agree regarding Sissoko. He either needs to learn when to release the ball or stop playing the AM role.

 

every game is a must win match - same goes for a few teams.

 

We all just need to man up, take our medicine and move on. We can use the defeat as motivation to bounce back and I expect a reaction against WBA after a weeks rest to lick our wounds.

 

Why does he keep playing Sissoko in the AM role when he is not a AM!! Why does he play Cabaye in a DM role when he is not a DM?? Cabaye hasnt played well since he came back from injury, he dont look fit. It was like watching bloody David Batty again yesterday when he got the ball, passing sideways and backwards!!
I am really really worried now. I cant see three points in any of remaining games!!

 

Because he can play there. The problem is not whether Sissoko can play attacking midfield, its that he is out on his feet and has been for two weeks. It was never mentioned when he first arrived, why, because he was playing the role perfectly. Cabaye was unbelievably good when he first got back from injury. Ridiculously so in my opinion. Again like Sissoko he has suffered physically. Those two guys levels have dropped off alarmingly.

Happy to watch David Batty anytime, he was class.

 

In fairness lads I think although Europe has had an affect on your season, surely selling Demba Ba who had scored 13 goals by January for you has to be a massive reason when you sit down at the end of the season and dissect where you have went wrong? Add to the Ben Arfa/Cabaye injuries.

 

Mate considering with have one away game this season the run in is going to be extremely difficult. I hope QPR are down by the time we play them. If they beat Stoke (which we want) and they beat Reading they will be still in it, beat us and then they are right on our heels. We need a point against WBA, I don't think we will beat Liverpool, West Ham maybe a draw and Arsenal I hope have the CL place by then and won't be that bothered. If they need the points I fear they could tear us apart.

The set pieces have been just wretched **** all season. The last time we scored from a corner was Wolves away in September 2011! Jesus what the **** has been going on?

The question is have we won a game this season convincingly? I don't think so. Wigan 3-0 we got alot of luck and even down to ten men they gave us a game. Southampton at home was a tough game. What I'm saying is we have either got a late goal or simply got lucky in games. If the players can't get up for a massive derby game which with three points would see us all but safe and the manager can't install that belief there is something seriously wrong.

We are in a fight for our lives in the remaining games. The only thing that might get us over the line is other teams being as ****. People say we should see a reaction; well I bloody hope so but being stuffed by your rivals at home with that bottle jobbing, pathetic display does not install me with much confidence.

 

Because when we are on top, or get a lead.... Pardew has us retreat and play conservatively to try and hold onto the lead.

If we go behind, we start to attack... but never go for it from the off.

Negative tactics. All the time.

Yesterday... as soon as Sunderland scored, we started attacking and nearly score twice in a matter of minutes. Why did it take until going behind in a derby to take the initiative?