Who goes down?

West Ham had the better chances to win at St James'. You're certainly weren't hard done by with the draw.

 

I'm sorry but where did I say we were hard done by???

 

By saying "but for a 2 yard miss by gouffran" you make it sound like that was the only clear chance to win the game.

We could just as easily say " but for 3 glaring misses by Reid, Nolan and Maiga and a marginal offside decision we would have won the game".

 

Nolan missed a good chance for you lads but other than that you offered little else. Also since when was being a yard offside classed as marginal?

I mentioned Gouffran's chance as it was the last kick of the game and was the miss of the season so far which undoubtedly would have given us the points.

Had Nolan scored we'd have had plenty of time to react as it was about 10 mins in to the second half.

Back on topic though, I think fans (from other clubs) and pundits are putting too much emphasis on Kinnear when it comes to Newcastle. We will stay up comfortably (as will West Ham and Southampton). All three clubs will finish anywhere from 7th-12th.

 

Wrong.

Reid had two clear sights of goal and should have scored at least one. Maiga had a clear header and should have scored and Nolan would score that chance nine times out of ten.

Yeah I take your point on the offside goal. Perhaps it wasn't as marginal as I remember.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23736938

16 shots to West Ham's 6 and if Reid's two chances are the chances where he failed to connect with the ball on either occasion (as confirmed by the bbc match report) then I'd say we have a big difference of opinion on what is classed as a clear goal scoring opportunity.

 

16 shots. ALL off target!

 

An argument on our board that has absolutely nothing to do with Saints. There's a first!

 

Yeah sorry about this one lads

In all fairness my first post was in relation to the original topic of relegation

I think it'll be three from Sunderland, Hull, Palace and Cardiff but in reality it's far too early to make any such predictions.

 

Yes it is early but the mini league is starting to shape up.WBA v Sunderland next week is going to be massive.

 

Based on how first Sunderland, and now West Ham, performed at SMS, I'd have to say that both look a long way from being a safe mid-table team. Obviously just one game each though, and early on in the season at that. But still, not exactly promising. West Ham better hope that Carroll isn't out for too much longer.

Makes it all the worse then that we failed to beat either. Neither were exactly too far away being cannon fodder, Sunderland in particular.

 

I thought Carroll was out long term,most of the season.

 

At least another 2 months they said yesterday.

 

Has anybody noticed the dearth of goals this season? The average of 1.79 per game is the lowest of 115 top flight seasons.The next lowest (1970/1) was 2.35 per game.I know only 39 games have been played but this seems quite an anomaly.Has something happened to cause this?

 

Dearth of goals? No-one in here has noticed that CT... we're all delighted with how the season has started .

*steps back and waits for flood gates to open*

 

Morning CT. It's certainly been noticeable. Can't see what has changed though. Seem to be making as many chances just not converting.

 

It's odd because the bulk of the money spent in the transfer market seems to have gone on attacking players and yet defences seem to have had the upper hand.I have a thread on the Norwich board about this.One strange anomaly is that only three games so far have featured three goals,normally a very common scoreline.Six have ended 0-0.

 

You have more reason for concern than we have. We were the away side, missing arguably our 3 most attacking players. You edged the game but we were good value for the point. You had three clear cut chances and we had two. Hardly a dominant performance.

With your team at almost full strength and at home yesterday, and your inability to see off our patched up mob, it would suggest to me that you have more problems than you realise.

Also, what's with your style of football? With the way you all go on I was expecting a Barcelona-like masterclass. Apart from several short passes in your own half here and there, you were just as guilty of launching it long as we were.

A very poor game of football overall and a result that neither side can complain too much about.

You might finish above us this season. You should do with the money you have spent and the fact that our record signing looks to be out until the new year. But I don't think there will be a lot between us and I don't think either side needs to worry too much about staying up.

 

Sorry but we more than edges the game. We dominated the entire 2nd half bar one glaring miss from Collins. But for your keeper, we would have had 3 goals easily. You came for a 0-0 and very luckily got it - not good value for a point. Oh and we had 5 clear cut chances.

 

All things considered, edged it is all you did I'm afraid Thomas.

We were poor yesterday. You were too. But as an away side with key players missing we deserved the point. With Carrol and one of Downing or Cole playing, we would have won.

I will say it again. You had three good chances to score. We had two. Based on that fact and the circumstances of both sides - yes we were good value for the point.

One other thing - to those that were criticising us for spending 15m on Carrol, what do you make of the signing of Victor Wanyama for not a lot less? Probably just lost out to Maiga for the worst player on the pitch award.