...are going to define our season in my opinion. So let's take a look at what we have coming: Cardiff City (home) Manchester United (away) League Cup 4th Round Manchester City (away) West Ham United (home) Newcastle United (away) Crystal Palace (home) By anyone's reckoning, there's 'points to be had' amongst them, and I think we will find out by the final whistle against Palace whether we are to spend a season in mid table, looking over our shoulders (much like last season and as the vast majority of us felt would be the case this year) or a season playing catch up. We also might find ourselves in a League Cup quarter final for the second year running. Our season could have a significantly different slant on it by the end of November or we could be deep in the mire. Before the season kicked off I predicted we'd have 13 points after 10 games - this is still possible, although extremely unlikely. Judging by the next two games we are 3 points behind where I thought we'd be after 8 games (10 points). In other words, had Snodgrass scored that penalty against Villa and we gone on to win (as I'm sure we would have based on what I saw in that match), we'd be sitting 13th and Villa would be in the bottom three. The margins are quite fine at this stage of the season. Now that didn't happen and we are where we are, but the last three games (four if you include the Watford comeback which will have given us confidence) have been very encouraging. On Saturday, Arsenal scored some sensational goals. Indeed, the opening goal by Wilshere is for me, the finest team goal I have ever seen in my life. Truly breathtaking and unstoppable. I read some fans say that we were 'statuesque'! Ok, you try defending passing that quick and intricate in a 5 yard square!! It was right out of the top drawer and I bet we don't see a better goal all season. We played well at The Emirates, just as we did against Chelsea. Strangely, although the scoreline seemed harsh it was probably also fair (if that makes sense). Arsenal's quality was deserving of the three goal margin, even if our performance was worthy of something much tighter. Ruddy was superb, looked back to his best. Sometimes, you just have to hold your hands up and say we were beaten by something special and unlike the previous week, we were undone by skill as opposed to bad luck and a sloppy mistake. No shame in that, no shame at all. I thought it at the time and in hindsight I was right that the the decision to take Tettey off left us open to a hammering even if it did show that the manager was trying to get us back into the game - Hughton made the wrong call there. Having said that, had he stayed on I think we'd have still lost by a similar scoreline anyway, as we were tiring after chasing the game for so long against a team brimming with confidence. But we gave them a few scares - that was a very tough game for them, no question about it. The home fans were extremely concerned for a long period of that match that we'd take something from it. But that's gone now, so to the next few games. Cardiff was always going to be a big match for us as it was one on paper which shouted out '3 points' before a ball had been kicked, and it still does. The glamour and glory that The Bluebirds felt early in the season will now have gone, replaced by the grind of the Premier League, where bad calls always go against you and you get a thumping every now and then. It's a good time to play them. After what has happened in the past week in South Wales, I have to say my opinion of Malky Mackay as a manager has diminished somewhat (not as a man - I love him to pieces). To allow his loyal right hand man to be pushed out of the door, with seemingly little fight suggests Malky is not quite as strong as I for one believed. On this evidence alone I'm not sure I'd be as keen on him arriving as manager here in the future. This game is there for the taking if we play as well as we have done in recent weeks. I would drop Martin (who had a 'mare at the weekend) and get Whittaker back in, not just because of Martin's form but Snodgrass' too - he seems to link better with the former Rangers man in my opinion. The rest of the team is fine although RvW should come in if fit. Then we face United in the cup - a bit of a 'freebie' if you like. Hopefully we'll play with the pressure off and you just never know in cup football, just ask Luton. Citeh away is similar to Arsenal away. Yes we beat them last season but this is a team who have lost just 3 of their last 62 home games in the league. Anything from this game is a bonus. After this game, we should be aiming for a minimum of 7 points points from these next three games. West Ham at home is perfectly winnable if we perform well, Newcastle away is also a possible win while Palace too we should be looking for maximum points. 7 points would be a good result from these, 6 would be good too. Anything less than that (unless we win at Citeh) and I think we are below par. So let's say we pick up 10 points from those next 5 games, a target which I feel, on current form, is perfectly attainable, that would give us 17 points from 13 games. I would suggest that is probably where we'd all have liked us to be at that stage. I think 14 points after 13 would be acceptable but if we struggle over the next five league games and have a lower total then I think the manager is going to be in trouble with a larger section of the fans than he currently is. It is still a vocal minority who are fighting for change and I think the past few performances have shown that some who were maybe calling for change before, were a little more on the fence than they maybe thought at the time. The lead up to Christmas will be important. We can begin to find our true position within the league, which I don't think we have yet. I've watched a lot of games this season and there is no way that we are one of the three weakest teams in this division. Having watched Villa yesterday, they are no better than us. In fact, I still think we'll finish above them - and I doubt many on here think Villa will go down this year. I'm not a happy clapper. All I am is someone who can see that we aren't far away from pulling ourselves up the table. I'm glad to see others still feel the same way even after a heavy defeat. OTBC IHWT
certainly some winable games there superman. everyone has to play everyone twice, and we have certainly had a tough start in playing Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton in our first 8 games. the pressure will be on us vs cardiff, i hope supporters get behind the team (like from what i hear vs chelsea). after that (ignoring city away) we have two more winable home games plus newcastle which we could get something from
and saints! they are proving to be no pushovers after a draw at old trafford and win at anfield. i'm feeling quite smug for predicting they'd finish top 8 my main concern for next weekend would be the crowd reaction if we were to fall a goal behind. clearly many fans will go there hoping for a win but some will expect one, and as we know, that can lead to a difficult atmosphere sometimes.
indeed, and we of course beat them. I was focusing on the 'big' teams having seen MOTD, i must say marshall didn't look too good in some of the chelsea goals
I'm loath to compare each season too much, because there's too many variables, but it's worth pointing out that from the same 7 fixtures we played last year, I think we got 5 points compared to 7 this season. So, apart from a poor Hull result where we dominated but could not break down a defence on top form, you could argue that we are 40% better than last year! Expect that stat to change significantly after we have played Man City though...
I don't fancy our chances at either of the away league games tbh, although I guess much could depend on the mood of Newcastle on the day, and if we keep Cabaye and Remy quiet. The home games, as was the case last season, are where we need to pick up points just about every game. Man Utd in the cup though, now that could be interesting given how far Utd seem to have fallen in such a short time.........is it on TV by any chance?
The Cardiff game becomes very important as if we were to lose that one then the pressure would start to crank up and the tension rises to stop the team playing to its capability and you start to protect 1-0 positions when you should go on and score a second. Caridff are no pushovers though and gave Chelsea a decent game this Saturday. Man City away? We won last year against all the odds so maybe not impossible. West Ham home - fancy that one a lot and Palace has to be 3 points. Newcastle away you just never know.
My hope is that however we play on Sat that the fans are completely behind the team from kick-off until the final whistle. A repeat of the noise that was evident against Chelsea is what I'm hoping for!!
The next 6 games are crucial and will tell us a lot about the season. So far we have struggled at home against a team that you would look to take points off and our away form has been mixed, but a very good result against a poor Stoke side. Predictable results away and at home against the top 6 that and that away performance against Hull. I think there are more questions than answers at the moment and we should have most of the answers after the next 6 games, although I think 4 of the 6 only really are crucial to our season in the PL. Will it be like Villa at home against Cardiff and the Hammers? Or will we play like we have against the top teams and actual get the points that we really need? It has to start coming together now but our lack of goals are a worry and Hughton has said so himself in the interview after the game at the emirates. There are only so many times you can say that we are getting into the right areas but it's not happening in front of goal. One things for sure, if we don't take a decent amount of points out our next 4 league games and the same things are being said I think Hughton will be under intense pressure. I think and hope that we will do well but it's crunch time now.
There are some tough games in there, but some winnable ones as well. This week's schedule of games could also be helpful: Saturday: Aston V v Everton Crystal Pal v Arsenal Liverpool v West Brom Man Utd v Stoke City Norwich City v Cardiff City Southampton v Fulham Sunday: Chelsea v Man City Sunderland v Newcastle Swansea C v West Ham Tottenham v Hull City
Regardless of what Hughton might say, the Cardiff game IS A 'MUST WIN'. We will lose against Citeh and probably by another high margin. I know all the 'happy clappers' on here are going to have a pop at me for saying that but it's a fact. We need a new man in PDQ to give us fresh impetus. Hughton will not be manager of Norwich City after Xmas IMO and by then it will be too late.
I'm sure if Hughton does go the 'moaners' will find something else to moan about. In my opinion CH hasn't done much wrong in the last 3 or 4 games, I don't consider myself in the ''happy clappers'' camp Just seen more reasons to be positive and I'd rather support the manager and team than hound the manager out. Maybe if we lose some winnable games and still in the bottom 3 by December I will be a little bit more worried. But changing manager isn't always the answer or a quick fix people expect it to be.
please can somebody, ANYBODY, tell me who could replace hughton and make an instant and positive impact that will satisfy the doom mongers? nobody has ever been able to do this which renders any possible sacking worthless
In reality there are no "happy clappers" on this board. Except in the context of revivalist religious meetings, it refers to people who are naive in their support of something and over easy to please. None of the posters on here who regard Hughton as a good manager, doing an excellent for the club and undeserving of the constant criticism to which he is subject, can be so described. In fact there's more of a case for describing some of us on here as "unhappy clappers", i.e. naive in their lack of support and over easy to displease.
The notion of must win games is somewhat fallacious at best. Lose to Cardiff and then get 14-15 points from the next 13 games and we have 22-23 from 21, bang on target. if people are going to post on here, think before you type, there has clearly been an improvement in the team's play and if people can't see that, then I suggest finding another sport to follow that is easier to understand, marbles perhaps or even snap.
**** me, what a classic. 'Improvement in play'. That my friend wins NIL points, play crap, beat up the opposition, score more than you concede, wins games. Results matter, nothing else........ Oh, and Superman, Neil Adams would get my vote.
except that maybe you do an injustice to marbles! "Must win game" is just another example of the cliched football nonsense in which too much discussion of football is couched. It would be fun to collect a phrase book for football fans made up entirely of such pearls of wisdom. If your team is in 18th place 2 points behind the team in 17th, and the game is the only one left to play, you might justifiably describe it as a "must win" game if relegation is to be avoided. Or a game in a knock-out competition can be said to be a "must win" game if you are to proceed to the next round. But referring to the Cardiff game next Saturday?? "Must win", or what? We won't get three point? OK, I'll accept that.
