There are FOUR genuine contenders for the title, when there's often only two, and Man Utd aren't in with a sniff. The entire bottom half are in an insane relegation fight where absolutely anything can happen and anyone can still go down. Sunderland are going to Wembley, perhaps twice and did the double over Newcastle totally humiliating them on their own pitch. Newcastle's supporters are revolting, as they always seem to be. Ashley seems to be looking at the summer to cash in a few more players before flogging the club to the next mug. Sunderland seem to have chanced upon someone who can, with time & patience, become a good manager & hero for the club. We're out of the relegation zone and, despite a few difficult games coming up, are in a good position. Clubs like West Brom, Hull & Norwich have a dreadful run in and there are many twists and turns left in the season. West Brom have to play Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Spurs as well as 8 of their 'relegation rivals'. Hull have a very difficult mixture of top teams at home and rivals away, never a good situation for any relegation battler. Man City, Arsenal, Everton, at home and Cardiff, West Ham, Stoke, Fulham and Villa away. Norwich have Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea & Arsenal in their last 4 games and 4 rivals to play away. It's amazing how perceptions keep changing and how fascinating this season is proving to be. Crystal Palace are seen as 'safe' despite being 3 points from 3rd bottom, Hull look great in 11th but are only 3 points off Sunderland and Villa who had 'saved themselves' look like they're desperate to go down. West Ham were 'clueless, winless & hopeless' but won away easily yesterday and are out of the bottom three. The 26th of April, 3 games from the end, sees a batch of fixtures that could be the most incredible for many a year, I expect it to be the day Sunderland are safe, Arsenal v Newcastle Crystal Palace v Man City Fulham v Hull Liverpool v Chelsea Man Utd v Norwich Stoke v Tottenham Sunderland v Cardiff Swansea v Aston Villa West Brom v West Ham And yes, I have too much time on my hands ...... our lass has been ill for a week so I'm pretty much housebound
check out our home form smug and think again ,how many have we won ,its all well and good crowing about these home games the truth is we are not winning them, it imo it will be another few points away from home which could save us ,it seems the pressure of playing at home is proving too much for some reason.
And I've done that where exactly ........ I haven't even mentioned them Sorry for the mate but FFS, if you have to pick up on something I haven't even said then what's the f**king point? Besides, we had plenty of pressure on us when we beat Man City, Newcastle & Stoke at home ......... I sometimes think people just love these clichés, to latch onto, to save them having to think. Every game is different and every game is difficult with loads of pressure when you're in a relegation battle. The entire bottom half are in the **** and under pressure. Dear me, how one defeat can totally change people's mood ......... it's like a ****ing bipolar paradise on here.
For me, there is no way out for the bottom 2, they are the 2 worst teams in the league. If I was putting money on it, it'd go on Norwich. Great as their result was yesterday they simply will not score goals. We remain very much in the mix, but we have a lot more about us than many around us. The home form is **** as the support is ****, I'm sick of hearing people credit the numbers we pull in, I'd rather have 18,000 vocally backing the team, than 43,000 sighing and moaning. Look at Palace results at Selhurst Park, listen to the atmosphere. Then look at the other team with an appalling home record, Villa. Fans like us, big numbers, high tension, little backing. We will get over the line in spite of our home support, no 12th man at the SOL. Anyone wants to slate me for this, then you are slating a season ticket holder of 26 years, who sits in that stadium every home game. Those that go, know exactly what I mean.
not wanting a spat about it,all i will say is its good your glass is what you call half full, as every week you reel out these fixtures and your possibilities in a positive way of course as you normaly do,and what could happen in what you call winnable games at home, im not knocking your outlook, but its fairly obvious we have not done very well at home by any stretch of the imagination, i do however think like i said we will pick up points away from home due to the way the side is set up,it pains me to say its almost an oneil type thing but with a huge difference it works with the players we have now we break with numbers but as i say this suits us better away than at home. jimmy greaves was spot on ...its a funny old game . as ive said before i get to more away games than i do home matches
Stu, I don't want a spate either but I never even mentioned our home games or how winnable they are. All I've posted are plain simple facts ...... without checking back I don't believe I even voiced my opinion did I? Sunderland have won the same amount of home games as Fulham, Villa, West Ham, West Brom and only 1 less than Swansea, Cardiff & Norwich. Spurs have only won 5 and Man Utd 6 ...... btw these are the bi-polars I was on about http://www.firstpeople.us/pictures/polar-bears/polar-bear-cubs-riding-moms-back-1024x768.jpg
I agree with the title of the thread. For a neutral it's class, for fans in thick of it as SAF would say squeeky bum time is approaching
Not boring though mate, I've sleepwalked through so many endless mid-table finishes I'm really enjoying this. You can either clench your buttocks or just enjoy it for what it is ....... the entire 'bottom' half are ****ting their nappies so I doubt there's too many neutrals Do you get it ...... buttocks - bottom half eh? Oh **** off
Yes i see it in front of me ,i suppose its an old saying win your home games and let the rest develop as it goes along ,the feeling from being out of the bottom was great and with another home game against hull i suppose the expectation was too much from my point of view to climb a bit higher and keep the grin on my face for another week, as i said and you also there will be lots of twists and turns to come for several teams
I'm probably boring you and everyone else but, 'we weren't safe last week and we're not doomed this week' ...... it's a relegation battle and battle is what we have to do
Far from boring mate it's just the twist and turns are unbearable at times ha. Other fans e.g championship teams will be thinking its a great PL season and I agree I just wish I was the neutral watching it unfold and we were on 40 points already. Speaking of points, how many do u think it will take to be safe this season?
Spot on and I agree completely. For the first time ever i had an argument with a fellow fan who was constantly berating a certain player and whinging at every opportunity. im sick of people moaning. why go if you aren't there to support the team? The atmosphere is abysmal.
Joe, I'll give you my guesses as you ask. People are looking at our next few fixtures as if that's the be all and end all. But look at Norwich who have summat like the top 4 in their last 4 games. Everyone has loads of horrible fixtures, Hull's run in, from their next match, looks seriously bad. You can forget Fulham if Man Utd batter then today. Cardiff have brought in OGS who looks further out of his depth than that lass who fell off the North Sea ferry. West Brom have a difficult time ahead and the new manager looks like he's ready to run, they've only won 4 games all season. Incredibly there are over 30 'six pointer' relegation battles left and lots of draws could greatly affect the picture. If 'relegation' teams all draw against each other it means they can all stay in touch. It would be better, for our nerves, if 3 teams were totally cut adrift but I can't see it, too many twists & turns. How can Norwich be so **** and hold Man City? I reckon, if our goal difference holds up, we'll be safe with another 13 points giving us 37. That's 4 draws and 3 wins ....... we can do that. Or, the short answer .......... 36 points will be the cut off point
I stood in the middle of the Fulwell End for 20/25 years, with the odd match in the Roker, and never once had a serious argument or trouble with a fellow supporter. Since we moved to the SOL I've had 4 really nasty arguments two of which ended in punches being thrown, I didn't start either. My 'crime' was either singing along or trying to start songs.
Thanks mate, my thoughts were fairly similar I said 39. Didn't realise how bad the other teams run in was. If they are fighting for the league and champions league spots makes them even worse but look at Norwich yester. Nobody would of thought they would get a point never mind a clean sheet. Let's hope the goal drought continues for city
Norwich's April & May run in, APRIL Norwich v West Brom Fulham v Norwich Norwich v Liverpool Man Utd v Norwich MAY Chelsea v Norwich Norwich v Arsenal Glad that's not us tbh ...... Hull have a terrible run of games after their next one.
