Agreed. You look like a team. A hard working team (which you would expect from BSA). We, however look like a bunch of individuals who have never seen a football in their life! It is going to be a nail biter for sure. Was telling V-Joe today that I already thought we were down (as I am a negative **** ) however I might, just might, be a little hasty. Far too many permutations.
Will team spirit be enough for us? Massive failure in team investment have got us here. If we go down there's nobody to blame but ourselves. the club has been ran badly. You lot will deserve it too. Lack of investment and selling your best players, a failing transfer policy has got you in the same **** Your spending spree just may have come a season too late. If either or both go down we can't grumble can we?
Then look daft crying over something your club has brought on themself. How dignified for you. You're ****e like us and have been for ages. We deserve to go. I'll be taking it on the chin like most others.
We have not performed since we beat Man u, and switch off in the 2nd half of games and cannot stop conceding, this happens each time Alladyce makes changes in the 2nd half. It seems Norwich will turn it around now and we are both just about down. We pulled off the great escape 2 years ago with 5 wins on the bounce but tricky this time.
We have the much kinder fixture list. With Mitro looking up for it and Cisse back in training. I believe we got a real chance. But all we need to do is screw up once against Norwich, Villa, Swansea or Palace and we are in a more of a precarious situation.
Although it almost makes it more painful I think our fixtures are the most preferable. Not because of the quality of the oppo but because it leave survival in our own hands. We have the opportunity to not just win points but take them from those around us. Unfortunately the 1st opportunity we got didn't go exactly according to plan but was looking A LOT worse 10 mins before FT.
I actually hadn't paid much attention to Norwich's fixture list. They have us , palace, then Sunderland in the next three. That could potentially either screw them over or see them safe. I think their last fixtures are actually the best of all of ours.
I think mackems will be fine. They've shown enough to scrap another 9-10 points. Haven't looked at their run in recently, though I remember it's not too bad. Teams like Everton aren't even trying anymore.
Lets put it this way, maybe you're the 17th or 18 th worst team in the league but by no means are you 19th. We have those honours on lockdown. It's been the common theme over last few season, yes your team lacks quality but in comparison to ours it still looks like a top tier side that is actually trying and fights for one another. Our team... they've just been drifting for 3-4 seasons now, getting by on their reputations. And you have more quality than Norwich still. Norwich won't go down easily though.
Most seasons there's usually two down with a few games to go. Realistically, and I don't want to think it, Aston Villa and Newcastle are those two sides. Sunderland, Norwich and Palace will scrap it out for the final one, though I suspect Parpoo will pull a result out of his rectum at some point - they can't lose EVERY game, it's not like Carver's in charge....or is he? Optimistically, that point from zero against Sunderland is a point gained, Sunderland have now lost 4 points in two matches. I actually thought 4 points was the minimum return from the two games, and we've taken what I thought we would vs the Mackems. We have to beat Norwich. Pretty much that simple. It doesn't matter how, we have to win that match else it's a mountain. Even a win doesn't put us ahead, but morale should come into play. What we must, must, must sort out is the strongest XI. What the **** is it and how the **** are we in APRIL before we even know what it is??? There may be problems at the club but an inability to produce a team capable of winning the odd game is borderline criminal. For my two pence, I'd go - as said before Sunderland - 4-4-2 with De Jong up top with Mitrovic, I'd go (left to right) Townsend, Shelvey, Saivet, Wijnaldum and a back four of Dummett, Lascelles, Mbemba and Janmaat. CM isn't working for Wijnaldum, no.10 hasn't really worked apart from two or three occasions and maybe it's right to try him right side. I don't know if Saivet's up to it, but seemed ok when in there, and I can't see Sissoko working alongside Shelvey. Maybe it would be worth a shot, and certainly Rafa WILL play him. Rafa will go 4-2-3-1, but what's a formation anyway, for me the same players should start with the likes of Sissoko and Perez options from the bench.
The result against the Mackems has me leaning more towards relegation, a loss would have confirmed it for me. A decent win against Norwich will obviously swing it round and perhaps give me some more hope. Palace I think are the other team to go down, they have one/two winable games left, Norwich and Us. The game against us could be a decider. but palace still have to play West Ham, Arsenal, Man U, Everton, Stoke and southampton and in their current form, I see them getting nothing. My hearts telling me Norwich and Palace, but my head is thinking Nufc and Norwich. Norwich's season depends on next three games, Newcastle, Palace, sunderland. After that they have Arsenal, Man u, Watford and everton of which I expect they will get very little. Mackems will beat West Brom and will have to beat Norwich to stay up, all the other games look difficult on papaer, Leicester, Arsenal, Stoke, Chelsea, Everton and Watford. We have a massive chance and if we beat Norwich, Swansea, Palace, and villa as well as getting a 0-0 draw here and there agaonst Spurs, lpool, man city and Southampton, we stay up. I do think fixtures favour us, but we need to piece together a run of form that we have yet been able to accomplish so far this season.
Still think it could be any 2 from Us, 5under1and, Norwich, Palace and Swansea. Palace - are in free fall and will be looking at games vs us and Norwich to seal their safety as I can't see many other winnable games for them. Sweansea - probably have the toughest run in, need to beat us as all the other outstanding games are top 10 opposition atm. Norwich and Sunderland - both within touching distance which was why it was so important not to lose yesterday. Norwich have us, palace and the mackems in their next three games and could be safe after these. Sunderland have some really tough games ahead.
You have made the prospect of relegation a positive. As you say, it won't be the end of the world for the fans. I remember hearing about the premier league when Newcastle were in the Second or was it the first at the time? Things weren't bad then as I recall. There may be the added bonus of having players who want to play for the two respective clubs when down in the second tier.
The three teams who deserve to go down are... Yet to be decided. Over an entire season, the three worst teams are always relegated. One thing I'm thankful for is that not losing yesterday left the whole situation in our hands! If Newcastle stay up it's because of both Norwich and Sunderland failing (most likely - Palace are still a long way short of what is needed) and I'd rather be in a position where it's in our hands rather than being reliant on others!
