With Sunderland currently 2-0 up that makes a gap to 17th place a huge 10 points from the bottom two. I think it is now beyond any doubt the two "hoops" have been unofficially relegated today. Newcastle will also be sucked back in to the scrap with WBA (A), Liverpool (H), West Ham (A), QPR (A) and Arsenal (H) to come.
Make that 3! That's a surprisingly tough run-in for Newcastle too. Anyone think that WBA's form for the rest of the season is going to be very important? Their next 4 games are Newcastle (H), Southampton (A), Wigan (H), Norwich (A). Hopefully they'll still be keen to get their top half finish secured so will play well in the next 3, but will have got the job done before they come to Carrow Road, and go easy on us! And yeah, 10 points with 15 to play for is massive. I just hope it won't cause Reading to relax and play well!
As long as we win one of our remaining games I think we should just about be ok. That is why the Arsenal result is such a shame because we came so close, but at the end of the day the pressure is still on for Reading!
Our destiny is in our hands and we really do need to keep it that way. I am personally pretty confident that we will win next weekend and hopefully will have a little more breathing space from those below that realistically catch us up.
Well done Sunderland, unfortunately not the result that suited us Just need man u to survive any stoke arial assult
It really could go either way now. I can see us slipping into it, or putting a good couple of games in and being well clear. It worries me how off our game we can be on any given day now though.
Guess we'll see the quality of the manager now, he's got to go for some victories, rather than trying to gently get over the line, with a series of draws.
I can't see how the next two games could be better for us, a minimum of 4 points must come from these two, ideally all 6 and drop Stoke right in it
It will be interesting to see next week's lineup. We have to go for it but the back four have been used to so much protection for so long that I'm sure he will still leave one, probably Johnson, to protect them. If Wiganwere to beat Mankini midweek, then Saturday's atmosphere will be incredible. People are far noisier when they are worried and I expect the roof will come off.
I'd line-up pretty much exactly like we did against Arsenal, but maybe bring Wessi back, or at least give Howson a lot more freedom. I'd also be tempted to swap Snodgrass and Kamara over, so Snodgrass gets his desired side where he's most effective. Ruddy back too would be ideal.
Right! Thats it. I am half full kind of guy mostly. No more feeling sorry for what could have been! We have to put out a strong, attacking team for Reading. We need to win it and then the pressure will be largely off, I think Wigan may do a Birmingham with winning a cup and going down at the same time. Is this the year they have bitten of more than they can chew? Also, if your looking for a silver lining for arsenal beating us it means that Citeh will still want to secure 2nd place so should be at it against Wigan this week.
Wigan looked beyond and beneath ordinary against QPR last week! not playing their games in hand might be crucial! If they start to see the magnitude of points they have to get then this could be important
I'm with you on this, I was adamant they would survive until they played us, they were awful when we played them. There is nothing to shout about in that side to be honest.
I don't think they've got the individual talents to pull themselves out like the last few seasons. Each year they've survived, they've had a really good, in-form player who's subsequently been poached by a larger club. I really can't see anyone in that side at the moment who would interest a top-half side. There's maybe a couple who'll be there in a year or two, but not yet. I think that'll cost them. If you take out their slice of luck against Newcastle the other week, they've not really shown the form they have in previous seasons.
And they have started messing around with their goalkeepers which is not to advised this time of the season - lets face it we should know about this one!
I have just seen that Krul is out for Newcastle for the rest of the season. This is a massive blow for them, the replacement keeper will have no time to bed in and get the consistency and communication with his back line. the new guy looked well shook up when he came on and I think he could of done better for all the goals conceded.
I was under the impression that Elliot had already played 15 games this season? Surely that is plenty of time to get settled... However, Newcastle are in real trouble now. Their most loyal fans will be on the players backs after losing so embarassingly to their bitter rivals 3-0, most fans have no confidence in Pardew, they have a tough run in and Krul is now out for the season. Only thing that can save them now is Cisse (mind you I guess you could say the same thing about Norwich...Ruddy) 5th to relegated...ouch!
