Guess What?

Talk of relegation is silly IMO.

Southamton aside we've be okay THIS season. Don't get me wrong, okay isn't good enough in the long run. However given our signings, their age and where they are from then logic would suggest that they'll get better with time.

We're three points off tenth. Any prediction of where we're going to finish needs to wait until the ten game mark. Based on what I've seen so far this season I'd say Sunderland, Burnley, OPR, West Brom, Villa (been very lucky, were even outplayed by us) are no better than us. They aren't necessarily worse but they aren't better either.

As I said, still far to early to assume relegation is a certainty.

 

The thing is mate we have two tough away games, leicester perhaps we might get at least a point but spurs and liverpool will be a nightmare. November looks alright but if points aren't picked up soon the december period save maybe burnley will finish us off. This season is going to a real struggle until january when I pray we get a cb and striker minimum

 

Got Stoke away in the league next and they've been wildly inconsistent so far. Cisse looked a different player to that of last season. Only a 20 minute cameo but he just looked like Cisse of old, full of movement and life.

Cabella had his best game yet, granted it meant he went from s**te to average but it's another small positive.

I'm not for a second defending Pardew, I think after you I'm not far off his biggest critic on this board. I do think against Villa, Palace and Hull though that with a smidgen of luck in each game it could be argued we deserved 9 points. Against Villa we missed at least three clear cut chances while they had none. We conceded with the last kick of the game against Palace and Hull will struggle to score two better goals all season.

It's just too early for people to be talking about relegation, especially when some are claiming it's a certainty.

 

There is room for hope. Plenty of room for pessimism too, but yesterday if we'd had a finisher like Cisse on from the start we could have been four up by half time. Equally, if we'd been playing a better team we could have been four down before Cisse came on. It's too early to write us off, just as it would be crazy to pretend nothing is wrong (and I know nobody is doing that).

 

I think just looking at December today mate it made break out in a cold sweat. I honestly think though by the time of the liverpool game we will have a new manager.

 

I thought that at the start of the season. If we're anywhere near the bottom 6 by 1st December then we are well and truly shafted.

 

We can but hope mate.

In the short term I'm just hoping my trip to Stoke isn't a waste of time, money and time off work. Not too hopeful on that front but not as pessimistic as others either.

 

But if you look at our last 5 games there's plenty of points to be had. Minimum aim would be 10 points for me.

Swansea (h), Leicester (a), West Brom (h), QPR (a), West Ham (h).

So even if we were cut adrift it would be far from irretrievable.

 

Nah,no offence to Palace and Hull but if we can't beat them at home the future ain't bright.In calender year we have to be the worst team in the league or any league for that matter.Jesus as above we can't beat those teams as proven for last ten months.

 

We've made a very poor start obviously. Several others are doing likewise. There is just something about us though that wreaks. I think its having problems in all areas. We lack creativity in midfield, look shaky at the back, goal shy up top and the keeper looks dodgy. The only beacons of hope are young Aarons and Cisse hopefully finding his "good" boots at the back of his wardrobe.

I still think Cabella will come good in 6 months time. There is something about him.

 

Problem is Palace, West Brom both show some fight and those are two of our concerns right now.

 

We just came back from 0-2 down with 20 minutes to go. If that's not showing fight then I don't know what is.

 

To be fair Saturdays results and the way it came about may breathe some belief into the team. Momentum is everything in sport. Cisse may now think everything is sorted. He may be carefree again which is when he is lethal.

It is crucial we back this up. I think the next games are the ones which will decide which way we go. I'd play a strong side against Crystal Palace.

 

Agreed. I have to say I thought he played really well on saturday. Made the odd mistake but with confidence behind him I reckon he do really well for us.

 

Cabella looks to have a lot of ability, but he also looks weak. The good thing from our point of view is that it's easier to build strength than to create ability. I also think that 'IF' Cisse rediscovers his 2012 form then this will take a lot of pressure off our creative players, who can concentrate on creating rather than trying to score.

 

Take a deep breath and relax. We'll finish 11th.

 

Yeah, I can see that. There's a lot of clubs able to take points off everyone, which actually makes the league flatter than it 'should be'. Plus with the PL, smaller clubs usually go hell for leather at the start, rather than pacing themselves. We've taken a different strategy - no effort early on, but a few lost points....risky, but should pay off when we exit both cups in our next games and through having put in literally no effort for the first few matches, should be fresh as daisies around February.

 

No no that is when we'll use the old "players are tired, they are new to the league, pace has caught up with them". Despite every man and his dog beign able to see what is wrong with our transfer strategy though, we'll be expected to swallow this guff.

 

We're top of the profit ratio league though.