The Sunderland result is a massive blow for us. 3 games left and not one of the relegation places has been decided. Bad news for us.
The Optimist Prime Thread
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The Sunderland result is a massive blow for us. 3 games left and not one of the relegation places has been decided. Bad news for us.
We have to win to be safe anyway doesn't matter if one or two teams are certain to go down now anyway because it only takes one of the bottom three to overtake us for us to be goners.
Yes, but it was looking like only one team may catch us, Fulham.
Now all 3 have a chance to overtake us with just one victory.
Man U in turmoil, i bet they cant wait for this season to end, surprised to hear all the media hype being bandied about but it could still be denied, i would have thought it would have been better at the end of the season 
J
JKCanary
Guest
A possible 'worst case scenario' lineup for the Championship here - I haven't used any expiring contracts except for Bunn, and he has a 1 year option anyway I think.
Doesn't look too bad at all eh? :
And the bench (using players we can realistically keep hold of and excluding expiring contracts)
Rudd
Garrido
McGeehan
Surman
Jo.Murphy
Ja.Murphy
Loza
'Worst case scenario' meaning the sale of:
Ruddy
Snodgrass
RvW
Fer
Bassong
Hoolahan
...and the release (expiring contracts) of:
Pilks
Turner
Tettey
Fox
Nash
Yobo (loan exp)
Elmander (loan exp)
Gutierrez (loan exp)
Doesn't look too bad at all eh? :
Bunn
Whittaker - Martin - R.Bennett - Olsson
Johnson - Howson
E.Bennett----------------------Redmond
Hooper - Becchio
Whittaker - Martin - R.Bennett - Olsson
Johnson - Howson
E.Bennett----------------------Redmond
Hooper - Becchio
And the bench (using players we can realistically keep hold of and excluding expiring contracts)
Rudd
Garrido
McGeehan
Surman
Jo.Murphy
Ja.Murphy
Loza
'Worst case scenario' meaning the sale of:
Ruddy
Snodgrass
RvW
Fer
Bassong
Hoolahan
...and the release (expiring contracts) of:
Pilks
Turner
Tettey
Fox
Nash
Yobo (loan exp)
Elmander (loan exp)
Gutierrez (loan exp)
Interesting that you think RvW is more likely to go than Hooper, despite their goalscoring records this season.
Otherwise that doesn't look too bad. I'd expect Rudd to challenge Bunn for 1st choice keeper, as he's been excellent at PNE this season. I think we'll stand a reasonable chance of extending Tettey and Turner's contracts too at the very least, which would strengthen things considerably.
Otherwise that doesn't look too bad. I'd expect Rudd to challenge Bunn for 1st choice keeper, as he's been excellent at PNE this season. I think we'll stand a reasonable chance of extending Tettey and Turner's contracts too at the very least, which would strengthen things considerably.
J
JKCanary
Guest
Fair point DH. I could see it going either way, but possibly due to RvW's history and nationality I would say he's more likely to go out of the two. I like to think we'd be able to hang on to at least one of them though.
I'm hoping that because we are financially secure, we aren't going to be selling cheap and that'll put teams off trying to sign our players so we can keep most of the squad together. Few of our players have shone this season which helps too!
J
JKCanary
Guest
I'm confident that things won't be as 'bare' as the potential worst case scenario above. As you say, there's at least a couple of players that could well extend their contracts and even if we did sell all the players I listed, we would certainly bring in some players to replace them, and would have the funds to do so.
I read an interview the other day with John Ruddy, who says he intends to honour the remainder of his contract at the club?
J
JKCanary
Guest
I saw that too Cromer, but in the event of a significant offer for him, and with Rudd coming back from a successful loan, I reckon McNally et al would accept it and let him go.
However, I remain hopeful that he will indeed stay with us.
A upper-championship level 'keeper would probably be reasonably easy/cheap to find though, and we may already have two in Bunn and Rudd. Ruddy has time on his contract, and whilst he says he'll honour it, I could see the board taking £5-7m for him. Strikers are generally much more expensive, and if selling Ruddy meant we could afford the wages to hold onto RvW and Hooper, that might be the type of decision that has to be made. Or perhaps the money could bring in a striker that could score*, or a midfielder that can supply them.
*As an aside, RvW and Hooper in the championship could be excellent. I think Hooper would thrive there (he has before) and the deficits in his game would be offset by the lower quality of defending on show. RvW meanwhile would probably struggle initially to adapt to the physicality of the championship, but once he'd bulked up a bit, his movement could tear championship defences to pieces. The stronger build and confidence would then make him a much better Premier League striker.
I'd like to see both RvW and GH stay, as I think that now the 'shackles have been taken off' the team, I would expect more crosses of the type which led to Snoddy's goal on Sunday; which in turn could lead to more goal scoring opportunities for both our misfiring strikers and championship defenders are not of the same standard as those they've had to face this season.
I think first put the door will be Bassong. I'm sure there will be teams looking to take him and he's one of our highest wages. I think keeping hold of Howson would be our best hope, we know he's capable at this level and he'd be the perfect player to build our midfield around.
J
JKCanary
Guest
Here's some inspiration for tomorrow courtesy of our youngsters! They drew 2-2 last week against Utd.
[video=youtube;Hi9hVGT6RjQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi9hVGT6RjQ&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Incidentally, I will be at Old Trafford tomorrow. However, I have a horrible confession. I will be sat with two Man Utd-supporting friends, along with the rest of the Utd fans.
Please don't ban me mods, although I will understand if you decide to anyway...
[video=youtube;Hi9hVGT6RjQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi9hVGT6RjQ&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Incidentally, I will be at Old Trafford tomorrow. However, I have a horrible confession. I will be sat with two Man Utd-supporting friends, along with the rest of the Utd fans.
Please don't ban me mods, although I will understand if you decide to anyway...
First time back in the PL I was there, sat behind Ian Brown in the Stretford end. I was with a few manc friends and jumped up when Pilks had a good chance to score, then a cockney started telling me and my missus to **** off thought things were going to get nasty, then to my surprise all the mancs stood up for us and told the cockney to **** off back to London and support a local team. Still hoping for a better result tmrw when I shall be with the flock of canaries
regardless if this weeks managerial merry ground the fact is the pressure is all on them, we are expected to lose and their fans will expect them to win, no easy ride for them tomorrow im sure, COYY's!
This is pipe dreams I'm afraid.
Its the other way round, all the pressure is on us now, they are free of responsibility.