The end is near... (football relegation talk)

[ik9000]

I guess. We hit the post a couple times in the first half when the score was 0-0 and 2-1 (I think). But you've got to take your chances!

At least it would have been interesting to watch if you weren't a Sunderland fan!

ah sorry, can't comment on that game. (Didn't see it.) Got you muddled up with the newcastle fan on here.

[Biscuit]

I thought you did well. Their keeper just had a blinder of a game. Sometimes it happens. I'd rather have seen your performance than be a Chelsea fan atm.

(for clarity, I'm not a chelsea fan)

I hate Butland... the guy was like Spiderman

[ik9000]

so they've fired Mourinho. Would have started a new thread but still fits with this one just about!

[Biscuit]

so they've fired Mourinho. Would have started a new thread but still fits with this one just about!

Crazy crazy season!

This was clearly coming in all fairness. I think he was given a really fair shot at turning things round and he just couldnt get control of dressing room again. Where will he end up next?

I really hope Leicester win it, as unlikely as it actually it. I know they have said they wont be selling Mahrez and Vardy, but the kind of money that will come in for them could be difficult for the board to turn down. If they hold tight with both of them and they can keep up this level of confidence they could definitely pull it off. My money is still on Man City though.

I think Arsenal are pretty nailed on for another Champions league position, probably second. Everton, Spurs, Leicester, Man United and Liverpool will be scrapping for 3rd and 4th spots. I can see Man United having a bit of a fall down the table and Van Gaal getting the boot to be honest though.

Who would have thought Watford would be doing this well?

As for the Toon, had some decent results but we are still far from out of trouble. We have to smash Villa this weekend!

[ik9000]

Crazy crazy season!

This was clearly coming in all fairness. I think he was given a really fair shot at turning things round and he just couldnt get control of dressing room again. Where will he end up next?

I really hope Leicester win it, as unlikely as it actually it. I know they have said they wont be selling Mahrez and Vardy, but the kind of money that will come in for them could be difficult for the board to turn down. If they hold tight with both of them and they can keep up this level of confidence they could definitely pull it off. My money is still on Man City though.

I think Arsenal are pretty nailed on for another Champions league position, probably second. Everton, Spurs, Leicester, Man United and Liverpool will be scrapping for 3rd and 4th spots. I can see Man United having a bit of a fall down the table and Van Gaal getting the boot to be honest though.

Who would have thought Watford would be doing this well?

As for the Toon, had some decent results but we are still far from out of trouble. We have to smash Villa this weekend!

So McClaren is gone http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35736581. The question is given the overall situation (league, team, owner, finances etc) who on earth would want to take on the role instead?

[Biscuit]

So McClaren is gone http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35736581. The question is given the overall situation (league, team, owner, finances etc) who on earth would want to take on the role instead?

Rafa Benitez apparently. 3 Year deal with get out clause if we dont survive the season.

If he comes in then I think there is a slight glimmer of hope, but not much.

[Smudger]

I think the board are beginning to get the message that you have to let the manager choose the players to buy and the players to actually play. Shelvey and Townsend were apparently McLaren buys, the other 2 we got were Graham Carr's. Hopefully Benitez (if he comes) will insist that all buying and playing decisions are his and his alone. Graham Carr was good to start with, and picked up some real gems, but it seems he's lost his magic touch.

[Smudger]

And it's official now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35784544

Benitez is in, on a 3-year deal

And here's just one example of what he can do...

[Biscuit]

Carr has done more harm than good IMO. Sure there has been a few gems over the years but you can count them on one hand. In the other hand and both feet you can count up all the sick notes and part timers who have no idea what it means to pull on the stripes. If we survive and Benitez stays with us, I think the fans will stick by him.

[Jowsey]

Rafa or Sam, I reckon it'll be a miracle if either of us stay up. I reckon Sunderland have a slightly better chance due to the character of the squad (Larson, Cattermole, O'Shea, etc.) but in reality it's up in the air. Since Swansea pulled away it looks like 2 out of Sunderland, Newcastle and Norwich will go down. I think we can all write off Newcastle's game with Leicester today but from that point on it is about the team who messes up the least as we can't seem to rely on ourselves to get points!

At least we're not Villa fans, eh?

[Jowsey]

Rafa or Sam, I reckon it'll be a miracle if either of us stay up. I reckon Sunderland have a slightly better chance due to the character of the squad (Larson, Cattermole, O'Shea, etc.) but in reality it's up in the air. Since Swansea pulled away it looks like 2 out of Sunderland, Newcastle and Norwich will go down. I think we can all write off Newcastle's game with Leicester today but from that point on it is about the team who messes up the least as we can't seem to rely on ourselves to get points!

At least we're not Villa fans, eh?

Just in reply to myself, you were hard done by to not get a point. Pretty even game if you ask me. Shelvey's distribution look poor but Townsend was a breath of fresh air. Leave him on the bench please

Anyone going to throw a bet on for this weekend? I'm probably going to go for Sunderland to win and Defoe to score first.

[Biscuit]

I think Defoe will score, but I'm not going to make a call on who will win...

[ik9000]

Sunderland to win. Newcastle's rot goes too deep IMO.

[Biscuit]

Well as a Newcastle fan that was horrendous. Sunderland where by far the better team in every aspect until the last 10-15 mins where we came alive a bit. Unfortunately this time was mostly tactical wasting from the Mackams. Proper hard fought survival football from Sunderland, it wasn't pretty but it's exactly what's needed at this point in the season. Gutless, passionless performance from us; overall I would say we didn't deserve the draw, let alone a win.

My main complaints in that game were with the refereeing, It was atrociously one sided (as always seems to be the case in the Tyne-Wear derby).
Sunderland players clearly been told to hold the ball, wait for a challenge then roll about make it look like a foul and scream like they had just had their leg broken at every opportunity. The ref and assistance fell for it all time and time again... pathetic.
Borini had obviously been told to try and get Colback sent off, thank god the ref realised this towards the end and didn't fall for some of his later amateur dramatics.
Our attackers getting clearly held back by the CBs on cross after corner after freekick after cross... nothing given.
Player after player time wasting then when the ref finally books someone for it, he uses it as another excuse to waste more time and gets away with it.
Sliding challenge on Sissoko just outside the box, doesn't even touch the ball but wipes sissoko out, clear stone wall yellow card.... nothing given. Straight after that Mitrovic shoulder barges in a 50/50 and concedes a foul. My Dad and I were raging!

See this all the time at St James', I really don't know why referees hate us so much?

[Biscuit]

Whats everyones thoughts now?

Newcastle have the more flattering fixtures but all it takes is one surprise win elsewhere and we are pretty much doomed.

I hate cheering Arsenal on, their football this season has been soooooo boring. Just passing around the middle of the field with no real entertaining attack...

[Jowsey]

Whats everyones thoughts now?

Newcastle have the more flattering fixtures but all it takes is one surprise win elsewhere and we are pretty much doomed.

I hate cheering Arsenal on, their football this season has been soooooo boring. Just passing around the middle of the field with no real entertaining attack...

I am genuinely scared. I see no real reason to think we will survive. I think Sunderland probably have the worst run in, even if we have a game in hand, and I just don't think we'll find a magic spark. I reckon Norwich will survive and both of us will go down.

And we both truly deserve it.