Nice positive slant Coxy, just worried about the negative effect on the players for conceding that late goal. I'm sure most people were gutted with that late goal, and it will knock the players already flimsy confidence. Olsson's back for Norwich, and hopefully Jones & Yacob aren't too far from returning and those three will make a huge difference, and can tighten things up at the back.
I think it will be Fulham, Cardiff, and one other between us, Sunderland, & Norwich. A win Saturday and I agree with you that we should stay up, but lose and Norwich are probably safe. I'm sure the hardcore baggies fans that go to Norwich will be a massive boost to the players though at the weekend.
Too close too call, lads . . . but as a matter of fact whatever Cox says about Sunderland's form, it is not 'far, far, worse' than yours (last 6 matches WBA points = 6, Sunderland = 4, last 10 matches WBA points = 8, sunderland = 11). Also, I've watched them a fair bit lately and i) they've performed well in a couple of games (especially against Liverpool) without getting anything from them and, most importantly, ii) both their players and manager look 'up for the fight'. Expect their fighting qualities to start paying dividends, starting tonight against WHU and including beating you on May 7 when their passionate home support will virtually suck the ball into your net.
I wouldn't go so far as to say this makes your game on Saturday a relegation decider (plenty of time for twists and turns) but it does make it absolutely massive. Wouldn't like to call it myself - two teams in poor form and displaying signs of poor morale (patchy performances both from game to game and sometimes in the same game, not showing up, rumours of dressing room discord and players questioning management decisions).
Could go either way, might depend on a lucky bounce, dodgy refereeing decision, flash of brilliance (e.g. Amaltafino) or an individual error. Might depend on which manager gets it most right in his selections, tactics and substitutions.
How's your confidence in Pepe holding up? Better or worse manager than Chris Hughton? How's your luck?
Exciting times as the relegation battle always is.
Good stuff Coxy.
Saturdays positives for me, were that we can score goals in this league. Even without Long and Odemwingie. Leaking the same amount of goals is obviously of concern but players returning from injury should tighten us up.
Whilst Cardiff had a fully fit squad to choose from, we had Olsson, Jones, Yacob, Anichebe, Brunt all injured. All would of been in the starting 11 if fit.
Another positive was Graham Dorrans. Looked class. Little flicks, top passing, chasing down every ball and a great goal. One game doesn't mean the Dorrans of 2010 is back but it's great to see and if he can keep it up, he may end up being the player we all thought he would.
Brilliant to hear the liquidator back aswell >>>> 👍
I'm off to Norwich on Saturday. Big game. We will survive > COYB
Sunderland really have to in today. I think they will but they have Everton, City and Spurs in their next 3. They might be adrift if they don't own today. Fulham have gone I agree. They have a good run in but too much to do.
Cardiffs fixtures are more favourable than ours and they could easily be level in points with us this time next week. From being in a position where we should have been 6 points clear we are instead 3 so you can understand why in some ways it feels almost like a defeat.
Aside from a few hours after the Cardiff game I also still think we will stay up mainly down to the ineptitude of other teams.
As has been mentioned I think any team would miss 5 first team players. Two or three of them back for Saturday will be welcome. Once they are back we can hopefully accumulate enough pouints to stay up then we can get rid of the wasters and start again.
Cardiff was two points lost for me. A very unprofessional end to the game. If we survive this season, a few people at the club need to have a good hard look at themselves and ask themselves whether they're good enough or committed enough.
Sunderland 0-2 W.Ham 👍
Nice.
What happened to Greengrocer's analysis last night of Sunderland's passionate home fans sucking the ball into the net? If Greengrocer knew anything about Sunderland fans he would know how fickle they are, leaving as early as five minutes into a game when the away side goes 2-0 up (as Albion did two seasons ago). Look at Sunderland's last nine fixtures - what a hard run-in they've got.
The difference between Albion and Sunderland. We draw at home when we need a win. Sunderland lose at home when they need a win.
We're poor this season but there's at least 3 team worse and that's all that matters!
#believe
My analysis was wrong, Aries - no way to escape that, nor, being by nature a seeker of the truth (or the best version we can get to), would I want to.
But my gut instinct still tells me that Poyet's passion will transmit itself to his team and they will put together some good results at home.
Last night was a big blow to them (and a great result for you guys) and they might need to win all their four home games. They might also nick a point at Spurs who look like they're already on the beach in the Maldives.
So far I've only watched a bit of the game (recorded - Sky Plus - wife had control of TV last night - my turn tonight for Man U v Bayern) but I was surprised at the reaction of Sunderland's fans to going behind early in the game.
As regards the psychological make up of Sunderland fans (and all things grammatical) I bow to your superior knowledge.
But I bet I could kick your blue-and-white striped ass on the novels of Haruki Murakami
The bookies are rarely wrong and they think the bottom 3 are dead and buried.
Oh and they tend not to rely on "gut instinct"
Aries is right fans of the North East clubs are notoriously quick to turn on their clubs as they are so overly emotional about their football teams.. Now that they look dead and buried it wouldn't surprise me if they pulled a few results out the bag now the pressure is off them a little to an extent. Both clubs up there are poisoned chalices and its no wonder both of them are perennial underachievers.
A manager's passion counts for almost nothing if he hasn't got the players to deliver where it matters, on the pitch. Paolo di Canio was full of passion and look where it got him - one point from five league games and his P45. I don't think Poyet's got it anyway. He said last night after the West Ham game that he was happy that his players tried, happy with the players' effort on the pitch, and that if he wasn't happy with their effort, he would leave straight away. Well, wouldn't a real manager stay and get rid of the players who weren't trying, and rebuild?
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The positive view
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posted on 31/3/14
Nice positive slant Coxy, just worried about the negative effect on the players for conceding that late goal. I'm sure most people were gutted with that late goal, and it will knock the players already flimsy confidence. Olsson's back for Norwich, and hopefully Jones & Yacob aren't too far from returning and those three will make a huge difference, and can tighten things up at the back.
I think it will be Fulham, Cardiff, and one other between us, Sunderland, & Norwich. A win Saturday and I agree with you that we should stay up, but lose and Norwich are probably safe. I'm sure the hardcore baggies fans that go to Norwich will be a massive boost to the players though at the weekend.
posted on 31/3/14
Too close too call, lads . . . but as a matter of fact whatever Cox says about Sunderland's form, it is not 'far, far, worse' than yours (last 6 matches WBA points = 6, Sunderland = 4, last 10 matches WBA points = 8, sunderland = 11). Also, I've watched them a fair bit lately and i) they've performed well in a couple of games (especially against Liverpool) without getting anything from them and, most importantly, ii) both their players and manager look 'up for the fight'. Expect their fighting qualities to start paying dividends, starting tonight against WHU and including beating you on May 7 when their passionate home support will virtually suck the ball into your net.
I wouldn't go so far as to say this makes your game on Saturday a relegation decider (plenty of time for twists and turns) but it does make it absolutely massive. Wouldn't like to call it myself - two teams in poor form and displaying signs of poor morale (patchy performances both from game to game and sometimes in the same game, not showing up, rumours of dressing room discord and players questioning management decisions).
Could go either way, might depend on a lucky bounce, dodgy refereeing decision, flash of brilliance (e.g. Amaltafino) or an individual error. Might depend on which manager gets it most right in his selections, tactics and substitutions.
How's your confidence in Pepe holding up? Better or worse manager than Chris Hughton? How's your luck?
Exciting times as the relegation battle always is.
posted on 31/3/14
Good stuff Coxy.
Saturdays positives for me, were that we can score goals in this league. Even without Long and Odemwingie. Leaking the same amount of goals is obviously of concern but players returning from injury should tighten us up.
Whilst Cardiff had a fully fit squad to choose from, we had Olsson, Jones, Yacob, Anichebe, Brunt all injured. All would of been in the starting 11 if fit.
Another positive was Graham Dorrans. Looked class. Little flicks, top passing, chasing down every ball and a great goal. One game doesn't mean the Dorrans of 2010 is back but it's great to see and if he can keep it up, he may end up being the player we all thought he would.
Brilliant to hear the liquidator back aswell >>>> 👍
I'm off to Norwich on Saturday. Big game. We will survive > COYB
posted on 31/3/14
Sunderland really have to in today. I think they will but they have Everton, City and Spurs in their next 3. They might be adrift if they don't own today. Fulham have gone I agree. They have a good run in but too much to do.
Cardiffs fixtures are more favourable than ours and they could easily be level in points with us this time next week. From being in a position where we should have been 6 points clear we are instead 3 so you can understand why in some ways it feels almost like a defeat.
Aside from a few hours after the Cardiff game I also still think we will stay up mainly down to the ineptitude of other teams.
As has been mentioned I think any team would miss 5 first team players. Two or three of them back for Saturday will be welcome. Once they are back we can hopefully accumulate enough pouints to stay up then we can get rid of the wasters and start again.
posted on 31/3/14
Cardiff was two points lost for me. A very unprofessional end to the game. If we survive this season, a few people at the club need to have a good hard look at themselves and ask themselves whether they're good enough or committed enough.
posted on 31/3/14
Sunderland 0-2 W.Ham 👍
Nice.
posted on 31/3/14
1-2 😳
posted on 31/3/14
1-2 FT - great result 👍
posted on 1/4/14
What happened to Greengrocer's analysis last night of Sunderland's passionate home fans sucking the ball into the net? If Greengrocer knew anything about Sunderland fans he would know how fickle they are, leaving as early as five minutes into a game when the away side goes 2-0 up (as Albion did two seasons ago). Look at Sunderland's last nine fixtures - what a hard run-in they've got.
posted on 1/4/14
The difference between Albion and Sunderland. We draw at home when we need a win. Sunderland lose at home when they need a win.
We're poor this season but there's at least 3 team worse and that's all that matters!
#believe
posted on 1/4/14
My analysis was wrong, Aries - no way to escape that, nor, being by nature a seeker of the truth (or the best version we can get to), would I want to.
But my gut instinct still tells me that Poyet's passion will transmit itself to his team and they will put together some good results at home.
Last night was a big blow to them (and a great result for you guys) and they might need to win all their four home games. They might also nick a point at Spurs who look like they're already on the beach in the Maldives.
So far I've only watched a bit of the game (recorded - Sky Plus - wife had control of TV last night - my turn tonight for Man U v Bayern) but I was surprised at the reaction of Sunderland's fans to going behind early in the game.
As regards the psychological make up of Sunderland fans (and all things grammatical) I bow to your superior knowledge.
But I bet I could kick your blue-and-white striped ass on the novels of Haruki Murakami
posted on 1/4/14
The bookies are rarely wrong and they think the bottom 3 are dead and buried.
Oh and they tend not to rely on "gut instinct"
posted on 1/4/14
Aries is right fans of the North East clubs are notoriously quick to turn on their clubs as they are so overly emotional about their football teams.. Now that they look dead and buried it wouldn't surprise me if they pulled a few results out the bag now the pressure is off them a little to an extent. Both clubs up there are poisoned chalices and its no wonder both of them are perennial underachievers.
posted on 1/4/14
A manager's passion counts for almost nothing if he hasn't got the players to deliver where it matters, on the pitch. Paolo di Canio was full of passion and look where it got him - one point from five league games and his P45. I don't think Poyet's got it anyway. He said last night after the West Ham game that he was happy that his players tried, happy with the players' effort on the pitch, and that if he wasn't happy with their effort, he would leave straight away. Well, wouldn't a real manager stay and get rid of the players who weren't trying, and rebuild?
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