Could Newcastle go down ?

Bashmachkin wrote:We have three difficult games coming up, but then things tail off before the end of the season. I am not too concerned at the moment, I think we will ultimately avoid relegation reasonably comfortably. From an awful run of games, I take some comfort in several small signs - in the fact that our football has improved since Keegan took over, in the fact that some of our players look happier under him. Keegan hasn't been able to field anything like a full strength team yet due to suspensions and the African Nations, and, in that respect, Beye and Faye back and at full fitness will strengthen our defence whilst Martins is the type of player who can provide the spark that helps a team win games, or enables a team to recover from deficits.

Our fundamental problem, as I've said in the match day thread, is that we have a group of players that are not Premier League quality. None of Barton, Butt, Cacapa, Smith, Carr are Premier League players. We do not have a central midfield. This isn't Keegan's fault, and it was always going to be difficult to bring players in with only two weeks of the transfer window left, and with half of the team away or suspended. Added to this, because of our recent results, but more because of our level of performance over the whole season, because of the disenchantment under Allardyce, we have a group of players lacking in confidence, whose heads go down once a few goals go in. As I say, without Martins or N'Zogbia, we lack the sort of player that can drag a team from a poor position via some moment of inspiration.

Matthew Upson wrote:I don't think they'll go down...they can do for sure, but I don't think they'll even finish bottom 6...they'll finish 14th worst ways IMO.

I've been impressed with Sunderland though (while on the subject of relegation) Whenever I watched them I think they do well, and are often unlucky.

Their matches at The Emirates, Upton Park and White Hart Lane, all ended in an unjust defeat. I think Roy Keane is a great manager.

Matthew Upson wrote:
Their matches at The Emirates, Upton Park and White Hart Lane, all ended in an unjust defeat. I think Roy Keane is a great manager.

Bashmachkin wrote:
Ultimately, if they stay up, they will be delighted and Keane will have done his job. But having spent over £44 million on players this season alone (with no money coming in from transfers out), I don't think them staying up would prove Keane's managerial credentials. It's also true that very few of the players he has brought in could be sold now for a profit - perhaps only Jones, though he does look an excellent player.

kas wrote:They're a bunch of players who are in 14th place, and I don't think anyone expected any better or worse. The reason people find it all amusing is the prices he paid for them.

Bashmachkin wrote:Sunderland don't have an easy end to the season. They play a lot of home games against teams better than them - Everton, Chelsea, Villa, Arsenal - and most of their away games are against teams fighting relegation, against the teams round their position. I do think that they look a bit better than some of the teams around them, but we will see what happens.

Ultimately, if they stay up, they will be delighted and Keane will have done his job. But having spent over £44 million on players this season alone (with no money coming in from transfers out), I don't think them staying up would prove Keane's managerial credentials. It's also true that very few of the players he has brought in could be sold now for a profit - perhaps only Jones, though he does look an excellent player.

kas wrote:They're a bunch of players who are in 14th place, and I don't think anyone expected any better or worse. The reason people find it all amusing is the prices he paid for them.

Luis wrote:I said Sunderland would stay up before the season and everyone laughed, they have ten times the desire of Fulham IMO

Parks lives wrote:http://europeanboard.ephpbb.com/english-football-f3/sunderland-t10537.htm?highlight=sunderland

COTR wrote:Richardson is actually a very good signing for a club like sunderland

the two signings at least indicate he won't be trying to play hoofball next season

Matthew Upson wrote:Middlesbrough are an established Premiership club though. They already had the likes of Woodgate, Huth, Boateng and Downing there.

L r d wrote:

Matthew Upson wrote:Middlesbrough are an established Premiership club though. They already had the likes of Woodgate, Huth, Boateng and Downing there.

Boro got to the uefa cup final what 2-3 years ago. Imagine you are a foreigner and you get the chance to join a promoted team in spain say almeria, or espanol who were recently in the uefa cup final....it's not even a choice.

Matthew Upson wrote:If you want to look at a team who has spent money which hasn't paid off...look at Fulham. They made about 12 mediocre signings...and splashed about £30m.

Sheffield gunner wrote:And Almeria isn't really a valid comparison in my opinion, they are a club with little history, they have a tiny stadium, and I think this is their first year in the Spanish top flight. They can't really be compared to Sunderland who have a 50,000 seater stadium, huge financial support, a famous manager and plenty of top flight experience.

Sheffield gunner wrote:Yep, I agree that getting established foreign players to join Sunderland isn't an easy task, both because of geography and their relatively weak team. Still, Sunderland were one of the best placed promoted sides of recent years because of their resources. I think Keane's managerial career must be viewed positively so far, even if there are some valid criticisms that can be made.

Sheffield gunner wrote:And Almeria isn't really a valid comparison in my opinion, they are a club with little history, they have a tiny stadium, and I think this is their first year in the Spanish top flight. They can't really be compared to Sunderland who have a 50,000 seater stadium, huge financial support, a famous manager and plenty of top flight experience.

L r d wrote:

Sheffield gunner wrote:And Almeria isn't really a valid comparison in my opinion, they are a club with little history, they have a tiny stadium, and I think this is their first year in the Spanish top flight. They can't really be compared to Sunderland who have a 50,000 seater stadium, huge financial support, a famous manager and plenty of top flight experience.

It's a random fucking promoted team. What comparison do you want, do you think some foreigner thinks Sunderland has some History?

Jesus wrote:

A Tribe Called TS wrote:I'd sign N'Zogshit to be our back-up Mascot

Another small black person?