Paullow

The worst thing about this is the more secure they are in the top 3/4 and the more competitions they are fighting in, they'll probably be in more of a position to ease off in some of the fixtures we'd actually like them to get something from (Spurs, Brighton etc.)

It's fascinating how one scenario could potentially change another. A few weeks ago, you'd think the title race would 100% go to the final day, if not, Arsenal might wrap it up with a game to go, but now, after a couple of draws, City winning for fun, and looking at those next games, the league could just about be wrapped up with 2 games to go (the other way), especially if City had their penultimate match before Arsenal, and if that was the case, that City Ground match would then look far less daunting for Forest than what it would just 8 days ago. Mind, Forest could well be down themselves by that game, so it could be a dead rubber

I think that's the strongest position Man Utd were in that season prior to a loss at Sheff Wed the next day. 11 clear, but Arsenal had 2 games in hand. https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/06-march-1998/ Man Utd did have a 12 point lead on Arsenal (3rd at the time) that season, which is often referenced, but Arsenal did have 3 games in hand. https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/01-march-1998/

Fair enough. I doubt we'll be able to see respective odds, but I'd imagine we'd be far more favoured in our strongest position that season than Liverpool were at the stage you referenced, both were slip ups from great positions (no pun intended), but ours will (rightly IMO) be remembered as the biggest.

It kind of feels a bit similar with Newcastle. You just expect City to win the vast majority of their games, if not all of them, so the pressure is massive on Arsenal. It's been a fantastic season for them whatever happens and they should be very much enjoying it, but I'd imagine the position they were in a few weeks ago, the fans will just want the games to tick off now, hopefully maintaining their position, rather than going out and attacking every match thinking they are going to win pretty much all of them. They definitely do feel vulnerable, and a bit like us, it feels it they are to get their ultimate prize, it will be a hold off job, and if there were 5 or 6 more matches (against the exact same sides) City would be even more favourites.

Na, ours was far worse. Man City had a game in hand and a superior goal difference, so if they kept on winning (which they did), it would only take one Liverpool defeat to change things, and one of their final 3 was against Chelsea who were obviously also doing very well. Newcastle infamously had a 12 point lead at one stage, but even as late as 20th Feb after an away win at Boro, with only 12 or 13 game left, we were 9 clear, game in hand, and a far better GD: https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/premier-league/20-february-1996/ To go from averaging 2.4 points per game to only 7 points from the next 8 games (2W 1D 5L) was a disaster.

Many on here going to this today?

A heavy defeat does kind of knock the stuffing a bit, especially in terms of watching the full build up from 1pm, but 'Super Sunday' does look really good today with West Ham vs Arsenal, and Forest vs Man Utd. If the venues were switched then they'd look like routine home wins, but as it is, both are very intriguing. Forest haven't won for ages and do look likely to drop, especially now that Bournemouth have hit form, but we are the only team to have beaten them at the City Ground in 11 PL matches, and while we were well on top and thoroughly deserved the win, it did take an injury time stupid mistake to decide it. Man Utd's injuries does help from a neutral perspective as well (not that we are neutrals).

I was at Carlisle vs Northampton yesterday, 4th vs 2nd and Carlisle would have gone above their opponents if they won, so a big match. It finished 0-0 and wasn't the best spectacle in the world, and probably looking like playoffs now for the Cumbrians, but still a decent day out, and the weather helped. It also meant I missed watching our match on TV which wasn't a bad thing, and I deleted my BT Sport recording of the match as soon as I got back in the house

Yeah, same. It's strange, it's been a fantastic season, the best for years and years and a massive contrast the Bruce years. I should be enjoying each game as it comes, but while there's something to hang on to, I just want the games to keep ticking off and us hopefully at least maintaining our grip. Those can still catch us, but if we beat like Soton, Leicester and one other, it will make it hard for them to pass us, and it does fell like they will run out if games.

Yeah, can have 5 places, but not 6, so it would only become an issue if we finished 4th, Man U lower than that, but also won the Europa. It's very unlikely all 3 of those will occur to make it the worst case scenario, but I'd rather it be impossible instead of 'very unlikely', so aye, hoping Chelsea go out in this round just to eliminate that scenario altogether as early as possible.

Haha, two people with pretty much the exact same reply . My Manager is an Arsenal fan and we were having a big discussion about the match and the 'best scenarios' just before leaving work, so was fresh on the mind, but less relevant on here I guess.

Looks like it will be an additional two matches for them to prepare for, but Arsenal fans would no doubt rather this was a lot closer. They're not quite in a position to ease off in the second leg, but Arsenal would rather the tie was as poised as possible after 80 or so minutes of the second leg, with either City frantically chasing an equaliser, or hanging on to their lead, with the prospect of extra time a real possibility.

I think we've got the best set of fixtures that we could have. It looks like the 'big 6' bar Chelsea turned it down, or they weren't asked as the organisers didn't expect them to participate, and the likes of Leeds (confirmed), West Ham, Everton etc. would have likely been avoided due to uncertainty about their PL status, but travelling 1000s of miles to have games against Fulham and Brentford would have felt a bit underwhelming IMO, and probably wouldn't have done too much to enhance the profile, which will be high up on the list of intentions for the trip.

Is it just one club going up from the Northern League this year, or will there be another inter playoff like last year when Consett also got promoted?

Just had a look on their website and the only ex Newcastle player I recognise is Conor Newton who went on loan to St Mirren the same time as Dummett. There must be at least 5 with Sunderland connections. One of (Chairman / Owner) Geoff's sons supports Sunderland, and I assume Geoff probably will too.

https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/topic/131485-dean-smith-new-interim-manager-official/ Deano had a dream To lead a football team He came from Villa Now he’s one of our own We’re crap at the back We’ve got no attack Championship in England We’ll have to sing that

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/top-6-finish https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/to-make-the-playoffs https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/promotion https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/to-win-the-playoffs Still significant underdogs to make / win the playoffs, as expected, and an opportunity for some to make some decent money should they wish to back something they don't want to happen. Obviously if they won their next two games they would generally come in a fair bit (depending on how others did of course). Not sure why SkyBet have them 33/1 to be promoted, but 66/1 to win the playoffs. They mathematically can't finish in the top 2 so unless there's points deductions galore, they should surely be the same odds . I got 250/1 for them to win the playoffs at SB last night (which again was far higher than their general promotion odds). 100/1 seems the best odds currently for them to be promoted.

Luton and Preston are in good form, but after that, none of the other playoff contenders seem to be able to put a run together. Middlesbrough have 5 points from their last 5 games Millwall have 2 points from their last 4, and haven't scored in any of them Blackburn have 1 point from their last 3, or 4 from their last 5 Norwich have 5 points from their last 6 Coventry have 1 point in their last 3, or 7 in their last 6 WBA have 3 points from their last 4 Watford have 2 from last 4, or 6 from their last 8 So most of these teams aren't even averaging a point per game at the business end of the season. Mind, Sunderland themselves, even after today, have only won 2 or taken 10 points from their last 10, and this was their first win in 5, so a few more points, or even not conceding that last second pen to Hull the other day, and it could have looked a lot better for them.

Can't see why any Newcastle fan would want them up personally like . It's normal to want a rival to do as worse as they realistically can. They have kept their season alive, but it will still be fairly tough to make the top 6. You probably would expect them to win their next 2, but then again Norwich drew at home to Rotherham today, WBA drew at home to out of sorts QPR, after losing to Rotherham the other day, so they are not tied to win both matches, but even if they did, they probably would still have to get something away to WBA - there's just not much margin for error for them. If they did win 4 of their last 5 then, with their decent GD, they probably would get there, but then that would also be 5 wins from their last 6 matches and you'd have to say fair enough. There's no outright odds up yet with Championship matches still ongoing, but they will still be significant outsiders at the bookies to make the top 6. As Newcastle fans, it just seems that it is aligning for them at this moment.

At this stage of the game, you'd rather it was a pen and a yellow, rather than a red and free kick just outside the area.

Sheff U down to 10 men after 15 mins vs Burnley, keeper off. Still 0-0 for now.

I did actually stick £2 on Sunderland to win 'promotion' at Hills last night, 200/1. I then checked 'to win playoff' odds and SkyBet had them at 250/1, so I put another £2, so I will end up with over £900 from £4 if they do come up. Still hope they don't mind. Looking better for them now. If they do win their next game, they could be within one game. Next 2 games look very winnable, and then they have West Brom and Preston in their final 3, both away, but could make their destiny somewhat in their own hands if they get 4 or 6 points in their next 2 games. Still unlikely they will make the POs, and then to actually win them, but it'll be a lot less than 250/1 now. It's kept their season alive if nothing else.

Oh my god.