TRon Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I'm just happy to see that the pundits are starting to waver. All of them were backing Sunderland unreservedly a week ago, now they are starting to have doubts. That in itself speaks volumes for what Rafa is doing in a tiny window of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I'm just happy to see that the pundits are starting to waver. All of them were backing Sunderland unreservedly a week ago, now they are starting to have doubts. That in itself speaks volumes for what Rafa is doing in a tiny window of the season. They're backing them because they've got relegation specialist Fat Sam's Fat Head. It's been there since October. Anyone think if Rafa had been here since October we'd still be in this situation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I'm just happy to see that the pundits are starting to waver. All of them were backing Sunderland unreservedly a week ago, now they are starting to have doubts. That in itself speaks volumes for what Rafa is doing in a tiny window of the season. They're backing them because they've got relegation specialist Fat Sam's Fat Head. It's been there since October. Anyone think if Rafa had been here since October we'd still be in this situation? If he'd been here in February we wouldn't have been in this situation. But then those victories over Liverpool and Spurs pre-Christmas always looked like they might turn out to be the kiss of death. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stottie Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Fathead has been relegated before, at Notts County, so that line they keep repeating about him is tripe. He was there nearly half the season. We've left it late, but we're still in it and just have to give it our best and hope things go our way in the other games. Whatever happens, Rafa has rejuvenated the club to a barely believable degree. Massive respect to him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still a 9 for me. Need to win the next 2 games to have a chance and I don't trust this team to do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 In looking at the five-game run in, we've got our two worst games over with, and had the confidence boost of being unbeaten. Villa have given up and Palace are safe, so there's every chance of two wins there. The odds are that by the final game, Leicester will have won the league, and Spurs will have secured a CL place, so they won't be busting a gut. 7 points or even 9 isn't unrealistic. It'll come down to how Sunderland deal with the pressure and also - let's face it - who gets that little bit of luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexumaster Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still a 10. Not sure where the optimism has come from, we needed to win one of the last two games. Now we need Norwich or Sunderland to lose most of their games and I cant see both of them doing that - especially with watford/everton in there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still a 10. Not sure where the optimism has come from, we needed to win one of the last two games. Now we need Norwich or Sunderland to lose most of their games and I cant see both of them doing that - especially with watford/everton in there. Yep, we're down like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 The highest vote is nine. Hardly smacks of optimism. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufcjb Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 We need to be ahead of the mackems by the time they play their last game in hand against Everton. I'm confident we'll grind out positive results in our next 2 games. It's the mackems' games in hand thats doing my head in right now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK-421 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 As far as the vote goes, I don't think anyone can/will be too optimistic whilst we still need the other two to drop points, regardless of what we do. However, given our last 3 results/performances, I think we can get 6 points from the next 2, and then hope to avoid defeat against Spurs. Just gotta hope the Mackems and Norwich drop enough points to keep them behind, which I think (looking a their run-ins) is possible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still a 10. Not sure where the optimism has come from, we needed to win one of the last two games. Now we need Norwich or Sunderland to lose most of their games and I cant see both of them doing that - especially with watford/everton in there. Really? While I'm still a 9 we've clearly turned a corner in recent games. We hammered Swansea and got points from Liverpool and Man City. We would have lost all 3 under McClaren. We have 3 games left and look like a side that could finish on 36 points. It's pretty obvious that the optimism has come from the results changing in our favour like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 If you could have hand picked one home game and one away game as your next two, you'd pick Palace at home and Villa away. Interesting to see how Sunderland's players deal with being the favourites to stay up rather than being underdogs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugoinufc Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 The importance of Leicester winning the title before the last round is gigantic! luckily they have swansea next! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still think we're down but we have a chance now. We really need Arsenal and Chelsea to at the very most give them 1 point between them. I think if they beat either we're down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki679 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Not sure 36 will be enough this season. As important as the Palace and Villa games are we really have to avoid defeat against Spurs aswell. Drop points in the first two games though and we're stuffed no matter what the other teams do. Looking forward to the Arsenal bottle job tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 I can totally see where the optimism is coming from tbf. When was the last time we went 3 unbeaten this season? When was the last time we picked up a point away from home? We have one of the lesser sides in the league at home and also the Vile who are just shocking, albeit away from home, but we have renewed enthusiasm and belief we an get results away. We're not being unrealistic to feel we can get 6 points from those two. The mackems have been predominantly drawing games and so long as Arsenal do the business today they can only pull 3 ahead assuming they beat Everton. I don't see them beating Stoke away or Chelsea at home. At max they will get two points for me (in those two games) which puts us ahead going into the last game of the season. Anything is possible then. It will quite literally go to the wire like that's for sure. However, we're probably the side with the best momentum and arguably the best fixtures remaining... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp40 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Not sure 36 will be enough this season. As important as the Palace and Villa games are we really have to avoid defeat against Spurs aswell. Drop points in the first two games though and we're stuffed no matter what the other teams do. Looking forward to the Arsenal bottle job tonight. nothing but 3 wins will do and even that may fall short. ive got us and mackems on 39 and Norwich on 37. mackems far better goal difference so they need 2 hidings and we need some good wins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 I can totally see where the optimism is coming from tbf. When was the last time we went 3 unbeaten this season? When was the last time we picked up a point away from home? We have one of the lesser sides in the league at home and also the Vile who are just shocking, albeit away from home, but we have renewed enthusiasm and belief we an get results away. We're not being unrealistic to feel we can get 6 points from those two. The mackems have been predominantly drawing games and so long as Arsenal do the business today they can only pull 3 ahead assuming they beat Everton. I don't see them beating Stoke away or Chelsea at home. At max they will get two points for me (in those two games) which puts us ahead going into the last game of the season. Anything is possible then. It will quite literally go to the wire like that's for sure. However, we're probably the side with the best momentum and arguably the best fixtures remaining... We'd only done it once. Liverpool (h) W Spurs (a) W Villa (h) D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 [emoji38]aye so there is certainly a reason for people to be positive. I actually think that's been Benitez's most effective tool...positive mental attitude. That's what's transformed the club more than anything. Someone who wants the job, wants to do well and in public at least believes we can do well. There's been no grumblings from the fans since he came and everyone up to Benitez (including the fans) are pulling in the same direction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figures 1-0 Football Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 f***ing Spurs game on the last day is the problem now. I just had a look at a scenario that would see us safe before the last game, this is it: Liverpool v Newcastle - Draw Newcastle v Palace - Newcastle Villa v Newcastle - Newcastle Sunderland v Arsenal - Arsenal Stoke v Sunderland - Draw Sunderland v Chelsea - Chelsea Sunderland v Everton - Draw Arsenal v Norwich - Arsenal Norwich v Man Utd - Man Utd Norwich v Watford - Draw Would be: Newcastle 36 Sunderland 32 Norwich 32 That's the dream 1 prediction correct so far. Arsenal doing us a favour today and Stoke next week and the above is more than achievable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK-421 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 f***ing Spurs game on the last day is the problem now. I just had a look at a scenario that would see us safe before the last game, this is it: Liverpool v Newcastle - Draw Newcastle v Palace - Newcastle Villa v Newcastle - Newcastle Sunderland v Arsenal - Arsenal Stoke v Sunderland - Draw Sunderland v Chelsea - Chelsea Sunderland v Everton - Draw Arsenal v Norwich - Arsenal Norwich v Man Utd - Man Utd Norwich v Watford - Draw Would be: Newcastle 36 Sunderland 32 Norwich 32 That's the dream 1 prediction correct so far. Arsenal doing us a favour today and Stoke next week and the above is more than achievable. Stoke could be the bogey... they seem to be on a bit of run, leaking 12 goals in last 3 games or summit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stottie Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Norwich have only scored six in their last seven games, including the three against us in one game. I can't see them finishing ahead of both the mackems and us. Not with Arsenal and Man U up next. The mackems have been very tight at the back of late. They've not been scoring many though, Norwich game aside. For all Arsenal's fraility, them kicking into gear when fourth is involved is a bigger trend than Sunderland miraculously escaping every year. In the above predictions, Stoke are imploding and don't have Butland, their talisman for much of the season. We'd have beaten them at home if it weren't for him. I think that's Sunderland's easiest game. Pray for a homer ref. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 I want to say I'm pretty confident Norwich will go down. It's between us and Sunderland imo and unfortunately I see them staying up. Getting two draws against Arsenal and Chelsea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stifler Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Fucking Spurs game on the last day is the problem now. I just had a look at a scenario that would see us safe before the last game, this is it: Liverpool v Newcastle - Draw Newcastle v Palace - Newcastle Villa v Newcastle - Newcastle Sunderland v Arsenal - Arsenal Stoke v Sunderland - Draw Sunderland v Chelsea - Chelsea Sunderland v Everton - Draw Arsenal v Norwich - Arsenal Norwich v Man Utd - Man Utd Norwich v Watford - Draw Would be: Newcastle 36 Sunderland 32 Norwich 32 That's the dream You have forgot to includes Sunderland's game with Watford, and Norwich's game with Everton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts