Relegation 2022/23

[GoodisonRoadSupperBarWool]

Hope your mate/ close relative will be ok, we just have to win on Sunday, sounds simple I know but it’s the only way to look at it, it’s in our own hands and we the fans will play our part again and hope we get them over the line, an early goal and 3 points would be appreciated by everyone.

sorry I worded that terrible. I meant it feels like waiting to see if a relative or mate will be ok.

 

[neil999]

…..sleep is awful. Can’t help thinking that Leicester’s draw at Newcastle is pivotal and the back post header missed by Bruno Guimarães will be the key moment that relegates us.

Leicester fans will probably be thinking the same about that maddison penalty miss against us...

 

[Drico]

…..sleep is awful. Can’t help thinking that Leicester’s draw at Newcastle is pivotal and the back post header missed by Bruno Guimarães will be the key moment that relegates us.

That's torturing yourself. I, too, think Leicester's point at Newcastle could well be their lifeline, but that miss - or that point - won't be what relegates us. What relegates us has happened over 38 matches (and arguably over many years). Leicester or Newcastle won't put us down. We've done that to ourselves if it happens.

And people shouldn't look for other scapegoats on Sunday either. It won't be the ref or VAR that seals our fate. It will be the fact that we have been so poor over the previous 37 matches that we have allowed ourselves to be sucked into the margin of error, vulnerable to a blunder by an official or player or to a moment of unexpected magic or fortune for our rivals.

It's all on us over 38 matches. If we go - however we go - it'll be on us. All that remains is to see just how cruel the final blow will be.

 

[Drico]

Can I bagsy setting up the "Relegation 2023/24" thread on Sunday evening if we do stay up?

I'm more optimistic than you. I have already had my "Promotion 2023/24" thread locked.

 

[Gilbert..]

…..sleep is awful. Can’t help thinking that Leicester’s draw at Newcastle is pivotal and the back post header missed by Bruno Guimarães will be the key moment that relegates us.

There are so many ifs and buts. Losing at home to wolves who at the time were rock bottom. And then to nathan jones southampton, his only win in the league, were killers.

 

[Drico]

People rightly fret that Leicester's lucky point at Newcastle could do for us on Sunday, but it has actually taken away an overwhelming and highly dangerous incentive for us to play for a draw. That would have been enough in almost all cases had Leicester lost (Leeds are really not likely to beat Spurs by three), but now we have to go out and play on the front foot. We did that at Brighton. We did it at Leicester. I see no reason why we cannot do that again. Sitting back passively will play into the hands of a team on the beach playing without pressure. But if we go at Bournemouth with intensity, with a fervent crowd behind us, there's every chance they won't fancy it and we'll have a better chance of getting some result (when a draw could yet, in the end, be enough).

 

[ClausThomsen]

If we do stay up there should be no repeat of the celebration from last year's fiasco. I totally understand the relief but the hero worship of overall failure was laughable.

Lampard stood there taking in the adulation like he's a rock star for simply solidifying any doubts about his ability was horrendous to see.

 

[Bez2k2k]

…..sleep is awful. Can’t help thinking that Leicester’s draw at Newcastle is pivotal and the back post header missed by Bruno Guimarães will be the key moment that relegates us.

Yeah, but no. We have been poor under Lampard. Sean has come in and steadied the ship. We can’t look back and think this and that, especially with other teams.

We are in the driving seat. We have to go and beat Bournemouth, and that’s it.

 

[Dougie]

If we do stay up there should be no repeat of the celebration from last year's fiasco. I totally understand the relief but the hero worship of overall failure was laughable.

Lampard stood there taking in the adulation like he's a rock star for simply solidifying any doubts about his ability was horrendous to see.

I’m more worried about idiots running onto the pitch if we score. No matter the age, life time bans for every single one who does. The club is bigger than us all and we don’t need idiots running on during the game. That only distracts our players.

 

[sbbefc]

That's torturing yourself. I, too, think Leicester's point at Newcastle could well be their lifeline, but that miss - or that point - won't be what relegates us. What relegates us has happened over 38 matches (and arguably over many years). Leicester or Newcastle won't put us down. We've done that to ourselves if it happens.

And people shouldn't look for other scapegoats on Sunday either. It won't be the ref or VAR that seals our fate. It will be the fact that we have been so poor over the previous 37 matches that we have allowed ourselves to be sucked into the margin of error, vulnerable to a blunder by an official or player or to a moment of unexpected magic or fortune for our rivals.

It's all on us over 38 matches. If we go - however we go - it'll be on us. All that remains is to see just how cruel the final blow will be.

You're completely right that it's all 37 games that matter. But for me it was that Nov to January period that really did it for us. Not just dropping points but losing to pretty much every other team in the bottom half. Wolves, Leicester, West Ham, Bournemouth and Southampton. I'm amazed we have it in our own hands after that.

 

[MikeH72]

….yep, it was nearly a master plan from Smith but he might just have done enough to keep Leicester up with that team selection that was being laughed at on here.

I think only one team will get 4 points from their last 2 games and that team will stay up. We will draw & Goal difference will ultimately work in Leicester’s favour.

Let’s be honest, if Newcastle won you’d be saying we’d draw and Leeds would beat Spurs 3-0. You’d just fatalise regardless of the scenario.

 

[luuk_deventer]

People rightly fret that Leicester's lucky point at Newcastle could do for us on Sunday, but it has actually taken away an overwhelming and highly dangerous incentive for us to play for a draw. That would have been enough in almost all cases had Leicester lost (Leeds are really not likely to beat Spurs by three), but now we have to go out and play on the front foot. We did that at Brighton. We did it at Leicester. I see no reason why we cannot do that again. Sitting back passively will play into the hands of a team on the beach playing without pressure. But if we go at Bournemouth with intensity, with a fervent crowd behind us, there's every chance they won't fancy it and we'll have a better chance of getting some result (when a draw could yet, in the end, be enough).

If you're Gary O'Neill though, you'd play into that. You'd tell your players to waste time, slow the game down, frustrate them with fouls and stay down, quiet the crowd. If it gets to half time at 0-0, as the 2nd half goes on part of the home crowd will get impatient (especially if Leicester / Leeds are in front). Losing possession will lead to groans rather than roars. It will start to turn.

I am not saying that is how it will happen, but you just know that is how they will approach the game. They will play with freedom, even if they go 1-0 down.

 

[MikeH72]

Bournemouth and Spurs will as it's another Premier League game and they'll want to finish on a high. They also have nothing else to consider after this game.

I will be amazed if Bowen, Rice, Antonio or Paqueta start for West Ham. If we were in a European final next week and had nothing to play for, we would expect, even demand, the manager to rest them all.

They will all start.

 

[blackie_jones75]

I have gotten over my mid week wobble and Carragher/Neville MNF comments and am confident again we can do it. Will still be cacking myself on Sunday obvs

 

[helderwieling]

That's torturing yourself. I, too, think Leicester's point at Newcastle could well be their lifeline, but that miss - or that point - won't be what relegates us. What relegates us has happened over 38 matches (and arguably over many years). Leicester or Newcastle won't put us down. We've done that to ourselves if it happens.

And people shouldn't look for other scapegoats on Sunday either. It won't be the ref or VAR that seals our fate. It will be the fact that we have been so poor over the previous 37 matches that we have allowed ourselves to be sucked into the margin of error, vulnerable to a blunder by an official or player or to a moment of unexpected magic or fortune for our rivals.

It's all on us over 38 matches. If we go - however we go - it'll be on us. All that remains is to see just how cruel the final blow will be.

How right you are... It is always the responsibility of the whole team. But I still want to believe that luck will smile on the team. Isn't this the kind of matches we all love football for?