The English Football Thread

[Trollheart]

Yeah, wake up bunny! As I already mentioned last week, Reading and QPR are gone, gone, gone. Their fate is sealed. I think we may just climb out of trouble now, but then, with Chelsea on Saturday we could end up right back in it...

[Big Ears]

There may be a better noun, but the Oxford dictionary says, "Matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome." Figures vary for the cost of relegation, from forty to sixty million pounds, a loss which must mean trouble for the smaller clubs. The alternative would be to breeze through the Championship, but relegated teams often tumble through the divisions and Reading have sacked the manager that got them two promotions in as many seasons. If Wigan go down, history shows they will disappear into obscurity, whereas QPR should be a Premier League side (like Leeds Utd). So should Aston Villa.

Saints have Stoke and Sunderland - both can be tenacious.

[Mojo]

I'd say that its between us, Newcastle and Norwich. Theres no way you can look at the table and remaining fixtures and claim that Norwich are safe. Then again, who in the bottom half is? Its so tight.

Thats why I'm not completely devestated with the draw last night against Stoke. It was our best chance to get three points between now and the end of the season, but also coming back from behind to draw has kept us in that pack of 38 point teams without breaking away from it and becoming the team Wigan can overtake. It's not enough but it could be vital. We have to beat Southampton now, or mirror Norwichs results at least.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Big Ears

There may be a better noun, but the Oxford dictionary says, "Matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome." Figures vary for the cost of relegation, from forty to sixty million pounds, a loss which must mean trouble for the smaller clubs. The alternative would be to breeze through the Championship, but relegated teams often tumble through the divisions and Reading have sacked the manager that got them two promotions in as many seasons. If Wigan go down, history shows they will disappear into obscurity, whereas QPR should be a Premier League side (like Leeds Utd). So should Aston Villa.

Saints have Stoke and Sunderland - both can be tenacious.

Okay sure, but in the context of the Premiership they're no longer in trouble, because they've lost their fight to stay in it. Sure, next season they may have a tough time surviving even in the lower tier, but that's next season. When I hear of a team in trouble now, I take it to mean they're in danger of slipping out of the top flight this year, which is why I was surprised to see you talk about QPR and Reading that way. They may be in trouble next season, but that's next season. For now, their troubles are over, in the worst way possible.

[Newkie]

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

I'd say that its between us, Newcastle and Norwich. Theres no way you can look at the table and remaining fixtures and claim that Norwich are safe. Then again, who in the bottom half is? Its so tight.

This is true, but I just feel Norwich have the most winnable game. Perhaps I'm wrong but the baggies are seemingly on their holidays (although they decided to wake up for us) and it's at home and Hooters should have them up for it.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Okay sure, but in the context of the Premiership they're no longer in trouble, because they've lost their fight to stay in it. Sure, next season they may have a tough time surviving even in the lower tier, but that's next season. When I hear of a team in trouble now, I take it to mean they're in danger of slipping out of the top flight this year, which is why I was surprised to see you talk about QPR and Reading that way. They may be in trouble next season, but that's next season. For now, their troubles are over, in the worst way possible.

Yeah, that's the bit I was getting at. In terms of finances, depending on whether the financial fair play rules will ever have any effect (doubt it) half the teams in English football are in some financial trouble!

[Goofle]

Alex ferguson has retired omg this is massive!

[Cuthbert]

Not sure if I posted it on here but it was clear after the Madrid game.

Seeing the great man race out of the dugout at 71 and stand on the sideline with Giggs cheerleading the fans, practically begging them was a bit emotional, now we know why. It was cos he knew it was his last roll of the dice and he'd just been robbed of his last chance to win the European Cup again. That was the moment I knew. Phelan "He's distraught".

The end of an era and the greatest of all time.

[Cuthbert]

This bald cunt on SSN, "my choice would be the Bayern Munich manager, I love him at Bayern and the football he plays"

He's not managed a game there yet you dick

[Cuthbert]

Ben Smith ‏@BenSmithBBC 13m

Now if the next part of this story pans out as I was told yesterday, English football might just implode.

What will it be then?

Mourinho and Ronaldo at United

[Goofle]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Kittens

This bald cunt on SSN, "my choice would be the Bayern Munich manager, I love him at Bayern and the football he plays"

He's not managed a game there yet you dick

I assume he was on about the current Bayern manager