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camel-with-3-humps 3:14 Sat Jul 4
Relegation: could it really happen?

The bookies have us at 6/1 to go down. Can't help but feel we need Charlie Austin/Loic Remy really badly to end the prospect of relegation pretty much entirely. Who agrees?

stirlinghammer 9:00 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Be careful for what you post and what you wish for

After8 8:58 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Oh you're being picky, it's a saying. We need some more goals in the side. I actually agree with most of your points today on this thread.

w4hammer 8:33 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

the real problem is that we became the side that was so easy to beat/nullify due to BFS's set-up (as soon as a side scores they were pretty much home and hosed)

Its a scandal that we ended up where we did- we will be fine this year, as we should have been last year

whufcroe 8:32 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Nothing wrong with the standard of defenders, they just didn't defend as well as they can, much of that down to injury and the constant chopping and changing.

Although Bilic clearly isn't happy with the balance and is targeting a left footed central defender.

Mad Dog 8:31 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

We let in so many late goals because the walrus liked to sit back and defend a lead or a (respectable) point.

The problem is if you let teams attack you, you can get punished

, 8:24 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

I think our back four is pretty good but our defending as a team was well under par in the second half of the season. We need energy in midfield and we need players who are not going to dilly dally and get gang banged like Song was prone to last season.

defending is not just a back four thing it's a team thing and BFS has left us having never got a positive goal difference in three attempts.

whufcroe 8:21 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

"If we get someone in who can get us 15 goals a season then I think we'll be absolutely fine."

How many strikers actually manage 15 goals?

whufcroe 8:20 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

"Defensively we're going to remain sound, Sam built a good defense up and I see no reason why suddenly we'd have problems there."

How many goals given away in the last minutes?

Our defence needs to improve big time on last season.

After8 8:18 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

We have been a poor side, the lack of wins post Christmas is a huge concern and we simply haven't scored enough goals.

Defensively we're going to remain sound, Sam built a good defense up and I see no reason why suddenly we'd have problems there.

My concern is if sakho gets injured. Carroll is simply too injury prone to sustain a whole season and Valencia so far hasn't looked like a 15 goal a season player (i do like him though). We need another striker.

If we get someone in who can get us 15 goals a season then I think we'll be absolutely fine.

I am surprised bilic wants a new centre back and feel that if Sam had done that he'd be getting some stick over it.

, 8:03 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Outside the top six or seven relegation can never be ruled out. Why do you think some managers seem to set out from the beginning to play in a pragmatic, give nothing away, fashion.

I agree with Roe in that BFS gives some Boards the idea that anyone can manage after him and they have made dumb appointments.

Still new broom, several new players, changes in set up and tactics mean that the manager must be given time to bed the team in to how he wants them to play. The nature of the Premiership is such that we will have good and bad runs so for chrissake whatever our run of results at the beginning let's give the new coaching team and squad some time before we start wetting knickers through exhilaration or disappointment.

oh and I say this even though I am not an admirer of Bilic as a person.

Mad Dog 6:28 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

We were only shit after Christmas due to allardyce's return to hoof ball and 1 up front.

Before then we were a joy to watch. Expecting more of that than the shit 2nd half. I'm not even contemplating relegation.

The only thing that can harm us in my view is Europe + disastrous injuries

Private Dancer 5:58 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Only utterly shit sides get relegated. Does anyone see us being utterly shit this season with our suad and moe to come? I fucking don't.

Getting 37 points really aint that hard at all, even under Grant we still could have stayed up with 2 games left and we were a pub side that season.

Anyone who thinks that we might go down with some of the shit in this league can fucking do one.

BRANDED 5:42 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

IF we get into the Europa league league stage the clearly the whole management team will have to watch it very carefully. No matter how much we want a great run in Europe the priority would have to be the premier league and doing well in it.
Managing the fan's expectations would be the hardest thing. But that's always been the case.

norwich hammer 5:33 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

I fully expect us to do something we failed miserably under that cunt and that is to give the Arse a game at the library!

stirlinghammer 5:22 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Mike - you serious? Was BFS analysing an international football match?

Takashi Miike 5:16 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

alex v, you really think the players will be concerned that the dinosaur cunt has moved on. id say most will be relieved he's gone. did you hear him speaking before the coppa america final? the fella is a fucking prehistoric relic from the dark ages

camel-with-3-humps 5:12 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Some great points by Alex V. This will be a real test for Billic.

whufcroe 5:06 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Sorry Alex V but the only problems clubs have had after BFS leaves is the fucking shit appointments they make.

Nothing else

Bolton - Sammy Lee

Moved from being assistant to manager and failed, not been a manager since

Newcastle - Kevin Keegan

Didn't quiet go to plan for the returning Son of St James, been out of the game 3 years and could never recapture the magic of his first stint.

Blackburn - Steven Kean

See Sammy Lee really, stepped up from being a coach to the top job and was shit at it. Not worked in a proper league since.

So there you have the reason and it's fuck all to do with this mystery BFS curse.

Coffee 5:00 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

How long will the Slaven honeymoon last?

stewie griffin 4:56 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

Of course it could happen. Relegation is a very real possibility for all bar about 6 or 7 teams every year. And as much as I love, and share, the feelgood factor at the moment, we're still a side that's won 3 of it's last 23 games.

Alex V 4:54 Sun Jul 5
Re: Relegation: could it really happen?

My theory is that teams struggled post-Allardyce partly because he is such an outlier as a coach - clubs looking to adapt to a new style ran into problems, with players schooled to a different philosophy.

And of course there's the usual criticisms of Allardyce - short-termism over development, lack of focus on technical ability, ultra-defensive outlook, obsession with outdated principles. These players have had up to four years of that approach (Nolan and O'Brien have had a career full!).

I think it's fair enough to have concerns about that. I hope the club can overcome that. It's hard enough with any change of manager, but Allardyce is a special case I think.

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