So whilst I’m loathe to revel in the misfortunes of others, I am still delighted that Swansea managed to do us a favour last night by beating Wigan 3-2 at the DW Stadium.
That game was Wigan’s game in hand and if they’d have won it they would have overtaken us and ensured we faced QPR at the weekend as the last occupants of the relegation zone. However as things stand now we are still three points ahead of the Latics with just two games left to play for all teams involved in the relegation dogfight.
So how do things stand now following on from the result last night? Well the first thing to observe is that our destiny is now back in our own hands. From experience that chance often doesn’t come around twice so it’s now up to us to take the chance we’ve been afforded with both hands.
To ensure we make the most of this chance we must pick up a win at QPR on Sunday. If we manage to grab just a second away win of the campaign it would mean that Wigan would then definitely have to win their two remaining fixtures which, if they did manage, would mean we need to pick up a point against Arsenal to be safe. Even a draw for us at QPR would be enough providing Arsenal beat Wigan at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
To be fair there are still lots of permutations and many twists and turns that could happen and any team up to Fulham in 12th could still be dragged into things, however unlikely it may seem right now. What we do have is a second chance to keep the ball in our court so to speak, but to make sure it remains that way we must win this weekend at QPR.
And if the players and manager can’t get that then well….
Ice that was a fuking belter and I see Batty has put a bit of weight on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vms_6_TSQuc
Big Dave(Quote)
Richie how da hell have you been mate glad to see another like minded supporter on here as there hasn’t been too many lately 😉 I had a feeling we might see you on here 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Why did the bloke Jonathan Northcroft interviewing Barton constantly look like he was thinking “I wish I could be somewhere else”….. Joey Barton, a legend in his own lunch break. I’m glad we are shot of him.. 😆
The laird of Alicante has arrived to reasure us all …..wehey the lads 🙂 Cannae wait for this season to end to be honest… 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
We’re not a top 5 club, but we’re not a bottom 3 club either.
The top 5 finish got us all thinking ahead of ourselves. I’d also settle for a top 10 finish next season, then hopefully kick on gradually from there…..in the EPL that is 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
Big Dave@602, is your confidence in the toon avoiding relegation based on our own brilliance or more on the sheer gashness of those around us at the bottom of the league?
Munich Mag(Quote)
everybody must have stopped eating on the beach for richie to show up 😀
icedog(Quote)
Richie does MM not remind you of someone else from the darkside chuck 😆 😆 😆
MM @6o5 tbh more because of how **** others have been thank flock for them
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE @ 607 thats a bit rough mm is a good old west end lad so knows a bit of footy where as chuck know fk all about fk all
icedog(Quote)
Dave…It must be your infamous amazing psychic abilities.
MM…yep you can rest easy now 😉
nowt wrong with saying top10 imo, top ten includes owt fro 1st to tenth, if he came out and said we’re going for top 6 he’d get a slagging after the season we’ve had this year….unless he meant top ten in the championship, in which case he’s a bigger tw@t than I thought he was 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Ice 😥
Dave… Aye, I’ve often suspected that Chuck is MM, they views are similarand chuck is always saying “it’s Amstel time” and MM says “beer garden time”….but then MM occasionally says something intelligent and blows the theory out of the water 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
I think the fact that Moyes is friends with Fergie and is seen to have a good work ethic has swung it ,add to that the fact that Fergie could have much less control with a really big name manager and the old Scots sticking together thing and there you have it.
Funny years back Moyes agreed to manage my local team Bristol City ,he was due to join after a little break when City rang him and said don’t bother we’ve hired Tony Pullis 😯 😆 😆 It’s a story Moyes repeated at a function some time back with ex city players. By the way Pullis lasted 6 months 😳 .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Troy @587 sorry for the late reply mate. I just don’t see Pardew as being on par with Moyes (and neither do Man U apparently). I understand you’re wanting some kind of stability for the club mate. But I don’t want mediocre or less as our stability. For example I see the impact that Pardew has had on the 5 January incoming players as very negative. They all came in playing very decent football and lately all of them have had terrible games. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Pardew has had his hands on them for a while now. I also don’t want to waste another summer with Pardew in charge (or being the Ashley puppet depending on how you look at it). Ashley needs to make a good managerial choice and then give the new man full control of all on-field football matters (with Llambias having no say at all except where absolutely necessary in making the actual signings). I would actually sack Llambias as well but I don’t think it’s going to happen.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MM@604 , It’s true we were thinking ahead of ourselves but I think that was because we were expecting a couple of key quality players to come in ,in the summer. Had we gotten what was required to push on chances are we’d be in the top 8 at least. As it is our all knowing owner gambled on just getting Anita (who never plays 🙄 ) and we then got struck by key injuries. Add to that Pards going all defensive and sticking with out of form players and we are where we are.
KIMTOON(Quote)
On sunday I would quite like to see some decent support for Cisse ,I’m totally sick of pot shots from outside the box, is there a law that says we can’t press higher than the 18 yd line 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Didn’t notice it earlier but I see Lawro has picked us to beat QPR 1-2. I don’t know whether to laugh or weep. At least he commented that Colo had stabilized our defense against West Ham with his return.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I agree with the fiery redheaded Bristolian 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Hoddo @595
I agree with you. 😉
@Dave
You’re probably right. He’ll be dead before long. But mostly likely get heavily into drugs and end up in prison looking at 4 cell walls thinking where did it all got right! I’ve achieved my ambition. 😯
MM @592
I don’t expect anything great from Pardew. I don’t believe Moyes has been great either but I do believe constant backing from the board gave Moyes the confidence to manage the club with confidence and players overtime knew that he was powerful within the club and therefore showed respect. It gave time for Moyes to build his team slowly and within 5 yrs had a hardcore of loyal players to mould his team around.
Of course you can’t stick with a manager, where expectations are high like Everton & The Toon, if you are languishing at the bottom season on season but Pardew needs next season to show he can build a team and unite the players like Moyes did.
I would love to see a top manager installed but if Ashley does not want to go down that line, I certainly don’t want a cheap replacement coming in every few seasons and changing personnel for the sake of having their own stamp on things. Long term success is never gained that way unless you are buying top class players.
Lets see how Pards does next season and see if we can see real developments. This experience will really show Pardew who have fight in their bellies and who stuck by him within the dressing room. Those should be the players he moulds his team around.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
G2…Colo being back is going to be a huge part in us staying up, he’s been a massive miss imo
richietoon(Quote)
Good comments Troy @617. Kimtoon are you a fiery redheaded Bristolian?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Spot on Richietoon @618. I’ve said the same myself. What are we going to do when he leaves this summer? That’s what I worry about with our owner.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Yep agree with G2, some good points Troy.
richietoon(Quote)
Richie@610-that’s very occasionally by my reckoning mate 😆
Good to have you about, the blog has been thin up on wit and positivity since Aussie had a strop and vanished…well, maybe not wit like.. 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie…Has Aussie had a strop like? not like him, though it would only be a half “wit” missing if he has gone awol 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Aussie seems a good lad to me. We were talking about his favourite bands and I thought it would be Little River Band. 😆 But he came up with Ronnie Burns and the Flies???
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Just trying to get a rise out of Aussie and get him back on here more often. 😀
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2…Aye he’s good craic, don’t believe owt he says though…his fav singer is “Angry Anderson” 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie ,Where you been hiding 😉
G2 @619 Guilty as charged I’m afraid . Not much chance of being too mellow when you got Scottish and Irish bloodline in you . 🙄 Nah I get much calmer with age ,I’ll be really laid back when I’m dead 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Richie 😀 Aye well I think he just got tired of the constant moaning, think he said he’d be back after end of season. Or he might come back sunday if results go our way, the fickle ******!
G2-No doubt some aussie folk hero, either a pisshead of famous for wearing tin pots and shooting coppers
Newkie(Quote)
Kim…My parents have been over(went back yesterday) so not much time to get on…and my laptop is fritzed and this netbook I’m using is so slow, can’t even keep up with my 1 fingered typing 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Richie,I’m glad I’m not the only one who types 1 fingered 😆
Must of been nice having the folks over . 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
Blimey 630 post 😯
KIMTOON(Quote)
Newkie…Can’t really blame him with all the moaning, there’s good reason to moan tbf but when some are saying the same thing every other comment it can get a bit much at times…obviously I’m talking about Dave and Ice(but don’t tell them) 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Kim…Aye it was…most of the time!! 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Right I’m away to drink something for my sore throat ,laters guys.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well I think we have a good mix on here. A lot of different points of view. I think all of us want action out of Ashley in the summer though, whether it’s to confirm Pardew will continue to be manager or to make a management change as long as it’s to a better manager. We also definitely have a lot of decisions to make about players. If we stand still in the summer we’ll probably stand still in the standings.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Take care of yourself KImtoon.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Cya Kim
G2..Aye, standing still is going backwards in this league
richietoon(Quote)
Hope we get a new article to discuss the upcoming game when our posters have time.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Troy 617. Very well put!
HODDO(Quote)
Aye Aussie, if ya’ve finished ya strop get your lass to write another article 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie@632 😆
Should go right over their heads, retirement home has them in bed by 9 anyway I hear. 😛
G2-I agree…will be the more important summer under the regime I think, not that we’ll bring many players in whatever happens with the manager. More on who we can keep 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Geordie Deb re watching the final game of the season, I may be able to hook you up to watch the whole game. Can you get my e mail address from Toonsy?
Jill(Quote)
Finally the weekend is upon us.
( 😳 )
Its been a long old week, despite midweek matches, that had a bearing on our future.
The summer is going to be torturous.
Its time for Chelsea to stand up and be counted.
Do they want guaranteed CL football next season, or do they want to go thru the qualifying rounds ❓ 😕
I know they have one eye on the Europa final, but beating villa today is far more important imo.
Howay the Blues.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I think she will be over the Atlantic during the match Jill.
She’ll be like a cat on a hot tin roof, poor lass.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I’m in Florida and have a way of watching the match live and ‘on demand’ after! 😉
Jill(Quote)
Big D @607, just cos B&B had you on the ropes, doesn’t mean you have to start picking on me mate… 😉 😆 😆
Chucky….ffs…. 😆 😆 😆 😎
Icedog@608 😉 …cheers mate, my pockets are getting shorter by the minute 😉
The laird@610….aye Amstel time was one of my favourites 😳 ….”beer garden time” is much better though…… 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Troy@617, I understand where you are coming from now mate.
I suppose to read similarities into the Moyes and stability issue, you are saying that we should stick with Pardew in the hope that he will become a Moyes-like manager. I would like to share your opinion, but I’m not sure if Pardew has that about him to be honest. Next season will be the big one for him imo.
Moyes was shown stability at Everton, but what did he bring success wise ? One of his first succesful moves was to sell fans favourite Wayne Rooney, akin to getting rid of Andy Carroll… after that a flirtation with the Champions League qualification round, and an FA Cup defeat in 2009.
Hardly a breathtaking career to set him up for one of the biggest jobs in world football. ? Still…good luck to the lad. Moyes getting the Man Utd job is probably akin to Pardew getting the toon job…he had to pinch himself afterwards.
I think the real clue to it all is if and how Pardew learns from this seasons debacle. Hopefully he will recognise that he needs to reapproach the toons footballing style, whilst filling his first team squad with more physical robustness, and strength in depth. A strengthening of his coaching squad may be required, backed up by sound investment from the owner. A footballing man alongside Llambias is also a must imo.
All a gamble I suppose, we’ll find out soon if Pardew has what it takes.
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM…Aye, there’s one a German one around the corner from me, might watch the CL final there, should be a canny atmosphere 😎
richietoon(Quote)
Oops, one’s put one too many ones there
richietoon(Quote)
My choice for toon manager…but it will never happen..
Antonio Conte … current Juve manager…
Matched FC Bayern’s high tempo football twice in the Champs League this season, just won back to back Scudetto’s…. they even play in the toon colours… handles himself well in the media, he has hinted that he would love to manage in the EPL, and would be some canny eye-candy for Kimtoon, Geordie Deb and Jill 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
RT@629, I hope you can get that ketchup and lettuce cleaned off your keyboard mate…. 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Newkie@628, sounds like a fair weather supporter to me mate 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
RT@648, put your toon top on and gan and cheer for FC Bayern. Give them your old “oompah band playing Blaydon Races in Garmish Partenkirchen” story and you’ll be on free beers all night mate.
It’s gonna be a brilliant game, the ***** slapping in the media has started already …. the tension mounts……
There again, it’s nowt compared to QPR v NUFC !!
TTBAWA 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM…Any food I drop doesn’t fall far before my gob scoops it up 😉
reet off doon to Alicante to see the in-laws 😐 😕
richietoon(Quote)
RT@654 have a good ‘un mate… 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Interesting insight into Moyes tactical ploys whilst at Everton…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/may/09/david-moyes-tactics-manchester-united-everton
Munich Mag(Quote)
Why don’t yous lay off the Aussie fella! 😡
Aussie you come back when you are ready bloke!
Angry Ando(Quote)
Angry Ando@657, agree 100% mate.
Munich Mag(Quote)