How Norwich, Bournemouth, Villa and Sunderland’s results look from a Newcastle perspective

Nicky Toon

I’m not one for paying too much attention to how all the ‘teams around us’ are doing. My philosophy has always been, when your chances of achieving your goals (in footballing terms) rest in your own hands, why worry about what everyone around is doing?

Well, in an all-too-familiar season where maintaining our top-flight status is a major concern, sometimes it’s hard not to take a step back and see how our prospects look based on the performances of teams in a similarly perilous position.

In my very first article for NUFC Blog, my ‘philosophies’ have taken a back seat and I’ve compiled a short a run-down of how today’s results look from a Magpie perspective.

West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

The Hammers did just enough to squeeze past our local rivals Sunderland with a 1-0 win at the Boleyn ground today. The Mackems’ improvement on the pitch since ‘Big Sam’ took over has certainly been evident this season but by all accounts they were made to rue some good missed chances as well as a Jack Rodwell goal that was ruled out for offside.

With arguably winnable games against Crystal Palace and Southampton up next for Sunderland, here’s to hoping that their far from potent streak in front of goal continues.

Leicester City 1-0 Norwich

Leonardo Ulloa’s late goal lifted the roof off the King Power stadium and could prove to be crucial to our chances of our survival come the end of the season. We’ve now played one game less than the Canaries and just a point against next opponents Stoke City, will see us out the bottom three.

This defeat will no doubt have dented an already fragile Norwich psyche. Disappointing losses to Villa and Liverpool in 2016 all point to signs that Alex Neil’s men are in freefall with less than a third of the season left to go.

Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa

Let’s face it, Villa were already down and deservedly so. Remi Garde’s men have been woeful this season but this defeat at the Britannia Stadium further cemented any chances the Midlands club may have of a late revival.

With Villa fans famously mocking our relegation plight back in the 2008/2009 season, it looks almost a certainty that the Midlands’ supposedly ‘biggest club’ will have to suffer the same fate this year.

Watford 0-0 Bournemouth

It was a very decent point indeed for plucky Bournemouth at Vicarage Road this afternoon. Both sides missed very good chances according to the match report posted on BBC football and should the remarkable happen and we pick up three points at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday, we’ll be placed just two points behind Eddie Howe’s Cherries side.

In truth, of all the sides in and around this Catalina Mixer of relegation-threatened sides in the Premier League this season, it is AFC Bournemouth that I’d most like to see avoid the drop (assuming we do as well of course!).

It was unfathomable how we managed to pull-off our 1-0 smash and grab at the Vitality stadium earlier in the season (in truth, we deserved nothing out of that game) and for a club with such limited resources, it is refreshing to see them stick to their guns and play exciting, attacking football.

What did you make of today’s results then folks? Have your say in the comments below.

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544 thoughts on “How Norwich, Bournemouth, Villa and Sunderland’s results look from a Newcastle perspective”

  1. results went our way over the weekend, and we need more of the same tonight. Fingers crossed.
    sad that we are relying on other teams failing to give us a chance mind. But we’ll take what we can get.

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  2. BB, Yep, we need more good fortune tonight and should we get it, we simply must make the most of it. 3 points, even one would be great.

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  3. This time last year I think Leicester had just 18 points, so it’s still in our hands and it proves that with a bit of spirit and belief you can get out the mire if the will is there.

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  7. Kim – “if the will is there” It’s bottle and fight we’re lacking. It’s so apparent, the shoulders dropping, Sissoko walking back, Colo not even looking bothered. Does my head in.

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  8. Just hope Shawcross isn’t playing we struggle to score in the best of times nee chance imo if he’s playing he keeps the whole back four and M/F tight as a drum,top player

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  9. He’s not fit Ice thankfully. Doubt if it will make much difference as they’ll have some other lunk lined up to replace him.

    Another point on the design Nick/Andy – you could look into line length for comments. The longer the line length the more difficult to read. Very basic point on typogaphy.

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  11. Good results for us indeed, let’s hope we can capitalise…Somehow doubt we’ll manage it but you never know. The match against Bournemouth is absolutely vital though, if Schteve manages to lose that as well then we are truly done for.

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  12. NEWKIE you right I like the way they give it a real go home or away no matter who they play,if their manager had a better quality players they would be a top eight team imo

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  13. Ice – agreed mate, they played us off the park and they’ve matched up well against some of the big sides. Howe would have been a better choice than Schteve that’s for sure!

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  15. Sunderland win tonight puts us 2nd bottom with a thumping to come tomorrow night. Can we beat Bournemouth? From what I have seen of them away from home they will creat chances against us and I expect them to score.

    A defeat in against Bournemouth and McClaren must surely be sacked…

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  16. Stu – I’ve thought that way about a load of matches and it hasn’t happened, and it’s getting to the point where the new guy simply won’t have enough time and won’t want to tarnish the reputation taking us down. Options only becomming narrower at this point.. 😕

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  17. Ice – sad thing is, in our current state, Bournemouth are probably a more attractive option – at least they seem to have a plan 😆

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  18. 10 games is the minimum amount of games a new guy would need. I reckon a good manager could get a tune out this team with the fixtures we have. Even a new manager bounce could be worth 6/7 points which would be heaven sent at this moment.

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  19. Stu – yeah, the scum have pulled it off with poor managers with a poorer bunch of players in the last few seasons, if we lost both the next two games I’d sack Schteve and get anyone in who needs work.

    Kinnear it is 😆

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  20. I think if they had any doubt about Mclaren he’d have gone in the break. I just can’t see them thinking, “we’ll give him a couple more games after the break (which was the only ideal time left this season to get rid)and if we get shafted we’ll get sack him” I hope to **** I’m wrong but I think that unbelievably they may stick with him whatever happens. My biggest fear is if we stay up we’re stuck with him ad if we go down we’re stuck with him. Never wanted to be more wrong in my life.

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  21. Excellent analysis Richie! We’re stuck/screwed with McClaren no matter which league it is

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  22. Straight from the horses mouth – Colo to miss the next 2 games. Mbemba not ready for Stoke. Mitro, Dummett and Colback return.

    Looks like Taylor and Lascelles at CB then 😳

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  23. Steven Taylor must be feeling sorry for himself at the moment. He must be envy Colocini and Mbemba for being injured. You know it’s only a matter of time before he goes back to the injury bench where he is most happy. He must be missing his best friend Siem De Jong by now.

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  24. Taylor and Siem De Jong both like getting paid 100 grand a week between them for doing jack ****.

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  25. As for Steve McClaren getting sacked not a chance. Yes he should be doing better than what he is but when you have a owner that doesn’t give a **** and a board that buries there heads in the sand what chance do Nufc fan’s really have ?

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  26. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ashley’s put a bet on Nufc staying up. Steve McClaren has assured him we won’t go down.

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  31. Well the 18 day break is owa! ne more bull…t about refreshing breaks, was what they needed for bonding etc.

    I’d love Troy’s bezzy to come good tonight at Trampsville but I’m expecting Sunderland to win. Palce have a couple of players back that could make a difference but 3 points out of 30 for Palace doesnt suggest they’ll win 🙄

    Also expecting us to get beat tomorrow with SM insisting we were rusty and Stoke had the advantage by playing on Sat. 😆

    Happy Days…

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  32. Quick recap of McClaren’s best bits from the Press conference for anyone who is just joining us.

    Fabricio Coloccini is out for the next two games – and Chancel Mbemba won’t make it either
    Six are back in – and that includes Papiss Cisse and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Siem de Jong, Vurnon Anita and Jack Colback will also be available
    McClaren sought to hit back at critics who accused United of burying their heads in the sand, saying United know exactly the situation they’re in
    United are the ‘most frustrating team’ McClaren has ever worked with, he said 😳

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  33. Gash: they never seem to know anything about injuries 🙂 They predict Taylor will be out for 4 months and it turns out to be 6. Two days ago didn’t they say Colo would be back for Stoke?

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  34. Janmaat ~~ Taylor ~~ Dummett ~~ Colback

    Townsend ~ Shelvey ~ Saviet ~ Aarons
    Gini _

    Cissee

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  35. and Mitrovic was out for a few games lol

    I’s rather see Cisse than Mitro tbh. I wouldnt mind seeing Doumbia and Cisse with a bit of pace to run at Stokes defence, which is pretty static.

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  36. Now this is classic from the Judge to jurors in the Johnson case:

    “In evidence Mr Johnson said there was a strong possibility he was sexually aroused when he was kissing (the girl). He told you he couldn’t remember whether he was aroused or not but he said he enjoyed it.”

    So AJ couldn’t remember if he had a *****?

    The Judge’s directions to the Jury were like he was paid off by Johnson’s lawyers.

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  37. No judge! her mouth just fell onto my ***** and stayed on there moving up and down. Honest, M’Lud.

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  38. Yes, there was an earthquake that caused her lips to go there. A tidal wave of gigantic strength. It had nothing to do with me whatsoever. Honest. And I didn’t have sex with all of those other women either! And my EX girlfriend is not lying about this either, she doesn’t want the money that a footballer made. Not the 2 mil a year that I made for 6 or 7 years. I was at Man Citeh before Sunderland, you know.

    But I can’t remember if I had a ***** 🙂

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  44. I went of the football subject with Pooty Tang so I might not want to criticise AMF as much.

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  45. STUART I was hoping the same think he’s trying to buy the Celvy building for flats ect,he seems to be going into the property game he’s building houses and flats near Chelsea making 900 mil profit so hopefully we might be a bee in his bonnet that needs swatting

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  46. ERIC the best look-alike without doubt is our very own chairman and Penfold from danger-mouse the likeness is unreal

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  47. Ice: he is MD, not Chairman. Be careful that you don’t call Schteve Manager, he is the head cheese. Sorry, I mean coach.

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  52. Eric, Why do you think he needs the hassle of NUFC with everything else going on? SD need less publicity these days, not more!

    Personally reckon he could be looking at selling NUFC this summer for numerous reasons like; 1) Raising money to buy SD fully and return to private ownership. 2) The club is now worth a hell of a lot more than what he paid, including his loan – especially with the new TV deal next season. 3) He will make a massive great profit and that’s what he wants. 4) No more hassle or concerns about relegation and the risk of having to pour more millions into the club to get us back up.

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  68. If Bournemouth win tonight they’ll be out of it on 32 points. They will get 4 points from last 11 games.

    This is looking harder and harder to stay up in my opinion.

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  70. Truth is it’s in our hands and it’s to the clubs eternal shame that for yet another season we are relying on other teams to slip up.

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