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.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35699794
What the **** is this Schteve? We’re the most frustrating team you’ve had? Oh poor you.
He’s actually the worst manager I can remember, worse than Dogleash at this rate. Fucking joke of a man.
Newkie(Quote)
Sunderland aren’t playing brilliant football. Can see palace scoring.
It’ll be between us, scum and Norwich to join villa
Gashley(Quote)
Newcastle, Norwich and Villa the 3 to go down…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Gash…Yeah both Palace and the scum are playing poorly.
richietoon(Quote)
It’s in our hands for sure, Kim but unfortunately teams like Sunderland and Bournemouth keep pulling unexpected results out and we don’t. Norwich look like they’re struggling too but we still need to drag a team down and Sunderland looking good, Bournemouth could be over the horizon so that leaves Swansea. Seriously think it’s between us, Norwich and Sunderland for the two places. Swansea maybe also but they have pulled the odd result out too.
Stuart79(Quote)
Blimey Kevin Friend the 4th official fainted and cracked his head on the way down over at Bournemouth match.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu, Our players need to really be up for the Derby cause that’s gonna be huge now. I don’t enjoy it much at the best of times but it’s gonna be unbearable now.
kimtoon(Quote)
But of course we could win our next two games and be on 30 points then everyone else is under pressure.
Chances? Nil to minus nil
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim – The ref will faint if we win an away game!
Stuart79(Quote)
I think Villa and Norwich are down, us and the scum are both **** although we are better on current form…that was before tonight obviously. As Kim says the derby may well dump one of us down. Palace are dropping like a stone but their early season form might just keep them out of it…or even better if they win tonight 😛
richietoon(Quote)
Stuart…I’ll faint if we win one and gladly smash my head on the way down 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Stu, 😆 I think I’ll faint too
kimtoon(Quote)
Baggies level
kimtoon(Quote)
Not convinced with Sunderland’s kone or nDoye lol they look ****.
Gashley(Quote)
palace level
richietoon(Quote)
Palace score get in
kimtoon(Quote)
great goal by Wickham
richietoon(Quote)
Get in whickham. Knew they’d score 1-1
Gashley(Quote)
Get in Whickam!!! Always said he was a good player.
Stuart79(Quote)
Little deflection like, oh dear! how sad! never mind! 😈
richietoon(Quote)
Palaaaaace winning
richietoon(Quote)
Connor Wickham again 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Get him in the Euro squad!
Stuart79(Quote)
Scum losing 😈
kimtoon(Quote)
If Palace can win this it will be a hammer blow to Sunderland and give us a major boost!
Stuart79(Quote)
and he’s just kicked the scums keeper in the heed for goo measure 😛
richietoon(Quote)
*good
richietoon(Quote)
if it stays like this then it will be nothing short of criminal if we don’t take full advantage
kimtoon(Quote)
Palace leading, get in. Only the bournemouth result isn’t going our way really..
Newkie(Quote)
Stuart…it would be and even better cos Palace have been every bit as ***** as Sunderland so it’s not as if they are losing to a team playing well
richietoon(Quote)
go on there connor whickham, the makkem slayer 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
That’s the thing Kim, it means nowt if we don’t do our bit.
richietoon(Quote)
Cabaye getting subbed, he’s been terrible like.
richietoon(Quote)
Oh Norwich…
Stuart79(Quote)
wow the premier league is exciting this season, at both ends of the table… 🙂
….apart from villa that is 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
bournemouth are out of it anyway…
Munich Mag(Quote)
don’t like that norwich goal one bit…chewlsea need to wake up !
Munich Mag(Quote)
wtf, don’t Norwich know they’re not supposed to score 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Just need Southampton to score
Stuart79(Quote)
Cattermole bleeding like **** from the eye 😯
richietoon(Quote)
Bournemouth as good as safe now
Stuart79(Quote)
Well that’s Bournemouth pretty safe now, they just scored again so on 32 points now, can’t see them slipping up in the future.
kimtoon(Quote)
RICHIE good one of most dirty players in the PL
Icedog(Quote)
**** 2-2
richietoon(Quote)
ffs scum level
kimtoon(Quote)
Fucking Borini!
Stuart79(Quote)
Not sure he meant it either 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Game over, could have been worse. they’d have expected 3 points from that
richietoon(Quote)
need the Norwich game over now
kimtoon(Quote)
5 mins ex time Chelsea match
kimtoon(Quote)
Still puts us down to 2nd I think
Icedog(Quote)
We’ve had our best 2 weeks of the season and we haven’t even bleeding played!!!
Stuart79(Quote)
phew Norwich lose to an offside goal 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
We’ll get something tomorrow, I feel it in my bones
richietoon(Quote)
Ice…Aye 3 of us on 24 pts
richietoon(Quote)
Same pts as Norwich and Sunderland but we’ve got two games in hand
Need to make it count now
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley exactly, it’s a luxury we need make the most of.
kimtoon(Quote)
If Norwich are same goal dif as us but played 2 more, should they not be below us?
kimtoon(Quote)
We have two games in hand on Norwich and Sunderland and we are level on points! The down side? The games in hand are against Stoke away and Man City at home…
Stuart79(Quote)
let’s get stoke out the way before worrying about other games
kimtoon(Quote)
Stoke have won only 2 of their last 8 at home. It’s the kind of stat that goes against us.
With a makeshift defence, I’m going for a 2-1 defeat. Luckily I’m deep in Scotland with no mobile signal. Not looking forward to it
Gashley(Quote)
Well I think all in all the other results have went pretty well for us at the weekend & tonight.
It’s down to us now. If we want to stay up we are going to have to win the likes of Stoke away.
Personally, I’d be dropping Sissoko & Gini for the away game. May be risky but they haven’t played well and I’d rather see Aarons & Townsend either side of Mitrovic or Cisse.
Tiote holding with Colback & Shelvey at either side of him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t log in for a bit and all change! Huge thanks to Toonsy for everything and to the new lads for taking over 😀
I’m really hoping McClaren will go for a 442 formation tomorrow. My personal choice from the available players would be: Elliott, Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Dummett, Sissoko, Shelvey, Wijnaldum, Aarons, De Jong, Doumbia. We are bad at defending so we may as well attack! I really think we could get a win tomorrow if McClaren would go this route! HWTL
Jill(Quote)
—————— Elliott —————–
Janmaat – Saylor – Lascelles – Dummy
—————— Tiote ——————-
—- Shelvey ———– Colback —-
Townsend ——————- Aarons
—————– Cisse ——————
Sharpy17(Quote)
LOL Stuart79 “We’ve had our best 2 weeks of the season and we haven’t even bleeding played!!!’
Good one mate 😆
Jill(Quote)
so it’s all or nothing tomorrow night.
In all honesty, a draw simply isn’t going to be enough.
I can’t see us beating Bournemouth, even at home, they are simply light years better than us right now. So they will leave with at least a point.
Still struggling to see HOW we can stay up. – pending tomorrows performance.
No pressure Lads
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
The derby match is even more massive than ever. HUGE. Winner takes all.
villa gone
Norwich going
one of Toon, scum, swans to join ’em
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
of course we now have the added advantage, that we know what we have to do.
It’s well and truly in our hands, one way or another.
Time will tell if Shelvey is captain material or not, but we really need him to stand up and be counted and drag the other feckers along with him.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Wahey! The site changed on me. I agree with Stuart @ wtf? no numbers, when he said something about it being the best week of the season.
And I have to make an effort to find past posts? I’m not sure that is worth it so I’m less likely to read the blog now.
Brisvegas(Quote)
brisvegas, i agree with you regarding the logistics of the new layout and getting back to old posts. the old system was better, hopefully the lads can sort it out and get the numbering system up and running..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Well done gents for taking over the blog and thanks toonsy et al for setting it up and keeping it going over the years
Post very infrequently but have lurked for a while now and it may sound churlish but I agree the old comments format suited my use better as I’m also less likely to leaf back through comments. Mind you an improved club would encourage a more vibrant blog.
The community stil makes it the best nufc blog
Need to win tonight .. goes without saying … but hope rather than belief as they’ve never really proved they’re up for it yet
GlosMag(Quote)
Anyone remember what the score was the last time we played Taylor and Lacselles in the centre of defence?
Stuart79(Quote)
So Schteve says that the players are the most frustrating team he has worked with 😕
Im sure the players feel as frustrated at his management and tactics.
I know its a work in progress but this blog is starting to get hard to read, with no post numbers and having to load earlier comments, try to get it sorted lads 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
just been reading my tea leaves & believe it or not but it’s good news for tonight.
roy cropper(Quote)
Roy I think we’ll get something out of tonights game, then the pressure will ease on Schteve, and we’ll all have to see that stupid smile while he is telling us all how good everything is.
Big Dave(Quote)