A win for Sunderland on Wednesday against an unpredictable Everton side will confirm Newcastle’s relegation from the top flight and leave the club in turmoil and in need of a drastic overhaul.
The only circumstance in which the Magpies can stay up is if Sunderland hit self-destruct and lose their final two games of the season and Newcastle manage to beat a Tottenham side who seem to have imploded. In a Premier League season which has seen 5000/1 long shot Leicester City win the title, it still remains a possibility but more than likely, Newcastle will be facing Burton Albion next year.
It will be a sorry end to a dreadful season which has seen some of the most utterly pathetic football from a Newcastle side since our promotion to the top flight over 20 years ago.
Since Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers got promoted, along with Leicester, funnily enough, Newcastle have only been out of the top flight for one season. They bounced back straight away last time; strolling the Championship with over 100 points. Something tells me this time it won’t be so easy to return.
And where there is a glimmer of hope, still in United fans that Sunderland will choke and give us a sniff of survival on the final day, most of us are preparing for life in the second tier of English football for the second time in Mike Ashley’s ownership.
If Rafa Benitez does manage Newcastle to a famous win and Premier League survival on the final weekend, it will most probably follow him feeding the capacity of St. James’ Park with a couple fish after crossing the Tyne via foot.
The question on most fan’s lips is ‘Will Rafa stay should we go down?’ The answer, as unpopular as it may be, is probably not. For one; why would he want to exactly? He will have no problem at all getting another top flight job.
The prospect of building something from scratch with Newcastle may have a certain appeal, but can we really expect a man who was in charge of Real Madrid six months ago to lead us out in the Championship? Secondly; Newcastle can’t afford to keep him. A manager of Benitez’s calibre commands a Premier League wage.
Newcastle will have a colossal job trimming their huge wage bill as it is, to offer Benitez a deal to keep him would be way out of character for a Newcastle board who has tried to run the club on the cheap for years. Only recently has money been thrown at the club in a desperate bid to survive. The trouble was, they were so massively out of practice, that they did finally spend millions, they managed to squander most of it.
But we will leave talk of next season for another day. For now, Newcastle are still in the Premiership and still have a chance, no matter how small, of staying there. Yes they need a miracle, yes the odds are stacked against them, but one thing we can learn from Leicester is that miracles can happen. Allow yourselves one final bit of hope because all we actually need is for Sunderland to lose twice and Newcastle to win once. That, my friends, is possible.
Possible but highly unlikely SRF, Scum have the bit between the teeth and unlike our lily livered lot will take full advantage. Fizzy pop here we come, you never know we get to see us win a few games, could be quite a breath f fresh air.
Kimtoon(Quote)
0-2
Stuart79(Quote)
Haway the lads
mickthe maclem(Quote)
There was quite a bit of optimism at the start of the season, but who did we actually buy and why did Graham Carr take such a massive gamble?
MBemba and Mitrovic: highly talented kids, from a league much worse than the French and Dutch League. Had anybody not on “Football Manager” ever heard of them? It was the in thing to be buying Belgians and Belgium had the highest FIFA ranking. But neither were Belgians and had not come through their youth system which was producing so many stars.
Thauvin: talented but light weight. The warning flags were there for all to see in that he was voted in L’Equip’s worst team of the year and some of the Marseilles fans had turned on him. It seems that it was as much a way to facilitate a move of another of Carr’s busts out and give him a second bite of the cherry.
Wijnaldum: actually a relatively safe bet as the captain of the Dutch champions and player of the year. Has obvious talent but the rigors of the PL have ground him down. Highly likely to bounce back next season when it will be too late for us.
Lascelles: looks a good player now but had a rough start. Again, no PL experience and only 22. Centre backs hardly ever do well early. Look at the struggles of Stones and Chambers as Managers have sussed out their weaknesses and they have to adjust.
Nobody Else: this is the damning part. Carr gambled on kids and bought his favourites rather than for need. He didn’t buy the experienced players for the positions we most needed. Sure he bought a centre back (MBemba) and a centre forward (Mitro) but they were 20 and 21 years old at the time.
None of this is hindsight. It was highlighted at the time even though a lot of fans were optimistic that some of the players we bought would come good and hit the ground running. However, given the total collapse of the team in the 2nd half of 2015 and our woeful injury record there was always a chance we would start slowly.
I am not saying this was inevitable but it was a big gamble. Carr wanted to be seen as a genius when he should have first and foremost have been ensuring NUFC’s place at the feast that was to come with the new PL deal. And I will not even mention his 5 year pursuit of McClaren.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: I will go for 1-1. It would only be fitting for us to drag this out to the last game with a glimmer of hope. Probably beat Spurs and see scum survive with a draw courtesy of a Defoe brace. How’s that for fatalism 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aye, Eric. Although I would say if Sunderland lose tonight then that will give us a bit of A psychological edge. They will regret not “killing us off” and it will play on their mind. We have to beat Spurs of course but anything is possible on the last day.
Anyway who’s the saddo who can’t spell?!
Stuart79(Quote)
My guess as with “Sunderland” in the title of this piece it made it onto their newsnow feed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Last time Sunderland won two home games on the bounce was 2 years ago!
Fans already confident of beating them and over confidence can play a big part.
Stuart79(Quote)
Norwich play as well and a win puts them in with a shout again if Sunderland do not win.
They are showing the Mackem game live in the US. I am a bit surprised as even though it has the most significance there are tons more Chelsea and Liverpool fans here.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We don’t need Sunderland to lose both games.
They’re only 1 point clear so one draw still puts them 2 points clear, which is the same situation we’re in now due to the goal difference. A loss and a draw puts it back in our hands with a must win match.
No way they lose both games.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Not that we have a chance of staying up.
We’re going down.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Great research. As quoted “Allow yourselves one final bit of hope because all we actually need is for Sunderland to lose twice and Newcastle to win once” MMMMMM and if that happens and Norwich win their last 2 games we are both down. 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳
Typical mags concentrating to much on S.A.F.C. again. What a sad and deluded bunch you lot are.
safcstarman(Quote)
Told you. Putting “Sunderland” in the title has put it on their newsnow feed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As Kimtoon said on the previous thread, Big Fat Sam has said he wants Sunderland to kill off Newcastle and then go out on the lash. I really hope the toad-heed is getting ahead of himself and gets his karmic and cosmic comeuppance.
And starmackem, nobody dismissed Norwich. I mentioned them 3 posts before your rubbish. Magpies obsessed with Mackems is backwards.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hahahahaha! I suppose it would be more relevant to us what happened in the Liverpool v Chelsea game and not Sunderland game? What a Moby!
Oh and he can’t count either! If Norwich win both their games they finish on 37 points which would be the same as NUFC. We currently have better goal difference so I’m not entirely sure how it will mean we both go down???
Double Moby! 🙂 😳
Stuart79(Quote)
If we go down we are in the best FINANCIAL shape for an immediate return despite our bloated payroll. Unlike Villa and Norwich we have players we can sell for decent sums and some decent players who might stick around. Add that to the parachute payments and we are miles ahead of the rest of The Championship. The main problem would be Management and the board, but isn’t it always that way.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think you will find it’s your manager obsessed with us mate, his spew about killing us off is hugely disrespectful to Norwich who if they win both and you draw one of yours leaves you royally F*****
Kimtoon(Quote)
Lose AND draw that should read 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
I can’t for the life of me see the fascination in Fat Sam, if he was that good they wouldn’t even be in a relegation fight. Rafas had no time and none of his own players to use and an horrendous injury list plus a totally unbalanced squad.
I accepted relegation long ago but I’m sad that we’ll lose Rafa . The Scum will be in another relegation scrap next season minus the 6 points we have given them in the Derby to depend on, they best hope the Boro are feeling generous .
Kimtoon(Quote)
The comedy show on BT Sport, The Football’s On, talked about Leicester winning the league and mentioned how it exposes people like Pulis and Big Sam as constantly saying “we cannot compete” and aiming for 40 points each season and one of the people said “that is aiming for just avoiding failure” and it is the best way I’ve heard someone explain these types.
Allardyce rarely ever is out of a relegation fight or bottom half. If he is such a respectable and heralded figure, how has he never really achieved anything? If we talk up promotion and relegation fights then he when we do herald Nigel Pearson as a classic manager?
The guy has some weird Redknapp type hold over the media.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Swansea just hired their temp Manager on a 2 year deal so that means Brendan is still available. He may be a nutter but he did finish runner up in the PL and did OK at Swans. Sanchez Flores might also be sacked and Pearson is still out there.
Why oh why would we ever, ever consider Bruce??? Ah, yeah, Graham Carr.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rodgers has been courting the Celtic job. It’s between him, Moyes and Roy Keane for that.
If Rafa leaves, Pearson is our only hope. We’d need his psycho tendancies to sort out the morons we’d be left with. He wouldn’t accept Sissoko and Wijnaldum moping about.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I almost forgot that with Clattermole Sunderland always are at risk of going down to 10 men.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The lack of comment on here with the game happening is a sign of how relegated we are.
Everton are playing exactly as we feared they would. Slack passes and general lack of giving a ****,
funkyjesus(Quote)
Oh and now Norwich are winning.
Brill.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Norwich winning are they going to gate crash the party, gonna be interesting if the Scum lose tonight.
Kimtoon(Quote)
FJ, I’m getting a macabre kind of enjoyment out of the games tonight. 😈
Kimtoon(Quote)
Everton seem to be more interested in pretty patterns than anything else.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’d genuinely laugh if Norwich ended up being the ones who stay up and we both go down.
It would be quite comical to see the media explain how Big Sam got relegated and somehow lost it to the team worst off in Norwich.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I want Norwich to lose just to keep us in it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You can see why Everton fans get frustrated – they don’t clear their lines and often over elaborate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Martinez has them playing with Lukaku isolated. Now I am worried about Norwich as they have Everon in their last game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And the team Norwich are beating now, Watford, play Sunderland on the last day. We have Tottenham.
I can see both Sunderland and Norwich winning both games and Sunderland up on goal difference and we get pumped by about 4 or 5.
funkyjesus(Quote)
****
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And a former player sends us down…..
funkyjesus(Quote)
middle of the goal
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Can Everton come back?
Simon(Quote)
We’re ******.
funkyjesus(Quote)
we are down for sure
Kimtoon(Quote)
Can stop watching now.
NUFC relegated
Martinez sacked
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Way off side
Simon(Quote)
No, clearly onside. Replay showed it.
Our only hope now is we can, somehow, hit Rafa over the head and convince him we’re Liverpool and he stays.
funkyjesus(Quote)
FJ, or hit Jabba over the head and hope he don’t wake up 😉
Kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah saw that on the replay
Simon(Quote)
Everton really are ***** mind aren’t they
Kimtoon(Quote)
A never ever comment a normally just read comments but…. Gutted. Defoe been the difference. How sunderland managed a straight swap deal for altidore a do not no
Coutts(Quote)
Outside of keeping Rafa – I found another glimmer of hope.
We go down and somehow keep Rafa and he helps us win our second Championship – does this count as winning something that will make Ashley do one?
funkyjesus(Quote)
I guess that’s it then, fat lady is just singing her heart out.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Look at it this way, if we’d beaten Villa, we’d still be almost certain to go down.
DJG(Quote)
FJ, That’s the spirit, always a light somewhere mate.
Kimtoon(Quote)
How can the scum play like this at the end of every season? They play the great escape for the last few years now.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I can relax now that everyone sees what I’ve been saying for weeks against Stuart’s optimistic approach. I feel I am amongst fellow miserable types now.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I wonder how many will turn up for the Spurs game? Lap of dishonour?
The only reason to go would be you already have the ticket and want to chant Rafa’s name throughout.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Those are the best main reasons – another is abusing Ashley I guess but that will just drive Rafa away quicker than he likely wants away already.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Oddly, I don’t actually care that were gone, it’s something I pretty much expected months ago so no surprises here and no sobs either. More gutted about losing Rafa than dropping, first decent coach in yonks , and far far far to late arriving.
Kimtoon(Quote)
a,villa fan here,
and im not gloating.
its not looking good for you at this time,and i know how you feel.
forget our younger fans that take the ****.
they have happy clapped us for the last few years,and now have their reward.
im old school,and me and my mates have always had a good relationship with you older newcastle fans.
and it looks like we will be having a drink before the games next season.
you are lucky.you probably will come straight back up,like last time.
whereas,our happy clappers,will probably drop another league.
and they deserve it.
a villa fan.(Quote)
Everton are obviously minging.
Mickey Mouse club NUFC going down with less than a whimper…
Munich Mag(Quote)
FJ, this was what I was trying to tell Stu, I knew they would raise their game to survive just as they do in the Derby it’s pathetic that it takes both situations to play at their best. They are down next season anyway, what with no points off us and it being an annual thing for them anyway, their luck will run out ,just like Villas did. You cannot flirt with relegation every year and get away with it.
Kimtoon(Quote)
**** it, I am going to make an out there suggestion and it will likely be laughed off and likely be ***** but I feel it in my balls.
Ian Holloway.
He has that Keegan-esque passion, he has a way with words and his style is reckless abandon because he cannot defend. I think he would “get” Newcastle and has promotion experience and intimate knowledge of the Championship.
I need a manager to make us feel good again. If we cannot keep Rafa, Holloway or Pearson for me.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I think much depends on the type of player both clubs bring in and what manager gets appointed mate tbh. I don’t see us going back up by any means, not unless Rafa stays, which is very unlikely sadly. More upset about losing him than relegation. Look on the bright side, we could both win a few games now 😉
Kimtoon(Quote)
funkyjesus,
mate,
leave pearson alone.
i want him at the villa. 😛
a villa fan.(Quote)
Looking like We’re down. Knew Sunderland would start picking up wins.
We’ll lose 3/4s of our team and will find it hard to come back up
Norwich will keep 90% of their team. The future is bleak IMO?
Gashley(Quote)
Shared manager. You have him 50%, we’ll have him 50%.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Barclay and Stones to France this summer? I hope not, they’re both shyte.
DJG(Quote)
kimtoon,
behave mate,
we at the villa are on a roll to div one.
you think you are bad,we are dreadful.the worse villa side i have ever seen,and im 67. 😛
a villa fan.(Quote)
of the 80 mil spent, less than 35 million started against Villa and only 20 mil showed up on the pitch (Gini was MIA again).
May as well play Armstrong and Aarons on Sunday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
FJ, I wouldn’t mind Ollie mate, guy has passion and is far more smarter than he’s given credit for. I totally get his humour too.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t think we can play Armstrong. Isn’t his loan deal still valid until the end of the season?
I know Coventry are finished now but I think, technically, he is still there. I may be wrong.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Pearson is a hot head. I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. He would last a matter of months at the toon and then explode. Big no from me.
DJG(Quote)
DJG: Everton always seem to have these hyped players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He got that Blackpool team promoted. That is the sign of a good manager despite what the media paint him as.
I think he’d click perfectly here.
funkyjesus(Quote)
We can’t complain too much or blame Everton for being bad tonight, we have been terrible all season. Just need Rafa to come out tonight well before Sunday to say he is staying.
Simon(Quote)
Do you think you’ll get a new owner?
Kimtoon(Quote)
FJ: there was always a recall cluase for Armstrong. Can’t see us playing him as Rafa hasn’t even seen him. Was wishful thinking and I was trying to think of a reason to watch 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Scum score again
Kimtoon(Quote)