Paphos People

Would like to know some opinions on who will be the three to go down from the Premier this season.
My opinion changes weekly and of course I have a great interest in this subject. My team desperately need to pick up some points away from home.
This week we're away to Derby. Their manager described their performance yesterday as the worst he's ever seen from a Premier team so I expect a reaction.
This week I go for Derby, Fulham and Reading.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I don't think you're far wrong there, as we too are slowly going backwards but now maybe because we have the worse games behind us, we night start to get some points on the board, so I will say:

Derby,
Fulham,
Wigan/Reading

Pete,
Had a look at your run in a couple of weeks ago. It ain't easy but you must win sometime soon so I think you'll be okay.
In fact I predict you'll beat Blackburn this week, there you are.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well its a case of we need to or we're in trouble, same for you

so far I think Derby County are first favs to go down.

Fulham are a close second.........

and I think it's a close call between 5 others.

Reading
Birmingham
Bolton
Sunderland
Wigan

Newcastle are relatively safe so far

BUT

stranger things can happen.

i think wigan will stay up, my three are derby, reading & man utd,

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furniture maker

o.k i know!!!!!!!!!!!
we can all live in hope.
fulham is my third choice

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furniture maker

JGG
Newcastle are relatively safe................ they are two points ahead of Sunderland. Their goal difference is worse. They have a difficult run in.
Their current form ie back to the start of the year or even November is abysmal. Only Derby's form is worse.
I honestly don't think they will/can go down but the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.
Now if we were to win at Sid James on April 19th then who knows..............
Oh and Chas we tend to talk about the bottom of the league on here as opposed to the top, on account of none of our teams are anywhere near the top !
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Derby and Fulham still look doomed, and Reading are in even worse freefall than us at the moment (8 defeats on the trot). I was predicting Brum to go down a couple of weeks back as they've a very tough run-in, but I've been impressed by their fight in recent games, and in McFadden they have a striker in form, which is always a massive bonus.

Newcastle need a win very soon, but it's looking like as few as 30 points could be enough to stay up this year, and fortunately we already have 28, so we should be able to scrape a couple of draws from home games against Fulham, Balckburn and Reading, plus of course the inevitable 3 points off the mackems....

Three big games this week involving the North East teams.
Sunderland are away to Derby who I know are shocking but so is our away form and I expect them to react after the slating their manager gave them in the press this week. We could do with a win.
Newcastle are at home to Blackburn. It will depend which Blackburn turn up. They impressed me when they won at our place earlier this season but did not impress me when we played down there.
Boro are at home to Reading. I think I'm hoping for a Boro win (That doesn't happen very often !)
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well if you can't win away this weekend Gary you never will (not that I can say anything - we managed 1 point from our 2 games against Derby! )

Think you'll probably scrape a win, but can see the smogs losing to Reading - think they'll be taking their eye off the ball now their cup run looks like going to the semis at least.

Can see us drawing with Blackburn, but might get a narrow win if Martins is fit - massive games for everyone though - I've updated my avatar to combative Kev in honour of the occasion!

Its going to be a sticky weekend for some, thats for sure

If we don't get something out of this match, we're going to suffer big time, especially if the Makems & Smoggies both win

The way we play away I don't think we will win. I wouldn't be surprised if we were beaten 2 or 3 nil.
It's at home where we will have to get the points.Here's the run in.
13th NEWCASTLE.
h Blackburn a Liverpool a Brum h Fulham a Spurs h Reading a Pompey h Mackems a West Ham h Chelsea a Everton
14th WIGAN
a Man City h Arsenal h Bolton a Blackburn a Pompey a Brum a Chelsea h Spurs h Reading a Villa h Man Utd.
15th SUNDERLAND
a Derby h Everton h Chelsea a Villa h West Ham a Fulham h Man City a Skunks h Boro a Bolton h Arsenal.
16th BOLTON
h Liverpool a Wigan h Man City h Arsenal a Villa h West Ham a Boro a Spurs h Sunderland a Chelsea.
17th BIRMINGHAM
h Spurs a Pompey h Newcastle a Reading h Man City a Wigan h Everton a Villa h Liverpool a Fulham h Blackburn
18th READING
a Boro h Man City a Liverpool h Brum a Blackburn a Newcastle h Fulham a Arsenal h Wigan h Spurs a Derby
19th FULHAM
h Man Utd a Blackburn h Everton a Newcastle a Derby h Sunderland a Reading h Liverpool a Man City h Brum a Pompey
20th DERBY
h Sunderland a Chelsea h Man Utd a Boro h Fulham a Everton h Villa a West Ham h Arsenal a Blackburn h Reading
Some of those games at the end of the season may mean nothing ie if two clubs are already down so it really will go to the wire for a number of clubs.
Thought these fixtures might be handy for some.
Gary




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So close yet so far away

Looking at your next few fixtures you could really use 3 points at Derby!

CF
Never mind my team worry about your own. I reckon Newcastle will get another 9 points. Wigan 7 points, Sunderland 10 points,Bolton 8,Brum 8, Reading 8 Fulham 7 and Derby 4.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I would settle for that!

I'm guessing you have us beating Reading, Fulham and sunderland?

There's just no stopping the arrogance of a Geordie is there, I tell you something I would love it, love it...........
if you lot lost the morra
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I can see it happening to be honest

Starting to get the feeling that this might be a bit like Keegan last time round - a last gasp win in the last home game of the season (which happens to be Chelsea in this case!) to keep us up!

I was at the game against Pompey back in 91 where David Kelly's 82nd minute winner saved the club from relegation and possible oblivion - was stressful as hell but the explosion of relief is probably the best feeling I've ever had in a football ground, so maybe worth the stress for the pay-off at the end!

Is it going to be one of those days.
It's half time. We've hit the post, had a perfectly good goal disallowed and come close several times yet still no goal.
I've got a feeling this is not going to be our day.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Just watched Fulham v Man Utd

Without trying too hard Man U were all over Fulham

only 3 - 0

should have been more

I now think Fulham WILL be relegated.............

It's getting twitchy bum time. Today was not a good day for me. Reading and Brum got great wins. The bottom now looks a lot different and it's tight. We are only 2 points off third bottom now.
At least we didn't lose but I think we showed today we will not win away this season.I'm hoping Bolton and Wigan lose......please.
Oh and I was wrong in my prediction that Newcastle would win, ah well
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Come On you Skunkers, you must have somethng to say

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So close yet so far away

After watching us wipe the floor with Blackburn on Saturday & then let in a 90th minute goal, wht is there to say

Our defence needs to remember there are 93mins in a match, well 97 if you're playing Man Usa, not just 90, so have to concentrate until the ref blows the whistle

We are currently 3 points off the relegation position & fighting for our lives, with Liverpool to play this weekend, you do the math

A VERY HAPPY BLUES FAN

just hope we can keep hitting the net and have the luck till the end of season


andy

Reading and Brum winning has pulled a lot more teams into it now - everyone from Boro down could still go.

Looking at the next few fixtures, it's going to get even tighter I reckon, especially as this is the part of the season where more shock results start turning up, as the mid-table teams are more likely to get turned over by the desperate lot at the bottom.

Still assuming Derby and Fulham are gone, so it's 1 from 7 for the last spot - Newcastle have the worst form now, and a shocking goal difference, but at least few extra points on the board - Bolton seem to have the worst run-in and poor form since Anelka left too, so they're my current tip for the last spot!

Going to be bl**dy close though!

After our lads miraculous escape last season, anything can happen.. with the exception of Derby that is..

Well let me tell you about my plans for the game. I know CF will be interested cos I know he misses going to the matches.
Tomorrow 4 of us are getting the train from Hartlepool at 12 noon to Sunderland. We usually drive but not tomorrow.
We are meeting 4 mates in Greens and then going to Porterfields before crossing The Wear Bridge and getting a quarter pounder with cheese and onions as we approach the stadium. ( Martin can you smell it ?)
Once inside we will meet another 4 lads and pay £2.80 for a pint of Fosters
Go to our seats, the bloke in the end seat on our row is from Peterlee and I know him well and at the startof the season he shook my hand as we went to our seats. I changed that ritual and now shake the hand of his wife and we've won every game since ! True !
After the game we are gonna have a few bevvies, watch a band or two and thank the lord that we haven't got KK in charge of our relegation battle, no matter what the score is
On a Sunday the last train from Sunderland is 8.20pm and we'll either be on it or we'll cough up £30 to get home in a taxi.
Everton is a big test. Anything from this is a bonus. Anything from this and we will overtake the skunks
If we get nothing from this we will be there for the next match cos we know what it's like to battle !
Haway The Lads, Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well as expected, Newcastle lost at Lpool but surprisingly Reading won again, Wigan got a good point as did Fulham.
What worries me and may be music to the ears of others is that we lost today and we were very very poor.
Roy set out to draw this match, playing 4,5,1 with just Kenwyne Jones up front on his own and he hasn't scored since Lord knows when.
We were supposed to be strong at home but this was quite frankly shocking. I'm worried, very worried.
Everton won and didn't need to get into top gear. I'm not renewing my season ticket till I know which division we are in. To survive we need to improve vastly and I don't think Roy has the nous to be honest.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Good Morning all you Happy ladies !
Today I'm feeling a little more confident. We will probably face a backlash from Chelsea this week to their FA Cup loss and the fact that Avram Grant has evidently read them the riot act but I never did think we'd get owt from this game.
We will have Super Carlos Edwards back after that game. He has not yet played in the same side as Kieron Richardson and Andy Reid, who can play a bit will be fully fit.I predict they will inspire each other and we'll start picking up points in the home games against Man City and West Ham and the away games at Fulham and Newcastle.
By the way happy ladies, Bolton's run in is horrendous and they will end up third bottom.
Have a Nice Day and I'll keep up with the medication, truly.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Hi Gary,

Glad to see you're feeling more confidant today, but I don't think you'll get points where you think you will mate

This is going to be the toughest run-in for every club in the bottom 8 I think, as we'll all be battling for enough points to save us, so will throw everything including the dressing room sink at each other

Lets hope you're right about Bolton, but I'm not counting my chickens until the last final whistle goes, I mean, look at West ham last season

Well at least we're gonig to have an interesting end to the season for a change...

Agree about Bolton's run-in - doesn't look good, and they're short of goals since Anelka left, but my main concern is where on earth our points are gonig to come form - next 2 games are massive, Brum away then Fulham home, 4 points from those 2 and I'll be breathing a lot easier...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1779
The above makes interesting reading.

Keegan has cancelled training tomorrow. Instead his overpaid prima donnas have been ordered to speed around newcastle in their fast expensive cars. Apparently he reckons it is the only way they will get 3 points this season.

And there's more.......
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... ampionship

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So close yet so far away

Can't believe our usually vociferous skunkers have not had anything to say about my last post.
Worried ? I bet they are !
Gary

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So close yet so far away

The Daily Mail & the Spoiler jezz Gary, you don't half read some rubbish

You'll be telling me that 'Lost' is real life & that the Americans put a man on the moon

I was looking at the sports on NewNow & the same site/tabloid had Mort saying KK was safe with full backing, with the next story above saying Ashley intends to replace him

Complete contridiction to each other but written by the same journo within minutes of eachother

Anyway mate, don't you think you should be concentrating on what's going to happen to the Makems this weekend who is you're playing, oh yeah CHELSKI at home

And if Bolton beat Wigan, you're in the bottoom 3 mate, thus keeping us out even if we don't win

Gary,

Where are you now mate is the forum that bad or was it the score today that's zipped you up

You'd better pray we beat the Brums & Bolton lose or draw, else you'll be in the bottom 3 again

Come on mate, not like you to be this quite

Pete
I,ve just got enough time to tell you that we was robbed. That's right, we was robbed against Chelsea.
Avram Grant has just said we are awesome at home and we will be okay.
Have you ever been to Sid James Pete? have you ? how many times ? I mean I don't support them but I've been a number of times.The gloves are coming off after your last comments.

Plastic Mag, who said that ?

Gary.

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So close yet so far away

You were robbed Pull the other one, you comitted suicide as usual

Have I ever been to SJP, yes mate, I had a Platinum Seat for all the European matches mate, thats 7 rows from the pitch, not up in the heavens like you'd have been

I also went to see quite a lot of weekend matches too, either driving down from Edinburgh or getting the train, I've spent a few weekend in the TOON, going shopping, then watching the match before going out at night

So you could say I've seen them live a few times, mostly between 2001-2006

So to call me a 'Plastic Mag' isn't an insult mate, its a honour

I know I can't insult you or offend you. You are a mag after all.( and God help you a proud one!)
45.000 fans gave our team a standing ovation at the end. That must tell you something.
I'm getting nervous we will be in the bottom 3 before the end of the season we need to make sure we are not there at the end of the season.
We are capable of getting some points at home but the key may be can we get any points away at Sid James, Fulham and Bolton ?
I don't think we will and dropping 2 points at Derby could send us down.
On the other hand we will get more points than you so what am I worrying about ?
The Mags are going down !!!
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well if we beat Brum tomorrow, that's stop them over taking you, so in a way us winning is helping you stay above them, so rightly enough you should maybe support us to win tomoz, even if it does put you further behind us

You can't have it both ways, if you want us to lose, you go further down & if Bolton also win at Wigan, you're in the bottom 3, so best you start hoping we win

Pete
Me want you lot to win? and you claim I'm drunk !
As you know I'm off to the pub and no doubt the relegation scrap will crop up in conversation.
Let me make one thing plain, I have never wanted you lot to win a game and never will. No way.
You are going down. I've decided. Your MESSiah will see to it.
There's a circus in the toon
Kevin Keegan is the clown
Arthur Cox has got the bloody ***
and Newcastle's going down.
There they've even written a song about it
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well mate, you've had your chance but it seems if we don't win tomorrow, you'll be going down below us

After all, you've still got to get more points than us to go above us, which is very unlikely indeed

I hope you enjoy the relegation battle & then the Championship next season again

Hi all
Just watched Spurs against Chelsea what a match !
Spurs are a joy to watch especially Berbatov and Keane. What a goal Keane scored.
Ashley Cole is the bad side of footy, he really is. He should have been sent off for that tackle in the first half and his behaviour towards the referee was scandalous. He is an absolute disgrace who needs to be brought into line. John Terry is class.
Then watched Man Utd against Bolton. On paper Bolton have a very good team, too good to be in a relegation battle and they played well tonight. We all know that paper teams win paper cups don't we ? and none more than the toon !!!
This weekend toon play Fulham mmmm draw, Wigan are away at Blackburn, that could go either way too Bolton at home to Arsenal draw, Brum will lose at Reading and Derby will draw at Boro yes they will !
Oh and we will lose at Villa. It has to be said Boro are without Mido and Alves, Brum claim they will survive on home points , Bolton are without Jaskelleinen. Wigan have Heskey playing on pain killers and.............. Keano says Relax !!!!!!!!!
We've got our full squad ready for the run in
Oh and that team in black and white are too good to go down !

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So close yet so far away

Confidence Gary, Confidence

Some people have it, other's don't

According to those infamous tabloids, the TOON have the worse team they've ever had is that true or just an excuse for playing crap

Look at the cost of our players & ask yourself that question:

Forwards: Owen £17m, Martins £10m, Viduka £free, Smith £6m, Ameobi £?? Carrol £??
Midfield: Zog £1m, Milner £5m, Butt £2m, Duff £5m, Barton £5.8m, Faye £2m, Gerimi £free
Defence: Beye £2m, Enrique £6m, Cacapa £free, Roz £3.1m, Diatta £free, Carr £2m, Taylor £??, Ramage £??
Goalie: Given £Free, Harper £??, Krul £?? Forster £??


Personally I don't half of them deserve to wear the B&W but I don't pick the team but I can guarantee that half of them won't be ther at the start of next season

MA will give KK the funds to revamp the whole squad, it will be similar to what Chelski did when Abramovic took control, you watch

Listen Pete if you paid £6 for Enrique you were robbed !
Can he sing ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Gary,

If we paid £6 I'd be happy but £6m is quite a bot more

Your previous post has him costing £6. It's like what I said, paper teams win paper cups ( and if you are wondering where I got that one from I'm afraid it came from the lips of Howard Wilkinson !)
It's no good paying fancy money for fancy players then getting sucked into a relegation battle cos these fancy players may not know what a battle is or have the belly for it.
Martin thinks a win against Fulham will keep you up
Beware Bullard and McBride ! A draw would suit me.
Haway The Lads ! Gary

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So close yet so far away

Looks like £6m to me but I know what you mean

I didn't mean literally - I just reckon 3 points this weekend will give us the impetus we need to finish the season strongly!

Not that I'm sure we'll get them mind, Fulham have only won 4 away games in the last 3 years, and 2 of them were at our place.....

Well that was a turn up for the books ! I'm as pleased as punch I am.
What's everyone think this week then.
I'M going for Derby,Fulham and Bolton.
Bolton's run in is tough. Mind we still have to go there so that'll be a 6 pointer.
Brum are looking poor as well at the moment.
How did the toon play ? Have you hit a rich patch cos looking at your fixtures you will need to up the ante me thinks.
Happy Days, Gary

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So close yet so far away

Fulham were lucky to only have 2 against them mate, we should have had at least 4 or 5 today

Yet again we were all over them... 1st goal on 6mins, should have pushed on from there but just unable to get that finish again, well not untill later & Owen neads another, thats 2 in 2 for him, so lets hope he, Vid & Martin start to hit the back of the net

Well if you can pull somemore of those match out the ht mate, you should be safe, Derby, Fulham, Brum for me