Safe from the drop | Vital Football

Safe from the drop

CM

Vital Champions League
I reckon you lot are ok now, I think we still could go down, great result yesterday but Southampton were totally gash, I was talking to a few of their fans after on the Tube and like both of us they blame greedy owners on their troubles. West Brom gone but the other two places are up for grabs, I hope Brighton are one of them.
 
I reckon one more win is needed but even then, with Rafa's mentality, he wont want any of this beach thought that used to be inbred in some of the stock we used to have.

Too many teams face each other at the bottom now for more than one to really kick on. Stoke's run in looks worrying for them on one hand but in their own fate with the other as they face 4 sides around them.
 
It's going to be exciting. About 6 or 7 weeks ago when I went through the fixtures, I had us finishing as high as 10th with 42 points. Having said that, there was a healthy dose of optimism chasing the red wine.

The Hammers/Saints game yesterday was always going to be massive and as Toony says, there are a few more like that to come. For the time being, I am sticking with the 3 I thought most likely to go down, West Brom, Stoke and Southampton.

Still, the keys to the whole scenario are going to be the teams with nothing to play for. Leicester and Everton are there, Bournemouth and Watford not far behind and Arsenal will soon have to be content with Europa League before the managerial merry go round kicks in.
 
and as fate or luck should have it, we face a run in featuring teams with little to play for. By the time we play West Brom, their demotion will be confirmed.
 
I think we are safe now too. That fat bastard will probably celebrate with a night at the casino - "invest" next years transfer budget. Huddersfield look vulnerable to me, goals have dried up and grim fixture list.
 
I agree with Rexn and Ct Mag. It looks like West Brom and Stoke are relegated and it's between Southampton and Huddersfield for the 3rd spot. Should Huddersfield survive along with us and Brighton, would it be the first time that the three promoted teams have kept their Premiership status a season after promotion?
 
Rabit used to post the alternative league table and when it's shown, it gives a clearer picture of what's really going on.

Looking at the current state of it shows the league already won and us not as clear as people are making out.

84 Man City
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68 Man Utd
67
66 Liverpool
65
64 Tottenham
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56 Chelsea
55
54
53
52
51 Arsenal
50
49
48
47
46 Burnley
45
44
43 Leicester
42
41
40 Everton
39
38
37 Bournemouth, Watford
36
35 Newcastle
34 Brighton & Hove Albion
33 West Ham
32
31 Swansea, Huddersfield Town
30 C Palace
29
28 Southampton
27 Stoke City
26
25
24
23
22
21
20 West Brom
 
Me I just can't see the current bottom 3 plus Huddersfield getting to 35 points, maybe 36 considering goal difference. But it seems likely we will pick up a couple more points at least from remaining games. A hollow victory for me to see Ashley's plan succeed.
 
No, 01-02, Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton.

11-12, QPR, Norwich and Swansea did it.
Reading the report this morning in the newspaper on our game yesterday and it also showed a picture of Ritchie scoring the second Newcastle goal. It also had a caption 'Could the New Boys avoid relegation' adding The only previous occasions were:....as was posted above. Good to see we can be of use ;)
 
Looking at that makes me ponder.

If we can get wins against Everton, West brom and Watford plus a couple of points out of Spurs and Chelsea, Rafa adds the fees for Kenedy and Dubravka.

On top of that is TV income leaving a net £60-80m on top.

Either that or Ashley gets his loan back.
 
So Southampton need to overturn a 13 goal difference and a set of matches between alternative relegation candidates.

Enough to claim safety and look at as many points as possible to secure 10th, even 8th maybe,

I hope someone pays Ashley's price.
 
George Caulkin reckons Staveley is a serious buyer but Luke Edwards and Martin Hardy have serious doubts. There doesn't appear to be anybody else on the horizon.
 
We know that Staveley was serious to the tune of £250m, maybe £385m with the "loan".

What has changed?

The relegation risk has gone. That safeguards against a drop of £80-100m in revenue next season. The late season climb has added another £20m or so to revenue, also there will be some more transfer instalments coming in. There is a huge chunk of that loan that could be paid off.

When we look back, in December I said if Ashley wants £350m, he has to make NUFC a £350m club. In fact, the person who has done it is Rafa.

Staveley has access to some mega wealthy backers. The nature of what she and her associates could buy in to is very different. An extra £100m now seems worth it.

Let's hope she and Ashley can agree something quickly. If they can't secure a long term contract for Rafa, the whole thing could be blown.