The Fish

Just realised I didn't give the options of ourselves and Brighton in the Play Offs...because I'm a deluded Geordie

Looking at the run ins, I think Brighton have the easiest; they're either facing teams who've nowt to play for (Norwich, QPR, Villa) or teams facing the drop (Birmingham, Bristol, Wigan, and Wolves). That said, they're facing Villa and Norwich who've been under performing and are better than their league positions and Brighton will also be facing teams fighting for their lives... We're next with 1 relegation candidate (Burton), 2 Promotion candidates (Leeds, Shef Wed) and then finally play 4 teams who will likely be on the beach (Barnsley, Cardiff, Ipswich and Preston). Come through the next 3 games with 6+pts and I'd fancy us to win the final 4 games against the teams on their holidays. Huddersfield have the toughest run in, I reckon. 3 sides who could well still be in the hunt for a promotion (Norwich*, Preston and Fulham) and 3 sides fighting against relegation (Forest, Wolves, Birmingham) only 2 holiday sides (Derby, Cardiff). 10 game form has us all on 1.9PpG, 6 game has us first (1.83PpG), Brighton second (1.5) and Huddersfield way back on (1.17) which is the same as Blackburn. If we revert to our Season's PpG for the final 7 we'll end on 95.68. Leeds and Fulham are the form teams around the Play Off spots going into the final 7 games. *Norwich are both a promotion battler and a holiday side because while they're still in the scrap now, by the time Brighton face them they won't be.

Is the mackem as annoying live as he is on the podcast?

Another 'professional' if not exactly dazzling performance, but a better scoreline: 2-0 NUFC to Score 0 - 1 - Kevin Carr's Gloves, barnabox, @yourservice 2 - The Fish, Rayvin, Ant, rogerbarton, David Kelly, acrossthepond, OTF, Anorthernsoul, wykikitoon, BenarPHa, Tom, rob032, Dougle, LooneyToony, Happy Face 3 - Andrew, strawb, ewerk, Howay, tooner, MiddleAgeCool, Kitman, Graing, zico martin, TheGingerQuiff 4+ - StoneColdStephenIreland, adios, Dr Gloom, ohhh_yeah NUFC to Concede 0 - The Fish, Andrew, StoneColdStephenIreland, strawb, rogerbarton, adios, Kevin Carr's Gloves, David Kelly, acrossthepond, ewerk, Howay, OTF, Anorthernsoul, MiddleAgeCool, wykikitoon, Kitman, Tom, Graing, Dr Gloom, Dougle, LooneyToony, Happy Face, zico martin, TheGingerQuiff 1 - Rayvin, Ant, tooner, BenarPHa, barnabox, rob032, ohhh_yeah 2 - 3 - @yourservice 4+ -

I think it's going to be interesting to see what happens. If Moyes overhauls the squad with money from Pickford, Kone, Ndong for c£20m, c£15m, c£8m respectively,he could do what Benitez did and buy a brand new 1st team but for about £42m instead of £55m. A side built to be pragmatic and efficient, they could easily be amongst the sides going for promotion. If Moyes isn't backed in the window and they lose their only striker of note, their promising midfielder, their best centreback and their best 'keeper without replacing them, they could be in danger of starting poorly and that could lead to a very difficult season indeed. I think what's most likely is somewhere in between those two; they'll bring in some new blood, enough to put them a level above the majority of the Championship but not enough to lock in the top 6. That said the 17/18 Championship will include 3 of Huddersfield, Leeds, Reading and Shef Wed. A very strong Aston VIlla side, a revitalised Norwich side. Plus teams like Fulham and And the two Premier League sides that drop with them, Hull and Boro are experienced Championship sides. They know how to perform in that league and won't need to overhaul their squad as Sunderland do.

Yeah if they manage to dig out a win today I'd be surprised if Swansea go down. Mackems are sunk; can't score, can't defend, they've given up now. Albeit 8 months after Moyes had. Middlesbrough can't score and still have Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City to play. They get to play Swansea, Hull and Sunderland, but they don't look capable of taking 3pts from anyone, so at best they'll deny their relegation rival 3? Hull are in decent form and their home is a fortress now (Marco Silva hasn’t lost a home league match as a manager in nearly 40 games (W32 D7 L0) with 4 clubs - Estoril, Sporting, Olympiakos & Hull). Bad news for Hull is that, after Boro, they face City and Stoke away.

Would love Sigurdsson. Always looked a really classy player.

Bigi just scored fo Coventry in the Checkatrade Trophy final, whatever the fuck that is.

Good post. Long post. Fishy type of post

Swear I saw on twitter that Sunderland haven't scored in >470 minutes.They've failed to score in 14 games, that more than even Shot shy Boro have managed.

I mean, they're possibilities, but not as likely as it's made out. Hayden is picked ahead of Colback when fit, Yedlin usually ahead of Anita, so I'd expect Rafa to either rely on the better player he's got or look to strengthen in the Summer. Ashley failing to provide the funds is a concern, but he opened his cheque book last summer, and the summer before, he even opened it in January (which he seems loath to do) when McClaren was taking us down, so I'm confident Benitez will be backed before next season. It might not be £90m, but enough to get to safety? Newcastle are top of their league, with a top manager and likeable players, Sunderland are bottom of theirs and the fans are miserable, and of course Sissoko is an unmitigated disaster at Spurs. Football life is good, mate. Enjoy it #Cans

Last time we went down we were a Premier League side because enough of our top flight players stayed to fix things (Colo, Taylor, Enrique, Jonas, Butt, Nolan), enough of our squad players were good enough at this level to be amongst the best in their position so we didn't need to replace them (Carroll, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Taylor, Harper). People seem to think we're as strong. We're fundamentally not. We're a Championship side on the whole, a good one and one likely to be back in the 17/18 Premier League. But we're so obviously weaker it's bonkers that people are expecting us to win comfortably every game. Last time it didn't matter if teams set up to defend for 90 minutes because the 2 Argentinian internationals could either cause rightbacks to have nightmares or put every Championship striker in his pocket. I mean, could you imagine the damage Benitez could have done with that squad? But he's limited because of the personnel, I'm sure he'd love to have players of their caliber now, but no, instead of Danny Simpson and Jose Enrique at fullback, he's got Paul Dummett and Deandre Yedlin. He'd love to have Jonas Gutierrez, but he's got fucking Gouffran. Kevin Nolan? Nope, Diame and Perez will have to do. He's winning this league with a team he built in order to win the league. We've won more often, are further ahead of 2nd than we were then, and have key players coming back for the final push. I just don't understand the pessimism.

2-1 job done. Newcastle laboured to a win. Brighton laboured to a win as well Huddersfield lost at home to a relegation side. So, what I'm taking away from today's result is; Gayle looks like he's getting back into the swing of things, Shelvey too, Ritchie is having a decent season, we could have done with some signings in January to address areas of weakness. We've extended our lead on the dreaded Play Off spots and we've maintained the gap between ourselves and 2nd. Gamez might have been better at rightback than Anita (who had a decent game by the way), but he hasn't been thus far, so why would we rely on that? It seems that whatever the result, some people just enjoy a moan?

Looking forward to Noelie's hot take. Did. Not. Disappoint.

Pretty much what we expected, a nervy scrappy win. Rotherham relegated, first side in England to have their demise confirmed. Sunderland 7pts from safety and Swansea play goal-shy Middlesbrough tomorrow.

Fucking hates them, doesn't he?

Aye and Brighton are relentless as well. Didn't realise Rotherham are relegated if they don't win today.

Sounds like a poor ref is contributing to an already scrappy game. Hopefully a lead will mean Wigan will have to push out more. Bring on Atsu and Perez later to take advantage of tired legs. Introduce Hayden as well, ease him back from injury.

Lazaar and Gamez haven't taken their chances and Dummett is, if nothing else, reliable at this level. Yedlin isn't fit, so Anita is 1st choice by default Gouffran provides cover for a limited left back, but I'd be happy for Atsu to start today. Hayden isn't fit, so Colback is 1st choice by default. Not sure there's enough in the line-up to get upset about.

One of, if not the worst team in the English game (without loading even lower leagues). I normally pick Newcastle, or a random Championship side. Want to try a full career, starting with rot, see if bigger clubs come calling, etc.

Started a new save as Worcester. They play in the Vanarama National League North (the lowest league possible) and their board expected me to bravely struggle against relegation. They are fucking terrible; their 1st choice 'keeper is on loan from West Brom and has a first touch of 1. One! He's a professional fucking footballer. They've a decent striker, but so much of their squad is terrible. I've got rid of a few of their shit old angry defenders, brought in some kids with League 2 potential, loaned a few teenagers and after 11 games, I'm 3rd in the league with the most possession and passes completed. Started the league well, played 4, won 4, scored 9, conceded 0. Since then I've played 7, W2, D 3, L2. Just put 5 past Matlock in the cup and I'm hoping that gives the forwards a bit more confidence so I can work on the defence a bit.

Probably, but at least now if when KnackaJack picks up his customary yellow in the 1st half, we've an option on the bench.