Does anyone actually think we will stay up?

[Chabuddy G]

And if you do think that, what’s making you think that?

All my hope evaporated after the result and performance against Fulham. Clinging onto a draw at the death at home to your relegation rivals who missed a penalty, and we had to score from one to get that point.

The performance against Liverpool was good and hopeful but again we didn’t score from open play. Yesterday we didn’t look like doing so at all. We haven’t all season. Coupled with our defensive frailties and our lack of options to change the system I just don’t see how we can. We look shot.

Chris’ solution of ‘the players need to play better’ isn’t gonna cut it. We were dreadfully short of creativity and did nothing to change that. The transfer window apparently being the best one of our lifetime was always a bit far fetched to me because of that. It clearly wasn’t.

Does anyone think differently? If so, why? Convince me and many others than we aren’t as good as down



(inb4 ‘wouldn’t like to have been in the trenches with you!! )

 

[BigBed]

Would've said yes after Pool, now I'm in the not sure range, ask again in 3 games time.

 

[Jan Age]

No

 

[Wards]

Yes, but I can’t tell you why. Wish I could. Maybe just blind faith.

Also in the ‘ask me again in 3 games’ camp.

 

[Farnboroughblade]

YES. See my post earlier for the reason.

 

[Birley Blade]

Convince me and many others than we aren’t as good as down

I can’t. Accept that we’re shit and going down.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Yes, but I can’t tell you why. Wish I could. Maybe just blind faith.

Also in the ‘ask me again in 3 games’ camp.

I don’t like being so defeatist after 4 years of winning but I just can’t see it

 

[Jan Age]

2 stats that matter goals for and goals against tells you everything you need to know we have the smell of relegation about us and a list of ready made excuses for not beating any team we play.

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

Yes...the season will be abandoned

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

No chance. Won't reach double figures in points or goals.

 

[BushBlade]

Yeah. We were shite yesterday but we’ll play better than that. I’ve seen loads of sides that have looked as shit at this time of the season and said ‘they’re fucked’ and they’ve ended up staying up. I think we’ll just survive. I’m not going to try to provide any rationale for it, it’s pointless; football is unpredictable and illogical at the best of times, it’s just fucking insane this season, one week a team looks like world beaters, next game the same team looks like Wednesday.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

There is a path for us staying up for sure.

we’ve played 6 out of 7 teams who looklike they will probably be in the top 10/12 in the league by the seasons end.

we will be ok if some of the below happen,

- we can get a midfield or Norwood/ ampadu, Berge and Fleck settled and playing well it looks better.

- Brewster settles in

- we find a forward line that works.

- Mousset comes back and provides a similar level of output to 2019/20.

- we find a couple of players in January to shore up LCB and provide some midfield creativity

- bogle comes in and provides some end product from the full back areas

However, If it’s more of the same then I fear for us. Wilder needs to do something /anything to increase the SPARK and CREATIVITY of the side though. We don’t have many players on the squad that can do that, so he’s gonna have to work it out fast.

 

[Yogi]

Yes. I think fleck will bring us bite and balance in midfield Berge looks class despite results and adding fleck in there will help him. Our defence hasn’t been as porous as we think and the clean sheets will come. Lowe looks solid enough at left back and will grow into the role. Ramsdale looks solid and is growing into his role in the team. Whilst our strikers are low on confidence they were good enough last year and form will return once they get up and running. We’ve added different dimensions up front with Burke’s speed and brewsters instincts. Whilst ever these players aren’t hiding and are still battling we will have a chance. That said the West Brom game is crucial now.

 

[Bladesman98]

I think we will, simply because if we continue like this there’s no doubt we will be forced to switch things up

 

[Wards]

I don’t like being so defeatist after 4 years of winning but I just can’t see it

Maybe I’m clinging onto the first half v Fulham and the performance v Liverpool as it showed we can be effective when we’re on the front foot.

Yesterday was terribly disappointing but needs to be taken in context against what is an extraordinary team at times. It’s been a shit season but let’s wait to see how we get on against West Brom et al before chucking the towel in completely. We simply have to be in touching distance come Christmas time to be in with a chance though.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

No we won't stay up this season because we're simply not good enough and even Wilder looks like he's run out of ideas!
New players have come in, but we haven't improved as a team, whereas the teams who were below us last season have upgraded and improved; Newcastle, Brighton, Villa, Southampton etc have all improved.
Add to this the fact that certain players e.g. Stevens have been very poor.
We have gone into this season carrying on with the poor performances we ended last season on.
Our skill levels are far behind the teams currently above us, not just Liverpool and City, but the other established EPL teams such as Brighton etc.
At the moment we look like a lower league team who won a lottery prize to play in the EPL!

 

[AdamSufc1997]

No quality in team at all apart from berge so it's a big ask to rely on him to keep us up

 

[derfblade.3]

Gerrit knocked in!

Blades get found out. Hitler reacts to Blades defeat to Manchester City

captiongenerator.com

 

[raimond]

Yes. Not that I need to convince anyone of owt mate, people can think as they wish, but why I think we'll be alright;

We're less than a 5th of the way through the season

There's worse teams than us

We're not necessarily losing, or playing, that badly

We're getting nearer picking our best side and overcoming the losses of JOC, Fleck and Moose

Fleck (a damn site more important than he's given credit for) will be back, as will Moose

Berge's settled and looks great, as has Ramsdale

We've got (what will be) a settled front two and actual partnership

We just need a settled side, a result, and confidence, points and goals will follow. It's a decent first team and decent squad

Cheers

 

[Stannington Blade]

I still think we will stay up.

We have been on the wrong end of narrow defeats which could all very easily have been different if we had taken the chances that we created. Even yesterday, despite being on the ropes in a tepid performance Lunny could have salvaged something. I don't think we are too far off getting some results despite being a long way below our best. Last season we got hammered by city away according to all stats but the narrative was different - we were on a roll and celebrating being hard to beat.

I can see Wilder making some changes to how we attack teams (esp in how/ when we deliver the ball) and that will open up a lot.

My evidence for all of this? He's done it before. Now isn't fun to watch because we know how much better we can be, but inhave faith that it will turn.

 

[BobblesBlade]

Its a shame to see Watkins and Maupey in the top goal scorers list. I’d have loved either one of those strikers.
Brewster I hope will get us the goals but if doesn’t we are definitely going down.

Missing JackO and Fleck is another big issue but I also think Wilders has lost his go get em attitude we all loved.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Both Wilder and the players (bar Egan, Berge and Ramsdale) look a shadow of their former selves. Our tactics are pathetic - slow, boring, negative and so easy to play against. If Wilder changes his approach we have a slim chance of staying up but there is no sign that he will.

I just hope the pigs go down so we maintain at least a division between the two teams.

 

[SteveBlade]

I can't formulate any sort of logical argument for how we'll stay up.

It'd be good if we did though.

 

[Tazzy]

on the first 7 games no unless we change it and get the ball in the box faster we are so slow its unreal

 

[Niceguyeddie]

And if you do think that, what’s making you think that?

All my hope evaporated after the result and performance against Fulham. Clinging onto a draw at the death at home to your relegation rivals who missed a penalty, and we had to score from one to get that point.

The performance against Liverpool was good and hopeful but again we didn’t score from open play. Yesterday we didn’t look like doing so at all. We haven’t all season. Coupled with our defensive frailties and our lack of options to change the system I just don’t see how we can. We look shot.

Chris’ solution of ‘the players need to play better’ isn’t gonna cut it. We were dreadfully short of creativity and did nothing to change that. The transfer window apparently being the best one of our lifetime was always a bit far fetched to me because of that. It clearly wasn’t.

Does anyone think differently? If so, why? Convince me and many others than we aren’t as good as down



(inb4 ‘wouldn’t like to have been in the trenches with you!! )

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Yes 100%.
Our results haven’t reflected performances and I genuinely do not think we’re one of the three poorest sides. We’ve also played teams who are mainly in the top half, or have games in hand and would go top half if they win, bar Fulham.
Just need need to improve the chance creation and then take them when they come.
We’ve got this.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Yes. We are better than Fulham, WBA, Villa, Newcastle and Burnley. I don’t think we’re particularly worse than Leeds, Brighton, West Ham or Palace.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Post Liverpool...yes, post Man City..no

 

[SouthportBlade]

At the moment, it's 50/50 for me.

We are still very early in the season however, woefully short of confidence, seemingly disproportionately affected by the lack of crowds, hampered by injuries and last years better players severely lacking form.

Based on where we are at the moment if we stay up, it will be because 3 teams have been worse than us - not because we're playing like a top flight team.

As we limp on at the moment, the pressure is only going to crank up. The next 3 games are so crucial, and think we need 4 points at the absolute minimum with a first win VITAL, with West Brom being must win.

That being said Reasons to believe...

We aren't adrift, Fulham, West Brom and Burnley are looking equally bad
Fleck & Mousset hopefully back before Christmas.
Some really tough fixtures out of the way.
Defensive record still pretty good for a team on 1 point after 7 games.
Transfer window only 8 weeks away!
Can't really get any worse!

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Yes. We are better than Fulham, WBA, Villa, Newcastle and Burnley. I don’t think we’re particularly worse than Leeds, Brighton, West Ham or Palace

The way Fulham went through us like a knife through butter would indicate the above statement is more to do with wishful thinking than a statement of fact.