This is the season...

[Clark W Griswold]

I think we're 1 of only 7 clubs to have been in the newly set up Premier League every season since it was created. The others are Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal (like any of those are ever going down), Chelsea (who have been down since we last came up), Everton (who have been shite quite a bit in the past and almost gone before) and Tottenham. A few clubs similar to us Newcastle, Man City have been out of it at times, and a lot of clubs of reasonable stature (Forest, Wolves, the Sheffields, Leeds, Sunderland) have been out of it quite a bit and in some cases years.
The point is, virtually every club has a shit spell, it's just gutting with the timing of it, but if we can come back strong like we did last time there is no reason to think that we can't be back where we should be in the next five years.

There is every reason to think we can't get back when those making the key decisions have such a poor track record.

Agreed, but the bit I missed out of the post was that we would hope to be sold in the next couple of years, and by 'back to where we should be' I meant at least top half with an eye on top 6 and a slim chance of a cup. That of course would depend on new owners, but I'm just trying to be optimistic really, these are very uncertain times. The pessimistic view would be that we end up like Leeds, Wednesday or Forest but I'm keeping the faith that we won't :-)

[kippaxvilla2]

Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.

The full record makes for terrible reading

P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101

I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.

Surely someone at the club should be looking at stats and trend to make sure this doesn't happen?

Our lot are too busy playing FIFA 2015 as a central driver of the recruitment policy to have time to look at real statistics.

[andyh]

At least we won't have to suffer tossers like  jermaine Jenas on the 'football league show' next season.

[Jimbo]

Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.

The full record makes for terrible reading

P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101

I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.

This is essential reading for anyone who thinks we're likely to bounce straight back. We've been atrocious for five years. There's no sign of any improvement. We're established losers.

If this season were an aberration then you'd think we could turn it around, but this ship is already three-quarters sunk. The most likely outcome is that it will continue to sink in the Championship as well.

The only hope I have is that the primary cause of all this, Randy Lerner, might cut his losses and sell at a discount. Still, then we have no idea who would come in and sort out this unholy mess. The stench of failure permeates the entire club.

One thing I hope, though, when the inevitable is confirmed, is that there's no blarting. That kind of thing might be acceptable for Newcastle and Liverpool, but not us. I hope us fans retain the last shred of dignity we can. Take it on the chin, laugh it off even, and prepare for an extended stay in the wilderness.

[Duncan Shaw]

Kammy has said on Goals on Sunday never say never, look at Leicester!

[LTA]

Should the seemingly inevitable happen, do any of these players have clauses in their deals where they take pay cuts?

If not, it's another problem.  Fox, Reilly and Almstadt have injected poison into this club, while our bored owner cowers in America having discarded his play thing.  He might not admit it publicly, but Doug Ellis must ruefully the day he handed the keys over to the club to these vultures.

[Proposition Joe]

No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme.  I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season

F me. No streams. I had forgotten that

There's also Blackburn, Sheff Weds, Forest, Leeds, Boro and QPR (for now) - we could have a mini '92-'93 revival.

[kippaxvilla2]

You can get streams for Championship games.

[myf]

No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme.  I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season

add to that more midweek games, teams that will kick the shit out of you, a half empty vp and teams raising their game as they play at one of the greatest grounds in england.  i cant wait

much like this season then except for the midweek games

[Dave Cooper please]

That's that. I doubt I will log in here again,

Tara a bit.

[Dave Cooper please]

Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps

Fuck 'em. I'll still be supporting us, won't you?

[myf]

Should the seemingly inevitable happen, do any of these players have clauses in their deals where they take pay cuts?

If not, it's another problem.  Fox, Reilly and Almstadt have injected poison into this club, while our bored owner cowers in America having discarded his play thing.  He might not admit it publicly, but Doug Ellis must ruefully the day he handed the keys over to the club to these vultures.

I recall reading that all the new deals in the summer have pay cuts for relegation. I actually think we have a squad well equipped for the championship. My concern is the massive loss in income and lerner/fox still at the helm which inevitably would be a continued disaster.

it would be interesting going to a few new grounds and 2 games a week would be great

[myf]

Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps

Fuck 'em. I'll still be supporting us, won't you?

of course I would Dave its in my DNA. however, im not pushing it onto my kids as much as I would like to.  The past 5 years have been horrific. Im constantly miserable

[oswald funkletrumpet]

No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme.  I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season

add to that more midweek games, teams that will kick the shit out of you, a half empty vp and teams raising their game as they play at one of the greatest grounds in england.  i cant wait

much like this season then except for the midweek games

ish apart from 35k aint half empty

[kippaxvilla2]

Home to Rotherham on a Tuesday night in January is going to be a hard sell even for our inventive, imaginative management team.