Relegation dogfight

The problem with Newcastle is that their fans think of them has a big club. NO they are not. They haven't won anything in over 50 years. If Shearer wasn't the manager i would love it (Keegan) if they went down. so because of that i want Hull to go down

 

Fair enough they have a large fan base but that doesn't mean they are a big club. Look at Leeds they get 40,000 nearly every home game and have a large fan base but i wouldn't call them a big club becuase they're in league 1 playing teams like Exeter next year.

If Newcastle fan are so great they will support they club no matter what league they're in. If Shearer wasn't the manager i would be love to see them play team like Doncaster Rovers next year

 

big day of football.

this explains it all


Newcastle manager Alan Shearer is refusing to contemplate the thought of relegation as he looks to inspire his side to a final-day escape. The Magpies travel to Aston Villa for their last game of the season on Sunday a point adrift of safety.
They are face the prospect of slipping out of the top flight for the first time since the 1988-1989 season.
But Shearer said: "I won't think about that. I will be as positive as possible and my players will be."
Defeat at Villa Park would confirm Newcastle's relegation to the second tier after 16 seasons in the Premier League.
To escape, the Magpies need results elsewhere to go in their favour.
A win would keep them up if Hull fail to take three points at home against champions Manchester United or Sunderland lose to Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
If Hull were to lose then the Magpies would even avoid the drop by drawing at Villa.

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Shearer must hope his presence, and fear of what awaits should they fail at Villa, somehow coaxes a performance from Newcastle




Shearer remains positive despite winning just once - at home to Middlesbrough - in seven games since taking over.
He added: "We all know the stakes, we all know what we are playing for, but I still believe, I really do.
"We will see what happens. It's a massive game. But I am totally convinced we will get out of it, yes, and more importantly, so are my players.
"I'm confident we can go there and give our great fans something to shout about, I really am."
The Magpies have endured a tumultuous season with Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Shearer all in charge of first-team affairs at various points.
Kinnear was brought in as manager in the wake of Keegan's abrupt departure, but had to undergo heart surgery in in February. Hughton took the reins in the short-term before Shearer arrived for the final eight games of the season.
Owner Mike Ashley came in for huge criticism from supporters in the wake of Keegan's departure in September and put the club up for sale, before changing his mind in December, while there have been several changes at boardroom level - including the exit of executive director Dennis Wise.
But with the club's Premier League survival resting on 90 minutes against Villa, Shearer says the size of the match is as big as any he has ever been involved in.
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"It's bigger than a cup final, a hell of a lot bigger than a cup final," added Shearer.
"The question has been asked on four or five occasions over the last four or five games, 'is this the biggest game of your career?', and I keep answering, 'yes, because it's the next one'.
"We have asked the players to forget about what happened when we lost [1-0 at home] to Fulham last weekend, because it's gone, we can't change it.
"What we can change is this weekend and I believe if we go there and win, it will be a very very good day for us."
West Brom are already down, but two from Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Hull and Sunderland will join them in the Championship next season.

We'll keep fighting - Southgate

Boro must beat West Ham away to stand any chance of survival, while Sunderland, who are two points above Newcastle, face Chelsea at home.
The Teessiders have arguably the toughest task - not helped by their inferior goal difference - but boss Gareth Southgate dismissed suggestions that his players do not care as much as the fans.
"When I hear people say the players and staff don't care as much as the fans, I think that's nonsense," he said.
"We have nothing else in our lives, nothing else at all. Our hobby, our love is our work as well, so you live with it 24 hours a day.
"The supporters, they may not like the jobs they do, but football is their switch-off, and there is family as well.
"But for players and staff, you live with it all the time, it is constantly in your thoughts.

If we don't win on Sunday I will be slaughtered on Monday



Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson


"Of course, unless you have ever played or coached or managed or been involved in a football club, you won't understand that."
Hull are in a similar boat to Sunderland in that a victory will see them safe no matter what happens elsewhere.
The Tigers take on an understrength Manchester United, who are resting several key players ahead of their Champions League final next Wednesday, at the KC Stadium.
The likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick have been omitted from the squad with Federico Macheda and Daniel Welbeck set to lead the United attack and Darren Gibson in midfield.
But Hull assistant boss Brian Horton says that does not make the game any easier for the Tigers.
"Whatever side they put out, it will be will be full of quality," he told BBC Sport.
"I've seen their reserves play numerous times this season and their second team play in the cup games and they have been fantastic.

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"We're trying to focus on ourselves. It's in our own hands, if we can beat United we're safe no matter what anyone else does."
City boss Phil Brown also says he is not concerned with Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection.
He said: "Sir Alex has had 22 years at one football club and he has earned the right to do whatever he wants to do on Sunday.
"He has got a massive game three days after this game.
"I would do the same - if I had the option I would play players that won't be playing in the game on Wednesday."
Ferguson, meanwhile, has reiterated that his side will be going to Hull to win.
"If we don't win on Sunday I will be slaughtered on Monday," he said. "It will be the worst thing that has ever happened to the British game.
"People will be complaining about me damaging the integrity of our league. But no-one should be unduly worried about our intentions.

I remember Bradford playing Liverpool and nobody gave Bradford a hope in hell, and they won 1-0, so it can always happen



Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia


"Ricky Sbragia worked here. He knows this club. He knows exactly what we will do. Gareth Southgate and Shearer played against us many times. They know exactly what it is like against Manchester United."
Sbragia, the Sunderland boss, is drawing inspiration from Bradford's remarkable escape from relegation in 2000 when David Wetherall's header sealed victory for City over Champions League-chasing Liverpool.
"I am confident we still stay in the Premier League, but we have got to go and do it," said Sbragia.
"I can remember Bradford playing Liverpool and nobody gave Bradford a hope in hell, and they won 1-0, so it can always happen.
"We have got to go out there and be a bit braver and take the game to them.

Hiddink pledges to play strong team

"Anything can happen in football, and we hope we can come out with a win."
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is planning to field a strong team at the Stadium of Light in preparation for their FA Cup final against Everton a week later.
"I don't want to rest a lot of players because they need to maintain their physical shape and also the way we want them to play," he said.
"If I rest too many people then I don't think it's good preparation for Wembley."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8063179.stm