The Mail Bag
Too much time on my hands...
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Next Sunday we visit Fulham, whilst Newcastle play Villa. Now, I'd never openly wish for an Everton defeat or a Villa victory, but if those two results did happen, those darlings of the London-centric media, Tottenham, would miss out on European football and we'd finish sixth. The EURO league may have its critics, but Spurs and their fans are desperate to be in there.
Also, does anyone remember back in the day when Keegan was first in charge of Newcastle and Sir John Hall proclaimed that they had replaced Everton as part of the Big Six? Well, if results don't go their way, this "giant" of English football will be relegated from the top tier next weekend.
Despite all their money and the merry-go-round of managers, the nearest they ever got to silverware was the year that Keegan's charges conspired to throw away a lead over Man Utd. Received wisdom is that Newcastle's fans are supposely the best in the country, but as Saturday illustrated, they're only the most fickle. As soon as the game went against them, they left the stadium in droves, despite playing against a defence who are notoriously porous on the road.
I'm fed up to the eye teeth by Everton always being overlooked before the start of a season. I know I shouldn't, but I am. Yes we don't have the resources of those around us, but why Tottenham and Newcastle (along with Villa) are always tipped to be the ones to make an impact in the upper echelons of the Premier League while the Blues are dismissed alongside the likes of West Ham and Fulham is beyond me. Sure, O'Neill has built a decent side full of homegrown players, but Newcastle and Spurs?????
Anyway, I'd really like Everton to finish the season with a victory, but the important thing is to keep everyone fit for the showdown on May 30th. At the end of the day, if we lose and Villa win, we'd still stick it to Newcastle and Tottenham. Oh and we'd be in Europe and the FA Cup Final. Sounds like a "win win" situation to me. There's nowt wrong with that if you ask me.
Come on you Blues :)
Mark Wynne, Posted 17/05/2009 at 08:57:12
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But there is an economic basis too for my wishes that Spurs don’t get Europe and Newcastle go down. They are our rivals currently in the second tier challenging the Rich 4, along with City - who who have billions anyway, and Villa who are already in Europe and with a rich owner also.
Anything that can set us apart from Spurs and Newcastle will give us an advantage in attracting new players, winning sponsorship deals, or possibly getting more media attention. Euro qualification is a good way of doing this as it gives a status and a stature based on success. And obviously relegation puts the Kibosh on Newcastle’s status.
But the most satisfying reason will be to stick it once again to those know-all-know-nothing media pundits who have given groundless adulation to Newcastle and their supposed fantistic fans for so long.
Luckily, we have a much bigger squad so don?t need to worry... do we???
If Hull can get at leat a point against Man Utd we?ll all be happy.
If you remember both Villa and Spurs this year had to put out their reserve sides in the latter stages of the Uefa Cup to keep their eyes purely focused on their Premier League status (Top 4 , Relegation).
To be perfectly honest, I love the night cup games and I?m sure it gives the players invaluable experience but will we have a sizable squad to go for a Top 4 place and compete in the Europa squad? I think we need at least another 2-3 quality players in order to allow us to compete in all competitions next year.
With all their stars, the money they've spent, the managers they've sacked, it's laughable.
Everton could've gone this way, signing big names with big salaries and none of them have performed... I would love to see their wage bill. The list of names is endless and they have signed some quality players, but where has it all gone wrong?
Why have these players turned so shit? Nolan, Owen, Duff, Barton, Smith, Viduka are all decent players in my eye and sure would make our squad a lot healthier (ok maybe not Joey Barton).
I remember them saying that "Moyes" wasnt big enough to manage them, now look where they are.
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
A week on Monday Big Sam will be sitting in his Y-fronts laughing in a bowl of cornflakes.
Charlton have made room and vacated their spot. I hope they fill it.
Remember we are the only club in recent seasons to break the "Big Four." For all the noise about Spurs, Villa and probably Man City, where are they right now? Yep, lower in the league than us. Nuff said.
From my travels and experience of other fans Spurs are no better nor worse than Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Wolves, Brum, etc etc. I used to quite respect Villa fans but recently they have turned into cocks as well! Some times we over do our bitter blues tag ? other clubs (apart from THAT shower!) shouldn't matter!
What annoys me is when we want a player but they go elsewhere usually for the money because there?s no other reason. Scott Parker was coming to us before he went to the geordies, he would have been a great signing and alongside him helping us we would have helped him in his international career, Jags, Lescott, Baines are testament to that. (If we bought Glen Johnson that could be Englands back 4...)
You see, as much as I think (like you) that Newcastle area bunch of idiots who don?t know how to run a football club, and as much as their fans are fickle and leave the ground before the end of the game (rats leaving a sinking ship syndrome), and as much as the comment made by them that they have replaced Everton as one of the bug six, I find them pretty harmless creatures and actually quite amusing. They are the butt of most Premier League jokes because quite honestly that?s exactly what they are ? a harmless joke who provide most fans with a continuous flow of humour.
The other side of the coin is this. I live in the West Midlands and for more years than I would like to admit to, I have had to put up with the endless dribble and crap that comes out of the average Villa fans mouth. Honestly, you just can?t believe some of the shite they come out with especially at the start of this season and half way through when they were enacting the part of the Hare in the children?s story. Martin O?Neil this and Martin O?Neil that and ?Oh Martin you are the best ? lick my arse! That is, before they came to Goodison for the FA Cup game, got a dam good spanking and then sent packing down the M6 with their tail between their legs. (I rekindled my relationship with God that day and have not looked back!)
The point I am making here is that Newcastle are humorous and harmless, but Villa are severely irritating and have been living in fantasy cookoo land since MON came to save them.
You talk about fickle Newcastle fans ? I have not witnessed fans more fickle than Villas. This weekend, after losing 5th place to us and failing to win at Boro, there is disgruntled talk in the pubs how MON doesn?t know what he?s doing, playing players out of position, bla bla bla ? all the things that point to the fact that MONs ?glory? days at the Villa have reached as high as they will go.
Mark my words, the talk around these parts is that if MON doesn?t deliver next season then he?ll be out on his arse. You see, what goes round, comes round.
One final final point: as I write this, I am in the office surrounded by disgruntled Villas fans. I have the latest copy of the ?Evertonian? on my desk for everyone to see and do you know what? I love it! I just love it because finishing above the Villa for me is just as good as winning the FA Cup!
COYBs!!!!!!!!
No one in the national media takes us seriously. We are the best team outside the top 4 even without Arteta Jagielka and Yakubu not including this summers new signings.
Michael Owen Joao Mouthinho Alex Smithies Joe Ledley and John Oshea in. Out are Turner VDM Anichebe and Castillio. COYB!!!!
Not wanting to be too pessimistic, but there is more chance of us losing next weekend than winning, especially when you think of (a) that statistic, (b) Fulham?s excellent home record this season and (c) we?re not going to go flat out in this one when there?s a cup final to play in the week after.
Therefore, to get the best of all worlds, we have to hope the Geordies draw with Villa and somehow Hull City get a draw against the Mancs. This would guarantee us 5th place (better goal difference than Villa), it would put Newcastle in the Championship and Spurs would fail to qualify for Europe.
Everybody's happy!!!
COYB
If Hull went down maybe Myhill as a back-up but that’s it: Hull are the ultimate rejects club.
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1 Posted 17/05/2009 at 14:57:44
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