Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lenny

I'm glad I've got revision and exams to think of, rather than get nervy about Monday.

Come on the Clarets! We can give the Blades their third lesson in footballing!

Are you going down to Wembley, Ross?

Yeah I'm off to Wembley

Was queuing (sp) on the first day of sale from 5am to get myself and 10 friends tickets so will be a good one!

I've been to every game this season home and away so I'm not going to break the trend now.

Hopefully I will have a job by the time next season starts so I can go to every game again.

Are you travelling down?

[Lenny]

Alas, no - I've got an exam on the 26th, and travelling down and then back up would waste too much time. A few of my friends are going, though, so at least I'll get phone calls every time Burnley scores - it might not be first hand, but at least I'll be able to hear the atmosphere.

[Ross]

Good luck with the exam!

I at least hope that goes well for you!

Up The Blades!

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by thesoothsayer

Hull could beat or draw with MU who've already clinched the title and, I guess, will probably field a weakened team.

With Man U's squad depth, their 'weakened team' would probably finish in the top 6.

[Lenny]

I'd take a Burnley win over passing the exam any day - if I fail it I can come back in August and resit it.

I hear that both of your first choice strikers are injured. Think it'll make a difference?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lenny

I'd take a Burnley win over passing the exam any day - if I fail it I can come back in August and resit it.

I hear that both of your first choice strikers are injured. Think it'll make a difference?

Well.

Jamie Ward has been a revelation since he came. He was initially bought as a "development player" from Chesterfield but has cemented a first team place and I think should be the first choice striker.

Darius Henderson. Now I'm still iffy with him. He had a really good 7 or 8 games not long back but has really gone off the boil. He get's nothing in his favour which may affect how well he plays. So don't think he's too big of a loss.

One of the replacement strikers is Craig Beattie. I think this guy is a pretty good player, if only he could finish! He is excellent at getting away from a defender and finding himself in the right positions, he just struggles to put the ball into the back of the net. Might happen at Wembley I'd love for him to be the hero after all the stick he got the other week against Preston away. He played very well in that game but couldn't score 2 good chances.

[Lenny]

Keeps the pressure on though, doesn't it? Elliot, Blake and McCann don't score too many goals, but they always harry the defence and have a try. Even Paterson harries more than he scores!

I think Beattie will have to be very lucky to get past Jensen!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lenny

Keeps the pressure on though, doesn't it? Elliot, Blake and McCann don't score too many goals, but they always harry the defence and have a try. Even Paterson harries more than he scores!

I think Beattie will have to be very lucky to get past Jensen!

I'll take that luck any day if it get's us promoted

We are due a slice of the luck lol

[Lenny]

Just don't take it all, you hear? We want some too!

Though to be honest, the money would be better - £30 million in TV rights when a club goes up, and £24 million over two years if they're relegated.

Slowly, the Baggies plan is starting to make sense! In no time at all they'll have the money to challenge United, and the other rich clubs. *shudders at the thought of the Baggies at the top of the Premiership*

[Ursa major]

Sounds almost enough for you to want Burnley to stay down in order to stop the Baggies in their tracks, Lenny.



(Or are you going to argue that the Blades are far better suited to this task?)

[Lenny]

Nah - we've already shown West Brom how to play, so now it's the turn of the Blades. Share and share alike, you know.

[Ursa major]

Given the success the Baggies have had this season, Lenny, I'm assuming the Clarets will be learning a new style this summer.

[pyan]

Actually, it's not that bad a situation to be in for the Baggies - the parachute payments make it (relatively) easy to go straight back up next year, especially when you're going to be playing teams with only a fraction of your resources...

Doesn't always work, though, as I can testify...

[Hedge]

The baggies should be able to bounce right back, they by now will have a premier league setup at the club geared ready for a promotion push next season.

[thesoothsayer]

Originally Posted by pyan

Actually, it's not that bad a situation to be in for the Baggies - the parachute payments make it (relatively) easy to go straight back up next year, especially when you're going to be playing teams with only a fraction of your resources...

Doesn't always work, though, as I can testify...

Relegated Promoted
2002 2003
Ipswich Portsmouth
Derby Wolverhampton
Leicester = Leicester

2003 2004
Hammers Norwich
Baggies = Baggies
Sunderland Palace

2004 2005
Leicester Sunderland
Leeds Wigan
Wolves Hammers

2005 2006
Palace Reading
Norwich Sheff Utd
Southampton Watford

2006 2007
Birmingham =Birmingham
Baggies Derby
Sunderland =Sunderland

2007 2008
Sheff Utd Baggies
Charlton Stoke
Watford Hull

Looking at the clubs relegated since 2002 and promoted since 2003, only 4 out of 18 (22.22%) clubs have managed to go straight back up. That's less than I expected, actually. I thought a figure of around 40-50% would be true.