[Archived] The Relegation Battle Aftermath

[John]

Rio Ferdinand in the papers today as said that one of the reasons that they lost last time they played Barcelona in the Champions League final was because they had two weeks off from playing matches, their body which was used to playing on a regular basis didnt react well to that and come the final they werent as sharp as they usually are, he said lessons had been learnt. So maybe Fergie wont totally play a reserve team on Sunday.

Fergie mentioned that in his post match interview that they lost some sharpness as a result of not playing that time (having 2 weeks off) - he also mentioned that the Gary Neville testimonial match would help with keeping the players in condition.

[chris]

Rio Ferdinand in the papers today as said that one of the reasons that they lost last time they played Barcelona in the Champions League final was because they had two weeks off from playing matches, their body which was used to playing on a regular basis didn’t react well to that and come the final they weren’t as sharp as they usually are, he said lessons had been learnt. So maybe Fergie won’t totally play a reserve team on Sunday.

Add to that three of the last four away games (Fulham, West Ham and Wolves) we have sold all our allocation of tickets!

Fergie did say this but he also said he would use Nevilles testimonial to give players a run out too.

[rog of the rovers]

A Man United team to play Blackpool?

All the players listed are fit and didn't start against Rovers.

van der Sar

Rafael

Smalling

Brown

Evra

Park

Scholes

Anderson

Fletcher

Berbatov

Owen

Not a bad lineup! Enough to beat Blackpool?

[Hughesy]

From Football365

I may not be a fan of Blackburn, but who can't be a fan of their support in recent weeks? When the going has got tough, they've turned up in ever-increasing numbers and in three of their last four matches they have registered their highest home gate of the season. Hats off for that.

Nice to know that someone recognises us. I know the ManU match was distorted because of the large number of their fans, but still...

Good to see.

And with that final game our average attendance for the season ended just over 25,000 again!!

[Exiled in Toronto]

Rio Ferdinand in the papers today as said that one of the reasons that they lost last time they played Barcelona in the Champions League final was because they had two weeks off from playing matches, their body which was used to playing on a regular basis didn’t react well to that and come the final they weren’t as sharp as they usually are, he said lessons had been learnt. So maybe Fergie won’t totally play a reserve team on Sunday.

Add to that three of the last four away games (Fulham, West Ham and Wolves) we have sold all our allocation of tickets!

While I wouldn't advocate being in a relegation scrap every year, I think it does show that fans respond when games count for something beyond 3 points and more Sky money. The permanent netherworld of "will we finish 13th or 10th" with no hope of progress and no fear of decline in some ways defeats the objective of following sport at all. It has to matter. Personally, I've been glued to every game, trying to kick every ball since the Blackpool game.

[LeChuck]

I'd rather Man Utd played a second string against Blackpool. First team players would be terrified of getting injured, whereas the second string will be busting a gut to try and earn a place in that team, or at least be first choice sub.

The second string hammered Schalke 4-1 in the Champions League. I can't see Blackpool winning against them, although you never know.

[rog of the rovers]

While I wouldn't advocate being in a relegation scrap every year, I think it does show that fans respond when games count for something beyond 3 points and more Sky money. The permanent netherworld of "will we finish 13th or 10th" with no hope of progress and no fear of decline in some ways defeats the objective of following sport at all. It has to matter. Personally, I've been glued to every game, trying to kick every ball since the Blackpool game.

Good post.

Its like getting promoted via the playoffs. Great if you succeed, but heartbreaking if you don't!

I would imagine a few celebratory pints will be drunk if we stay up. Conversely I doubt anyone celebrated survival last season, as it was a given after our good second half run!

[Guest roverspogges]

Has anyone seen that emo fella changed his name to lee Blackburn rovers football club spary?? It was on ssn what a twa tee.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Has anyone seen that emo fella changed his name to lee Blackburn rovers football club spary?? It was on ssn what a twa tee.

Not something I would do but if he loves the club and wants to do it then fair play to him.

[Guest roverspogges]

Yeah I suppose so but still......

[alexanders]

Tevez and Berba joint topscorers after Tevez found the net twice against stoke tonight.

Means that Berba will be eager to get some goals against Blackpool

Stoke losing 3-0 against City and will probably do their most to get 3 points at Britannia this weekend against Wigan.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Tevez and Berba joint topscorers after Tevez found the net twice against stoke tonight.

Means that Berba will be eager to get some goals against Blackpool

Stoke losing 3-0 against City and will probably do their most to get 3 points at Britannia this weekend against Wigan.

Stoke were very poor - reaction on Sunday methinks

[jim mk2]

To judge from tonight's lethargic performance Stoke have packed up for the season. I don't think we can expect any help from them against Wigan on Sunday.

[Tom]

To judge from tonight's lethargic performance Stoke have packed up for the season. I don't think we can expect any help from them against Wigan on Sunday.

But Wigan are hardly City and Stokes fans play a huge part, if Delap plays Stoke have a good chance of scoring agaisnt them at least.

[philipl]

I have Wigan winning at Stoke as a certainty.

Blackpool might get dismantled at OT if the Mancs get at their defenders in an open game whilst Brum look to have an uphill task at Spuds. Those two games are where our salvation rests if we cannot do the job ourselves at Molyneux.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Pulis will kick their arses for Sunday. He knows they'll have a stadium full of sore Stoke fans that won't want to end the season a real low. They probably knew the couldn't beat City tonight after Saturday. Wigan on Sunday is another story.

I have Wigan winning at Stoke as a certainty.

Blackpool might get dismantled at OT if the Mancs get at their defenders in an open game whilst Brum look to have an uphill task at Spuds. Those two games are where our salvation rests if we cannot do the job ourselves at Molyneux.

In the immortal words of John McEnroe " You cannot be serious ". No certainties in football just probabilities and possibilities. Wigan aren't even a probable.

[Hughesy]

Stoke will want there 1st top 10 finish....to do that, they will probably need 3 points.

At home, following a dissapointing cup loss & also tonight, they will want to end on a positive - no doubt. Also Wigan & West Ham have followed each other in previous seasons (i.e. both relegated, both promoted etc) - They have also failed to win @ Stoke since 2004.

KEEP THE FAITH LADS!!

[bennyboyt11]

There's also the possibility that both Stoke and their fans would quite enjoy sending Wigan down, they won't care about them staying up so why should they do them any favours by playing a poor game?

[BuckyRover]

I have Wigan winning at Stoke as a certainty.

Blackpool might get dismantled at OT if the Mancs get at their defenders in an open game whilst Brum look to have an uphill task at Spuds. Those two games are where our salvation rests if we cannot do the job ourselves at Molyneux.

MOLINEUX

[47er]

Pulis will kick their arses for Sunday. He knows they'll have a stadium full of sore Stoke fans that won't want to end the season a real low. They probably knew the couldn't beat City tonight after Saturday. Wigan on Sunday is another story.

In the immortal words of John McEnroe " You cannot be serious ". No certainties in football just probabilities and possibilities. Wigan aren't even a probable.

Us winning at Molineux is not a probable either. In that case we will certainly be dependent on others.Remember there were fans on here believing we were safe on 39 points?

A disgrace given where we were in January.

[Mowie]

We're 14/1 to go down. If people don't have faith, they are good odds. We're the long-shot to get relegated, all the other teams have tricky away games, ours is the most winnable. Gotta have faith the faith the faith

[alexanders]

Just had a quick chat with a colleague of mine who is a Wolves supporter.

He was full of confidence that neither of Wolves and Rovers would go down.

He said that Wigan will get beat, Brum will get beat and Bpool will get beat. Wish I had his confidence.

[Ralfinho]

Is every league position you finish in not worth something like 750k? If so teams like stoke will be wanting to finish as high as possible to get this cash so I think they will be up for it on Sunday because of that and also teams like to punish other teams so Stoke will want to try and send Wigan down. like what we will hopefully try with wolves

[davulsukur]

Whats our record at Wolves like? Pretty decent from what i remember?

[LeChuck]

I have Wigan winning at Stoke as a certainty.

I admire your persistence in making such confidence predictions. Especially one like that, which isn't even likely to happen. Stoke can finish eight with a win and are not the sort of team to go down with a whimper in a home game.