England’s World Cup campaign didn’t kick off as planned as their spirited team performance wasn’t enough to overcome the might of the ever-reliable Italians.

But fear not young worriers, a lack of points at this stage is no drama. There was plenty in England’s first outing in Brazil to suggest they have more than enough to progress through their very own ‘group of death’.

With Uruguay and Costa Rica to follow, on paper England are the better side. And whilst football isn’t a game played on paper, the paper can give us a real good indication as to why this group of English players, and you English supporters, should have no fears in the upcoming fixtures.

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Click on Sterling to see the FIVE reasons why England will escape Group D

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We Can Pass!

Everyone knows that passing is the new scoring, right? The statsgasm on Twitter in recent days has been relentlessly positive surrounding England’s showing in their first match against Italy, and the figures suggest this is a side that is progressing. After the first round of group games, England were second only to Italy in the pass completion percentage statistics, and had the highest pass percentage in the opposition half of all teams.

With players like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, and Ross Barkley, England can go into their final two matches in Group D knowing that they have the players available to them to take the initiative, keeping the ball away from the opponents and fashioning out chances by probing in dangerous areas.

We Will Score!

Against Italy we may not have created the most clear-cut of goalscoring opportunities, but once more the stats showed that England’s 18 shots were more than any other side. Despite many of these not being ‘chances’ as such, the fact the players were willing to work the goalkeeper was a positive thing.

They came up against a traditionally well-disciplined Italian defence, and weren’t afraid to pull the trigger if an opening presented itself. Obviously, their conversion percentage wasn’t anywhere near the best of the sides in the tournament, but you have to assume that neither Uruguay nor Costa Rica will be nearly as sturdy as Cesare Prandelli’s men. If our boys continue showing similar intent, they’ll likely come out more successful than before.

Luis Suarez Injury

 

While the World Cup is all about the best players in the world showing what they can do, England fans and players alike will not want to see Luis Suarez line up against them.

The uncertainty surrounding his knee following an operation a month ago will fill everyone with added positivity. The Liverpool striker was one of England’s biggest worries before the tournament, but having not played since the final day of the Premier League season, it would be fair to predict that he won’t be at his sharpest.

Without one half of their talismanic frontline, Uruguay will be half as deadly. And that can only work in England’s favour.

Squad Depth

 

Never before in recent memory has an England squad possessed so many players with the ability to individually change a game. Against Italy the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Sturridge and Sterling were on the pitch, wonderfully complemented by the work and effectiveness of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. With the likes of Barkley, Lallana, Frank Lampard, Rickie Lambert, and Jack Wilshere on the bench, Hodgson has a whole plethora of players to turn to in times of need.

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The impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may struggle to find fitness for the Uruguay game, but he should be back in time for Costa Rica. His direct and powerful dribbling can help change the momentum of a game. We shouldn’t have to worry about our options from the bench.

No More Italy

 

Quite simply, Italy have been one of the best outfits so far at the World Cup. Their ball retention in midfield is second to none, and their compact defensive shape made them incredibly frustrating to break down. What’s more, they looked to have attacking quality in all areas. Mario Balotelli had a quiet game, but impressed when called upon.

The right-back Matteo Darmian was a constant menace to Leighton Baines, and Antonio Candreva drifted in and out of spaces causing no ends of problems. England won’t face a similar side to Italy again in Group D. Costa Rica and Uruguay are very different from Italy, and have glaring weaknesses in their sides, whereas Italy are well-rounded.

England can rely on Italy to take points from their rivals in the next two games, so there should be no worries about results going the wrong way. The toughest challenge has been and gone. The next two games will be much simpler tasks.

With Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck on Transfer Deadline Day, fans were treated to at least a glimmer of hope on what is normally a quiet time for the Gunners, but their shrewdest bit of business actually could’ve been done in the early stages of the window.

Along with the multi-million pound upgrades to Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, fitness guru Shad Forsythe has joined the ranks. And this addition to the Arsenal backroom staff should hopefully be even more beneficial than the signings Arsenal have managed to make.

His arrival is all part of an attempt to combat the puzzling injuries the Gunners have been plagued with for season upon season. A long list of stars have seen long term injuries halt their progress at the Emirates – something that has had a serious knock-on effect.

During the 2013/14 season Arsenal led the top flight for 128 days only to falter due to a number of injuries to the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, etc. With a newly found appreciation for success (trophies!) Arsene Wenger will surely want to eradicate any likelihood of history repeating itself.

With Theo Walcott out and the most injury prone of all Abou Diaby, Shad Forsythe will be brought in to help aid them back to full fitness. This three game old campaign has already seen Kieran Gibbs sidelined due to a hamstring pull, Olivier Giroud lost to a broken tibia and Mikel Arteta endure ankle problems.

Wenger has a tendency to throw players back into games a little too early resulting in an extended stay on the sidelines, so along with the job of managing fitness, Forsythe will also need to manage recovery from injuries.

Having been a part of the German national team’s triumphant World Cup win, Forsythe knows how to get the best out of his players. Working with the team for a decade also means he has vast experience in the game.

En route to winning the World Cup the Germans looked impressive, not just for their style of football but for the constant high pace they played at. Power, pace and consistency… The Gunners lacked all three throughout most of last season.

Historically, Arsenal’s players are always out through injuries for lengthy spells of time. Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Tomas Rosicky, to name but a few. Now it looks as though Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs will be added to that list.

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We’ll have to wait and see, but let’s hope that with Shad Forsythe, the Gunners can look forward to a return to full fitness for some of the club’s best players. If it all goes to plan we will not have to worry about new signings in defensive midfield and attack, instead we should be revelling in how consistent Diaby has become and amazed at Walcott’s 30+ goal season. We can dream right?

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Mario Balotelli was always going to be a risk for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers admitted it, former players stated it and fans reluctantly revealed their worries when he signed from AC Milan over the summer in a £16m deal.

Many hoped that he would finally show the potential he clearly has, but the 24-year-old has been a disaster so far, with ‘shirt swap-gate’ the latest blot on the Italian’s copybook.

Could cutting their losses in January be the best option for Liverpool? Maybe, and here are FIVE reasons why…

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CLICK ON THE MAN HIMSELF TO REVEAL THE FIVE

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He’s lost the fans

After last night’s shirt swapping incident, Liverpool fans’ patience appears to have run out with Mario. The majority of Reds supports have stuck by Balotelli as the missed chances have passed, but, although that are a few still in ‘team Mario’, it seems as though the tide has now turned a little. Don’t believe us? Check out the tweets below:

Doesn’t fit the style of play

Liverpool’s success last season was built on attacking at near breakneck speed. The way the Reds blew Arsenal away within half an hour at Anfield was, perhaps, the finest example of the sheer pace in attack, with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling scaring defenders.

Yet Balotelli’s lack of movement and dynamism appears to be slowing down those around him. The Italian likes to play with his back to goal and is adept at holding up the ball, yet when Liverpool are at their best they cut through reargards with pace and precision.

Can only play in a front two

“I have never been a real, out-and-out striker – I have always been someone who goes around the pitch.

“If it was my choice, I would always go with two strikers. It is the way I like to play, but Brendan asked me to play as the first striker. I understand that when the ball comes from wide on the left or right, I need to be in the box otherwise there might be no one there at all.”

The words of Mario himself in a recent interview. Balotelli’s best performance this term came during his debut against Spurs where he lined up alongside Daniel Sturridge. But with the latter seemingly living on the treatment table of late, the option to play such a system may not be one Brendan Rodgers can go for too often…

Misses routine chances

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Every striker will miss glorious chances every now and again. It’s just what happens. But Balotelli has now failed to convert a fair few routine opportunities, with his lack of composure against QPR last weekend alarming.

Last season Liverpool were ruthless in front of goal, yet with ‘Balo’ up front they look more toothless.

He may actually still be worth some money…

He may actually still be worth some money…

At 24, there will be a club somewhere that will be willing to gamble on Balotelli. Interest in Italy could be high, although the bigger clubs are unlikely to touch the striker at the moment. Liverpool will have to take a massive loss on their man already, but that’s the gamble taken when you make a “calculated risk”.

Liverpool’s season of disaster and catastrophe lurched into the realms of nightmare yesterday as they slipped to a 3-0 loss at the home of arch-rivals Manchester United. Circumstance has not been kind to the Reds so far this term – Daniel Sturridge has played just three league games – but there is indeed a long way to go this term, so a quick turnaround may be enough to get the 2014/15 campaign back on track.

Could there actually be a silver lining to this massive raincloud? Here are FIVE reasons why there may be…

Big week ahead

Okay, defeat at Old Trafford by three goals to your most bitter rivals is far from ideal. But, Liverpool have a massive week to switch their attention to, and there could be a very different outlook at Anfield by next Monday, should results go their way. Next up for the Reds is a trip to AFC Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup, which, on paper at least, should be an ideal fixture to get some confidence back and book a spot in the last four of a major completion. The Cherries may top the Championship table, but divisional superiority might be enough to get Rodgers’ side over the line.

Following the cup clash, Liverpool will play host to Arsenal, who have stuttered as well this season. Victory over the Gunners, who are top four rivals, could give the table a slightly more positive look, with the sides between fourth and tenth tightly bunched.

Proof that the ‘false nine’ doesn’t work

With Daniel ‘man of glass’ Sturridge out injured, Rodgers has had to rotate his forward options in a bid to find a formula that works. Yesterday he went all ‘football hipster’ with a striker-less system, deploying Raheem Sterling as the ‘false nine’ and focal point of his attack. Although supremely talented at just 20-years-of age, the Jamaican-born England international is not really cut out to be a centre-forward, and some wayward finishing exposed the lack of killer instinct he has. On numerous occasions Sterling got into good positions, but the outcome was never positive.

For all his critics, Mario Balotelli gave the Reds a better option when he came on at half-time, and was unlucky not to score. Surely the much-maligned Italian is the best option from now on.

Liverpool actually out-played United for large spells

You can prove anything with stats, and Rodgers clearly went for that approach after the game when he claimed his side “did enough” to win. Although he talks some tosh at times, the Northern Irishman can cite his team’s 19 efforts on goal as proof they enjoyed the lions’ share of the attacking play, with more corners won also evidence of territorial advantage.

Yes, three goals were let in at the other end. But had the Merseysiders had David de Gea in goal the boot could well have been on the other foot.

Darkest before the dawn…

This may be a little cheesy and the sort of proverb found in a self-help book, but things cannot get much worse for Liverpool, right? A thumping loss at the home of your greatest rivals has to be a wake-up call, and any self-respecting professional football player will surely want to use the blow as a source of inspiration.

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‘Kick up the arse’ for underperforming newbies

Building on the last point, some of Liverpool’s new signings have to use yesterday as the turning point. The majority of the Reds’ summer buys have been poor so far, but we’ll focus on Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno from the Threatre of Screams. The Croatian produced another limp clearance to effectively hand Robin van Persie a golden chance to make it 3-0, while Moreno was massively at fault for the opening goal after getting caught out of possession.

The pair have been woeful since pulling on the red (or yellow) shirt, so hopefully, from and Anfield point of view, this will be the point at which the need to focus and pull their weight clicks.

After suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats, the Hammers fans didn’t have an awful lot to shout about over the festive period.

West Ham kicked off their Christmas fixtures with a tough trip to table-toppers Chelsea on Boxing Day. Sam Allardyce’s side travelled to Stamford Bridge full of optimism, but they also knew just how difficult a task that stood in front of them. The Hammers boss rested a couple of his big guns in Diafra Sakho and Alex Song, and subsequently ended up on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline. West Ham were second best for the majority of the game, and goals either side of half time from John Terry and Diego Costa was enough to give the Blues the points.

But West Ham’s clash with Arsenal two days later was a completely different game. Allardyce recalled Sakho and Song back to the starting line-up for the visit of Arsene Wenger’s side. The Gunners ended up winning the game 2-1, but it could have so easily been a completely different outcome. Ex-Arsenal midfielder Song had a superb 20-yard volley controversially disallowed for offside after just five minutes – then a debatable Santi Cazorla penalty and a Danny Welbeck strike put Arsenal surprisingly 2-0 up the break. Big Sam’s side rallied and pulled one back through Cheikhou Kouyate shortly after half time. They pressed until the final whistle – but Wenger’s side did enough to secure the win.

But the Hammers’ disappointing festive period must not take anything away from what has been an incredible campaign at Boleyn Ground thus far. This time last year, West Ham were easily beaten 3-1 by the Gunners on Boxing Day, before a 3-3 home draw with West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers went into the New Year second from bottom – with just 15 points gained from 19 games. This season though, after the same amount of matches, the east London club sit 6th in the Premier League table, with 31 points banked already.

It’s a remarkable achievement from West Ham, considering Allardyce was heavily tipped to part way with the Hammers in the summer. Even after the disappointment of losing to a 90th goal against rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day, what they’ve accomplished since is nothing short of exceptional.

It’s imperative for the Hammers that they get straight back on track against West Brom this afternoon. The Baggies are currently without a boss after the sacking of Alan Irvine yesterday, and Allardyce’s side must take full advantage and get back to winning ways. The defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal were the first time the Hammers have lost back-to-back games this season. The next few games will paint a clearer picture of just how good the Hammers are. After welcoming West Brom, West Ham face a trip to Swansea City before entertaining relegations strugglers Hull at the Boleyn Ground.

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Whatever happens from now to the end of the season must not take anything away from West Ham’s incredible progress this season. The bookies had the Hammers down for another season of struggling and another dogged fight for survival. But after already gaining nine wins so far – including excellent victories over Manchester City and Liverpool – it has already been a season to remember for the Upton Park faithful.

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Since Wayne Rooney has switched to play in a midfield position, Manchester United have lost the influence of one of their best attacking players. Rooney does have the ability to play in central midfield due to the work rate and passing ability of the England captain. However, Van Gaal’s desire to accommodate both Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao up front has meant that Rooney has been consistently played out of position.

There has been a lot of criticism surrounding United’s attacking play this season. At times they appear almost one dimensional, with Sam Allardyce claiming that the Red Devils adopted the long ball approach against his side at the weekend. One of the reasons behind this rather sluggish play is the fact that their attack lacks any real pace. Both Falcao and van Persie are not the quickest, whilst Angel Di Maria is the only player in United’s midfield to possesses any real speed. Clearly, this is an issue for Van Gaal as the team cannot unlock defences due to the slow, laboured build-up play.

As well as an absence of rapidity in the side, playing Wayne Rooney out of position is costing Van Gaal. Rooney is yet to score or provide an assist in 2015 – he hasn’t even registered a shot on target. At the beginning of the season, it looked as if a lot of United’s problems would lay at the base of their team. However, the basis of United’s problem couldn’t stem from more of an opposite effect. On paper, the attacking options Van Gaal has available at his disposal looks very encouraging. Although there is still a lot of attacking class in the team, things are not coming together for United in the final third.

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Van Gaal has looked to set up in a diamond formation in recent weeks, with Di Maria playing in behind the two strikers. This has left Wayne Rooney in a deeper role, denying him the opportunity to contribute as much as he would like to United’s attacking play. It is looking more and more likely that Van Gaal will have to adjust his team yet again this season.

Although he has quality players available, the system simply doesn’t suit his captain. The Dutchman may have to consider sacrificing either Falcao or van Persie in order to allow Rooney to play in his preferred advance role. The former Everton man is United’s second top goalscorer this season behind van Persie. His lack of goals in 2015 should be a cause for concern for Van Gaal and he should be looking to fix things sooner rather than later.

Rooney’s recent struggles could also be bad news for England as well. If he keeps being played out of position it will likely impact the national side negatively, with Hodgson tending to prefer Rooney in a more advanced role. It might be difficult for Rooney to quickly adapt to a more attacking mindset for his country when he is playing his club football in a deeper midfield position.

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It looks as if Manchester United have wasted Wayne Rooney in recent weeks due to the fact that he hasn’t been able to get involved in United’s forward as often as he should. He has been a real problem for West Ham in recent seasons due to his goalscoring form against the East London side, but on Sunday he was almost non-existent in terms of an attacking threat. If Van Gaal wants to see more from his Manchester United side, he should opt to play his captain in his more favoured position, as he looks a frustrated figure in midfield at the moment.

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After an excellent campaign last season which saw them secure European qualification; narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification, it’s fair to say this season has been a huge disappointment for Everton.

Baring some excellent performances in the Europa League, which were ultimately in vein as they crashed out in Ukraine, a lack of victories in the Premier League has been a real cause for concern.

One positive during a difficult season for the Merseyside outfit has been the performances of their star striker Romelu Lukaku, who has impressed yet again.

Following a successful loan spell at the club, Lukaku made a permanent switch to Everton last summer with Chelsea cashing in on one their brightest prospects for £28m. And although they will be delighted in the way he has performed at times this season; scoring 18 goals along the way, Roberto Martinez will now be anxious at the prospect of losing him this summer.

Having flourished in the Europa League this season with eight goals, it’s no surprise he has caught the eye of other clubs. There’s no doubting he has the ability to play at the highest level, and at just 21-years-of-age he has the potential to become one of Europe’s leading strikers, something he is already well on his way to achieving.

And here lies the problem for Everton.

It appears they will take no part in European competition next season, something that will disappoint a player of Lukaku’s ability. The Belgian will surely be looking to establish himself at a top European club who can offer him Champions League football on a yearly basis, and given his ability you can definitely see why.

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The striker belongs in the Champions League, or it’s understudy the Europa League at the very least, but unable to guarantee him this, Everton face the reality of losing their prime asset – and who could blame him if he tells the club he wants to move on?

It’s certainly possible that he may decide to stay at the club for another season and help them push once again for a top four finish, but failure to achieve this would surely mark the end of his time at Everton. Last month Lukaku publically revealed his ambition to arrive at a top club again, and having been linked with a summer move to Wolfsburg by Mirror Sport, it would be no surprise to see him move on at the end of the season.

The German outfit are well and truly on the up, and having impressed in the Bundesliga look set to take the Champions League by storm next season. Despite two loses to Everton in the group stages, they are firm favourites to lift the Europa League and would appear a perfect fit for Lukaku to take his career to the next level.

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With former Chelsea teammates Andre Schurrle and Kevin De Bruyne having benefited from a move to Wolfsburg, the Belgian would surely be tempted given the kind of talented squad they are beginning to assemble.

And with the Toffees typically regarded as a selling club, there will surely come a time when they will agree to cash in on the striker for a decent profit. Whether it will be this year remains to be seen, but if I were the Everton chairman I would already be lining up a replacement for when the inevitable happens.

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The race to avoid relegation has really heated up in recent weeks as the bottom three have all picked points that mean they could still get out of danger. And while it’s the three newly-promoted sides that occupy the bottom three at present and are favourites to make a swift return back to the Championship, Hull City could be the side in biggest danger of losing their Premier League status come the end of May.

For the majority of the season, Hull City have rarely been mentioned as possible candidates for the drop, and with a squad containing a number of talented established Premier League stars Steve Bruce was expected to comfortably guide them to safety once more.

But Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Swansea has left the Tigers in real trouble going into the final seven games, and they sit just two points ahead of Burnely and a resurgent Queen’s Park Rangers.

They sit bottom of the form table without a win in five games, and with no sign of their luck changing anytime soon fans of the club could be forgiven for feeling extremely anxious at the prospect of relegation.

And perhaps the most worrying part of it all is their fixture list over the next weeks that really will have alarm bells ringing. It’s safe to say Hull look in serious danger.

Bruce’s side have three games left in April, and it’s difficult to see them picking up many points given their current run of form. They travel to St Mary’s this weekend to face a Southampton side who will be desperate for a win to keep alive their faint hopes of Champions League qualification. They then welcome Liverpool to the KC Stadium, another side chasing the top four places who also will be in need of the three points.

You would say their final game of the month represented Hull’s best chance of picking up points when they visit Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace. But again this poses a hugely difficult task given the run of form the Eagles are on under new boss Alan Pardew as his side continue to climb the table. Their impressive victory over Manchester City on Monday has them showing no signs of letting up as the season draws to a close, and their aim of securing a top-half finish does little to suggest Hull can go there and win.

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So conceivably they could enter May and the final four games without anymore points to their name, and unfortunately for them things don’t get any easier. They host the league’s in-form side Arsenal who may still have an outside shot at the title when the two sides meet, before what could be the pivotal game of Hull’s season.

Burnley are the visitors to the KC on 9th May, in a game that looks like it will have a huge bearing on the fate of both sides. Given the fact Burnley continue to pick up points, it could be a must win for the home side and maybe their only real opportunity for another victory this season.

By the time they travel to Tottenham the week after they may well find themselves in the bottom three. They will be hoping by that time that Spurs’ can no longer qualify for the Champions League which could make a difficult game slightly more winnable, before their season finishes with a visit from none other than Manchester United. Not the team you want to be playing if you need points on the final day.

The Red Devils could still be challenging for second place, or on the other hand may need points themselves to seal a top four spot. Either way it’s another tough ask for Hull.

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So there you have it; worrying to say the least. A horrendous run of victories means it’s difficult to make a case for Hull beating the drop and remain above the chasing pack for much longer. They may well require two or three wins over the coming weeks to stay above QPR, Burnley and even Leicester who won at the weekend. But can you really see them doing that? I certainly can’t.

We all the Premier League can throw up some surprise results, particularly towards the end of the season when teams are fighting for their lives. And Hull have to take confidence from this and their recent defeat to Chelsea in order to give them the belief that they can stay up, otherwise their latest stay in the Premier League will reach it’s end once again after two seasons.

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Although far from being a glamour signing, James Milner appears to be one of the most sought after players going this summer. The Manchester City midfielder/striker/utility man appears set to leave the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer when his contract expires in a couple of months’ time, and Liverpool and Arsenal are keen.

The Reds have been mooted as favourites to land the 29-year-old, however, with Champions League football practically guaranteed at the Emirates Stadium for next season, north London may be a more tempting option for the experienced England international.

So, could getting Milner be Arsene Wenger’s most important summer transfer? We think so, and here are FIVE reasons why…

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Would add experience for title charge

Arsenal’s late surge this season played them right into contention for the Premier Legal title. However, an early run of poor results left them with more of a canyon than a gorge to bridge, which they ultimately failed to do.

The Gunners possess a wealth of amazing attacking talent in the shape of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, but very few of Arsene Wenger’s men have the experience of getting the job done in English football. Milner, though, has. The England international has lifted two Premier League titles in his time at Manchester City, and although he’s not been a vital figure in that spell, he’s surely picked up what it takes to get the job done.

Technically very good

Although hard work, willing running and a feisty edge are often the characteristics lauded in Milner, he’s actually a very good footballer in a technical respect. The 29-year-old is capable of scoring goals and contributing to precise passing around the edge of the area, which are two things asked of midfielders in a Wenger side.

As the free kick above shows, he’s more than just a battler!

Well-suited to a central midfield role

Injuries and other issues have forced Arsene Wenger to rotate his central midfield options. Right now, Santi Cazorla is often deployed in the middle of the park, which is far from being the Spaniard’s best role. Although talented, the former Villarreal man is better suited to the ‘No.10’ position, where he can thread neat passes without having get involved in the more physical side of the game.

Milner, however, is much more impressive in the engine room, where he combines his tireless running with tenacity. The Former Leeds man has long been a victim of his own versatility – he has played as a striker this season – but many Aston Villa fans will confirm that he was at his best when in the centre of midfield prior to his big money switch to the Etihad Stadium.

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Bargain

A player of Milner’s quality and experience for free is quite the deal. Okay, wages of £125,000-per-week and a potentially significant signing on fee will be needed, but a midfielder of a similar mould would likely cost in excess of £15m in the transfer market. A big saving and a top-class performer…. no brainer.

Keep him from a rival

With Manchester City doing all they can to keep him and Liverpool also circling, there’s every chance that if Arsenal don’t push through a deal Milner will be an opponent next season. If he’s at the Etihad Stadium he could be a factor in a title race, while Brendan Rodgers’ side are likely to be battling for a top four finish, putting them in Arsenal’s crosshairs. Food for thought, Arsene.

There are reports that interim manager John Carver has banned players from accessing the internet in a desperate attempt to prevent negative media coverage from getting into their heads and, I guess, getting them relegated. This sounds so pointless as no matter where you go everyone is talking about how wretched the Magpies season has been and ultimately that a club being managed horribly do actually deserve to drop into the Championship.

Fortunately for Newcastle one team (well, three) have been even worse than them and only a win against Manchester United will keep them from relegation. That team is of course Steve Bruce’s Hull. Only a few weeks ago Hull looked likely to avoid the drop after Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Leicester City seemed to have run out of time to save themselves, but the Foxes masterminded a truly great escape drawing one more team down into the battle.

Newcastle will have to hope that Hull can’t beat the 20 times domestic champions or that they themselves claim a final day victory over West Ham. With Sam Allardyce fighting to save his job you’d expect him to insist his players battle for a win over the Magpies once again as the Hammers won 1-0 when the two teams met earlier in the season. Likewise Manchester United have had a decent season but are definitely nowhere near the form of the Sir Alex Ferguson years, though they did beat Hull 3-0 when the teams met at Old Trafford back in November. The outcome is still very much up in the air with final day drama a mouth-watering certainty.

Hull’s last few fixtures which included meetings with Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs left most football fans sure that the Tigers would drop out of the Premier League but with just United to go, Bruce’s men still have a fighting chance – though their fate is not in their hands. Newcastle had a much easier run and yet they have squandered numerous chances to pick up vital points.

John Carver became interim manager in January when Alan Pardew jumped ship to manage Crystal Palace. The Eagles have flourished while Newcastle haven’t won a match since late February. That is an run in their last ten games which makes it no wonder that they are hanging so close to the bottom three. The Magpies looked as if they were starting to fight back after finally registering a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion but they quickly went back to their losing ways when they met relegated QPR last weekend.

At this point it is hard to believe that Newcastle haven’t just given up and switched off. I’m sure that more than a few of their players wish this season was over already so they could leave the disappointment behind and start enjoying their summer break. But with supporters more angry than ever the team really need to give their all in the final game which also happens to be at St James’ Park. Anything less is sure to cause a riot!

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