Blue Is the Opposite of Blue
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- Joined
- 25 Feb 2014
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After losing 3-1 at home to Southampton we were staring relegation in the face with a squad that could have easily faded into nothing. Had we gone down there was every chance that we'd have lost Anelka, James, Fowler, Wright-Phillips, Distin and others who helped propel us up the table the following year. Even the signings of Ben Thatcher and Danny Mills the following summer added some much needed Premier League experience.
A lot is made of that Newcastle game for Wanchope's winner, but draws against Aston Villa, Tottenham, Wolves and Leicester were just as important. David James saved two penalties against Wolves and Leicester to preserve draws for us, and late goals from Distin at Spurs and Wright Phillips against Wolves were just as important. When you're down in a relegation dog fight you need those moments desperately.
Leeds, Leicester and Wolves went down that season. We all know what's happened to Leeds, Leicester have only just come back up this season and Wolves have been yo-yoing through the Football League ever since. There's a very real possibility that it could have been us had we gone down. We certainly wouldn't be where we are today, that's for sure.
A lot is made of that Newcastle game for Wanchope's winner, but draws against Aston Villa, Tottenham, Wolves and Leicester were just as important. David James saved two penalties against Wolves and Leicester to preserve draws for us, and late goals from Distin at Spurs and Wright Phillips against Wolves were just as important. When you're down in a relegation dog fight you need those moments desperately.
Leeds, Leicester and Wolves went down that season. We all know what's happened to Leeds, Leicester have only just come back up this season and Wolves have been yo-yoing through the Football League ever since. There's a very real possibility that it could have been us had we gone down. We certainly wouldn't be where we are today, that's for sure.