How Sheffield and Wigan can get West Ham relegated on Sunday
Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic are preparing to sue West Ham if West Ham manage, somehow, to stay in the Premiership on Sunday.
You’d think that if West Ham were relegated, both Sheffield and Wigan would let the matter lie and not push for punitive damages. And considering the fact that a lawsuit will not compensate for relegation, it is in Sheffield’s and Wigan’s best interests to ensure that West Ham are relegated.
And here’s how they can make that happen.
If West Ham get a point from their Old Trafford game, the party’s over - they will survive, and as a result one of Sheffield and Wigan will be relegated. In that case, Sheffield and Wigan will go all out for a win, although Sheffield will know that even a draw should see them through.
If West Ham lose, things get a lot more interesting. Sheffield could throw the game, allow Wigan to win by a single goal and thanks to better goal difference, both Sheffield and Wigan would go through, relegating West Ham.
I’m not suggesting that Sheffield would do anything of this sort. But let’s face it - it’s far easier to get West Ham relegated and avoid the whole mess rather than have one of the two main suing clubs relegated and then embroil the three clubs in a legal battle. Plus there’s no guarantee that either Wigan or Sheffield will collaborate with the other if one of them is in the Premier League and the other isn’t.
Right now, Wigan have the most to lose, which is why they’re making the most noise.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wigan and Sheffield played a cagey game till half-time, then checked the West Ham - Manchester United score and depending on that score, base their strategy.
Eventually though, it’s hard to imagine that either club would collaborate - not because of legal repercussions, but simply because they’re not going to trust one another.
And that’s a shame, because the drama would have made this far more interesting than a silly court case. As things stand, Wigan are still not good enough to stay up on their own, but if they want to prove that theory wrong, they’ll have to beat Sheffield United away and then pray that West Ham lose.
- Wigan, Sheffield United, Fulham and Charlton are not good enough to stay up on their own
- Pick 3 survivors out of 5: Fulham, Wigan, Charlton, West Ham & Sheffield United
- Relegation Dogfight: West Ham, Charlton, Fulham, Wigan and Sheffield United
- Tevez and Alex Ferguson keep West Ham in the Premiership
- West Ham patching holes, but is there enough time?
Discussion - 14 Responses
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Come on now Ahmed, the games all kick off at the same time, and to be honest, if i was a sheffield united fan there would be now way i would take such a risk. What happens if the scores just 1-0 united or 1-1, i dont think the law suit will have any outcome in the match.
Its just all tabloid influence this story.
This is pathetic.
Yes, West Ham cheated and the punishment was a let-off. But if Sheff Utd and Wigan fix the match then this is cheating to a much greater extent and should definitely be punished with a points deduction.
2 wrongs don’t make a right, and you cannot cheat your way to safety just because you think West Ham have.
“Wigan are still not good enough to stay up on their own, but if they want to prove that theory wrong, they’ll have to beat Sheffield United away and then pray that West Ham lose.”
Wigan would stay up if they beat Sheffield United, regardless of the West Ham result. West Ham will stay up if they win or draw against Man Utd, or if Sheffield United win or draw. West Ham would also stay up if they lose and Wigan beat Sheffield United by at least four goals, which, of course, aint gonna happen!
Yes, I know it’s risky.
No, no tabloid story read before writing this.
I am, if you notice, presenting a possibility and have already mentioned that it’s pretty much unlikely because the two teams won’t trust each other.
I don’t see why you guys have to attack something you don’t bother completely reading.
In any case, things like this HAVE happened before in the past, and there isn’t a lot that ruling associations can do about it. I seem to recall watching a video of a certain match between Germany and Poland in the World Cup (1970?). Both teams needed a draw to progress, and, quelle surprise, the neighbouring nations failed to put a goal past each other.
Obviously, the stakes are quite a lot higher in this case (at the very least financially), and there is the subplot of the lawsuit/Tevezscherano scandal in the picture. But it’s not impossible…
I think you are referring to the Austria v West Germany match in 1982, Hugo. A German win by fewer than three goals would see both teams through and it became farcical once Germany took the lead on ten minutes. No doubt that there was an agreement between the two sides, as Algeria would have gone through had Austria taken a point, or Germany won by three, so the result, a Germany win, was enough to see both teams progress. The remainder of the game (there were 80 minutes left when Germany took the lead), was played out with all the passion of a practice match between sloths!
They changed the rules of world cup qualification, as a result, so that teams’ last games were played simultaneously.
It would certainly make things more interesting, regardless of how difficult it is to pull off.
Don’t agree, Ahmed. Sheffield United can’t afford to hang on for a point, any more than West Ham can. It’s more likeley that the Blades will come out with edges sharpened, but will increasingly settle for a draw should West Ham be getting stuffed at Old Trafford. I wouldn’t be at all surprised, if, with five minutes to go and West Ham incapable of getting anything, Wigan miraculously score their first goal in eons, which is why West Ham have to keep it close. The best form of defense is attack and I expect all three relegation contenders to do just that.
Certainly an interesting situation.
If West Ham can play like they have in last few games - they may be able to steal a point at Old Trafford - given ManU are clear and dry.
But Wigan playing Sheffield United at same time is bizarre.
Would like West Ham to stay up - Curbishley will be big hero - along with Tevez of course - what a player!
Just a question.. what with the corny picture at the top of the two dogs fighting ?
Wont Happen
IF Wigan and Sheffield United play a cagey game till half time, a supposed 0-0 draw at the break, then Wigan will be in trouble if West Ham are beating Man United.
Wigan will lose a whole half and regard it as 45 minutes wasted.
Thanks for the information Stelios - one of the drawbacks of being 19 and therefore not having been alive when said event took place! Oh well, I tried!!
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