[Albion] How exactly did we blow the Championship title in 2016/17?

[Doug-ees-evil]

Thought I'd be over it too. But 7 years on, it still deflates and irritates me that me we didn't clinch the title with three golden chances to do so. I hardly missed a match, home or away in that glorious promotion season – and was at Norwich, Bristol at home and Villa away (Stockdale / Grealish moment still brings on palpitations). Felt we deserved to finish top of the pile that season – was the icing on the cake and we blew it... no one but our drunken selves to blame. Bristol City at home especially was one of the greatest fireworks pi*sed on I can ever remember.

Most of all though, I'm just gutted we haven't got this wonderful pot in our trophy cabinet

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

This thread is like “The Game”

I was doing ok until someone mentioned it

 

[BN9 BHA]

What the truth of it is, I don't know. but i don't just think it's alcohol. There's also a psychology element. When you've reached your target, it's very hard to stay on course for your secondary target. For example, I'm convinced that Leverkusen are going to lose at least one remaining game this season. It's human nature to fall below your normal levels at least once or twice

Newcastle won promotion with 2 games remaining, they stayed focused and won both

 

[GJN1]

A joke is funny, that wasn't.

Subjective.

 

[Me Atome]

I always wondered if it effected the mindset of the players at the start of the next season; not ideal for first season in the Premier league. Momentum and all that stuff. But that was then...

 

[Gazwag]

Because Baldock and Murray conspired to miss the easiest chance of the game at Villa and Stockdale fluffed his own lines in the same game.

I will always forgive Stockdale as IMO it was his penalty double save v Sheff Wed which we subsequently won late on with Knocky's winner that put us on the road to promotion.

 

[A1X]

This thread is like “The Game”

I was doing ok until someone mentioned it

Oh for fu...

 

[Commander]

This. We only needed 3 points.
Two flukey shots hit the woodwork and bounced back in off Stockdale.

You couldn’t make it up. In decades of watching football I’ve only seen it happen elsewhere just once.
Twice in one game. Nothing to do with drunk players, just plain bad luck.

And let's not forget the flukiest goal of all time that Newcastle scored at the Amex in the last minute that season either.

 

[Stat Brother]

Alcohol.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Bog standard reply.

Excellent…I’d hate to disappoint

 

[LamieRobertson]

Because Baldock and Murray conspired to miss the easiest chance of the game at Villa and Stockdale fluffed his own lines in the same game.

A lot of people forget that bit and concentrate on the latter

 

[Nobby]

Yes, it was.

Are you ok?

 

[AZ Gull]

And let's not forget the flukiest goal of all time that Newcastle scored at the Amex in the last minute that season either.

It was, indeed, the flukiest goal in the history of goals (although it was the equaliser in the 81st minute - Ayoze Perez scored a "normal" winner in the 89th minute):-

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

It still rankles. Three games left, one win needed. Then calamity x 3.

Hughton should have been sacked there and then.

Drink.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Hughton with the same players that GPot got would have been in the upper half of the Premier League. CH was and is the man.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

The defeat at home to Bristol City was particularly galling as my best friend, who worked for SkyBet at the time (sponsors of the league) came down for the game and was going to present the trophy to the team had we won

I had a 'money-couldn't buy' experience however, as I got into the directors' lounge beforehand and sat next to Martin Perry on my right and opposite Barber OBE and his family. Behind me sat Des Lynam and Bobby Z!!! Got hammered on the free bar and had a great time, the game notwithstanding!!!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Newcastle won promotion with 2 games remaining, they stayed focused and won both

But the barcodes had been there, done that many times before - and in their recent history, too. In contrast, for Brighton, it was the culmination of not just that season, but steady progression - with setbacks - over two or three seasons to reach the ultimate goal of the PL.

I think mentally and physically the players were shot - I don't completely buy into this "they were all pissed' shit - because they had given it everything to achieve the ultimate success. One they'd done that, the release and removal of pressure must've been immense, so it was probably natural they weren't at 100%.

 

[MTSeagulls]

I was in Los Cristianos and watched us lose the Norwich game in a Scottish/Rugby bar. After we just walked around the corner and there was a Karaoke bar where there were a few Newcastle fans.
We got chatting and I said at the time that I think we are on the beach already and they'd probably overtake us.
Despite this, one of them encouraged/made me get up and 'sing We Are The Champions' when another Geordie started telling me how arrogant I was.
This moment has haunted me ever since.

 

[Krafty]

 

[Albion my Albion]

"It's obvious that Brighton fans are all wet. And I'm not only taller but wider when I play 'keeper."