OK, we are all concerned about our run in and with some reason. However, consider our fixtures together with those of our fellow stragglers: I have only documented which of the big six each of us is playing and when we play each other. Bolton â Spurs, Man City, Newcastle. Then QPR,Blackburn and Wolves. Blackburn - Man United, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea. Then Wolves, Bolton and Wigan. QPR - all six! Then only Bolton. Wolves â Man United, Arsenal and Man City. Then Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan. Wigan â Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea. Then Blackburn and Wolves. Obviously there are other games we hope to win eg Swansea for us and maybe Stoke at home?? The point is that while we have to play all six, the others are playing each other and keeping the points down as likely they will be six pointers, hard fought. Wolves may have a slight edge since their games against the top sides are all at home. We only have Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham at home then away to the Machesters and Chelsea. I think Wigan have a tough run too. I have said elsewhere that I had a feeling we would beat either Arsenal or Liverpool (every dog has its day??) and others seemed excited at the prospect of playing Liverpool midweek under the lights. The final consideration for me is that we have a team that can and should improve. We all know it could not get much worse but, as discussed on multiple occasions, the new players will hopefully gel more etc etc. Apologies if duplicated on other threads but did not see as such. I am sure others will have a different view so let's see what you think? COYRss!!!!
good post RTID. Interesting to see those fixtures laid out like that. Although our run-in is daunting, no one has it easy do they? I think the time has come to try and be as positive as possible, as the ground against Fulham was full of angst and that must get through to the players. We really need to try to win at least 3 of our remaining home games imo to have any chance, but, as you say, this team MUST improve. Also, there will undoubtedly be some unexpected results along the way, so it's impossible to guess where the points are going to come from, although winning at Bolton would be huge!!
Cheers Col. I think it does look different when examined in this way. We have the scope to improve and perhaps only need to improve a little to secure that 17th (or better) place. Most of the other teams around us are as good as they are going to be.
it's not over till the large buger eatting slapper sings so I'm looking forward to a better prem performance next season
I am starting to think that 32-33 points may be enough to keep us up. I think the points required for safety this season may be at an all time low. If we stay up, it will be as much down to 3 teams being absoulte ****e as us digging ourselves out of this mess.
One thing to point out as well is that in all the struggling sides, it appears that only Wolves with Steve Fletcher and Kevin Doyle can score goals. I am confident that Cisse will be a massive bonus to us once he has completed his ban as he has played in the premier league before and has a decent enough goal scoring record. Bolton have got a tricky winger from Arsenal on loan who looks pretty good, Wigan have Rodellega (apologies if name spelt wrong) not really performing as well as he could and only their winger Moses and their keeper playing well. Blackburn are just unpredictable and I think that their fans may yet end up breaking the squad and getting them relegated. We just need SWP to get a goal to get his confidence back and the team to keep a clean sheet. a win would do loads for our confidence as well as finishing a home game with 11 men.
More or less what I'm thinking too. My latest attempt at the BBC predictor puts us 16th with 36 points with Bolton also safe in 17th with 30. Must be an all-time low.
God Ninj, you're not asking for much are you. SWP to score SWP to get confidence Team to keep a clean sheet The team to win The team to finish the game with ten men.
I did the BBC predictor too which gave me the idea to consider the run in this way. Was realistically harsh on us and we finished out of the drop zone. The point is, hope has not died yet and we do need to be positive in the stadium, as someone else has posted, to get behind the lads. Ninj, I saw Cisse being interviewed recently while on a holiday (chanel unavailable here) and was brimming with confidence and ridicule idea that we would go down. Obviously he is not going to say we are crap and already relegated but it was still nice to see!
Nice to see a positive post. Reasons to be optimistic positive: - Zamora/Cisse will be as good a strike partnership as any outside the top 6. - Luke Young and Helguson to come back - Samba Diakate will be a boost for us when he returns and learns how to stay on the pitch for the full game - And perhaps most importantly Wigan, Wolves, Bolton and Blackburn are all poor sides and with the exception of Wigan the remainder have significantly weakened since start of the year. Bolton and Blackburn llosing Samba and Cahill and Wolves managerial problems We need to stay positve on Saturday. Even if we go a goal behind we have players that can score goals now and every point counts.
I've got five loaves of bread and a couple of fish but I'm having a few people over for lunch at the weekend, maybe around 5000, any chance of making the sandwiches stretch?
Grove, I am talking to that Fella too in an effort to change out fortunes!! Possibly a tad busy with even more important stuff than QPR.
With SWP I have always had the feeling that he has been real unlucky, and that his lack of self-confidence has grown and grown with this. If he does just stay in the team long enough to get one, and he is due a lucky break, he may just score a hatfull. He seems to work and work as well, and like Mackie, deserves some good fortune.
Oi Oi, I said a number of times that Liverpool are a joke and that we'd beat them! On your OP buddy, you have Bolton playing us but we've played them twice already.
Hi Swords. Very happy for you take the credit, so long as we get the three points! Re Bolton, date of OP was before we played them. You Rsssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sorry mate, got it now. They look like very solid predictions there man. It may well come to pass. There's life in the auld dog yet!
