Well where did we expect to be this morning?

Looking at the first eight matches I saw it like this.The only one of the four aways that offered any possibility was Fulham and they are our bogey team.I expected us to beat QPR and West Ham,draw with Liverpool,lose to Arsenal. So,we would have had seven points instead of six.

But it doesn't really end there because I didn't expect to see teams with three and four points on the board either,so our six points placing us fifteenth is a bonus.I predicted at the start of the season that a low points total will see safety this year and I see no reason to revise that.

Another positive: Of the teams we have played only QPR are outside the top twelve.Oddly I felt better after the Liverpool game.In fact I can place my change in mood much more accurately than that.It was the moment Holt got clear of the Scouser's defence and finished so well.From that moment on we were back in business.

 

similar to me. i felt we'd have 7 points at this stage. i felt we'd beat qpr and west ham and pick up a surprise point against one of the big boys, probably liverpool if i'm being honest! those two home draws were hard to take because of the manner of each game - we should have won comfortably in both, but in a way that highlights that we are better than both those teams, they just got lucky on the day. did people really think we'd win at chelsea or beat arsenal? football is unpredictable, even in this most-predictable of leagues! we've got a decent looking run of games coming up, where points are realistic in almost every match, so hopefully we can put a decent run of results together now. we won't win them all but two or three wins from the next six games will be a good start.

 

just to add, we have already achieved the same number of clean sheets this season as we did in the whole of last season, albeit one was against league one doncaster.

 

Of the next 8 games only United and Everton are in the top half,so maybe ten points from these?

 

i guess it doesn't matter too much where the 6 points came from. 6 from 8 and in those 8 we've played some decent teams - Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs and Fulham
fingers crossed we can build the confidence from here

 

So you're saying all the teams we've played are decent - apart from QPrcelona

 

my plan worked

 

You were pretty much spot on with your prediction of what would enough last season cruyff. Just for interest, we are currently 2 points below the safety curve on the graph for a 40 point total, and 1.5 points below on the 36 point graph. Last season we had 11 points, after back to back wins in games 5 and 6, and another win in game 8. Over the next 10 games we steadily accumulated points, with the odd win punctuated by draws, and were well above the line on both graphs. If we can keep steadily picking up points now, we will soon be above the line and keeping distance between ourselves and 18th place.

 

I think that's right isn't it? Whether QPR are is still a matter of conjecture.I notice the pundits are still saying they are.I do wonder if they have just got into the habit of not winning and it will be uphill for them.

 

i watched qpr yesterday. they played quite well against an everton badly missing fellaini, but at no point did i think qpr would win the match, even against ten men. there's something not right at that club...

 

I just have a feeling that 33-34 might be enough this year.At this point last year the bottom six clubs had 7,7,6,6,5 and 5 points This year it reads 6,5,5,4,3,3. So thats just 26 points compared to a total of 36 last season.Of course the bottom clubs could all stage a revival but it looks a low points total year so far.By the way,looking at the fixtures played I would say that Villa are the furthest adrift in terms of what they might have expected.They are the only team to be restricted to a single goal against Southampton.

I do wonder if something is seriously wrong at Villa.There were constant rumours here about Lambert falling out with players.They need a win Saturday more than we do.

 

Lambchops will be looking at the Norwich game as a big opportunity to get his Villa team moving in the right direction. They certainly need a win more than we do. I'm really looking forward to this match up. A win could be a defining moment for Chris H, if he gets the tactics right and we put in a performance to be proud of. Roll on Saturday.

 

Not just here either. We were warned about that by Col U fans I remember; they spoke of PL having his favourites and other players being frozen out. To be fair though, the spirit in our squad remained strong throughout his time here, which suggests there wasn't that much internal disharmony.