This is where we gain from our extra away game played.Four at home,two away.Personally I have modest ambitions and would settle for seven points from these fixtures.I find it hard to predict where the points might come from given our recent form as on the day we could beat any side,hopefully get more than seven.
Wigan (H) - Win West Brom (A) - Possible draw Chelsea (H) - Possible draw Man City (H) - Expected loss West Ham (A) - Possible draw Newcastle (H) - Win On current form that is, so perhaps 8 points if it went to plan but who knows. Could we beat Chelsea? On the right day, yes. We beat WBA twice away last season, so again it's not impossible, especially with their recent form. West Ham - Again, sliding down the table but could wallop us on the day The other three I am pretty confident with my predictions
I totally agree with you on current form of all the teams. The only one I'm a little hesitant about is Newcastle at home. They're on a terrible run at the moment, but they have some class players so I wonder whether their form might have turned by the time we play them
I don't know about West Ham sliding down the table,they are still above us on GD,but they are one of those teams I am not convinced by.If I had to pick a side that will finish below their current place it's them.
Don't forget we've been on a run as well and it does have to come to an end. How we recover when that happens is the measure of how good we are, strength of opposition permitting. But I expect us to get something from every home game. Expect, but not presume because football isn't like that. But I am buoyant and optimistic before every home game. So I think 7/8 points would be well acceptable and put us in a very strong osition for the new year and maybe a couple of signings to boost the squad.
if we get 8 points plus, then safety is a very real possibility with games to spare. 30 points after 22 games would be a cracking return and leave us requiring an estimated 10 points from 16 games (might not even need that many). personally i fancy us getting those 8 points from those 6 games.
My thoughts are: Wigan (H) - Draw 1-1 West Brom (A) - Draw 0-0 Chelsea (H) - Draw 0-0 Man City (H) - Loss 1-3 West Ham (A) -Loss 0-2 Newcastle (H) - Win 2-1 6 points from 6 games I reckon with Saturday's game a difficult one to call - depends how we regroup after the Villa defeat - can't see us losing but it will be a tough game (as it was last year) against a Wigan side who feel they can get something and will play their ass off to do so.
Why is everyone so defeatist against City? We have already beaten their neighbours,who,according to the table are a better team.
City are one team I would always expect to beat us with their current squad. They will pass and pass until it becomes monotonous. But by doing so it tends to negate our style of backing off and defending deep. They have three or four players who can beat a man easily around the box and pull the rest of defenders out of position. I'm no coach but I still think the best way to beat Mankini is to defend high up the pitch.
Wigan will be the key, IMO . Win that and City have a good chance of moving clear of relegation as well as into the top of the table. Villa play Liverpool away Southampton play Chelsea away Sunderland play ManUre away Newcastle play Man City at home. A win could put City 10 points clear of 18th place while moving up into the top half of the table: West Ham play WBA away Stoke play Everton at home Swansea play Spurs away
I'm feeling fairly positive for the next few games...hoping Tuesday's loss can be turned into a positive league wise - Wigan - win West brom - win - looks like a better time to play them and if we come close a Swansea first half performance no reason why not. Chelsea - win. Cheeky 1-0. Holt. 83rd minute. Man city - loss. Aguero inspired tanking. West ham - draw. Newcastle - draw
Sorry, gruffnuts, your calculation would make it 11 out of 18, not 15. Apologies, but still a massive ask?
Unless I'm mistklen, we've taken 11 points from the last 15 that were possible. Much will depend on injuries. With Bennett/Turner back in defence, Whitaker and Garido, Tettey and Hoolahan, I'm confident we can get wins.
Personally I think we are more than capable of beating Wigan - not a great team and not in any osrt of form - and WBA - on a run of 3 defeats and wheels starting to fall off perhaps? Can't see us beating either Chelsea or Man City (liked the Marsupial's post on that one!). Both West Ham and Newcastle for me are really close calls - if we play well we have every chance but both clubs have some quality players who can hurt anyone. I'd happily take 2 wins, draws and defeats just to keep our poits to games average the right side of 1:1 which will leave us very well placed on 30 points with 16 games to go.
this looks on paper like a tough sub-set of fixtures. i'm not going to predict what points we will get in what games, but if we get a haul of 6 points from them i will be happy - if we average a point a game until the end of the season we will be more than safe OTBC
we should not fear anyone, I always think we can win, I know our guys will give it all they can if we only get 3pts from next 4 games that gives us 25 points at half way if you had told me a couple of months ago we would be on 20 points half way I would have been happy, no pressure on the lads we can beat the big teams just by being NORWICH!!!!!