How many times in the last couple of seasons have other results gone completely in our favour, and yet we have failed to take advantage? Yesterday was the first time I can remember when the team were inspired by what they could achieve if they played up to their potential. If yesterday was the turning point, let's hope they remember how it felt!
QPR are not gone yet, not by a long shot. Yes they are 10 points behind us (and I'm pretty certain that if at FT at the end of our game against them in two matches time, they are still 10 points us (or more!) then there is no chance of them catching us), but they don't need to catch us to survive. 17th is obviously the magic target, and their gap to that is 6 points. With 12 games still left, the gap can be closed - especially when you look at QPR's remaining fixtures. Their home games include: Sunderland, Wigan, Stoke and Newcastle (plus Utd and Arsenal). Their away games include: Saints, Villa, Fulham and Reading (plus Everton and Liverpool). Unfortunately for them, they do have a tactically inept manager at the helm. As shown by their home game vs Norwich last weekend, playing without an out-and-out striker, and basically having nine or ten players behind the ball, will not score you enough goals or win you enough matches to survive. But they have the fixtures and, in my opinion, they have the players - if used if the right way, with the right formation. But opening this up slightly wider than just QPR, I would say it is the first time that some sort of gap has opened up between 16th and 18th. By no means am I saying it is therefore now three from four, but if those four are not careful then in two or three games time it could then be three from four. Now that ourselves and Newcastle have opened that little gap up, and attached ourselves to the heels of Norwich and Sunderland etc, there is definately scope for all of us to have 32+ points on the board after 29 games (West Ham could be there in four hours time!). And if that is the case, it would take a lot for two of those bottom four to catch any of us.
May be possible for QPR to stay up, but they would have to start winning (something they have rarely done) and hope teams above them stop picking up the odd wins. Their only chance was bringing in good players in the window and start winning, but not happened. Draws are not enough.
Totally agree that draw are not longer. Which is why that Norwich draw was such a blow, and which is why Harry badly needs to change his tactics. Mackie, aided by Tarraabt, will not win them anywhere near enough games. I know Remy and Hoillet are both injured ar the moment, but he needs to do something. If they carry on in this vain, they wont lose too many more matches, but they'll be long gone before the end of the season. I agree about the transfer window. I did fear, and expect, them to sign quite a few more players than they did. They made some good signings yes, but not to the sort of level that he did in that January transfer window of Pompey's great escape season. He basically bought them a whole new XI back then.
The QPR board is a very, very strange board. They all seem to be bemoaning the tactics and choice of players in recent matches, and yet not a single one of them seems to be blaming Harry. Indeed, the moment any non-QPR ventures on there and dares to speak a word against Harry, then start defending him to the hill. Do they not realise that the tactics and choice of players are down to Harry? I'm guessing the Harry loving media garbage of recent years really has taken them in.
QPR have won 2 games out of 26, cannot see there form altering too dramatically. Next 2 games are Man Utd and then us, be lucky to come away with a point from either. Will probably need then to win half there fixtures, not seeing it, defensively they are still fragile. Villa also defensively fragile, will go down. Will be close but I think Wigan might just pip Reading and stay up.
As far as the media is concerned, Harry is teflon-man. He got us relegated when we had a fairly decent side that any good manager could have kept up. He lost hope and passed the feeling of hopelessness onto the team. He will survive QPR's demise, because people will say it was a lost cause...but he had a lot of players there when he arrived...surely a team could have been knocked into shape.
Because we can beat the champions. Playing offensive football, creating chances and scoring from them is the hard bit. Eradicating a few defensive errors here and there (that we always seem to pay for!) I can deal with. We won't be mentioning the word relegation soon. I hope that'll please you more than making your point.
West Ham were 8 points ahead of us when I wrote this and Villa were 16th. I still believe QPR are certainties for the drop and I can't see Villa escaping it despite their result today. West Ham will just about survive I reckon but I can see it coming down to the final day.
Bottom half of the table will finish like this in my opinion. Saints Sunderland Newcastle Fulham West Ham Aston Villa Reading ------------ Norwich QPR Wigan Norwich just don't have enough quality and are in the worst form of the bottom 10, QPR just have too much to do and Wigan may go on a run similar to last season but somehow I doubt it this time.
Norwich have much more quality than Villa! They also have much more experience. I still think QPR, Wigan and Villa will go.
Villa have proved in the last few games that they are not a bad side, bad sides don't score 3 at Everton...I really rate Paul Lambert as a manager and they are just starting to get the results now.
We could also say something similar about Reading. I just want to keep away from this torment...in recent seasons I had forgotten all about how painful it is.
Think the worry will be over for us way before the last game. Looking at the run ins and the teams below us have much harder matches.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21498007# Interesting quotes from Lambert. Villa have a hrd run in. A couple of injuries or suspensions and they will really struggle. Think it's now QPR, Reading and Villa for me.
I have been thinking it will be those 3 teams for a few months now. I think it will be close between Reading and Wigan for 17th place though. Wigan to edge it by a point.
