Reading and QPR have too much to do. They may pick up a win or two, but not the 5 or 6 needed to survive. I have thought for weeks Sunderland would continue to slide down the table. Now with two serious injuries and a change of manager (what was the point?) in my opinion they are rapidly heading for the trap-door.
Agree. The new man might be a good motivator but he hasn't the tactical nous for the PL. Can't see him saving them but for Sunderland fans sake I hope I'm wrong.
Change of manager at Sunderland where they still have a chance of survival makes more sense than sacking McDermott at Reading. The odd win will make all the difference to Sunderland.
It would be a brave or rich man who placed a bet on Reading or QPR staying up, which leaves just one spot remaining below the trap door. With only 4 points separating Aston Villa in 18th with 12th placed Saints it's any-one's guess as to who will fall into the Championship. Wigan seem to be quite apt at the Houdini act, so I think it's high time they took the plunge.
How much do you actually know about the tactical nous of Di Canio? Been to a lot of Swindon games recently? I don't mean to sound aggressive, but I think too many people are too quick to question the tactical awareness of managers who are good man-managers. Just because you excel tactically, or as a man-manager, it doesn't mean you can't be just as good in the other department. While Di Canio is clearly a good motivator, his success at Swindon implies he is also tactically aware. Obviously League 2/1 is a long way from the Premiership, but I'd be more hesitant with my thoughts on Di Canio.
I must admit, I reserve judgement on Di Canio's footballing knowledge. He's the type where it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Sunderland drop like a stone [ie carry on where they left off] or rise like a phoenix from the ref's first whistle. Mercurial is the term I think of, when it comes to Di Canio.
I agree with that, Sunderland have some good players in the squad but need motivation, I reckon Di Can will get a couple of results which will be enough, Nigel has a much tougher job at Reading but I wouldn't write him off yet, but it looks hopeless. I think Wigan will survive, but any team from 12th downward could still have a nightmare finish and take the drop, hopefully we have enough to avoid it.
Money cannot buy success, Harry Redknapp and Mark Hughes have confirmed that. Of course it helps, but you still need a degree of managerial prowess. Completely agree.
There is still a lot to do for who ever to stay out of the bottom three. Two bad results for any of the pack up to and including us could pull them into the mire. Agreed some of those already in the mire will have get the right results however we know that escapes are possible from seemingly impossible situations just look into our own history.
The Villa win yesterday has dragged Stoke right into the mix. Personally I still thin Sunderland will be he third team but Stoke fans must be seriously worried. A win for Wigan today and................
A few games ago I would have said Wigan or Villa would compete for third relegation spot, but it's all opening up now. There are still six games to go, so anything could happen.
If Wigan win today, then Saints, Villa and Wigan have picked up 13, 12 and 12 points in the recent for guide and sit pretty in that recent run. I will be watching later with my Wigan supporting wife and inside a part if me will be thinking that if QPR win, Wigan will struggle to catch us. Our 11 year old son however will not keep that thought inside, but all be screaming for QPR regardless of his Mum.
Good point FLT. On current form it's between Stoke and Sunderland for the drop and they play each other in a couple of weeks. Some very tense games coming up! How good that we are out of it!
Yes Lamballana, and you can add to this that most the teams involved in the mix play each other in the coming weeks. Wigan v QPR and Villa; Sunderland v Stoke and Newcastle and Villa; Stoke v QPR. So pleased to be wondering if we can close that 4 point gap on Swansea.
Sorry, I can't do it. I'd happily see a Wigan win today. Draw would be perfectly acceptable though. But yes, today is potentially finally the day - the day where I potentially join the other 99% of the football supporting country in agreeing that QPR are down. Like Reading yesterday, if QPR lose today then that really is that for them. Woo hoo.
Wigan win for me too. Feeling confident enough in our position that my cheering interests aren't solely derived from hoping that the teams 16th-20th fall flat on their faces.
