I can see us going to Man City on the last day either needing a draw or a win or having to rely totally on other results on that day to keep us up. A bit like QPR last season.
Southampton should be safe before their last two, Sunderland away and Stoke at home. They will be two of the many key fixtures for us.
Bookies odds mean nothing at this stage of the season CT. Look at villa, 3 months ago everyone thought they were dead and buried and the same for the saints and wigan. The form guide goes out the window as teams are fighting for their lives. I totally disagreed with the sacking of Nigel Adkins at the time, but now that move looks inspired.
I agree, must beat Reading as we're unlikely to repeat the Arsenal away result last season. We could be 16th after next week. Reading is the game that I'm most confident of winning. Think we'll draw with Stoke and WBA and lose the others, Villa included. That'll get to 40 points.
I think 40 points will be what is required to avoid relegation and even then it will be tight. Arsenal will thrash us, they are on top form right now. Just got to hope that it doesn't effect the players mentality too much.
I dread to think what could happen if we flunk the Reading game. Hopefully, the lad Ruddy will be back by then. We're certainly not having much luck with our goalkeepers this season. Takes me back to 1995 with form and goalkeepers.
I totally disagreed with the sacking of Nigel Adkins at the time, but now that move looks inspired. __________________________________________ Nigel's two & a half years were some of the most fun times I can remember supporting Southampton, so when he was sacked after the recent good run I was mortified. Where the media just decided it was an attack on another promising English manager (especially as the replacement apparently can't speak a word*), the majority of Saints fans wholeheartedly support & have faith in Nicola Cortese, he hasn't put a foot wrong since taking over the running of the club in 2009. As each match passes, you can see that the chairman has made a decision that will help the club progress & meet his own scary expectations. I hope that Nigel is given the time to build at Reading, if so, we'll all be seeing him again pretty soon. *He can speak English, just not confidently enough to do interviews.
Although I think we have a better chance than some people think of taking points from the west brom game and even stoke. I think there could be a victory in one of those games and for some reasonI fancy it to be the West Brom match. I just have an inkling.
I think we can get something from the Stoke game too. Been tinkering with the BBC predictor, 39 points, which is higher than the average, should see us safe...and to think many people were predicting lower, which looked the target a few weeks ago.
Reading will likely be all but mathematically relegated when you face them, and sadly they don't have much fight left; they played well yesterday in the early-going, but as soon as the first goal went in they wilted. I suspect that you'll win handily, and 38 points will either be enough, or a single point from your final three away from enough.
I'm still confident that City will get the 5 points needed but the Reading game will be pivotal. Four other chances for points if not.
It always looks bleaker for your own club.You contemplate all the dire possibilities like getting no more points from six games.Experience should tell us though that we are pretty unlikely not to get four and currently I think 39 would see us safe.Would you prefer to be supporting Sunderland or Stoke at present?
I got 39 points too. It's natural to look on the bleak side. I'm always thinking 'we can win this', but it deflates you when we don't.
So Villa,Newcastle and Southampton get three points,we get one along with Wigan,Stoke and Sunderland get none.Net gain to Villa who move out of the relegation spots while Wigan drop back in.Latest odds: Reading 1/33 on QPR 1/8 on I think we can safely assume that two relegation places are taken. Sunderland 7/4 against Wigan 2/1 against Villa 10/3 against Stoke 8/1 against Norwich 12/1 against Geordies 33/1 against 8/1 Stoke looks generous to me given their form and fixtures remaining.
