Glad to see this revived. I still think we'll have a much clearer picture when 19 games have been played at the halfway point and everybody will have played everybody else. 7-8 points from those and City's position will be looking much better.
A quite spectacular revival for Palace's chances.From 1/14 three games back to 1/3 now.Hammers still 7/1.That seems incredible compared to the other teams around them,especially given their next five games.Arsenal,liverpool,ManU and WBA plus Sunderland-that will be a scrap!
1 Arsenal 1-4 L Away 2 Chelsea 1-3 L Home 3 Man City 0-7 L Away 4 Liverpool 5 Everton 2-2 D Home 6 Newcastle 1-2 L Away 7 Southampton 1-0 W Home 8 Man Utd 9 Tottenham 0-2 L Away 10 Hull 0-1 L Away 11 Aston Villa 0-1 L Home 12 West Brom 13 Swansea 14 Norwich N/A 15 West Ham 3-1 W Home 16 Stoke 1-0 W Away 17 Cardiff 0-0 D Home 18 Fulham 19 Crystal Palace 1-0 W Home 20 Sunderland
Out of that lot, and going mostly on performance, I think we've dropped a total of 6 points that we realistically could/should have picked up (3 against Hull, 1 against Villa, 2 against Cardiff). However, I think we've somewhat overachieved in other matches, picking up a 'bonus' 5 points (1 against Everton, 2 against Southampton, 2 against Stoke). Leaves us 1 point worse off than we could/should be - simply in my opinion of course.
I think that's about right, JK. I'd of said 1 point from Hull before the match started, though. My optimism is based on the new players improving more and more as the season goes on, injuries decreasing, and a couple of key signings in January. Time will tell though.
I was thinking about creating a new thread breaking down the games so far this season into categories based on our pre-season realistic expectations because I honestly think when you look at it like that we're not/Hootun isn't doing too badly at all. Of the seven games we've lost, five of them would be games that we would probably, realistically have expected to lose - Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Newcastle away and Chelsea at home - with only the Villa and Hull games being ones that we would have expected to have got something from. Since then Hull have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack with Sunday's win over Liverpool proving that they are certainly no mugs and on their day Villa can beat anyone, as they have shown against Arsenal and Man City. The games we have won - Stoke, Southampton, Palace and West Ham - are exactly the kind of teams we should be looking to beat, and we did beat them so for me we are bang on course this season and I just don't get why so many people still want a new manager to come in. I really am confused What is most important for me is that we've not lost against any of the teams below or immediately above us, and in fact Cardiff are the only of those where we have dropped points - and anyone who saw the game will know just how much we dominated that one. Some of the stats the anti-Hootun lot keep churning out are just plain nonsense, such as the one about how we've "only won 7 out of 33 games" or whatever it is this calendar year. What they fail to mention is that during those 33 games we have played Arsenal, Man City and Man United way twice so it is clearly not representative of a full premiership season, though obviously that matters not when you're trying to drum up a bit of negative propaganda eh? That Charlie Wyatt dickhead trotted out that on Sky last week, first time I'd actually seen him on the telly and I have to say he came across as a bit of a tosser.
I thought I'd revive this as the WBA result has certainly changed the picture regarding relegation. Yes there is still a long way to go, but City have already equaled last year's total for away wins (Swansea and ManCity). It's still important to get over 20 points by the half season, which would mean at least 4 points from the next four games: Swansea(h), Sunderland(a), Fulham(h), and ManUtd(h). That's a modest target IMO, but that's what yesterday's win has done for us. With at least 6 points from those, the pressure would ease on CH and the players and hopefully we'll see the open attacking play we all want to see. OTBC!
With the way the results have gone this weekend, it makes yesterday win that little more important. We have got a good run of games to pick up some points, even think Man United at home is very winnable game now lol.
Shame Fulham played very well and won today, it's all getting rather tight again, when at one point there were two, if not three teams looking to get cut adrift.
A real good important win for you lads yesterday. It's all getting very close down there at the moment. Sunderland are the only team that are drifting away a bit despite some good performances. I don't expect Palaces mini revival to continue. Despite today's result, I would expect Fulham to continue to struggle. West Ham are starting to look in real trouble too. It's getting really tough to pick 3 teams now and anyone up to Stoke in 12th are still in the mix as it stands. That said, I still think you'll be okay, especially if Hooper is starting to score.
It's worth a look at next week's fixtures: Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion Chelsea v Crystal Palace Everton v Fulham Hull City v Stoke City West Ham United v Sunderland Aston Villa v Manchester United Norwich City v Swansea City Could be flirting with the top half of the table if we win and other results are good!
West Ham -Sunderland is going to be a massive game, Sunderland win and they're back in the hunt, lose and they're a minimum of 6 points from safety.
I was looking for the BBC predictor but it's no longer there. One thought came to mind is the tantalising thought of going above the mighty Man U.
What an incredible season this is turning into.The top nine all have some sort of title/top four aspirations the other eleven have to some extent relegation fears.
I wonder if the magical 40 points may not be quite enough this year the way things are going. It could take 42 / 43 as teams pick up as the grim reaper comes a calling in end of April / May.
I know it's a bit silly to say "we should win this game, draw this one and lose this one", but I've just been looking our results so far and comparing them to my realistic points target for each game. For what it's worth, I personally think we could/should have 20 points at this stage, so we're currently 3 points behind my target. Not terrible really.
it's possible thurnby as there has been some unusual results. on the flip side, the winter can be a hard slog, and at the moment there are what 4 teams on less than 1 point per game, nothing to suggest that won't continue.
There are a lot of factors involved over the whole season, Thurnby. One is injuries - the away win at WBA is even sweeter considering that City have 5 top players out injured. Squad size and depth of quality players is a huge factor, and this seems to be something CH has achieved so far. Another factor is squad morale as the ups and downs occur. In spite of their win yesterday, Fulham's morale can't be helped by Berbatov's agent trumpeting his desire to leave the club in January. City's squad morale seems solid, in spite of the results at Man City and Liverpool. There is also the integration of players signed in the summer, which for City has been disrupted by injuries so far. Fer has worked his way into the squad over 14 matches and Olsson has done the same over 10 matches. RvW has only had 7 matches, with injury intervening just as he was seeming to settle in. Hooper has had 8 matches since his first substitute appearance against Chelsea (at least the injuries didn't coincide). Fatigue is another factor, and ironically, City's injuries may lessen that factor at the end of the season. Finally, there is money available if CH needs to strengthen further in January and how many bottom half sides can say that? Other factors may intervene, but it's not easy to say who will be hit or helped along the way.
It's not really the number of points that you have accumulated as much as your position relative to the other teams in the mix.Sunderland are now nine points adrift,more than they have gained in fifteen games and we are four points clear of three other sides.The four teams above us are two points or less better off.As I pointed out eleven sides are in the mix.I still stick by my 36/7 point forecast.
