The trip to Switzerland and back last night (described as a nightmare journey) has to take some energy out of their performance. Bony did play 70 minutes last night, but Michu didn't play. That they also have Angel Rangel returning from injury at RB will help, but they'll miss Flores at CB and he'll be replaced by a 21 year old. Be good if RvW is at least on the bench so that he can come on as an impact sub.
Palace are at 2/5 effectively unchanged.Despite losing they gave Chelsea a hard time and could easily have taken a point.Sunderland's draw at West Ham is probably a better result for them than the hosts and they move out marginally at 8/11.Fulham despite a 4-1 reverse at Everton remain at 6/5 agin.Hull and West Ham share odds of 3/1 but this represents a move in different directions,Hull out from 11/4 West Ham in from 7/2.Cardiff now take West Ham's spot as 6th favourites for the drop at 7/2.Meanwhile Norwich at 9/2 are at their longest odds all season in 7th spot.Baggies appear in the betting for the first time at 6/1.
Looking ahead, here are the fixtures for this Saturday: Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Fulham v Manchester City Liverpool v Cardiff City Man Utd v West Ham United Stoke City v Aston Villa Sunderland v Norwich City West Brom v Hull City Swansea play Everton at home on Sunday.
Oh well, on to Fulham. I watched them play MC on Vietnamese TV and they looked good going forward but very shaky at the back. Far more creative than us, but who isn't? If we can beat one of our worst bogey teams on Boxing Day, perhaps this thread can be put to bed for a while. If not, I fear it's going to be active for the rest of the season.
The thread is a general one about who is likely to be relegated vietnam; it's not just about us and our chances of the drop. Make sure you enjoy Christmas Day now (in case your forebodings about Boxing Day turn out to be justified).
Well that was the intention of it when I originally set the thread up.of course it would be naive and arrogant to pretend at the start of the season that we would not be involved in the betting at some point.As things stand we are in the best position that we have been in since the season kicked off in August. Interesting to compare last season when after 17 games we had a ten point cushion compared to the six points we have now.However we then went on a bad run that saw us take just four points from the next nine games.Most would be surprised if that turns out to be the case again this year. If you look at the candidates immediately above bottom three this season they look to have the possibility of a further collapse.Cardiff,despite some decent results are in turmoil and it is hard to see any incoming manager improving things.The situation has elements of Southampton/Adkins but the chances of lightning striking twice seems remote.It will be interesting to see who replaces Malky but for my money they have had it.Of the others West Ham and West Brom have taken three points since the beginning of last month each with three draws and four defeats. And now the old Christmas Chestnut.Is the bottom team doomed? Sunderland looked pretty toothless yesterday and I think those Mackems who thought they were hard done by are kidding themselves,but have they had it?The stats might appear to say yes,but there are crumbs of comfort:50% of the clubs in bottom place were more than four points off 17th place.Last season QPR were six points adrift of 17th and nine off 16th. Other years: 2011 Blackburn Rovers -5 points 2010 West Ham -3 points 2009 Portsmouth -3 points 2008 West Brom -4 points 2007 Derby County -7 points 2006 Watford -8 points 2005 Sunderland -11points 2004 West Brom -5 points (survived) 2003 Wolves -5 points 2002 West Ham -4 points 2001 Ipswich -4 points
Just had a quick look at some odds and see Villa are now showing at 11/1, which I feel is more realistic than the 40/1 I saw quoted somewhere a few weeks ago!!!!
I think it will be a tough one However they have some slow players in Parker and karagonis that we can exploit Also their centre backs aren't great either
From the MotD highlights, they are very poor at defending against crosses into the box- Redmond and Snods please note!!!!
Let's have a look at the Christmas bottom 3s from the last few years. 2012: Reading, QPR, Wigan (all relegated) 2011: Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn (2 relegated) 2010: Wigan, Wolves, West Ham (1 relegated) 2009: Bolton, West Ham, Portsmouth ( 1 relegated) 2008: Man City, Blackburn, West Brom (1 relegated) 2007: Sunderland, Wigan, Derby (1 relegated) 2006: West Ham, Charlton, Watford (2 relegated) 2005: Portsmouth, Birmingham, Sunderland (1 relegated) 2004: Palarse, Southampton, West Brom ( 2 relegated) 2003: Portsmouth, Leeds, Wolves ( 2 relegated) So, last season was very unusual that all 3 went down. Fulham would be the one I think are most likely to escape from the current bunch
Villa are a strange team at the moment. Most fans say that they are one of the worst teams they have seen this season and I have to say I haven't seen much to make me think otherwise, even in their win at Carrow Road. Yet they continue to accumulate the points, maybe a testament to Lambert's ability to get the most out of an average bunch. Benteke's poor form obviously isn't helping them and I think it shows that he was all that really made them a threat last season.
Wondering whether Villa may indeed get drawn into the melee in the second half.They have not looked good lately.They are at home to a revitalised Palace on Boxing Day and Pulis will certainly be looking to that as the springboard for his next stage of the survival plan.Villa currently showing at 12/1. This weeks results saw us,Sunderland Hull and WBA as the only sides to get a point in the bottom half.As such the odds don't change much.Thursday will see us get the chance to open the gap still further.
I thought palace looked poor against newcastle on MOTD Amazed West Ham aren't in the bottom 3, although fulham have had 2 tough games in a row.
I still can't see either Palace or Sunderland surviving, IMO they are the two worst sides in the division. Third spot is well and truly anyones
Palace remind me of Reading last season, in that they've had a good(ish) run of results, but still haven't managed to get themselves out of the relegation zone, and that "new manager bounce" must be fading. I think how teams strengthen in January will be the key factor. West Ham, Palace, Sunderland, Fulham all look like they need some solid signings.
Wait until Huddelstone gets injured for Hull in the new year, I can see them sliding in the wrong direction over the next few months
I rate Bruce and think he will manage to keep Hull out of the fray.I think they are about equal to us.Our performances against the five teams beneath that we have played is terrific.Eleven points from three wins and two draws.
Promoted clubs are always vulnerable and the second half of the season will find out Hull for sure. The Cardiff situation is well documented (unbelievable though it is!) and surely has to undermine the team on the pitch. Add to those two Fulham and Sunderland who look poor and Palace who are fighting but well below standard - surely our prospects are decent! Finally the two Wests - Ham and Bromwich Albion are both struggling and will Andy Carroll be the Allardyce saviour? If they are waiting for that bit of magic the Eastenders may be disappointed.
