If Watford were able to win their last four matches they would arrive on 72 points. That would allow them to pass Wigan Athletic who have 70 points, but I do not see Wigan failing to get points from their last four games. The other teams above us are more easy to catch as they have three matches to finish. Brighton and Hove Albion have 65 points and must meet Blackpool and Yeovil at home and the last game is Nottingham Forest in Nottingham. Reading have 64 points and meet Middlesbrough at home then visit Doncaster Rovers and finish with Burnley visiting. Ipswich Town also have 64 points and meet Bournemouth Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday at home, then away and they finish at home. Nottingham Forest have 62 and visit Leeds United and Bournemouth before they have Brighton. Bournemouth with 62 points play two games away from home against Ipswich Town and Millwall separated by a home match against Nottingham Forest The only other club ahead of Watford is Blackburn Rovers which has 61 points. Bllackburns last three matches are travelling to Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic then meeting Wigan Athletic at home. Watford have three matches away from Vicarage Road, QPR then Derby County followed by a short journey to Charlton and the last game is Huddersfield Town in Watford. Grasping for straws I think if all the promotion rivals cancel each other and draw and allowing for them to win all other remaining games Watford will be very lucky to get to the sixth seat. Brighton would have 72 points, the same as Watford could reach but with a poor goal difference. Reading might get 71 points, Ipswich 69, Nottingham 67, Bournemouth 67 and finally Blackburn 68. For Watford I think 8 points is the most we can hope to gain and a finish on 68 points. So the final table will look like this Leicester City Burnley --------------------------------- Derby County Wigan Athletic Queens Park Rangers Brighton and Hove Albion 72 --------------------------------- Reading 71 Ipswich Town 69 Watford 68 Blackburn Rovers 68 Nottingham Forrest 67 Bournemouth 67 What do I know....
I expect us to get one point from the next two games then win our final two. That would give us 67 points. My predictions are 1 Leicester 100 2 Burnley 91 3 Derby 83 4 QPR 82 5 Wigan 75 6 Brighton 72 7 Ipswich 71 8 Reading 69 9 Watford 67 10 Bournemouth 66 11 Blackburn 66 12 Nottm F 65 I never win the Euromillions either
If I were an optimist, I'd say we will get 10 points from our final four games, drawing at Derby. As I'm not, I expect we will lose at Derby and get 9 points. Even with that, we will pip Brighton on GD as I think they will lose at home to Yeovil and draw with the Florists. Reading will lose to Burnley, draw with Middlesbrough and beat Donnie, leaving them on 68 points Florists will draw with both Bournemouth and Brighton, beat the Weeds leaving them with 67 points Blackburn will beat both Brum and Charlton, but lose to Wigan, leaving them on 67 points Ipswich will draw with both Bournemouth and Sheff Wed, lose to Burnley leaving them with 66 points Bournemouth will draw with both Ipswich and Florists, lose to Millwall leaving them with 64 points. Let the good times roll....
With one away win in the last six months it is to much to expect us to make up enough points to challenge for sixth place. Being realistic top ten looks more likely
Knowing us we'll win all 3 away games but lose at home to Huddersfield! It is Brighton's to lose. IF they cannot beat Yeovil and Blackpool at home then they don't deserve 6th.
IF we hadn't let in the late goals recently against Burnley and Millwall we wouldn't be clutching at straws. That is not taking into account all the other points dropped late on this season or the 6 in-a-row home losses. That is where our chances went.
Not sure I'm ready to suffer the play offs again even if we were fortunate enough to make them. Watching last year in a remote Cornish pub with a not very committed Palace fan wasn't much fun. At least this year we'll be in France!
It is impossible to predict what will happen in this league, other than us being in 6th position on 95 minutes in the Huddersfield game when they score an equaliser. If we did make it we have the horrors of the play-offs again, which is good for building the characters of both players and supporters. Then, if by some miracle we got promoted, would we be ready? Beppe has not been proven good enough in Serie A, and our defence will soon be collecting their bus passes. I'm not sure I have the stomach for one season in the EPL. I'd be happy with finishing 7th or 8th and next season doing what Leicester have done this season.
On a slightly different note, if we don't make the play-offs, which looks likely, it is going to be a interesting summer. How much have the Pozzos learnt in the two seasons in charge? Can they address the weaknesses we have in the squad? Will they be able to assemble a few more signings to really give us a good chance next year? Will Deeney stay? Will Toszer and Riera sign? Who will be 'gaffer' next season? Ins and outs galore again or a more balanced approach. Lots of things to consider really. At least we'll have a four-sided ground!
?? Angella = 25, Belkalem = 25, Hoban = 20, O'Nien = 19, Ekstrand (if he stays) = 25. Bit young to be pensioned off....
we can do it...and with every game the train is still running. The next loss we'll be derailed...i'd like to think we'll make it to the station, but somehow i fear Derby will do us..hey ho!
Too little too late I think is the expression called for! - It's happened before, but not this time I'm afraid
