I see Bruce is warbling on again today about how hard he has had the first 10 games? Well, looking at the next 12 games, by contrast he should be expecting us to shoot up the table? Home Fulham, Wigan, Blackburn, Everton, City, Swansea and Norwich Away Wolves, Spurs, QPR, Wigan, Chelsea 36 points to play for and some very attractive (winnable games that is) fixtures. If Bruce is that confident, surely then we should be expecting a minimum target to be 4 home wins; 2 home draws and a defeat; and at least 1 away win with 2 away draws and 2 defeats? I dont think thats too much of an ask? Not if as his supporters all say we are improving under him? 19 points? Is that a fair return? That means, best scenario, we would have 30 points after 23 games with 15 games to go? However, anything less (say an average of a point a game as we are now) and we would have 23 points in 23 games. Continue that and we really will be touch and go 38/39 points. Not enough imo. Thats why these next 4 games are so crucial because if we fail in them, the pressure will be massive going into the other ones and those teams around us, that we should be beating if we have improved under Bruce, will all fancy a piece of us. By getting off to a poor start as we have, we are well behind the 8 ball now and need to start and dispel relegation talk asap with results. If we have 30 points by the end of January, we will be on our way at least to avoid the drop. I've written this season off as failure now and cant see us even making top 10. That will be the benchmark as to whether Bruce has improved us or not and to be hinest, finishing above 18th is our target now. The debate about Bruce wont be going away in my opinion unless he has a barnstorming 7 months and we go we go tonto from here on in and finish at least 10th again. Our big problem however, is that if it goes tits up and we are on less than 23 points after 23 games, we will be in a very poor position to attract a decent replacement and will have to just hope and pray there are 3 worse teams than us in the EPL. Not progress but at least it wouldnt be relegation. Lets hope we get the right result and start tomorrow. A win at all costs is all I am interested in. Anything else is a huge failure.
It is quite simple really. We are one point above the relegation zone, We are playing a team below us tomorrow. Its a six pointer. The next four games will go quite a wat to determining the season. We are playing for premiership survival now, forget cups and top ten finishes. You may not like this, but it is the stark reality of the situation.
Did I have my arm up your back forcing you to read it? Post sarcastic replies and all you will get is a 2 fingered salute backwards.
The next 4 games will be a defining moment, but it will for the other teams in and around us as well. Fulham have, Sunderland (A), Arsenal (A), Liverpool (H), Swansea (A). Wigan have, Blackburn (H), Sunderland (A), Arsenal (H), WBA (A). Wolves have, Everton (A), Chelsea (A), Sunderland (H), Man U (A). Blackburn have, Wigan (A), Stoke (A), Swansea (H), Sunderland (A). Everton have, Wolves (H), Bolton (A), Stoke (H), Arenal (A). Bolton have, WBA (A), Everton (H), Spurs (A), Villa (H). Sunderland have, Fulham (H), Wigan (H), Wolves (A), Blackburn (H). As you know i am forever the optomist, so if we can get 9-12 points out of those 4 games, and others struggle (Blackburn/Wigan for 2) we "could" be 15 points ahead of Blackburn in 4 games time, we have to get the points and they dont though, so this for me is the defining moment in our season, 4 good performances and 2-3 wins (should be 3 wins and a draw hopefully) will see us sitting pretty. I know it all evens out over the season, but attitude/confidence plays a big part, if Blackburn/Wigan only get 1 point each (when they play each other), their confidence will go down the pan, fans get on their backs, and it may already be too late (Mind you the same could happen to us if we get 0 points, but trying my hardest not to think about that scenario)
Steve - thats a fair summing up mate. I too think a minimum of 9 points is a must and no excuses. These are not Champions League teams we are playing and we are at home. 3 home games ahead and 3 wins absolutley a must and lets take any points at Wolves as a bonus. If not, then I'm afraid the calls for the managers head will only intensify and not just from me either!
