So Defo at Bournemouth Nottingham Saints? Well, well, well! My only real question is which Nottingham?
Just watched motd, and the Burnley v Fulham game. Burnley just won a game 2-1 without actually having a shot on target (2 own goals). Got to really feel for Fulham, who from the highlights were easily the better side.
How so? This is the relegation thread isn't it? Burnley vs Fulham was a relegation 6 pointer, at least one of that pair look set for the drop.
I doubt that, personally. They were excellent against a decent Watford side yesterday, and very unlucky not to take at least a point. Newcastle, on the other hand, I think are doomed. Rafa looks like he knows it too, though he is their only chance of surviving
Our next six Premier League fixtures: Everton (home) - draw Palace (home) - win Burnley (away) - draw Cardiff (home) - win Arsenal (away) - loss Fulham (home) - win = 11 points In terms of relegation, this is a massive month or so for us. If we picked up the 11 points that I've optimistically put us down for, we'd be on a total of 30 points with ten games to go which would be a very healthy position (last year we finished on 36). The safety mark over the last few years I think averages in the mid-30s, so we'd have ten games to get about seven to ten more points to secure our league status. After the six games above, our run in looks okay, but I wouldn't like to rely on needing wins from the first five games from these: United (away) Spurs (home) Watford (away) Brighton (away) Liverpool (home) Wolves (home) Newcastle (away) Bournemouth (home) West Ham (away) Hudds (home)
I think it will be 3 of the current bottom 4. Huddersfield/Fulham I think will go down Then one of Cardiff/Newcastle. Gut tells me that Rafa will keep newcastle up somehow.
I don't think we are out of the woods yet, but if we can get a bit of daylight of 3-6 points between us and the bottom 3, then I think the gap will only get larger. We need to seize the feel good factor we have and march on
Newcastle, on the other hand, I think are doomed. Rafa looks like he knows it too, though he is their only chance of surviving ________________________ They continue to surprise me. Clearly one of the worst squads in the league, but they don't half put in some performances. The game plan they had against Chelsea was spot on, and it wasn't just sitting back. They were a little unlucky to lose that game. And it certainly wasn't Rafa's fault they did. Can they keep this swashbuckling up? I wouldn't bet against it! As of today, I would say. 18) Fulham 19) Cardiff 20) Huddersfield
Sadly I think Newcastle rather than Cardiff. This sadness built on the fact that I like Benitez and loathe Warnock, so wholly rational.
Cardiff, Fulham and Huddersfield. Saints will be about 14th by the end of the season. Newcastle have a Championship squad, but Rafa gets them playing like a PL side, albeit more like Crystal Palace rather than Man City. The PL table is generally three different leagues: The money sides (current top 6), the mid table (Leicester, Everton, used to be Tottenham in this category), Relegation bait. This season we're in the relegation bait category thanks to an awful start, next season we should be mid-table.
Yeah I agree with you - we used to be the mid-table, pushing for Europa category, and providing things continue under Ralph as they’ve started, I think we’ll be back in this group next season. The mid table league is getting more competitive though. Everton, Wolves, West Ham all look fairly decent and ambitious, then you’ve got Leicester who obviously won the league and have a committed, wealthy owner/chairman, so we’ve got strong competition to get back to the top 8 area where we were for four years.
