The table looks a lot better this morning thanks to West Ham's win and the bottom 4 look to be slightly adrift. A win on Saturday would give us breathing space and because of that we may relax and actually accumulate more points than we think at present. Well in theory anyway!
The interesting thing about this stat is that, at this stage, it appears more useful to be able to draw games than necessarily win them, given the order in the table! Obviously there are games in hand and it might all change by the end of the season, but that is an odd effect.
Sunderland's next four are Spurs, Man City and Chelsea all away, and Everton at home. Getting more than 2 points from those fixtures looks pretty unlikely to me. Should we beat West Brom, that puts them 8 behind with 4 to play, including a trip to Old Trafford and the visit of WBA. They'd need to win 3 of those 4 games to overtake us. It's just about possible, but if they can't beat West Ham at home in a "must-win", I'm not convinced they'll beat Cardiff, WBA and Swansea.
I still remember Coventry having to win their last few games to relegate us from the top division, including a trip to the new champions Everton. Possible but not probable was the verdict. Most of us remember what happened then, so I won't be counting the chickens just yet.
I'd hope for a good reaction against WBA at home after the players agreeing to refund the yellow army's expenses. Winning on saturday would make it very difficult for any of the bottom 3 to catch us, IMO. Even WBA would be 6 behind with 5 to play. Huge match, then! OTBC!
I really think that yesterday's events will have little effect on the issue as a whole.It's pretty much down to Fulham now.I think if we win there then the chances of going down are around 5%.If we draw about 25% and if we lose around 70%.Don't forget though that Fulham are still a rubbish side with a massive negative GD.Villa was a bit of a fluke and they are rubbish as well at the moment.
Admirable positivity CT! I am actually with you - I think we can stay up. I actually wouldn't be surprised if we stayed up after losing all our remaining games as mad as that sounds. The fact that Fulham are now the only likely bottom three member to catch us is very good news because their goal difference is even worse. So I can see their remaining matches being: Norwich W, Tottenham L, Hull D, Stoke L and finally Palace D to keep us up . But it's no laughing matter, I completely agree. Though I might feel rather differently in retrospect if we beat Liverpool to stop them winning the title!
After feeling surprisingly positive before the West Brom game, I'm now at an all time low. If we come out of the Fulham game still on 32 points, in my opinion we will need at least another couple of points from our last 4 games to make us safe. If we beat Fulham, I think we're safe. If we draw, who knows.
QUOTE hull have no goals in them at all and i can't see them staying up. 13 Newcastle United 14 Cardiff City 15 Aston Villa 16 Fulham 17 West Bromwich Albion 18 Crystal Palace 19 Sunderland 20 Hull City Planet Norwich!!........For crying out loud..SUPER HULL CITY are on the beach. Norwich are GOING DOWN!! can't wait...
this piece, interesting as it is, has little relevance to our decision to sack hughton now as there's no time left to effect things dramatically but does highlight that changing your manager makes basically no difference in terms of league position http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26920629
Isn't it true though, that a change in manager often improves a clubs fortunes in the very short-term (say, the first 3 games or so)?
our odds will drop through the floor if we lose on saturday. currently we are not favs to go down with the punters however, even if we lose, i don't think that willl be that - there are still some twists to come this season
It's easy to be positive.We have had three seasons and our finances are sorted.If we do go down I won't be thinking can we scrape a draw every week.We will have Ipswich to batter (twice) And yes,I genuinely do think we may stay up anyway.
You just need to give Fulham a good thumping and you will be ok! Wouldn't like to see you boys go down, and I'm sure you will get a draw or two from your final fixtures, though you do have one of the toughest run ins, best of luck lads!...................
Sunderland's games in hand are turning into a bit of a two edged sword.A 5-1 thumping by The Spuds moves their GD to -24 and Citeh still to come.
6 points in the last 4 games, two defeats against Man City and Everton, hardly 'rubbish' form really, especially taking yours into account. And if you think the Villa game was a fluke, you obviously weren't watching. If we beat you in the next game, you're down, and your fans know it. If you can't beat the likes of us and WBA, then you have no chance against the big four.
