All the sides from 34 downwards are in the mix but looking at the fixtures it seems that Villa,Wigan and Sunderland are by far the worse situated.As well as the toughest games those three all have three home and four away to come.As long as Nige doesn't do you over next weekend I think you are safe.
Since Poche took over we have taken 12 points from 9 games. If we carry on at that rate for the final 7 games we should end up on around 42 - 43 points, which will be plenty. I think we'll do even better than that though, we could get 7 points from our next three games if all goes to plan.
From a mathematical perspective Saints can still go down. Of all the teams below us, I think Wigan look most likely to climb up the league. As I've said on this board before, I am wary of QPR who have a very good squad and a fantastic manager and think that their run of fixtures will see them threatening the likes of Villa and Sunderland. I agree that they won' catch us up. I would like to be a bit controversial and say that I realistically think Saints will move up the table and I think we will finish a few places higher than we are at present. The way that we are playing at the moment shows that our current position is deserved. If we put Reading to the sword next weekend as I imagine, I think a lot more of you will come around to my point of view. Next season could be fascinating as I could see us establishing a position in the top half of the table from the start.
You do worry about those games though.Reading are at home and have your manager.I feel exactly the same when Villa come to us at the beginning of May.
The Times decsribed us as a team more likely to finish in the top ten than in the relegation places. However, also went on to say that we were lucky to win because Chelsea's players weren't adventurous and let us play....on that basis, Man United are also lucky that they play teams who aren't as good as they are.
Football fans tend to be a superstitious bunch. That's probably the reason we are all a bit hesitant to jinx the rest of the season and say we're safe. But this is the 21st Century and I'm a rationalist. Nothing anyone says on here will affect the outcome of our next 7 games, so **** it, here goes; We have nothing to worry about, nothing at all. time to enjoy the rest of the season.
Villa and Wigan being so close to us on form shows how important points on the board are. Harder to scramble up than maintain your position.
And even if things can be jinxed, the few of us willing to say stop worrying are heavily outnumbered by the cautious.
I just the echo the comments already posted. We're not safe yet, not by a long shot (does anyone seriously believe that the side who eventually finishes in 18th place, will certainly have less than 34 or 35 points?), but we are in a great, great position and almost certainly just a maximum of two wins away from safety. Depending on how many draws we get, there's actually every chance that we only need one more win. As for the game tonight, QPR are not gone yet, so a Fulham win please. No wins from these two games, and QPR are gone.
Why is it that we always seem to be at the top of the form table, yet we're still in trouble? That's why we're not safe.
We're three points from being in the top ten, which I consider much more likely that being down in the relegation battle after another two or three games. Also, with our goal difference advantage, we're effectively five points clear of the relegation zone. Mathematically we could do it, obviously, but we won't. Yes, we're safe. I have no fear of the team crumbling. We may get some luck running against us (but so will everyone; that'll balance out) but we won't crumble. The growing self-belief of the squad over the past few games won't allow us to drop. The team are beginning to have the mindset that will take us to a top seven finish next year. Vin
It was that terrible start...we've been playing catch up ever since. Every year there are two that look virtually down and a few caught in the net. Wigan and Villa are now getting points and are 6th and 7th in form guide, which prevents us pulling away. No one gets relegated this early in the season as there are so many points still to play for, but Wigan and Villa have to do as well as us plus make up 4 points (ignoring our GD). Then the other teams below us also have to go past us as well...you'd worry if you are playing like Sunderland but we are playing well.
Just imagine if we'd done what Lawro thought we'd do & lose to L'pool & Chelsea! It seems strange being 12th & still very much in the battle, but boy, it could be so much worse. I hope we do our home-work on Reading, take nothing for granted.
I was highly amused by the QPR fan on 606 who was convinced that QPR were going to be safe before the last 3 games.
It's annoying to win and yet be only 4 above the drop, but imagine being Villa and Wigan...they get decent results and just swap places. Much better being us.
Maybe so but place yourself in Villa and Wigan's shows. They would have been thinking before the Liverpool game that Saints wouldn't pick up many points in the next 2 games. So imagine their frustration and dismay when we picked up 6!
