First of all, I enjoyed that game yesreday as much as any this season despite the result - fantastic demonstration of attacking football from them and a great impression came across of the conviction in the City squad to battle the rest of this season out. Looking pretty grim, but most of us felt we wouldn't move off 25 points before those last two games anyway. We're playing catch up and it ain't pleasant. The thing is if Fulham, Sunderland, Palace, West Brom, Swansea and West Ham hadn't all lost, it would have been a lot worse, I know expecting the other drop contenders to lose is a bit of straw clutching, but one fact is clear - we've not been cut adrift in the table to the extent that only applying maths will keep us up. Any other two to join Fulham behind us will do come May, but just looking at the three contenders we still have to play that could change everything. As well as us.............. West Brom have still got to play Tottenham, Man City and Arsenal. Palace have still got to play Chelsea, Everton, Man City and Liverpool. Sunderland have still got to play Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton, Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd. Maybe some slip ups by the "big boys" against them, but on average you'd think they should go with the form book. Good win for Norwich yesterday and you could say they did us a favour shafting Sunderland, but they're not out of the woods themselves. They got three classic relegation battles next, and then have you seen their last 4 fixtures? I expect us to get 10 points from our next 5 games - then anything over 35 by pinching something in the last two could well put us safe. Well it is a sunny Sunday morning anyway...........
Agreed, for the first time in months I'm thinking that we might actually stay up. We need to keep yesterdays spirit though.
If we get 6 points from the next 2 games I will dream. Anything less and I am afraid that would be curtains... \we need to amazing attacking spirit from yesterday, but somehow we have to eliminate the defensive lapses. The idea of loeaving somebody as good as Luis Suarez in the amount of space he had for one of his goals is terrifying. Granted neither Palace or West Brom have anybody in the same league as Suarez but it says a lot about oour defensive concentration. There are certainly positives to take out of the two scouse adventures, and I agree that some of the football we played was really good - let's just hope we are fully focused for the massive fortnight we have coming up!
Also in regard to the bold - Here's hoping Chelsea have wrapped up the league and have a champions' league final in a few days time when the final day comes.... If we have our lives to fight for and for Jose its just another day at the office, who knows what could happen! Newcastle away. I would not hold my breath, even cpnsidering what happened in the cup. It's the 5 massive games inbetween we need to worry about!
Got to keep the spirits up both on and off the pitch. Some very good performances by some of our guys yesterday and 3 - 4 would have been a fairer reflection. However, I enjoyed watching Liverpool who made football look the simple game it is when played properly.
Lots of positives. Can't take too much regarding defence as Liverpool are different class. It's the quality of their decision making and final ball that make them almost impossible to stop. I enjoyed the football, I've seen them twice this season and they're the best attacking unit we've faced in the PL by far IMO. Fabio and Mutch were great. FC looked a threat and finished well. Zaha look super hungry and worked really hard when he came on. That's the fight we need from him. I've seen enough in recent weeks to think we can do this. We certainly don't need to be scared o any of our remaining away games (I am watching Saints go 2-0 up v a terrible Spurs defence as I type that though.....)
Zaha look super hungry and worked really hard when he came on. That's the fight we need from him. Got to agree there Steve. He certainly was keen going forward and caused them some problems and then made a last ditch tackle at left back. Southampton away could be a bit tricky though.
The way I see it the only teams we need to be worried by is Southampton & Chelsea. The other 5 are all there for the taking, yes we need to be at our best but OGS has installed belief back into the fans. Delcan John was found wanting yesterday and Kim was pulled back to help him, but he won't come across a forward line like Liverpool that often.
I think its too much to make up because the others above you are also fighting for their lives and cardiff have played a game more than some and are 4 points behind with better goal difference which is an extra point if you finish level. It can be done but very unlikely looking at the other teams who have more quality than cardiff.
I think more relevant than how many games left is who those games are against. For a team fighting for their lives, 5 of our 7 games are very much 'winnable.' Given the fact that we have only won 6 out of 31, I admit it is mathematically very unlikely that we will win 5 of those games. However, if we continue the form from the everton and liverpool games (minus the odd bit of horrible defending) I would give us a chance. 6 points from West Brom and Palace are an absolute must. if we get those, who knows!! One thing I will say is I hope Chelsea have the league wrapped up before the final day and make the champions league final - cos fighting for our lives against a reserve team I'd give us a fighter's chance!!
The last game of the season between Sunderland and Swansea will decide who goes down with Fulham and Palace .
with the standard of half of the prem it wouldn't be a tragedy if they had ten teams relegated each year
We like playing against the big boys, seem's we always give a scare then backs to the wall.. The likes of WBA and teams around us, I fear more.
