15 points from 23 games so far and if 40 points is the magic mark to aim for we need about 2 points a game from the remaining matches. There is a chance that others will have a poor run of form that could bring more teams into the mix but we are a win and a draw from even catching our closest rivals and only if they don't pick up any points. I think we are going to win a few more games and might nick some draws too but every defeat will feel like the "it was all over when we lost to....." moment. Let's face it, our season was over when we got humped 5-0 at home on the opening day. We looked so poor under Hughes and despite the Harry factor kicking in to beat the Scum we are still only managing a point here and there. All the talk of January transfer signings is a nice distraction but in reality I think we'll go down, just a matter of where in the bottom three we finish and if there are any scalps we can take along the way to sweeten the pill. Have the board learned from their mistakes with Hughes' signings and ensured there are either get out clauses or substantial pay cuts written in to the new contracts? I hope so because QPR can't go the same way as Pompey.
The fact we've picked up eleven points in the 10 games (and a serious cup win away) since 'Arry arrived is okay but far from safety material. Could be the 'Arry factor has also had something to do with other teams in and around the drop zone putting a wiggle on, to keep the points gap between us pretty much what it was when Hughes got the chop. Who knows? We just need our guys to meet and beat the standards of the majority of other teams' performance now to have any chance of winning games - especially in February and March when the six-pointers happen and our opponents will be just as desperate as we are to grab the points. That means energy and effort throughout each match, clicking on quick pass and move, sorting out our set pieces both defensively (i.e. not giving so much away in the first place) and our own dead ball opportunities (can someone please tell Adel to up his effectiveness on free kicks and corners or leave them to someone else) and doing everything possible to retain possession at all costs. Oh, and not forgetting forcing play higher up the pitch and getting bodies in the opponents box as soon as the chance of a cross becomes apparent! Why oh why two sets of coaching staff have failed to wake this shower up to the realities of the prem game, beats me. THAT, I'm afraid, is what we're up against - and in failing to even remotely touch on any of it, is why the OP article is such a waste of words.
