The key thing is that it is in our own hands. Sunderland losing and Wigan drawing against 10 man QPR will hurt them both and both have very difficult run-ins from here. Sunderland: Newcastle(a), Everton(h), Villa(a), Stoke(h), Southampton(h), Spurs(a) Wigan: Swansea(h), Man City(a), West Ham(a), Spurs(h), WBA(a), Arsenal(a), Villa(h) Hard to see either getting more than 6-7 points from those fixtures. QPR and Reading are now both out of it from City's point of view.
I'd like QPR to stand a mathematical chance of surviving for a while longer yet. They've still to play Stoke at their place, so could do us a favour there. I just fear their "WCT" might give up when they're mathematically out of it.
Agreed, it adds a bit more bite when there's still hope. The main thing is survival is in our hands. We all have our predictions which makes this such a popular thread.
DHC - obviously you have none of your own but our WCT never gives up BTW I've read somewhere the fatboys off? After his cringing performance yesterday you must be pleased
I haven't seen it yet but I've heard wannabe messi Tarrabt pulled off a hilarious duck in a wall that cost you the game!
The irony was that Taraabt actually jumped with the wall and then ducked out of the way. The camera angle was perfect for the view of that.
IMO one of the main reasons QPR find themselves where they do.Without doubt a skilful player but lazy and uncommitted for long periods when he would contribute nothing.That duck out of the way of the ball to cost his club two points and to give a main rival one extra was just typical of the boy.
Do you remember when he had a good game about 2 months ago people on the QPR board were saying he was good enough for Barca and was world class etc.... What a crock of ****. What happened to that Diakite bloke who was meant to be the best player in the world? Anyone know? There is only one player I would have from them and its Remy, he does look brilliant a true diamond in the rough.
I think that even the most ardent QPR and Reading fans are resigned to the drop now so I intend to assume that it's now a fight to avoid 18th place between : Wigan (7/4) Playing in the FA Cup semi final means no game for them.They have Wembley to look forward to,will it have an adverse effect on their league form? fixtures look tricky too which is why they remain favourites for 18th spot. Villa (3/1) will rue dropping two home points to Fulham.Now two home and three away games,again tricky fixtures. Stoke (4/1) We often say that one team from a relatively safe position goes into freefall,this year it's The Potters turn. Today's home defeat albeit to champions elect leaves them with tricky fixtures too.The odds look generous to me. Sunderland (11/2) Outrageous fortune,first against us,then against the neighbours.Would have been pegged back to 1-1 if the linesman had got it right for the Newcastle goal that was disallowed.You need that sort of luck! Norwich (9/1) Defeat against the Gooners was probably already factored into the odds so little change.Three winable home games and away to Stoke helps the chances. Newcastle (22/1) The Geordies would have been more or less out of it with a result today.Would take a strange set of results to see them go down.
We will beat Reading. We are playing much better and creating more chances. the players will be reeling from the injustice of the Arsenal match. It's bad when I'm having to factor in us scoring more goals than we necessarily need to to counteract the inevitable screw job we will get at the hands of the officials. How many more bad decisions will go our way? The premier league refs are worse than the league one and championship refs and that cannot be right.
Cruyff, you mention that Stoke are this season's team to drop from a relatively safe position. I'm sure Norwich were 7th after the win over Wigan in December. Were Stoke higher at one point?
A good point.I think we slipped earlier than Stoke though,their fall has had more momentum hence them passing us on their way down.They still look like they are in a bad way whereas yesterday we looked quite good I thought.
Got your point Cruyff. I think Stoke are the worst performing team this year. We have three homes that should yield five points and at least one at Stoke. I did the BBC predictor, and even 41 points had us down on goal difference...but they were the 'worst case scenarios' after City's six points.
Pretty sure it wont be 40+ Don't forget it's the worst performing team of those listed and I think that it's quite likely that will be only a point a game.Still going for 37 myself as the line.Think that there is a good chance that United v Villa on Monday week will be the title clincher for them.
A win next week should see us 'safe' then. I did hope we'd be two points clear of the last day Wigan v Aston Villa decider. Looks like Villa are shaping up for safety before then though. I wonder if Newcastle will go on a winless streak after their Europa exploits as exposed today. Lots of twists to come, I'm sure.
