Just done a little research, no I'm not IA in disguise Teams that were third bottom and were relegated - 2011/12 Portsmouth with 40 points 2010/11 Preston with 42 points 2009/10 Sheff Wed with 47 points 2008/09 Norwich with 46 points 2007/08 Leicester with 52 points 2006/07 Southend with 42 points 2005/06 Crewe Alex with 42 points 2004/05 Gillingham with 50 points We presently have 36 points so if you assume Gillingham (& Leicester) was a fluke, then we will need another 4 wins to be safe. As soon as we get above 48 points I would like us to start playing two of the Dev squad players to see what they can do at league level. As long as we do not go on a run like Brizzy Citeh and lose 7 on the bounce then I think that at the end of February we should consider an active plan of playing the yoof. AllHell
At the present time statto.com is predicting that Peterborough will finish third bottom on 46 points, so that is another 3 wins and 2 draws for safety
I agree. As much as I'd love to see us put a run together and push for the play-offs, we realistically aren't good enough (yet) The youth players are going to be our bread and butter in seasons to come - whether we sell them or play them. You only have to look at the Jenkinson deal to see how good our academy can be, and how one youth product can be the catalyst for signing some quality players.
Yes AHLL, I'm with you there. If you look at the crowd's reaction to Harriott's cameo on saturday this would go down pretty well. Since midfield has been our problem area Bradley Jordan would get first go, and by the way young Diego looks ready to step up to the under-21's. Giving Cousins a game would be useful when you bear in mind the rumours about Solly. A lot of resources have gone into the Academy so let's get something back for the first team.
Not sure why (as your stats disprove my thinking), but I always think 52 is the cut off for championship survival. I won't relax until that point or its mathematically impossible.
What about if the 3 wins come in the next 3 or 4 matches? Agree with your view, All Ell, but think the call should be made once reaching the magic 48 or 52 points, depending on how far away we are from the top 6. Also form could come into it. Might be better to bring players in one at a time. What would be your plan for next season? Would you be hoping to ship some of the older players out and have a much younger starting team for next season? Or could there be a 'Carl Jenkinson' type sale in the summer?
OK, I've just been on a Blackburn forum and they described us as promotion rivals. I now don't think my above scenario is likely. 12th now. I had said 15th. Nosebleed.
If I am honest I really don't think we have the squad for the 'play-offs' and am hoping for a finish of where we are now....the summer I can see a bit of income generation with say two of Solly, Hamer and Stephens going for £6m ish and spending say £1m on two players in. At some point the books need balancing as I do not think Jiminez was ever intended to be the money man and he probably can't afford to pump in £5m to £6m each year to cover the losses. Next season I can see 2 or 3 of the current Dev squad getting regular starting positions and one or two becoming the new Solly.
