Whilst we put in a good performance against Chelsea, it was nil points, and we missed several chances to get at least a draw. We still need 17 more points IMHO and we must focus on that. Swansea out-played Arsenal, no mean feat and they and Norwich will not be easy. I was an early BoB and I have been very happy with MoN, but some of the euphoria I read on here is a little premature, some optimism fine, MoN is a breath of fresh air, but we still have to scrap for points and have some way to go for safety. Obviously the squad and in particular the strikers need strengthening, the hardest and most expensive players to get into the club. With Young Mr Wickham being a big strong lad and whilst we have Bendtner (on-loan) I doubt we need a Heskey or a Zamora, somebody with quick feet and can shoot with either foot, really a young SKP or not so young somebody with experience from home (lower divisions may be goo) or abroad. I suspect we might just scrap to safety without a new striker but I also think, I and perhaps a few more fans, will sleep more soundly and with more hope if we manage to land a good'un,
How good would it be for MoN to unearth the next SKP!! Agree 100% with everything you say Sunderpitt 40 points is the target for definite but, as I said previously, we have 5 home games where we really should win and a few away games we should be looking to pick up 3 points (the likes of Blackburn etc) 5 home wins and 3 away wins will see us with a healthy points total and anything else we can pick up after that would be a bonus.
37 pts will be enough this season imo but we should be looking to get to 40pts asap so agree fully sunderpitt
It didn't take Mon to be appointed to realise we needed a goalscorer. We needed one last January and the failure to get one, cost the last manager his job. Mon saw first hand on Saturday, along with a watching Ellis Short, that we are still woefully short up front and unless that is rectified, his mini revival may well crash and burn. He has always had a goal scorer in his teams and I feel confident we will be bidding for one before the end of the month. It's not hysteria BTW, its called hope. We didn't have any 6 weeks ago. Today we have it in bucket loads. There is nothing wrong with that lads.
I also agree that 40 points should always be the minimum target, whatever the situation with other teams.
Yes at times I think folk over complicate sport and football in particular. It is simple have a good defence so you do not let in many goals and have some forwards who can score goals and then have some players in the middle who help the defence and attack do their jobs. Good teams have a mix or balanced of players plus somebody who trains, drills and motivates them. Most of the posters on here seem to agree, now that McClean has shown his mettle, and we have replaced SB with MoN, we lack only a 'true' striker of the ilk of Bent, Gyan and Welbeck, for the side to be balanced and capable. Although as Syd said in a previous thread, these are the most difficult players to bring into the club..it takes cash please Mr Short!
I agree with all the above, Swansea did play very well yesterday and have a brilliant home record but are very average away from home. Not saying saturday wont be easy but lets put it in to perspective, im sure the lads will be gonig out for all six points coming up.
I like to aim for 43-45 points after the 2002/03 season when West Ham went down on 42, that was probably a one off, but you know that its sods law that if it will happen again, it will happen to us lol After 21 games of that season, Bolton 19 points (from 20 games) Sunderland 18 points WBA 16 West Ham 16 after 38 games Bolton 44 West Ham 42 WBA 26 Sunderland 19 in the last 18 games WHU got 26 points and still went down. I dont think the bottom 5 can get 26 points, but Blackburn seem to be on a bit of a roll atm, so they might, but i relly cant see anyone else coming anywhere close, so we should be OK. but you just never know.
Aim for more points but have little targets along the way. Get to 30 pts in three games time then 40 pts in 6 more. Ie 40 pts aftersay 30 games. See how we are going in the cup if we are still in focus on the cup and give some of the young lads a game or two with nothing to play for and field the best team we can in the cup.
17 points? Easy. I know we all like to be jolly modest but even I know that you guys won't be in any danger of being relegated whatsoever.
I disagree with we only need a goalscorer! Proper fullbacks would be good. I think 20 points are achievable with our current squad. Swansea will not be easy but we defend better than Arsenal and we look good ourselves.
Let's look at your fixtures then. Swansea H - just beat Arsenal, away form improving too, 3 points is not a cert here for SAFC. But I'll go with a home win, 3 points. Norwich H - the most impressive of all the promoted teams, only Villa and West Brom have beaten them outside of the top 5 teams in the Premier League. They've since went on to take revenge on WBA at The Hawthorns. Beat SAFC at a canter last time out. 3 points no way a cert here for SAFC. Draw for me 1 point. Stoke A - one of the hardest places to go to pick up points, it is achievable as teams like QPR have proved but coming away from the Britannia with 3 points is quite a rarity. Lucky to get a draw here. 0 points. Arsenal H - Decent chance here for 3 points given their poor away form but no Bendtner and Wilshere is due back for this game, although Wenger may decide against it if Cattermole is still alive. Possible 3 points probable 1. WBA A - It depends how Woy's team play on the day, they can be top class or absolute trash, luck of the draw. 0/3 points. Newcastle A - Can't see you winning at St James' Direct Arena @ the Park of Sports or whatever it's called nowadays. It's not your best hunting ground is it? 0 points. Liverpool H - 3 points definitely achievable, doesn't matter if Suarez is back he only scores 5 goals a season anyhow. 3 points. Blackburn A - Hard one, Blackburn much improved of late beating teams like United for starters. They would have beaten you guys at your place had the ref not missed a blatent penalty, as most said Sunderland wouldn't have come back from 2-0 with 10 mins. I say a draw for this one. 1 point. QPR H - Walk in the park 3 points. Man City A - As much as I'd love to say you'll repeat your heroics against them I can't see it. 0 points. Tottenham H - Not impossible to beat, they've got to drop points somewhere and they don't like going too far north do they? 1 points. Everton A - another WBA scenario here, anything could happen. They're more than capable of beating you but at the same time, they're capable of a shocker 0/3 points. Wolves H - Mick would love a result up there but can't see it, they look poor. 3 points. Villa A - Looking like taking shape under Fat Ginger Eck - not a fortress but might be by the time you go there. draw @ best. Bolton H - Should be 3 points really, unless you have nothing to play for and they're fighting for their lives. 3 points. Fulham A - Decent side at Craven Cottage, might be safe by then and fizzle out like usual. 1 point. Man United H - Absolutely no chance of getting anything from this, damage limitation is required. On the plus side, if City haven't bottled it completely by the last game, you should in theory get to witness a Premier League trophy being lifted inside your stadium. 0 points. All in all I reckon you'll add about the same again to your points tally as you have now, 48 points ain't a bad haul considering what Bruce left you with. Next season for you guys is where you'll start to get excited, MON will put his own stamp on that team (Heskey inbound) and you can look forward to being more competitive for honours (not the league don't get carried away).
Hmm 48 points I would take them now! After watching Swansea yesterday it will be a tough game and Norwich are nobodies fool. so again I would take 4 points now. On another post it seems we may be stirring our stumps about striking reinforcements I hope so!
So you have us down as picking up more points from the top teams than the lesser teams? Apart from Man U obviously. I still don't think everything add up with you Terry.
No chance will anyone go down with 40 points, Wolves are 16th with 18 points from 21 games, so are 3 of the bottom 5 suddenly going to get 22 + points from the last 17 games think the mark will be about 35.
