The PL relegation battle ...

[FellTop]

Time for another look at this I reckon.

The bottom four teams, over the last 24 games, have only won 2 and drawn 5.

That's a total of 11 points between the four of them.

Wolves and Burnley haven't picked up a point in the last 6 games.

After beating Newcastle we now have twice the 13 points of the bottom three teams

So, is it now time to abandon all negative thoughts and forget about the possibility of going down.

If Burnley lose at Bournemouth tomorrow, and West Ham lose at Man City, I'd say that's it ...

... a point or three at Brighton and I'd say we'll be finishing top half.

Aye, and anyone who doesnt want to watch England is still a daftie Some seem more interested in watchinh Sunderland players playing for Northern Ireland!

Anyway, as to the relegation battle. I cant see that far down. There is at least 2 bands of clouds to look through

 

[Mad Maxim]

Wolves are down, barring a major turnaround I expect Burnley to go. Wouldn't write off West Ham yet, they've got a decent manager now and the January transfer window to come.

 

[FellTop]

Wolves are down, barring a major turnaround I expect Burnley to go. Wouldn't write off West Ham yet, they've got a decent manager now and the January transfer window to come.

Between bottom 4 for me. Maybe Fulham get dragged in if Wilson leaves in Jan. Haway KLD, you know it makes sense.

 

[C Montgomery Burns]

Between bottom 4 for me. Maybe Fulham get dragged in if Wilson leaves in Jan. Haway KLD, you know it makes sense.

Current bottom five for me. Maybe Bournemouth and/or Fulham can be drawn into it, but they already have a 7 point gap to the last relegation spot and 10 points above second bottom, so they'd need a really bad run to be really drawn in. But otherwise if one from Forest, Leeds or West Ham (Wolves and Burnley are gone unless there's a miracle not seen since Lazarus came back from the dead).

 

[rowley]

Definitely two down already. Leeds or West Ham for the other.

Leeds have went a bit more direct lately and it's paying off. But both they and West Ham concede too many goals. Nearly two a game man, that's seventy goals if it isn't sorted out.

It will be the team that stops the bleeding that makes it, and I think that will depend on who signs who in January. I'd go for West Ham to stay up because of Nuno's experience in setting up teams to defend, but he clearly needs some help in January.

And how fantastic it is to think we need maybe only three, or even two wins to stay up ourselves! Not a coincidence that we've scored about the same amount of those two and are miles ahead.

Some things never change and being solid at the back is one of them.

 

[Smug in Boots]

It's Wolves v Brentford tomorrow and I'd be happy to see a home win.

In fact there's quite a few games where Wolves can help us ...

... they won't get above us but they could stop a few of our rivals picking up points.

They're at home to Newcastle on the 18th of January so that's one I'd be happy with.

 

[clockstander]

The squad we have is strong enough already too survive, and I expect it will be even stronger second half of the season, I would be shocked if we don't stay up now, a comfortable mid table position looks well within our grasp. We could have done with an easier FA cup draw, but I imagine Everton will be feeling the same .

 

[vic9]

Elland road will be a bigger help to Leeds than that Athletic stadium to West Ham, not convinced about Brentford pulling away

 

[rowley]

It's Wolves v Brentford tomorrow and I'd be happy to see a home win.

In fact there's quite a few games where Wolves can help us ...

... they won't get above us but they could stop a few of our rivals picking up points.

They're at home to Newcastle on the 18th of January so that's one I'd be happy with.

Wolves are bound to get a win sooner or later, so why not against that lot? I'm sure the useless feckers conceded four points to Derby when they went down with 11 points?

 

[rowley]

Elland road will be a bigger help to Leeds than that Athletic stadium to West Ham, not convinced about Brentford pulling away

Brentford should be fine as long as they don't lose Thiago to injury or a sale.

Despite that bloody Andrews, who I can't stand! You might be right about Elland Road though.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Brentford should be fine as long as they don't lose Thiago to injury or a sale.

Despite that bloody Andrews, who I can't stand! You might be right about Elland Road though.

What is it that makes him so annoying

 

[rowley]

What is it that makes him so annoying

Not sure! Maybe it's his slightly smug grin. Or maybe his even more smug certainty when he was a talking head on the telly.

Whatever it is, I'm sticking with it ( Unless he ends up here!)

 

[vic9]

Brentford should be fine as long as they don't lose Thiago to injury or a sale.

Despite that bloody Andrews, who I can't stand! You might be right about Elland Road though.

Personally think Leeds will be a tougher AWAY game than West Ham, seems like there’s something always simmering away in the background at West Ham just waiting to explode in a few games, and aye being saying it all season that Andrews looks and sounds a right slimy cnut

 

[LD19SAFC]

A massive 2 weeks ahead for West Ham…

Fulham (H), Brighton (H), Wolves (A) and Forest (H).

 

[Ayrton]

A massive 2 weeks ahead for West Ham…

Fulham (H), Brighton (H), Wolves (A) and Forest (H).

Must win games, hopefully they can’t handle thr pressure

 

[LD19SAFC]

Must win games, hopefully they can’t handle thr pressure

Wolves is a must win for any side now but I think they’d settle for 2 wins and 2 draws from those games.

 

[LD19SAFC]

There won’t be much of a ‘battle’ by the looks of it

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

A very bad result for WHU.

 

[Gil T Azell]

Dont like internationals.

We are safe. That's all I am concerned with at the moment.

 

[C Montgomery Burns]

I posted this in the other matches thread, but I thought I'd post it here as well.

I still think it's Wolves, Burnley and either West Ham, Forest or Leeds. Bournemouth could be dragged in, but they're 9 points ahead of West Ham with a much better goal difference, 4 points ahead of Forest and 3 ahead of Leeds, but it's more likely that they scrape to survival because other than Leeds the others are barely twitching. Depending on who brings in what in January (and some are going to need a phenomenal transfer window) I can see it being Wolves, Burnley and West Ham going.

Based on goal difference (bit unreliable to use to predict at this stage but a useful guide) it's Wolves (-29), Burnley (-15) and West Ham (-17). Then there's a 5 point gap to Forest (-10) and 6 points to Leeds (-7). So the three teams with the lowest points collectively have the worst goal differences and a fairly sizable gap opening up. A lot is going to hinge on what Burnley, West Ham, Forest and Leeds do in the transfer window (especially who West Ham and Burnley bring in) because none of them can afford any mistakes or significant loses without proper replacements. Bournemouth could be dragged in to the battle (and so in theory could Spurs and even the mags!) , but I think it's less probable that they go and more likely three of the bottom 5, particularly the bottom 4 that go.