Well Leicester are certainly getting it together. No way they’ll be in the bottom 6 come end of year.
Yeah, they started the season with some really difficult games and without Faes at the heart of their defence. But they have never been a relegation candidate in my mind. They will likely be top 10 soon, and might not drop back out of that.
For all of the outcry around Leeds, they haven't been bad, either. Lots of close games during their downturn. There are five sides that have been far worse than the rest in terms of GD: Forest, Wolves, Saints, Villa and Bournemouth. Certainly other sides that could be dragged into it, but the smart money is likely on three of those five to get relegated.
Right now, I'm going with a bottom three of Forest, Bmouth and one of: Saints, Wolves, Leeds, Brentford. It wouldn't surprise me if, over time, Fulham enter that equation. But I don't have them in it right now. West Ham and Villa aren't as good as Leicester, but I'd still expect both of them to follow Leicester in climbing the table. Everton and Palace I think will continue to go fairly unnoticed and untroubled in 11th to 14th.
Yeah, I do think it's impressive that outside of those two (very tough) away games, we are yet to concede 3+ goals - and only against Leeds and Everton have we conceded twice. Regularly keeping the opposition down to one goal should, at least in theory, always keep you in the game (whilst also avoiding the embarrassing leakage which the likes of Bmouth, Forest and even Wolves are currently suffering). Alas, we're doing our best to stretch that theory. Because if your main striker is regularly missing chances, and you're getting little help from elsewhere, then conceding that one goal is a killer after all.
As it happens, their next two league games are against Bmouth and Wolves. 20 points from 16 would be solid. But 14 points from 16, and yeah, they'd be in the mix. So far, they've broadly done what they need to. Avoided defeat vs Brentford, Palace, Leeds, Fulham, us, West Ham, Forest. Lost all the rest except Liverpool. So that stands them in a good position for Bmouth and Wolves.
We're haven't won by more than one goal, and one clean sheet all season definitely puts us in the "pretty much ****ed" bracket!
When the beer is crap, go.to another bar. When You have had enough of oñe religión, change religión. I apply.the same attitude to football. This year it is PNE and Atlético Baleares!!
