Well we're all starting to think of this as a League of 5 at the bottom so here is how we stand against each other and gives a clear indication of why we are where we are. Sorry but couldn't face doing the goals as well! Team Played Points Wolves 5 10 Bolton 5 10 Wigan 6 7 QPR 7 7 Blackburn 5 5 Looking forward we only have 1 to play against our mini league rivals but that may be a good thing as we are clearly not performing well against the lesser teams. Indeed Blackburn who have really struggled against the others have 4 of their 5 points from us. Bolton have a massive month in March when they will complete their mini league competition with their final 3 games coming together. That could be decisive for them. As for a grand finale, Wigans final two games are against mini league opposition facing Wolves last and Blackburn before them. In conclusion for us it means apart from Bolton away we have no 6 pointers so we have little chance to make big in roads and it's probably going to be a slow slog to get ourselves safe. Come on you rrrr's!
We need to win our next two home matches and avoid defeat at Bolton, on current form it'll be a tall order. However, the more I see of our four rivals the more I think we may just scrape enough points to survive...
On the positive side as they all have more games against each other they are all guaranteed to be dropping points somewhere, we just have to make sure we capitalise with wins against other teams. It's sounding easier by the minute!
I have said before that I believe the improved / improving QPR will have it in them to beat either Liverpool or Arsenal, especially if the 12th man plays his part. Do you think Arsenal might agree to play in Chelsea shirts? That seems to get the 12th man going.
It's the goal difference that gives us the edge over the others in the league of 5. It's worth an extra point to us right now!!
The timing of some of those games may be crucial, Arsenal may have Champions League Quarter-Finals 3 days before and 3 days after. Chelsea may play us 3 days after the Champions League semi-final, although if they carry on as they have been playing that will be irrelevant and we may have a chance anyway...
There are four home games that we need to win - Fulham, Everton, Swansea and Stoke. Unlikely to win all four, so let's give ourselves 7 points from those four games. Then Bolton, Sunderland and Baggies away. Let's give ourselves 4 points. That leaves us needing 4 points from Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Manchesters and Chelsea, half of which are at home. There is no more wiggle room. Relegation is just around the corner. The only hope is for Hughes' QPR is to improve and find the wins needed. Anything less and the Championship beckons. Some month ago, I posted that if after the Fulham home game, we are in the drop zone then I think we will go down. I think I still believe that. I know 'It's QPR' and this is the way we do things but Doomsday is here. It is time for all the players to step up to the mark.
Looks horrible when you lay it out like that mate!! Mind you, you're assuming that we need 36 pts to survive. You may well be right, but there's a chance that 33 may just be enough (with a better goal diff!).
I know Col but that's the truth buddy. It does ignore the goal diff but then the sneaky feeling I have that we will beat either Arsenal or Liverpool at home is a bigger gamble. Very, very little wiggle room. We lost any cushion we had with all those games that we should / could / might have won. This is our new reality for the next three months.
Why does that leave us needing 4 points? No one yet knows how many points are needed. And the way the bottom teams are playing the total needed looks like it will be in low 30's.
So who are the players we have, that look like they could roll up their sleeves and face this dog-fight we are in. No reason to look back and point fingers. This is all about who has the balls and fight in them going forward. Mackie hits the top of my list, Cisse has it, so does Zamora. Ones that worry me are SWP, JB, AT... not sure they have the stomach for this fight over the next few weeks
I agree to an extent. SWP really needs to turn it on. However JB and AT both have big ego's which are inflated by being successful. Neither of them will want 'the shame' of being in a relegated side. I fully expect MH to have everyone firing on all cylinders for Fulham. Going out of the cup was a good result seeing where we are now, it's bought MH that extra time to work with the team and new players.
The thing that I think is difficult, is the fact that the other teams around us, have pretty much had the same Squads for the last view years and in the prem, I think apart from wolves they have all lost the odd player this season and are struggling as a result. They have all been involved in these relegation battles and have survived recently, I would definitley have preferred Swansea or Norwich down here as I think they would buckled under the pressure as we appear to be doing.
Just looking and Stoke are looking in dire form. I know they have a good points gap, but they also have FA Cup and Europa Cup games to add to their fixture list. And their goal difference is real relegation numbers. Don't be surprised if they slip down and increase the size of the mini league! Could happen!
Hey Gloucester, 36 was an arbitrary level I chose. It does seem that less may be enough but let's aim for the 36 or more!!
