I think they probably need to win today. Or at the very least, not lose. I agree that their run-in isn't the hardest around (although nor is it the easiest), but that might not count for much if they're cut adrift by then. Liverpool, Utd and Spurs all in their next five after today. That's massive pressure on the games against us and Bmouth, if they don't win today. Otherwise it's a Leicester/Fulham/Pompey style end of season needed. Palace are actually in a similar boat in having a nasty run after today (even nastier than Newcastle's), followed by a nice run-in (even nicer than Newcastle's). But they do have those extra two points on the board, and are the home team today - and honestly, if they can't save themselves with their final six games (should they need to), then they'd only have themselves to blame.
That Swansea news could be massively important.... It's always a shame for players to get injured BUT it could end up benefitting us
Just look at yesterday. I think we were only without Austin. Whereas WBA were without Evans, Gibbs, Livermore, Krychowiak, Chadli, Morrison, Robson-Kanu, and their new signing Gabr.
I noted with interest Brendy’s comment a couple of weeks back about the three promoted teams... he could be right.
What is interesting is that Saints fans have posted about teams around us having new manager bounce and “turning corners” while we haven’t been on a run. None of Palace, West Ham, Swansea or Stoke have gone out of our site. Now is it our turn to go on a run????
I hope so fatletiss, We are a team that are easily good enough to go on a surge, I mean it it's at the expense of Liverpool I can deal with that.
I wouldn't be putting the same amount of money on it now, that I would have done 36 hours ago. A seven point gap now between WBA and Brighton, with WBA playing Chelsea next and Brighton playing Stoke next. If that gets any bigger, I think it'll be asking too much of WBA to overcome that. Such a huge six point swing yesterday. (That's not to say that WBA can't survive, or that Brighton are safe. Just that for all three promoted sides to now go now, it clearly requires WBA to catch Brighton)
If WBA, Swansea and Stoke were to go down, it would mean that all but seven clubs in the PL had been in the Championship from 2012 onwards. Ourselves and West Ham would become the longest-serving members after the usual top seven.
Yes. Hope dies last. To be fair Palace were looking to be cut adrift before Hodgeson came, they have been doing well. Wet Spam have improved though not been 'on a run'. Similar for stoke. I won't give up hope, especially after a win. But won't be surprised if we revert back.
I’m beginning to think after the weekend’s results that the level for safety will be considerably less than 38 points. I can’t remember a season when the points spread between 11th and 19th (West Brom in 20th are beginning to be cast adrift) was as low as 3 points. The other thing that stands out is that every team in the league apart from the top 6 now has a negative goal difference, which is a fair guide to poor form over a season. The teams on 31 points or more are probably out of danger, although Everton’s good run under Allardyce seems to have petered out and they might just drop down. However, all the teams from 11th down still have several games left against each other, and I think this is where the relegation places will be decided. For Saints, the month of March is crucial. We play Stoke at home, Newcastle away, Swansea away, and West Ham away, all teams in the bottom half and all in danger of being dragged down if they aren’t already. If we can win 3 of those games, which is eminently possible I think we are safe.
I love logic. So I'm setting my alarm for the end of March and investing in some decent reading matter and a new duvet. It's funny. I was at Anfield when Albion won in the Cup and Reds fans were asking why it was WBA were in trouble. Then last weekend Albion fans were asking the same question of us. There is a general consensus that outside the top 6/7 the PL is dross. There are teams who are having a poor season, all of whom can suddenly produce a decent game. This relegation thing is going to have some twists. On my way home at the weekend I was thinking about when we beat Boro 3-1 away in '05 and thought we were heading to safety. Not sure of the chronology, but we also beat Liverpool 2-0 around that time too, but then imploded when it came to winnable games. History is never repeated, is it?
It's so close that there will be times we feel like we are on a bungee rope, but our recent results suggest to me that we have turned some kind of corner. If you are in the relegation zone, may be best to get a good run going at this end of the season. Now is our moment...Fran logic.
Unbeaten in SIX (robbed in one too!)...... four of which were Prem fixtures. Need to get 100% behind team, particularly at home, and reduce the pressure on the players/ manager.
NO logic in football....... that's why we luv it! Be confident that the worst three teams always, ALWAYS, finish up in the three relegation places - that my friend is the historical truth of the matter
The three teams with the least points go down. That is true. If this is the sole measure, then the three worst teams go down. But, there's always a twist. When we went down in '74 we just seemed to run out of luck, despite a decent team. In '05 we were crap, but even then the football gods deserted us - Bent's late equaliser at SMS still rankles. I imagine fans of every relegated team have one of those "that was the game" moments. One of the disturbing aspects of '05 was that we got results against teams around us at the end - and consequently took Norwich and Palace with us. The old adage that the league doesn't lie can be sorely tested at times.
