Yesterday was a farce - So disappointing. Yes, we should have had a pen and hit the woodwork, but the performance was lacklustre. We've had an ineffective central midfield since the loss of Danny, DemPele etc. MJ has a lot of work to do in the summer! In the cold light of the day after and as a glass-half-full person I am reminded that an awful lot of teams need to get points in order for us to hit 18th, some of whom play each other, while others have trips to Citee, Spurs, Arsenal etc. Not complacent, just trying to add some balance – Just look at the odds: Wigan 4/5 Norwich 10/3 Sunderland 8/1 Newcastle 4/1 Sunderland 8/1 Southampton 25/1 Fulham 33/1 Now let's get behind the team on Sunday. I want revenge for that woeful performance at Anfield in December. C O Y W !!!!!
Quit agree Gera,but who would have thought 5/6 weeks ago that at this stage the team would have given up,and being quoted odds on relegation.
And not wishing to be a doom monger, we all know what happened the previous time that we played swansea in the last game of the season.
I really wish that Everton had beaten Liverpool today. That would have sealed 6th place for them and given Liverpool nothing more to play for. Ah well, we have to be positive and look to get a result next week against a Suarez-less Liverpool.
Saturday was a poor performance, but I wouldn't say that the team ever gave up. Teams who have given up don't fight back from 2-0 and 3-1 down. Each time we went two goals behind, it didn't stop us from wholeheartedly looking to get back into it. We can criticise a lot about the performance against Reading, but I don't think it's fair to accuse the team of giving up or not trying. I agree with GeraScores. While we're not safe, I think we'll be okay. As I said on another thread, our remaining fixtures aren't the most reassuring, but they are no worse than those of some of the other sides in the 40pts-or-less club. And it would be entirely Fulhamish for us to lose to Reading then go out and beat Liverpool. Feel free to dismiss the last sentence as glass-half-full-clutching-at-straws. The rest of it is serious analysis of the situation. To expand on an image someone else used on a previous thread: we're not in the ****. At worst we're loitering around the door to the toilet block. Of course, by now we should be in the queue for the burger bar, or sitting in our seats in the sunshine.
Well said Gera, like many others after the game against Reading I was fearing the worst but as El Capitano says we will be alright and it would indeed be fulhamish for us to now turn over Liverpool. It is an intriguing summer ahead. Providing we do retain premiership status, a fairly major overhaul needs to take place. I think what the last month has shown us is that we do have an aging squad and that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The big question will be will we get fresh blood in or promote some of the talented youngsters in the academy. It is going to be a tricky one for Jol to juggle. If we dish out long term contracts for players what message does that send out to the youngsters ? I digress though, first job to secure a win against Liverpool or Swansea. As Gera rightly says, the fans are going to play a massive part of that. COYW
Three games will define how I feel ahead of that Swansea game. If we beat Liverpool, we're home and dry. If Chelsea beat Villa at Villa Park and Arsenal beat Wigan at the Emirates, we're home and dry. I hope that we can get this done ourselves, but if not then the competition for Champions League places could help us out no end.
This is my analysis too. Wigan will find difficult to survive. Also need to watch on the game between Chelski and Spurs.
I'm not so sure that Wigan are doomed. More significant is the fact that if Wigan don't win against Swansea AND Arsenal, and if Villa lose to Chelsea, it's impossible for both of them to beat our points total. With our goal difference so much better than Villa, that would mean we're safe as long as we don't lose both of our games by 5 or 6 goals. Wigan are capable of getting results to put others in trouble, but I think there are two many results that have to go against us for me to be worrying just yet. If Arsenal and Chelsea let us down at the weekend, I'll change my tune.
Captain I didn't expect us to be having this discussion/debate and that's what frustrates me the most. Once we reached 40 points we seemed to forget that we need more to mathematically be safe! In any case will be there shouting for the team on Sunday!!! Come on Fulham!!!!
As you say Captain, all sorts of combinations and results still in the melting pot. Last night's result between Sunderland and Stoke was the worst one possible and funnily enough I don't think tonight's between Wigan and Swansea is a clincher - although obviously if Wigan lose it puts enormous pressure on them. Norwich v West Brom at the weekend is another key one and of course good old QPR could do us a great favour against Newcastle.
Love your optimism captain.Once again we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a loaded gun. Survival or not, I believe at seasons end, Jol will have to account to both supporters, and management on this seasons performances.
If Chelsea beat Villa on Saturday, we are safe (barring a pair of 6-0 hammerings). Everything beyond that would then be for league position.
