As things stand I think only Reading are certainties for the drop. I can't quite right QPR off yet but they'll be in the battle with us all season. I think realistically it's between us, QPR, Wigan and Villa for two places. If we manage to beat Fulham on Wednesday than I don't think they can be ruled out of the battle and despite Sunderlands win over us they are not yet safe either. Still a long way to go yet though and the all important January transfer window could make or break some of us teams in the battle to avoid relegation.
Still close at bottom, but think Reading and QPR will go down. One recent win doesn't make Sunderland safe, just as we weren't safe after beating Reading. A couple of wins could change the position of anyone in bottom half, so let's hope it us.
For me, it's QPR, Reading and Benteke FC for the drop. Lallana being out isn't going to help; I don't think Lambert's looked as good as he was at the start of the season-I'd have him on the bench vs Fulham.
I think Lambert has to be benched at some point over this Xmas period, if for no other reason than to prevent tiredness. Of these next three games, I think Stoke away is the hardest, so that is the one I would inclined to rest a fair few players for. And with Lambert in particular, I don't don't see him getting much change out of Huth or Shawcross in the air (just as the other week, Agger and Skrtel dealt with the aeiral threat with seeming ease). That said though, at the other end of the pitch, we could certainly use Lambert to help us defend those Stoke set-peices. So I don't know. I'll let Nigel decide which game to rest (or simply drop) Lambert for.
reading are definitely down, qpr are almost down and i think wigan will take the final relegation place.
We have much harder home games second half of season so we are going to have to make a couple of astute signings, sort tactics out against certain opponents and up our game. All possible but I think it will go right to the wire. Our subs bench just has not got the quality when we are up against it.
Two massive home games for Villa coming up against Spurs and Wigan. No wins and they are deep in the mire!
Don't underestimate Paul Lambert. Spurs players will be licking their lips after yesterday, but if they aren't at their best they may well be in for a real shock. And Wigan are too predictable; Bentecke and Weimann will run riot against that defence. The Villa youngsters will have learned a good lesson after the last two games -- beating Liverpool doesn't mean you've arrived! Happy Christmas to you all (you will not go down)!
Lol bit harsh considering the form we were in at the time those predictions were made, but things have really started to click for us now (as we all knew it was just a matter of time before it happened) and I think we'll be looking up the table rather than down going forward. As for the OP, I would say Reading QPR and one other, between Villa (my personal choice - "big club" my ass), Southampton and Wigan. I reckon Fulham will string a few results together and pull away at some point. The only other team I can see getting dragged down (there is always one who plummets in the new year) is possibly West Ham but it does look unlikely at the moment.
Sunderland are now pretty much in the position that I think most people assumed they to be in, so to see them with a nice healthy gap to the bottom three isn't too hard to take. Likewise, I think most of us are just waiting for Newcastle to pull themselves clear too. It's nice while they're down here of course, and they longer they are down here the less time they have to pull away, but at the end of the day the players that Sunderland and Newcastle have are too good to be involved in a relegation battle. As you say Lamb, it's Wigan and Villa that we could do without winning back-to-games or something similar. Those two, like ourselves, really should be involved in the relegation battle. A large part of me still thinks that we're going to be unlucky ones. January is a huge month for all of us.
Let's pray not St B. I think we are better than all of those three sides. If we can get something from Stoke we go into the new year with a bit of momentum!
I've not seen anything of this current game, but I do hope that the good Liverpool turns up this weekend. Every chance of QPR losing their next five games, vs Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and Man City. And if they do lose all five, then we might, just might, be able to write them off. Today was the end of their nice set of fixtures. Harry won just one of them.
Doubt Reading can turn it round, QPR are a maybe. I am getting more confident that we can get results, but can't wait until we have at least 3 points above the third relegation spot.
