Are we in trouble yet?

[pauliewalnuts]

the trouble with Wolves and Wigan is that, just when you've written them off, they pull out a mad result.

This is what worries me.

Wigan, Wolves and West Ham, despite being in erratic form, are occasionally showing the sort of resolve and spirit that we don't seem to show frequently enough.

Although I agree in principal, they could look at our results against Man Utd and Man City at home and disagree.  The wins against those three now also look like they'll be significant come May. 

Man City was a gritty performance, that's true, but Man United was a win turned into a draw, and was three months ago now in any case.

It worries me a bit when West Ham manage to claw themselves back from 3 goals down away from home, and Wigan go to Anfield and get a point, having gone a goal down. I wonder if we have that spirit now, through to the end of the season.

[eastie]

Yes I agree john m as I say at least top 8 but I expect us to be challenging along for 6 th place with maybe Liverpool- the worry is the top 5 are getting stronger and richer and although 6th may be attainable next season I think it would be extremely hard to get higher than that.

[Chris Smith]

the trouble with Wolves and Wigan is that, just when you've written them off, they pull out a mad result.

This is what worries me.

Wigan, Wolves and West Ham, despite being in erratic form, are occasionally showing the sort of resolve and spirit that we don't seem to show frequently enough.

Although I agree in principal, they could look at our results against Man Utd and Man City at home and disagree.  The wins against those three now also look like they'll be significant come May. 

Man City was a gritty performance, that's true, but Man United was a win turned into a draw, and was three months ago now in any case.

It worries me a bit when West Ham manage to claw themselves back from 3 goals down away from home, and Wigan go to Anfield and get a point, having gone a goal down. I wonder if we have that spirit now, through to the end of the season.

But West Ham also lost at home to the noses and we beat Wigan. It's not individual results that will keep teams up. It's how they do over an extended period. We've made a start and we're 8th on the current form table which is better than most of the teams around us.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Looking at the bottom of the table I really think we need to win the next 3, Beating Albion away is also a must

[Concrete John]

We've made a start and we're 8th on the current form table which is better than most of the teams around us.

That more than anything else on this thread is a cause for optimism.

[Concrete John]

Yes I agree john m as I say at least top 8 but I expect us to be challenging along for 6 th place with maybe Liverpool- the worry is the top 5 are getting stronger and richer and although 6th may be attainable next season I think it would be extremely hard to get higher than that.

The thing with that top 5 though is that whoever misses out on the CL spot could well start to struggle, both financially and in terms of keeping their better players.  We've already seen it with Liverpool and although Chelsea and Man City may be immune due to their ownership, Spurs finishing 5th would be interesting and beneficial to the chasing pack.

[nadz3488]

The bottom half of the table is incredibly tight. Which is good. Looking at our remaining fixtures, they are all winnable. Yes, even Arsenal and Liverflop. Knowing this league, anything can happen. I am expecting a top half table finish and what will be sweeter is to get the European spot. Think positive everyone!

[Le Lapin]

Yes we are, next three matches are critical. We need a few wins or the slide will gain momentum and who knows where you end up if that happens.

[KevinGage]

Win against Blackburn and we'll be fine.

Lose and it'll be a nervy end to the season.

Bit concerned that the 'only x amount of points away from...'  justification has now moved out to the heady heights of 9th. I'll say one thing for GH, he's done a fantastic job at downgrading expectations.

I just hope we're not relying on similar mathematical crumbs of comfort sitting in 16th/17th/18th place going into the final few weeks of the campaign.

[TonyD]

The Blackburn game will probably be another score draw and this debate will continue.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

The Blackburn game will probably be another score draw and this debate will continue.

5-5 knowing our defence.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Just done the BBC predictor thing... we will finish 11th on 45 points.

Small Heath finish 7th on 51 points

Relegated = West Brom, Wigan and Blackburn

[Concrete John]

Just done the BBC predictor thing... we will finish 11th on 45 points.

Small Heath finish 7th on 51 points

Relegated = West Brom, Wigan and Blackburn

Agree with the first bit as a quite likely result.

The final bit is also probably not too far from what will happen.

I'm not even going to contemplate the middle bit!!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Maybe the Dog Shit will finish 7th and what a travesty modern football in the Premier is.
Too many teams playing sterile, anti football and getting results.

[WikiVilla]

our next 5 home games are all Sat 3pm K O, which can only be a positive