Sack the Manager?

[not3bad]

Once you accept you're in a relegation battle the priority is survival. 

[Chris Smith]

You've explained nothing to me. What I will explain to you is that its highly likely it will need a record points haul to stay up this year, could be as high as 45 pts.
I want my team to get 7 wins & i want our manager to be saying that

I have explained it, sadly you're unwilling or unable to understand.

[Mister E]

Just about every manager in the bottom half of the PL has been asked how many points they think they'll need to stay up. 10 points would do it, I believe. That's what Houllier has said publicly.

Privately, I'm sure he's saying something else to the players. Put it this way, if we win our next three I'm sure he won't be telling them to ease off. Don't think issuing war cries to the media like 'we need to win seven from seven' is going to help anyone. Least of all the players. The pressure's high enough as it is.

Agreed. I'm much more concerned that Hou is saying the right things to the players than to the media.
Given the inconsistency this season, as mentioned above by others, he is going to have to be pretty inspiring to get this lot grinding out results.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

cant beleive he is still in charge !!

Go get David Moyes and Ray Wilkins !!!

cant beleive (sic) you're still here !!

Go get pmk1981 !!

[WikiVilla]

You've explained nothing to me. What I will explain to you is that its highly likely it will need a record points haul to stay up this year, could be as high as 45 pts.
I want my team to get 7 wins & i want our manager to be saying that

I have explained it, sadly you're unwilling or unable to understand.

I may owe you an apology, I've finally done the BBC predictor thing and it shows based on my predictions 40 pts will do it with Wigan, Blackburn & W Ham failing to hit that target
I've assumed we beat Newcastle & Wigan, lose at The Emirates and draw all the other games giving us 44 pts ie 10 more as GH has asked for

[Louzie0]

Hope you are right.  On the points needed as well as the predictions.  Everything crossed! and if we can pick up a couple or more extra points.... Come on, Villa!

[KevinGage]

I have us down for 42 points.

The only thing I'm certain of is we won't do it in the easy manner (wins against the obvious sides).

[ozzjim]

Just done it again. Two of the 3 relegated go on 40, with one surviving on goal difference. I was fairly generous to other clubs too, we got 42-44 depending on winning against Newcastle and drawing a lot of others. Either way we scrape it. Beat Newcastle and Wigan and we will be ok with a couple of draws thrown in IMO. Wigan, Blackpool, West Ham, Blues, Stoke, Blackburn all have tough run ins too. We are not the only club. Going to White Hart lane last up for Blues can't be a fun idea if they are in for 4th still etc...

[WikiVilla]

agree and in that respect we should be hoping spurs season does not now implode

[eastie]

I think if we get 42 points that will be enough, haven't done the predictor though because any team can beat anyone in the final run in and it's just down to who finishes best from here , a win against Newcastle would be a massive lift for us without doubt, I don't really fancy us in any of our away games so I feel it will be the home games that see us sink or swim.

[Concrete John]

agree and in that respect we should be hoping spurs season does not now implode

Our saving grace may be that Liverpool aren't going to get 4th and the likes of Bolton aren't going to overtake them to 6th, so by the last game of the season they'll have nothing to play for.

[SteveN]

agree and in that respect we should be hoping spurs season does not now implode

Our saving grace may be that Liverpool aren't going to get 4th and the likes of Bolton aren't going to overtake them to 6th, so by the last game of the season they'll have nothing to play for.

John, you're not worrying enough! Liverpool and possibly Arsenal will have nothing to play for and be able to relax and play free flowing football.  The sooner this season ends the better hopefully with us beating the drop. I hate football, it ruins your life.

[WikiVilla]

We just have to concentrate on our own games
Forget relying on favours off others, its in our own hands

[Concrete John]

agree and in that respect we should be hoping spurs season does not now implode

Our saving grace may be that Liverpool aren't going to get 4th and the likes of Bolton aren't going to overtake them to 6th, so by the last game of the season they'll have nothing to play for.

John, you're not worrying enough! Liverpool and possibly Arsenal will have nothing to play for and be able to relax and play free flowing football.  The sooner this season ends the better hopefully with us beating the drop. I hate football, it ruins your life.

Trust me - I'm worrying!

However I think that history shows us that teams with nothing to play for are easier opponents at the end of the season than those fighting at either end of the table.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

agree and in that respect we should be hoping spurs season does not now implode

Our saving grace may be that Liverpool aren't going to get 4th and the likes of Bolton aren't going to overtake them to 6th, so by the last game of the season they'll have nothing to play for.

John, you're not worrying enough! Liverpool and possibly Arsenal will have nothing to play for and be able to relax and play free flowing football.  The sooner this season ends the better hopefully with us beating the drop. I hate football, it ruins your life.

Trust me - I'm worrying!

However I think that history shows us that teams with nothing to play for are easier opponents at the end of the season than those fighting at either end of the table.

Remember the end of the season when we needed to beat Wigan?
They had nothing to play for and played us off the park.