Relegation Possibility

[VillaAlways]

We have to beat Bolton that's about the size of it.

In the same way that Blues had to beat Fulham you mean ?

I'm officially bricking it

[Rick_avfc]

5 points off the drop zone with teams below us picking up vital points.  I believe we are in the shit especially with the mounting injury list.  Lets hope we can atleast get a point at anfield and go all out for a win against stoke on monday. 4 points from the next 2 games puts us on 37 which i believe will be just about enough

[Risso]

We have to beat Bolton that's about the size of it.

In the same way that Blues had to beat Fulham you mean ?

I'm officially bricking it

That was THE most gutless performance from a team that I've ever seen.  Fulham should have been about 6 up by half time.  I expect McLeish is bricking it as well.  To take two Midlands teams down in consecutive seasons would effectively end his career as a manager.

[citizenDJ]

Yeah, the situation isn't great, is it? I think we'll probably just about stay up, but being relegated certainly isn't as far-fetched as I'd like it to be.

If we were to be relegated, would McLeish's then three relegations from the top flight be a record?

[Greg N'Ash]

If we assume our first choice eleven is Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, N'Zogbia, Petrov, Ireland Jenas, Agbonlahor and Bent, that would give us reserves of:

Guzan, Cuellar, Clark, Delph, Albrighton, Heskey, Bannan and Delfouneso before we get into the youth team.

So we do have reserves. It's just that most of them are injured. And I'm sure greg you don't expect us to have two whole reserve teams?

heh. Well i certainly wouldn't class Bannon as a reserve yet. What's his appearances, about 14 starts and about 30 overall? Hardly knows the way to the home dressing room. Likewise Clarke who's made about 20 i think. Albrighton i suppose is now probably more out of necessity that choice. Certainly on his form this season he's not going to be much more than a reserve

So using my definition of a reserve (ie played some games at a decent level) that leaves us Brad (gone in the summer) Carlos( gone in the summer), Heskey (gone in the summer hopefully), delpth (larf) and the Fonz.

Actually the Fonz is a good example of getting your hopes up about these kids. Two years ago you couldn't move on here for people claiming he was gonna be a star. Now he's been passed over for Weimann and probably will be out the door. Someone mentioned Moore at Swansea - another one who was going to be a great- so now after 4 years of leaving us he's a reserve at swansea. Well if we're gonna have to wait till they're 26 before they're good enough to hold down a reserve place with us then wake me up in 2016 when we take the Championship by storm

[CJ]

Pretty much agree Nastylee but goal difference can soon get eroded if we continue to lose. We're on -9, Blackburn and QPR are on -19. If we lose and they win games that 10 point gap can disappear pretty quickly. Having said that I think we'll get just enough to stay up. Draws against Sturk and Martinoneillssunderland, followed by a win against Bolton will see us more than safe.

[Irish villain]

I can't concentrate on work today I'm so worried about the villa.

I actually think we will go down.  Teams below us have more fight. Does anybody expect us to beat Sunderland or Stoke? Or Bolton for that matter?

We fans are our last hope. It's up to us now to give it a last throw of the dice and stand up for AVFC.

[VillaAlways]

That was THE most gutless performance from a team that I've ever seen.  Fulham should have been about 6 up by half time. 

He must have been delighted to have kept it down to 3-0 by the end then;)

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We fans are our last hope. It's up to us now to give it a last throw of the dice and stand up for AVFC.

We've got to make some incredible noise in our remaining home games, that's all we can do as supporters.

We're officialy in the shit and the depth will now vary.

[pauliewalnuts]

If we assume our first choice eleven is Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, N'Zogbia, Petrov, Ireland Jenas, Agbonlahor and Bent, that would give us reserves of:

Guzan, Cuellar, Clark, Delph, Albrighton, Heskey, Bannan and Delfouneso before we get into the youth team.

So we do have reserves. It's just that most of them are injured. And I'm sure greg you don't expect us to have two whole reserve teams?

heh. Well i certainly wouldn't class Bannon as a reserve yet. What's his appearances, about 14 starts and about 30 overall? Hardly knows the way to the home dressing room. Likewise Clarke who's made about 20 i think. Albrighton i suppose is now probably more out of necessity that choice. Certainly on his form this season he's not going to be much more than a reserve

So using my definition of a reserve (ie played some games at a decent level) that leaves us Brad (gone in the summer) Carlos( gone in the summer), Heskey (gone in the summer hopefully), delpth (larf) and the Fonz.

God almighty, Greg, that's utterly nonsensical.

Under your definition:

Delfouneso (started 13 games in 4 years) = a reserve.
Clark (started 35 games) = not a reserve.
Bannan (started 24 games, has also played for his country, has featured for us this season) = not a reserve.

[Concrete John]

I actually think we will go down.  Teams below us have more fight. Does anybody expect us to beat Sunderland or Stoke? Or Bolton for that matter?

Well, pretty much nobody expected us to beat Fulham or Norwich either!

[Nastylee]

Why is the game against Stoke a 5.30 KO? Can't see it advertised for TV anywhere?

[Rick_avfc]

Why is the game against Stoke a 5.30 KO? Can't see it advertised for TV anywhere?

Is it??  I thought it was a 3pm kick off??  Not happy about that.

[VillaAlways]

Why is the game against Stoke a 5.30 KO? Can't see it advertised for TV anywhere?

ESPN
Incidentally we haven't won any of our televised games this season so far
Apologies just checked it isn't on

[Damo70]

I think the Stoke kick-off time is because they are playing live at 5.30 on Saturday and they have to have a minimum gap of 48 hours between games.

We are in big trouble, we need to win our home games against Stoke, Sunderland and Bolton and our home form over the season doesn't suggest we will. Everyone who is talking about 36 or 38 points is living dangerously. I always think 42 is a guarantee of safety, only West Ham ever went down with that many points. Anything less is a big gamble.