Relegation Possibility

[ez]

At least the season tickets will be a bargain with all those extra games...

I'm already preparing my, 'WE'LL BE BACK' banner.

[hawkeye]

 
Having looked at the fixtures, I think that the points total required is higher than people were expecting, relegation could be decided by West Brom, they play us QPR Blacburn and Bolton.
Wigan and QPR have the toughest run in, we need 2 wins to be certain of safety and with the depleted squad we have its pretty difficult to work out who we might beat. We are a couple of results and injuries away from a crisis. We are in very deep shit.

[cdbearsfan]

I get Bolton safe before the last game.

15 Wigan 40 points, beat Wolves last game
16 Villa 38, draw at Norwich
17 Albion 37, lose to Arsenal but only 2-1 to stay up by one goal of goal difference
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Blackburn 37, get impressive draw at nothing-to-play-for-Chelsea but it proves not enough
19 QPR 36, last day loss at title-chasing Man City but Man U still win title by winning at Mons
20 Wolves 26, down ages ago

Out of interest, how the hell do you get Wigan on 40 points???!!!

Lose their next three, then win their last four games (away to Fulham, home to Newcastle, away to Blackburn, home to Wolves). There's always one team who puts a string of impressive results together, and it's quite often Wigan.

Incidentally, we're already one point better off as I had Blackburn down to draw tonight. So we'll finish two points clear of the drop, not one.

I hope I've calmed everybody's fears.

[ozzjim]

Having looked at the fixtures, I think that the points total required is higher than people were expecting, relegation could be decided by West Brom, they play us QPR Blacburn and Bolton.
Wigan and QPR have the toughest run in, we need 2 wins to be certain of safety and with the depleted squad we have its pretty difficult to work out who we might beat. We are a couple of results and injuries away from a crisis. We are in very deep shit.

I think to be sure 38 will be needed following the run of form the bottom sides have hit, which in fairness we predicted would happen, although I never followed the logic that we would also hit a decent patch! I think we will beat Stoke though for some reason, and then grab a draw along the way to end on 37. Then all cross our fingers, look skywards and hope it is enough.

[Dave Cooper please]

It would be a terrible thing if we went down.

Yes.

[VillaAlways]

It would be a terrible thing if we went down.

Yes.

I don't think you'd see us again for a while That's for sure We would be in the absolute shit financially

[Mister E]

It would be a terrible thing if we went down.

Yes.

I don't think you'd see us again for a while That's for sure We would be in the absolute shit financially

well, it's difficult to say: depends on who the maanger is (probably McL and his coterie); the fact that there is a parachute payment; the fact that we'd hopefully still have the core of the kids who would be able to mature into regular first-team appearances ...

am I being too optimistic?!

[Dave Clark Five]

Bolton 39 pts
Villa 36
QPR 35
Wigan 34
Blackburn 33
Wolves 23
We will draw against Stoke, Bolton and Norwich.

This was based on Blackburn losing against Utd. For a few horrible moments last night, it looked like they would draw or even sneak it. This is how desperate it has become.

[eastie]

It would be a terrible thing if we went down.

Yes.

I don't think you'd see us again for a while That's for sure We would be in the absolute shit financially

well, it's difficult to say: depends on who the maanger is (probably McL and his coterie); the fact that there is a parachute payment; the fact that we'd hopefully still have the core of the kids who would be able to mature into regular first-team appearances ...

am I being too optimistic?!

Yes you are, lerner will sell the promising kids as soon as he gets a decent offer .

[VillaAlways]

And the high earners that nobody wants will cripple us

[Mister E]

It would be a terrible thing if we went down.

Yes.

I don't think you'd see us again for a while That's for sure We would be in the absolute shit financially

well, it's difficult to say: depends on who the maanger is (probably McL and his coterie); the fact that there is a parachute payment; the fact that we'd hopefully still have the core of the kids who would be able to mature into regular first-team appearances ...

am I being too optimistic?!

Yes you are, lerner will sell the promising kids as soon as he gets a decent offer .

I'm not quite as cycnical about that issue, Eastie, although on previous form you're right to make the point.
With the reduction in wages and the presumed departure of Bent, N'Zogbia and possibly Ireland (the three most likely to demand a move and command a decent fee) I think we'd retain our core of kids for the Championship fight and future of the squad.

[ktvillan]

Just done the BBC predictor and have us going down on 37.  That was with us only picking up 4 points from 4 draws and no wins, and being fairly generous to QPR , Bolton, Wigan and Blackburn.  One win and a couple of draws might be enough, but not confident we can even beat Bolton or Stoke at home.

[JUAN PABLO]

when I did the predictor about 4 weeks ago , I had us surviving just .   But I also put aresnal to win at QPR and Liverpool to win at Wigan etc etc etc . FFS  , we are in trouble.

[N'ZMAV]

Newcastle managed to hold on to their players, and win the Championship. Surely we could?

[VillaAlways]

Newcastle managed to hold on to their players, and win the Championship. Surely we could?

Newcastle have a much lower wage structure than us