The run-in leading up to 2013

[Mister E]

QPR should stay up, with the new impetus and the dosh available.

The real question is: which teams will be in the relegation battle come the season-end and what do past leagues show us?

Re the first part, it's seems clear to me that Norwich, S'land, S'ton, Wigan, Reading and Stoke are our real competition; I stilll include QPR although I think they will be favourite to pull clear because they have the resources and a guy in charge prepared to spend them (I mean Fernandez, not 'arry, although together they really do have spending capacity); and Fernandez has pulled the trigger on Hughes early enough for it to have a real impact.

Re historical pointers: the band of relegation points is between 34 and 42 during a 38-fixture season. At this point in time it's impossible to second-guess which teams will have enough in the tank to rise above the rest (although the current bottom four - including us -clearly do not have many points in the bag).
History shows us that Pulis and Martinez can drag teams away from the relegation zone. This may mean we are one of 6 facing the drop.

2:1 - not good odds.

The good news and the bad news: there is time for all of the contenders to get a lot better.

[silhillvilla]

Redknapp will do well there. Can see him getting some top players in too like Defoe, Parker etc.
QPR safe.

[paulcomben]

We could readily lose or draw the lot. Scarey. The Lambert Plan really must click within the next 3 games/ 9 days. From those, 0-3 points=cack, 4-6 points=hmmm, 7-9 points=feeling groovy.

[supertom]

I think at some point it should click. We're due some luck, and I think there'll be a point where we put together a run. That may be Jan time. I do think the right 2-3 signings could make all the difference. The signings all seem to have promise. We just need to overhaul the midfield and make at least one inspired signing there. Someone like Parker would be ideal, but if he is made available he'll be QPR bound probably.
The more the young lads play and gel, I think the more hardened they'll become and we should see less of games like City where we just fell apart. We've got a lot of players chucked in the deep end right now. We just need 1-2 really decent, established players coming in, to show them how to swim. The more we weed naivity out their play the better.

[ozzjim]

Redknapp will do well there. Can see him getting some top players in too like Defoe, Parker etc.
QPR safe.

No chance will Spurs let either of those 2 go in January. None. He will buy Dawson for stupid millions, and give him a massive contract, so they will be defensively better, then I would imagine they will go for a tricky winger and a big frontman. Maybe even an audacious attempt for Crouch.  They will be close to staying up though I am sure. 2-3 more games and they would have been dead men walking, but beat us and they are in business.

Reading v Wigan today needs to be a draw, if not, and we lose, we will be cut adrift going into the Reading home game, which could be very difficult with the pressure.

[hawkeye]

Ozz I think Crouch is an ooop

[PeterWithesShin]

v Arsenal 24.11.12 (H) D
v Reading 27.11.12 (H) W
v QPR 1.12.12 (A) D
v Stoke City 8.12.12 (H) W
v Liverpool 15.12.12 (A) L
v Chelsea 23.12.12 (A) L
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) D
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) W

12 out of 24

1 out of 1 so far. Eat your heart out Mystic Meg.

[Witton Warrior]

v Arsenal 24.11.12 (H) D
v Reading 27.11.12 (H) W
v QPR 1.12.12 (A) D
v Stoke City 8.12.12 (H) W
v Liverpool 15.12.12 (A) L
v Chelsea 23.12.12 (A) L
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) D
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) W

12 out of 24

1 out of 1 so far. Eat your heart out Mystic Meg.

Agree with PWS except for the Spurs draw as I think they will beat us so 11 points

[JUAN PABLO]

Redknapp will do well there. Can see him getting some top players in too like Defoe, Parker etc.
QPR safe.

I bet Dawson will be first signing

[jeowje]

I think that QPR will have the usual honeymoon period with a new manager and then slip back into their old ways. Actually looking forward to the game against QPR more now though, just makes them a bigger scalp!

[ozzjim]

Redknapp will do well there. Can see him getting some top players in too like Defoe, Parker etc.
QPR safe.

I bet Dawson will be first signing

And they will take a couple of exotic buggers on loan from somewhere. In fact I reckon they will have a bus load of loans ready!

[villan from luton]

Dawson is a good bet for first signing though seems to be getting a look in at the Spuds and not sure Levy will want anyone going there. No chance of them getting Defoe

[nornironvillain]

v Arsenal 24.11.12 (H) draw - result already gone
v Reading 27.11.12 (H) WIN
v QPR 1.12.12 (A) Draw
v Stoke City 8.12.12 (H) Draw
v Liverpool 15.12.12 (A) Lose
v Chelsea 23.12.12 (A) At least a draw (we always get a good result/performance around crimbo/new year v this lot)
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) lose
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) win (hopefully - guarenteed 3 points away)

9 points from our next 7 games

[Matt Collins]

You'd have to think redknapp will turn QPR around. But for some reason I have a sneaking suspicion it might not work out

Back to us, and looking at reading's away form on the beeb further convinces me that tuesdy's game is likely to be really tight. After initial defeat at Chelsea they've either drawn or lost by one goal in subsequent games. I'm predicting either 1-1 or a late villa 2-1 win. The latter would be a massive result. I hope bent is back on the bench and I hope there's something approaching 30k fans there

[Bottom Right 89]

v Arsenal 24.11.12 (H) D
v Reading 27.11.12 (H) W
v QPR 1.12.12 (A) D
v Stoke City 8.12.12 (H) W
v Liverpool 15.12.12 (A) L
v Chelsea 23.12.12 (A) L
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) D
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) W

12 out of 24

This one but with a win at QPR - 14 out of 24.

Think we lost a few at the first hurdle but there are about a dozen of us who said draw and now everyone has backed it up with a win against Reading. If we took a mythical pound at 5/2 for the draw on Saturday we've now got £3.50 running on to a Villa win at even money on Tuesday, let's see how far we get and if anyone can land the 8 game acca.