The run-in leading up to 2013

[SoccerHQ]

I tend to be realistic with my predictions, I'd love 7 points from our next 3 games but expect 5 as we could easily lose at QPR and Stoke are always a bastard to beat home or away.

5 points from the next 3 and then 7 points from the Wigan, Swansea and Saints games over xmas. I'm sure we can pick up a point or two in some of the other games like we did against Arsenal.

Basically we need to be over 25 points by the end of January.

Do that and with some new signings I'd be amazed if we were relegated as I think we'd only need 3-4 wins to stay up and I don't expect a collapse like last season.

[garyfouroaks]

This is as comfortable a run as we could have hoped for, hopefully we wil be out of the sticky stuff by January.

[Matt Collins]

I agree, it's generally reasonably comfortable on paper. But . . .

a) the games come thick and fast and that might be tricky
b) our youngsters may struggle a bit more against bruisers in teams we're fighting against. Stoke is a good example. If Vlaar were to be out for a while I think we could go under a couple of times away from home for example

[ozzjim]

Looking at Southampton, you would say the same Soccer, re by the end of Jan they could be safe if they win the games they would hope to. This month they have a chance to get some real points on the board, so maybe Sunderland and Newcastle need to be vigilant. I think it will take 40 to get over the line.

Looking at their last 7 games, I think Southampton have some handy home fixtures there too.

Looking at our fixtures, 7 home wins would give us 31, then it would be about away form. I really believe, if they can take a bit of confidence and momentum into home games we can do that.

No one seems to have a horror run in though from the looks of it. Going to be very, very tight.  5 more points at this stage would have been bloody handy!

[Matt Collins]

There are still plenty of sides in threat. Even Newcastle, Sunderland, Swansea, stoke and Norwich plus Wigan

[N'ZMAV]

Newcastle are in big shit at the moment. Good first 11, but poor squad. And they got lucky that all their players were injury free and on form last season.

[PaulTheVillan]

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) Lose
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) Draw
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) Win

9 from 21.

[not3bad]

Newcastle are in big shit at the moment. Good first 11, but poor squad. And they got lucky that all their players were injury free and on form last season.

They're having the kind of "second season" when a team gets found out.  It's always tough when you haven't got the kind of money the Sky teams have to keep the squad fresh.

[not3bad]

Didn't Paul Lambert do the double over Brendan Rogers last season?  Might be worth keeping in mind when predicting the Liverpool result.

[Billy Walker]

There are still plenty of sides in threat. Even Newcastle, Sunderland, Swansea, stoke and Norwich plus Wigan

I think Newcastle have a run of tough fixtures coming up too.

[astonvillan]

There are still plenty of sides in threat. Even Newcastle, Sunderland, Swansea, stoke and Norwich plus Wigan

I think Newcastle have a run of tough fixtures coming up too.

I was saying in the 'Other games' thread that Newcastle can count themselves fortunate not to be in the relegation zone right now.

They've been outplayed by Villa, Albion, Liverpool and Everton and should arguably be 6 points worse off.

[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.

2 out of 2. Lottery numbers available at a price.

[IFWaters]

Safety has been achieved with between 35 and 40 points in the last 6 seasons. Assume its 38 points this time. That still means 6 more wins and 7 draws. I don't think the draws will be a problem. But home games like Wigan, Southampton, QPR,  Norwich really need to get maximum points

[Matt Collins]

If we were being honest, what did people expect out of the last 5 games (Sunderland, the big 3, and Reading). I probably expected 3-4 points. We've got 7. If we can get another 4 from the next 2 games, I think that will have been pretty successful.

[Salsa Party Animal]

v Arsenal 24.11.12 (H) DRAW
v Reading 27.11.12 (H) WIN
(Ignore above)

v QPR 1.12.12 (A) WIN
v Stoke City 8.12.12 (H) WIN
v Liverpool 15.12.12 (A) WIN
v Chelsea 23.12.12 (A) LOSE
v Spurs 26.12.12 (H) WIN
v Wigan Athletic 29.12.12 (H) WIN