Relegation?

[bertlambshank]

Isn't the debt to Randy though?

Most of Bolton's is to the Chairman I think?
I could by wrong,I am most times.

[Dave Clark Five]

All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.

On what basis?  We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.

Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.

Tongue in cheek but the truth is we just don't look like adding points very quickly. How often have we approached so called 'must win/winnable' games and come away with nothing. We could just about put up with it whilst our away matches provided points but that's dried up too.

What does our current points per game ration give us if we keep it up to the end?

39. And a half. That half point could be vital!

We'd better keep up the bad work then.

[Steve kirk]

Last season when we played the other relegation contenders we did pretty well, I'm thinking of Reading, Sunderland and QPR all being wins. We also had Benteke scoring at Messi/Ronaldo rates with Gabby and Weimann chipping in.

This season we seem to be determined to give those types of teams a nice confidence boost and 3 easy points. We haven't scored for three games which includes two poor defences.

Norwich have a much easier March than us, facing 4 out of 5 bottom half teams. Even if we beat them we could be behind them in April. Stoke are the same. Palace face three top half sides including Arsenal and Chelsea but they do have a game in hand in reserve. I have a feeling we'll be 16th by the time we play Fulham which would then be absolutely huge.

I think we're still 10/1 to go down though which is bizarre.

Norwich have got an easier March but take a look at their last 4 fixtures, Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal, I know they beat Spurs but you would much prefer our last 4 Southampton, Swansea, Hull and Spurs, if we are at least level with them going into those games we will squeeze home, its going to be a nerve shredding end again but I just feel we will survive.

[curiousorange]

We might allegedly be in better form than this time last year, but we were pushed along with the excitement of Benteke's form and the idea it all seemed to be coming together. The fact we weren't safe until the last week was one of those football ironies.

This time round, we're as energised as a dead badger.

[Steve kirk]

Nobody saw the turnaround that came last season with 10 games to go and I bet the posts back then were worse than now, I am not saying we will repeat that form again but we are not dead yet and predictions of us getting 2 or 3 more points are plain daft, I am depressed and pissed off about things like all of my H @ V friends on here but lets not give up just yet.

[Steve67]

Nobody saw the turnaround that came last season with 10 games to go and I bet the posts back then were worse than now, I am not saying we will repeat that form again but we are not dead yet and predictions of us getting 2 or 3 more points are plain daft, I am depressed and pissed off about things like all of my H @ V friends on here but lets not give up just yet.

What makes it worse is that the momentum we had hasn't been sustained, despite Lambert spending another 20mill or so over the summer.  We now have Benteke not scoring goals, the same shabby midfield and a defence with no real backbone.  Unless we get a good run, the same as last year, it is unlikely that we will manage the same points tally as last season.  To be fair, it's in our own hands with Norwich, Palace, Fulham, Hull left to play.  We also have something like five of our next seven games at home (oh shit!!).  That 4 point gap will quickly erode if we don't beat Norwich this weekend. Relegation is a real threat this season, much more than last in my opinion, as we are unlikely to have the same run as last season.

[Steve kirk]

Nobody saw the turnaround that came last season with 10 games to go and I bet the posts back then were worse than now, I am not saying we will repeat that form again but we are not dead yet and predictions of us getting 2 or 3 more points are plain daft, I am depressed and pissed off about things like all of my H @ V friends on here but lets not give up just yet.

What makes it worse is that the momentum we had hasn't been sustained, despite Lambert spending another 20mill or so over the summer.  We now have Benteke not scoring goals, the same shabby midfield and a defence with no real backbone.  Unless we get a good run, the same as last year, it is unlikely that we will manage the same points tally as last season.  To be fair, it's in our own hands with Norwich, Palace, Fulham, Hull left to play.  We also have something like five of our next seven games at home (oh shit!!).  That 4 point gap will quickly erode if we don't beat Norwich this weekend. Relegation is a real threat this season, much more than last in my opinion, as we are unlikely to have the same run as last season.

Cant argue with any of that Newby, Norwich is pivotal and if we lose that I may have to rethink, I just believe we will get enough points to stumble over the finish line.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I've actually toyed with the notion today if relegation would actually be a blessing. It wouldn't (of course) but if it had to happen to get rid of Lambert and wake Randy and Faulkner from their malaise it might just be worth it in the long run

[ROBBO]

Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.

[VinnieChase84]

Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.

You convinced he's on thin ice?

[danlanza]

Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.

You convinced he's on thin ice?

I will go with ROBBO on this one. If we lose to Narwich.............. then the writing is on the wall for Lambert. There are some rumours around from, well, what you could call reliable sources that all is not well at all. Nothing that has not been said before by the way, but they are getting stronger, these rumours. They are not from the media either but from other sources close to what is going on, so the info says.

[Legion]

Speculation, conjecture, stabs in the dark and/or utter unfounded bollocks?

[MONCABA]

I think if we do lose to Norwich,  he will walk before he's pushed.
What a sad state of affairs at Villa park nowadays.

[wolfman999]

The hysteria around the current situation is on the border between amusing and annoying. I don't think we'll go down. I don't want Lambert sacked. We were in a far worse position last year and got through so let's just get behind them. We're still capable of a mid table finish, which always was the aim. The thing about a mid table season is that there are some tough moments. We're in one, but I'd rather be where we are than where Fulham or Sunderland are.

I think this summer will be and always has been planned to be pivotal in whatever the project is. We've trimmed the squad, we've filled it out with more affordable players and I genuinely believe this summer, they'll go out to buy 3 or 4 (depending on Benteke) genuine first team players rather than the 7 or 8 fillers of the last two years. Add Okore to that, and the third year should be much more positive,

and this is based on what exactly? Blind faith? Reading tea leaves? A gypsy lady at the fairground?

How many more years like the last four seasons are we supposed to put up in the hope that somehow next year will be better when there is absolutely no indication it will be.

[Eigentor]

At the moment we look like one of the worst teams in the league. It's difficult to see where our next win will come from, but once in a while we detour from our dour, insipid displays and deploy gung-ho tactics. That will earn us some points. Hopefully enough to keep us alive. Steady progress is starting to look like a long shot, though.