The end-of-season run-in

[berneboy]

The Times this morning has us getting 38 points (where from I do not know!) with Fulham escaping on 36 points and Norwich going down.

I can't see 38 points but maybe we'll grab a dull draw v Hull and escape by the skin of our teeth and goal difference - mind you GD may be poor by then.

[Ads]

Form changes very quickly down this end of the table. You beat Norwich and Chelsea, playing pretty well in the process. You then have Stoke, Man United, Fulham and Crystal Palace. What is going to happen?

It would be entirely disingenuous for somebody to say that they foresaw the form falling off a cliff post-Chelsea. Perhaps Saturday was a tipping point? They cannot just glide their way into the summer any longer, they need to pull a result from somewhere.

They are capable of it. We have seen it, even if Chelsea feels a long time ago. Southampton, shy of Newcastle, are probably the best opposition we could be playing. Mid-table, their best players fearing injury ahead of the biggest summer of their careers, stuttering form themselves. It's an opportunity, as is Swansea, as is Hull.

I don't think we will go down, but I would much rather we take charge of that by five o'clock on Saturday on 37 points and have it pretty much done and dusted, then wait on the likes of Fulham and Norwich to fail in order to secure survival.

[supertom]

Form changes very quickly down this end of the table. You beat Norwich and Chelsea, playing pretty well in the process. You then have Stoke, Man United, Fulham and Crystal Palace. What is going to happen?

It would be entirely disingenuous for somebody to say that they foresaw the form falling off a cliff post-Chelsea. Perhaps Saturday was a tipping point? They cannot just glide their way into the summer any longer, they need to pull a result from somewhere.

They are capable of it. We have seen it, even if Chelsea feels a long time ago. Southampton, shy of Newcastle, are probably the best opposition we could be playing. Mid-table, their best players fearing injury ahead of the biggest summer of their careers, stuttering form themselves. It's an opportunity, as is Swansea, as is Hull.

I don't think we will go down, but I would much rather we take charge of that by five o'clock on Saturday on 37 points and have it pretty much done and dusted, then wait on the likes of Fulham and Norwich to fail in order to secure survival.

Agreed. No way do we want to go into the City and Spurs games needing a result. That could be disastrous.

If we scrape 2-4 points in the next 3 games, we're pretty much home and dry.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Minimum of three wins there.

No problemo.

[Ads]

If we beat Southampton and Spurs beat Fulham, then we will be safe. Fulham would have to win 3 out of 3 to stop up with us taking no more points.

We're on minus 14 goal difference, which is still 26 better than Fulham, as a good an indication as any needed to suggest they will go down.

[Concrete John]

Hull getting to the FA Cup final has probably made that game the easiest one we have left this season.

[Ads]

You more than likely correct and having looked to see that Fulham have them at home, that could be the result that may lead them to leap-frog Norwich.

Looking at Fulham's fixtures, I think they may get six points maximum from their two home games against Hull and Palace. Maybe Norwich will get a shock win at home, but if Liverpool muller them next week, it looks pretty ominous for them.

[Des Little]

We need one point, that's all.  Norwich will lose their next three, but look who they've got last game...the flakiest bunch of tossers in the Prem.  Arsenal with an upcoming cup final nothing to play for (assuming the Champs League situ is sorted by then) are fair game. We need that point so that even if Norwich beat Arsenal, we are safe.  That's the crux of it as far as I'm concerned.

[Clampy]

The one game I can see us getting three points from is Swansea and maybe a point at home to Hull. I'm not overly confident about the rest mind.

[ozzjim]

Southampton is the easiest game realistically. They are on the beach and without Rodriguez who has been essential to them, question is can we step up.

[supertom]

Southampton is the easiest game realistically. They are on the beach and without Rodriguez who has been essential to them, question is can we step up.

The issue for me is goals. Can we keep a clean sheet? I'm not sure.
If that's the case, can we score at least two to win the game?
Again...I can't see where our goal is going to come from. I also can't see us keeping a clean sheet.

I would gladly take a point for this game.

[ozzjim]

At home, we have to change things and really go for it in the 2 games. We need 1 win. Go 4-4-2, Holt and Weimann up front maybe (Gabby did nothing at Palace), Albrighton and maybe even Tonev wide, Delph and KEA in the middle and have a really good go at it. We are going to concede anyway so at least try and carry a good threat!

[Clampy]

At home, we have to change things and really go for it in the 2 games. We need 1 win. Go 4-4-2, Holt and Weimann up front maybe (Gabby did nothing at Palace), Albrighton and maybe even Tonev wide, Delph and KEA in the middle and have a really good go at it. We are going to concede anyway so at least try and carry a good threat!

He could have done any of that after 60 minutes on Saturday but he waited until they scored.

[walsall villain]

At home, we have to change things and really go for it in the 2 games. We need 1 win. Go 4-4-2, Holt and Weimann up front maybe (Gabby did nothing at Palace), Albrighton and maybe even Tonev wide, Delph and KEA in the middle and have a really good go at it. We are going to concede anyway so at least try and carry a good threat!

Last year when we were in the shit the team did go for it just like the teams currently below us are doing. Agree with leaving Gabby out of the starting eleven, he is well out of form. We need to play our part too in getting us safe then we can carry on with the debate about what next.

[TonyD]

4 points and safety.    Then I want some action over the summer!!