Would it be more fun if we went down?

[PeterWithesShin]

We must be the only club where even winning games is spun into a negative.

[Dave]

And with our recent record against 'lower league' sides in the cup competitions , I certainly have no confidence we would be in for an instant return.

What, three wins in our last three matches?

Surely you're not going to argue that we have a good recent record against lower league sides in the cups?  Scraping past Blues and Blackpool 1-0 at home (can't remember who the third is) is hardly something to be proud of.

I didn't say it was something to be proud of. But nor is the fact that when we play Championship sides, we normally win evidence that we're going to be rubbish in the Championship. Which again, also isn't something to be proud of.

If you want to go into our recent record, let's call Houllier and after as 'recent'. Going back into the O'Neill years only makes the figures more favourable with the cup runs in his final season.

By my reckoning, we've played 17 matches against lower league teams in both cup competitions, won 13 and lost 4.

I'm not going to do that for a load of other teams, but do you reckon the above is that much worse than it would be for most other sides?

[Ads]

Its the sort of record that would see us blitz the second division.

[PeterWithesShin]

Even using the defeats as a sign we'd struggle is pretty pointless. The side that lost 3-1 to Bradford for example, of the 18 man squad that night there'd be a maximum of 5 of them with us next season.

[mattjpa]

Anyone using the cup games as an indication of how we will do in the champo is way off the mark. Cup games are a one off where the lower league team has absolutely nothing to lose. the majority of those games have been during the worst period in our history with tonkings every other week and confidence low.

Ive said before, ill say again...our squad will stay largely intact and we will win way more than we lose. we will be back up within two seasons.

[ChicagoLion]

You really think the absentee Landlord, the Marketeer and the bloke with the XBox can get us out of this mess?

[Fin Feds Dad]

I hope you are right , but I really think if this gutless bunch of tossers stays largely intact next season then God help us.

[dcdavecollett]

I wouldn't worry about this, FFD.

it looks like M. Garde has already started identifying the fraudsters in the squad and refuses to play them.

More power to his arm!

[tony scott]

Having witnessed various relegations since 1959, the one thing I can say ,you very quickly get used to the new standard of football.  I think it's very possible we won't bounce back straight away, that doesn't mean we slide straight into division 1, but build a strong team from mid table. I will tell you ,my guilty pleasure at the moment is dreaming of getting 11 wins from our remaining fixtures ,come on make it worthwhile being gutted when we go down UTV

[Legion]

11 wins should be enough to secure our safety. It would also be a miracle of epic proportions.

[tony scott]

Legion I know I shouldn't can't help myself

[Hookeysmith]

I actually convince myself that it would be fun in the championship and we would do well. I watched the Blues last night and the top 2 currently playing each other.
The difference in quality to the premiership is alarmingly obvious.
So with that in mind we have to stay up

[Damo70]

Ideally we will climb out of the bottom three. But the one consolation if we do go down is (hopefully) having a break from being called 'bottom of the table Aston Villa' by every TV station*, radio station and newspaper.

*Except UK Gold where we are 'Champions Of Europe Aston Villa.'

[martin o`who??]

Whenever I think of our impending/inevitable relegation I cannot help but think of the scene in Alien when the creatures blood gets spilt and burns straight through the floor onto the next, and the next, I really do think we are in freefall as a club.

[Ads]

The Xenomomorph is an apex predator. That's exactly what we should be.