This is the season...

[Toronto Villa]

It's not a huge gap at all Ozz. It's 5 points. You say it yourself at the end that two positive results out of the next 26 makes things better. Why do you think that with 6 months to go it is overwhelming? It just isn't. We win one and one of those sides above loses then it's 2 or 3 points. Pressure will build on those sides too.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's still only a case of winning 1 more point than Sunderland, 3 more than Bournemouth & 5 more than Newcastle over a 26 game season to stay up. Norwich etc don't even need to come into it, although they will any way.

[ozzjim]

I am just expecting the worst, when you look at the table it looks bloody awful.

[Toronto Villa]

If we put in consistent performances between now and the end of the season the quality of our squad versus the others will make the difference. There is nothing at all in the squads of those sides immediately above that suggests they are in any better position than us despite have a few more points at this moment. I also believe Randy will invest in the squad in January 1) because we will need it and 2) as a show of support to Garde.

Also, that Garde is a far superior manager to Sherwood and will make better decisions. If Sherwood could have made better decisions during our games this season he'd still be our manager. We didn't lose games only because of lack of quality. We lost them due to a combination of a lack of quality at times and mind boggling bad decision making from the manager. We cut out the poor decisions and the quality of the side will start to emerge and confidence will improve and with it results. The sides that continue to make poor decisions combined with a lack of quality will go down.

[ozzjim]

But to do it we need goals fast. We don't have then right now.

[Des Little]

It's going to be any 3 from us, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Norwich and maybe Swansea if their downward spiral gathers pace. 

[kippaxvilla2]

Don't count Smethwick out yet - they have a crap run of fixtures but do play Bournemouth in the next few weeks.

[kippaxvilla2]

It's getting close to the time to plot our relegation escape thread again - seems to be getting earlier every year.

[SashasGrandad]

Tis (almost) the season to be merry.

After yesterday - stop being so bleeding miserable and look upwards not down.

[Villa in Denmark]

It's going to be any 3 from us, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Norwich and maybe Swansea if their downward spiral gathers pace. 

Apparently Monk being lined up for the old heave ho after a Lambertesque / Sherwoodesque 1 win in 8.

[Villa in Denmark]

It's getting close to the time to plot our relegation escape thread again - seems to be getting earlier every year.

Hopefully we'll lock it earlier as well.



For all the right reasons before anyone gets too funny.

[Des Little]

It's going to be any 3 from us, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Norwich and maybe Swansea if their downward spiral gathers pace. 

Apparently Monk being lined up for the old heave ho after a Lambertesque / Sherwoodesque 1 win in 8.

What bag of shit did they manage to beat? Oh....

[Monty]

Just looking at the table makes me think that getting to third-bottom shouldn't be beyond us even after our next game (Bournemouth have a worse goal difference). Getting to fourth-bottom and beyond, however, will take some work. Let's hope that Norwich start being as bad as they bloody well ought to be, looking at their team.

[Nelson Lodge]

Yesterday's result was hopefully the first step in the right direction. Whilst stats have been quoted that make depressing reading e.g teams with 4 points after 11 games are more likely to be relegated, a look at the Full League Table may not be cheerful but does give rise to some cautious optimism.

I am referring to the Goals Against column. Five teams have conceded more goals than Villa. They are:-

Norwich, Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Sunderland.
 
A 6th team Leicester have conceded the same as Villa, 20 goals. They are 3rd. You would expect them to drop down the table when Vardy hits a 'dry' spell.

In spite of Dim Tim's omnishambolic management style, 7 of the 9 defeats are by a single goal. Illustrates the thin line between failure and success. Therefore, I am hoping that a few tweaks and changes in yesterday's team by Garde & co, can cross that thin line and produce wins and draws instead of defeats. I am still of the opinion that the important short term objective is to stay in touch with the other clubs at the bottom until the New Year and then recruit a goalscorer, and may be a goalkeeper.

Goals For is an issue with 10; the same number as Stoke and WBA (the Pulis factor). However, not significantly worse than most of the others in the lower half of the table.

[ChicagoLion]

the reason we lose by the odd goal is that we have been so easy to contain and you can take a risk free win.awhilst i believe tactics, organisation and selections will improve.
Like OZZ I do not see where the goals are comming from.
We need to win a lot of games before the window opens to keep us in touch.
Who is going to score the goals?