There is a bit of difference though between being dragged back into, and actually going down. No-one can know exactly what the required number of points will be, but I am absolutely certain that we won't need to win more than two games. That alone puts us onto 37 points, which might itself be enough. But the likelihood of us not drawing any more matches is incredibly slim. All sides draw a few games here and there. So in reality, getting two more wins is more like taking us to 40 points, rather than just 37 points. And can I see a side going down with 40 points? No. So yes, it might take us a little while to get those two wins (although given our immediate upcoming fixtures, you would hope not!), and in the meantime the sides below us might really start to close that gap and make us sweat a little. But over the course of 12 games, I really cannot see us failing to win two matches. Safety is basically in the bag. It's just that a nice, calm, relaxing final third of the season might not be. In my view.
The day didn`t start out as planned - went to Whiteley for the Parkrun, only to find out it had been cancelled. Not to worry, I just went for a run and a blether with a really nice bloke who`d also turned up.
We can’t put a long run together while we concede too many goals from few chances and score too few from many chances We are always going to slip up At times Good thing is with Danny we score more and with New Jack and Jan B, concede less Next season we’re going to need proper backup in defence and someone else who can score If Boufy is out for a while Ralph’s going to have to coach some significant improvement out of Djenepo
This is the least safe 31 pts has felt.......well since we were in Swansea! We don't need to win the next few games, but we do need to stop the others taking the points and pulling us closer. Season over after the cup, not on your nelly!
They take points off us because, again, they have started scoring more goals than us. I'm pretty sure that we will win at least two more games, because as others have indicated, at this point in the season, draws are not good to teams nearer the bottom of the league, so they have to go and win which equally leaves them more vulnerable to losing matches if only by an odd goal. I just get depressed when I see that we have Vesty on the team sheet, not everyone agrees with that but it seems there is a case, when he's playing, for us having to score at least two to win for obvious reasons. If Ralph can address the present drift, as I'm sure he is going to, then the two wins we need won't be long coming!! Eventually I get to be optimistic again!
I feel very privileged to be where we are in the table. We were entrenched in the mire by the end of October, & I didn't think we were good enough to pick up the amount of points we have since then. But the January window did kind of tell us the club think they are safe, as we moved players around to save some money. Well, there's still work to be done, and sometimes having a nice safety net can get you into more trouble. Grind the next few, hope the injuries aren't taking a firm hold, and let no one start talk of top ten finish or even the madness of creeping into a euro slot! That is the last thing we need. But make no mistake, lose the next three on the bounce and the pressure will be immense.......again.
To drop in to the bottom three the below teams need to overcome us: Crystal Palace Brighton Bournemouth Villa West Ham Out of those, in the next 3 games I would say Palace are probable(only one point) - Newc (h), Brighton (A), Wat (H) Brighton are unlikely (4 points to make up) - Sheff U (A), Palace (H), Wolves (A) Bournemouth unlikely (5 points to make up) - Burnley (A), Chelsea (H), Liverpool (A) Villa not happening (6 points to make up) - Only play us next week then have break for EFL West Ham unlikely (7 points) - City (A), Liverpool (A), us (H), Arsenal (A). So what I am saying is is will not happen in the next round of 3 league games. Also - ALL of these teams need to go above us for us to drop into the bottom 3. Not one, but all. Looking at that if there is still a similar gap, we will need only 2 more wins from now until the end of the season to be safe. EDIT: Add Newcastle into that now as they are below us as well
I'm not sweating on us going down but i am still annoyed that the club never took the opportunity to strengthen the depth in defence. We really should be looking up rather than down but injuries to any of our starting back four and it could cost us valuable points and with the way the table is a chance for a decent finish (which would bring in valuable extra money to the club coffers.
I'm sure the club would have bought a defender in January if one that they really wanted was available, but our position improved enough that there was no need to buy for buying's sake. Better to finish as strongly as we can, then hopefully buy in the summer which is acknowledged to be the better window.
The problem is not now, although Vester getting game time and the lack of a RB has resulted in a few goals conceded, it will be if either (God forbid) Jack, Bedders or Bertie miss any games to injury or suspension our defensive cover is really poor although Danso is yet to be tried at CB.