What would you rather have - 3 games in hand or 5 extra points?

[Jimmy_D]

We're not in a relegation battle.

 

At this end of the table, I'd rather have the three games in hand, just about.

[Chez]

what an excellent question and thread. The way I see it is I think we can win pretty much any game in this division and home games I almost expect us to win, so on that basis I think I'd take the three games in hand, just, although the congested fixture list worries me greatly.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

I'd take the 3 games in hand, using the form since Adkins of approx 2 points per game we'd be good for 6 points from the 3 game spell, so I'd take the 3 games... but like Chez said, it'd be a tight call.

 

Obviously this is without understanding the extent of Oxo and Lallana's injuries, if they're both out for a few games then I'd want the 5 points.

[Saint_Jonny]

I don't wanna be living in Huddersfield if they get 2nd and we miss out. Unbearable doesn't begin to cover it!

[SNSUN]

Whatever

 

They have a similar thread of a Huddersfield forum:

 

http://www.downatthemac.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=55572

 

The majority seem to say the points, but they would.

 

They would take the points? So they'd be ten points clear of us but we'd have six games on hand - I'd take that for us anyday. Games in hand are not a burden, they're just games like any other. I'm still fairly confident we can do this.

[alpine_saint]

They would take the points? So they'd be ten points clear of us but we'd have six games on hand - I'd take that for us anyday. Games in hand are not a burden, they're just games like any other. I'm still fairly confident we can do this.

 

It really is a complex question (and I am really pleased the exchange of views here is without rancour). If I were Huddersfield I think I would want the games-in-hand; they have an increasing problem of sitting on their hands watching what we are going to do, completely powerless to fight it. 10 points lead for 6 games in hand sounds not good. I know it is the same average as 5points from 3 games, but over 6 games there is more chance to up the performance level and take risks, I reckon.

[Alanh]

They would take the points? So they'd be ten points clear of us but we'd have six games on hand - I'd take that for us anyday. Games in hand are not a burden, they're just games like any other. I'm still fairly confident we can do this.

 

I think the proposal is would you prefer to be in our position or theirs at the moment, not a fictitious position where they are 10 points ahead but we have 6 games in hand.

 

It's understandable that they would take the points as that is what they have now. Its a fair point to say that points on the board are guaranteed and the games in hand are only potential up until the point that they are played. If the offer was 7 points or 3 games in hand I think I would take the points, however I'm with you in being confident that we can use our games in hand to catch Hudds.

[teamsaint]

another way of looking at it is to say, if we were offered the chance of automatic promotion if we get 5 from our last 3 games, would we take it?

 

I would. But we still have to get the points.

[Firead]

Alpine I didnt think it mattered in your world as you want us to settle for the playoffs!

[eurosaint]

Based on what exactly?

 

A wing?

 

A prayer.

 

Blind faith?

 

Misplaced optimism?

 

or a realistic assessment of our current form with half our midfield in bed nursing injuries?

 

Right now I'd settle for the 5 points as that is a very big ask in the current circumstances. Our season average is 1.8 pts / gm so rough or smooth we average 5.4 pts / 3 gm, so 5 would be near our best take over any period of 3 games - so I'd take it simply because right now we are in a very rough patch and the expectation must be that we won't get 5 points from those 3 games. A W.L.D. set will yield only 4, even for 5 we need a W.D.D.

 

Based on my opinion, if that's ok ?

Christ, I only said that I was confident that we could achieve 5 points from 3 games !

You could start a fight in an empty house, you could !!

[Thedelldays]

its a tough one....people (rightly) assume we will at least gain 5 points from the 3 games in hand we have and at least upping our goal difference (even by one) would be an advance on just having 5 points..

 

however, should we lose on sat then...........

[Neil]

Just about rather have the 3 games in hand, but this is Saints and you never know! Also conscious of that Brighton fixture looming, although as this is Saints I probably should be more worried about other apparently easier fixtures.

 

That Charlton game was a big blow and has reduced the margin for error. Need 12 points from the next four games, and see where we are then.

[brmbrm]

OK, two other questions:

 

1) 6 points or 3 games in hand? My guess is that the vast majority would go for 6 points.

2) 4 points or 3 games in hand? My guess is that the vast majority would go for 3 games.

 

So its pretty even. How about we play one of the games and you ask again?

3 points or 2 games/4 points or 2 games/6 points or 2 games.......

[alpine_saint]

Alpine I didnt think it mattered in your world as you want us to settle for the playoffs!

 

Nope, that's not what I wrote. Please read what I wrote, not some sixth-hand re-interpretation of it.

[Cabrone]

I'd rather have 3 games in hand............just.

 

If we were at the bottom end of the table I'd plump for 5 points but being as we are trying to get promotion we should have high expectations of getting at least 6 points from 3 games.

[slickmick]

Now imagine it the other way round. Wouldn't you feel more confident if we were 5 points in front and unbeaten in 18 games knowing that it would be hard for others to catch up if you were to keep that form going.

[Deano6]

3 games, definitely. Everyone's too risk averse on here through years of watching Saints f*ck up. Get over it, we're good now. 7 points should be achievable for us at the moment, 5 points certainly below expectations.

[SaintBobby]

I reckon we're better than 1.67 points a game, so I'd take the games in hand.

 

Of course, the closer we get to the end of the season, the more you might want to bank points.

 

For example, if you asked me now if I'd take 1 point Plymouth away, I'd say no. But if by the time we've played 44 games, we only need 2 points to guarantee promotion then I'd say yes.

 

Although, conversely, we might need to be to get 6 points from the last two games to stand any chance of automatic promotion...it's all very confusing...

 

Nevertheless, I'd say we need 20 points from where we are now. We have 10 games left. So, you shouldn't "sell" a game in hand for anything less than 2 points.

[bender]

I think Tranny will get something against Hudds this weekend and Posh wont win both their games against Bmuff on Fri and D&R on Tues. So if we win these 2 home games we'll be 2nd with 2 games in hand on both of them. Then we have the following weekend when its Posh v Hudders and were away to Orient with more fans than them. The Tues straight after that we play and neither of them 2 do. And dont forget after that, we still have that extra game in the final week

[Rut]

For those who said they'd rather have the 5 points.... Now it's 2 games in-hand and 2 points behind have you changed your mind?

 

Huddersfield groaned badly tonight :-)

[thefunkygibbons]

I am sure that Huddersfield fans are placing bets on us, just for consolation

 

Although they won't get good odds

[Mattio]

3 games for me

[kpturner]

I never doubted it

[LGTL]

Where is that Wayman pr*ck since we went up?? He probably hung himself.

[Frank's cousin]

Bet the bookies love him... ;-)

[Chez]

is our promotion challenge still hanging by a thread?

[dubai_phil]

Where is that Wayman pr*ck since we went up?? He probably hung himself.

 

To be fair he HAS apologised and said he was wrong on the NA poll thread.

 

But think he has rather (to be polite) burnt his bridges. Alpine may moan and post in an antagonising manner, but at least he has been proved right on a number of not so well put points this season.

 

Thin Charlie is up for a TSW poster of the year award though......

[NickG]

To be fair he HAS apologised and said he was wrong on the NA poll thread.

 

But think he has rather (to be polite) burnt his bridges. Alpine may moan and post in an antagonising manner, but at least he has been proved right on a number of not so well put points this season.

 

Thin Charlie is up for a TSW poster of the year award though......

 

not sure he went as far as apologising! Trouble is with those two, they are wrong but also when stating their overly negative views that are usually unfounded they mock others who disagree.