West Ham vs Royals - What do you Fancy

[Lighthouse]

There are pros and cons to every result. Wham will have played their game in hand (trip to Posh Tuesday) by then so that will be clearer. Even if they win they're still a point behind Reading. This is the situation as I see it:

 

Reading Win - would leaves us furthest clear of 3rd place, so perhaps our best bet for outright promotion. Would definitely put massive pressure on Wham and BFS for the rest of the season and would continue their run of poor form

 

Draw - the most points dropped in total, with only 1 each not really denting our current lead, even if we lose at Blackpool. Would be the best result if we're hedging our bets with the other 2 teams.

 

Wham win - puts them 2 points above Reading and is probably the worst result for us. On the other hand Reading have a tough run in and if we can get 2 more points than them over the next 3 games, we can get promoted by beating them at St Marys in April.

 

Tough call. If Wham dont beat Posh I'd take a Reading win. If they do win I think a draw would be best.

 

Poll mods?

[trousers]

Whichever result keeps the greatest distance between us and 3rd place please

[SaintBobby]

If West Ham lose to Posh, I think I'd want them to go on to beat Reading.

 

Yes, it would shave a tiny fraction off our chances of getting promoted, but it would substantially boost our chances of going up as champions.

 

There's some sort of acceptable trade-off here in % terms, but I'm not sure what it is....

[iansums]

Draw please

[Saintandy666]

Reading win please. Anything that maximises our chances of promotion, winning the Championship is a second priority for me. Mind, I don't think we need any result in particular given our form, but I don't want to speak too soon!

[Lighthouse]

If Wham lost both we'd just need 8 points from 7 guarantee promotion, pretty much relegation form.

 

If we beat Blackpool we'd need 5

If Wham lost their next game on Friday 6th we'd need 2

We would go into our game on Saturday 7th knowing a win would GUARANTEE promotion. Now who is that against?

 

That's a fair few ifs, but it would be a complete fairey tale.

[saintstr1]

A afternoon draw followed by a saints win in the late kick off would be perfect.

[SaintBobby]

If Wham lost both we'd just need 8 points from 7 guarantee promotion, pretty much relegation form.

 

If we beat Blackpool we'd need 5

If Wham lost their next game on Friday 6th we'd need 2

We would go into our game on Saturday 7th knowing a win would GUARANTEE promotion. Now who is that against?

 

That's a fair few ifs, but it would be a complete fairey tale.

 

As pointed out on another thread, your maths are out here I think.

 

If West Ham lose their next two, they can still get 87 points, meaning we'd need 9 or 10 more points (depending on whether you treat our GD as uncatchable)

 

Am I right?

[dune]

Whatever happens they both can't pick up 3 points so i/m not really fussed.

[SuperMikey]

I think West Ham are finished for automatic now, their form isn't anywhere good enough (especially at home) and they keep getting too many suspensions + injuries to keep a balanced squad. Reading are without Jason Roberts for a few weeks though, and he's really been a talisman for them. I think the most likely result is a draw, and it's the one I favour.

[Avenue Saint]

i want a draw!

[SaintBobby]

Reading win please. Anything that maximises our chances of promotion, winning the Championship is a second priority for me. Mind, I don't think we need any result in particular given our form, but I don't want to speak too soon!

 

Definitely agree that promotion is the top priority and winning the Championship is a bonus, but - by way of illustration - which scenario would you rather have:

 

1. Saints 95% certain of promotion and 60% sure of winning the championship or

2. Saints 94% certain of promotion and 85% sure of winning the championship

 

I'd take the (small) extra risk and choose no.2 - even though we're less likely to be promoted.

[Lighthouse]

As pointed out on another thread, your maths are out here I think.

 

If West Ham lose their next two, they can still get 87 points, meaning we'd need 9 or 10 more points (depending on whether you treat our GD as uncatchable)

 

Am I right?

 

You are yes.

 

Bummer, I got all excited for a minute there.

 

If Wham lost their Friday game, they could get 84. If we beat Blackpool and Pompey we'd have 84, so promoted if our GD is considered uncatchable...unless I buggered up again.

Edited 24 March, 2012 by Lighthouse

[Saint Charlie]

1. draw

2. Reading win

3. WHU win

[SaintBobby]

You are yes.

 

Bummer, I got all excited for a minute there.

 

If Wham lost their Friday game, they could get 84. If we beat Blackpool and Pompey we'd have 84, so promoted if our GD is considered uncatchable...unless I buffered up again.

 

Yep, that works.

 

If West Ham lose their next three fixtures and we beat Blackpool, then we are effectively promoted if we beat Portsmouth (treating our GD as uncatchable).

 

This seems to me a very unlikely state of affairs though - and might not be a state of affairs I even want to happen (I'm not sure I want Reading beating West Ham at the moment!)

[pedg]

Reading win would, no matter what the result of tuesday's match give us the smaller maximum to beat (90/88/87 for WH depending on tuesday) however that does not take into account that we need to play reading soon after and what effect a win would have on their confidence. Taking that into account I would say a draw.

Edited 24 March, 2012 by pedg

[colehillsaint]

I would like a draw. Perhaps because of the gap, I think today again we looked relaxed, patient and professional, and our fans didn't start to panic, (one of our great strengths of late). If they draw, we will be a minimum of 3 points clear going into the skate game, whatever our result at Blackpool.

[Saint_clark]

It's a strange situation where any result would work in our favour, really.

[paulwantsapint]

Boleyn bloodbath with mass injuries & cards for each team

 

But more importantly a saints win at Blackpool followed by slaughtering of skates, pulverising of palace, routing of reading, then 2x boro bashings & crushing Coventry should just about see us champions

[scotty]

Boleyn bloodbath with mass injuries & cards for each team

 

But more importantly a saints win at Blackpool followed by slaughtering of skates, pulverising of palace, routing of reading, then 2x boro bashings & crushing Coventry should just about see us champions

 

 

Nicely done, sir.

[SNSUN]

Easy - Reading win please. Our priority right now is not to win the league, but to get automatic promotion. After we've accomplished that, THEN we can go looking for a league title. A Reading win would make that gap between us and West Ham so much more comfortable - and it would have the bonus effect of annoying smug West Ham fans. The title is in our hands anyway - We still have Reading to play, so even if they do beat West Ham, we could nullify their 3 point advantage (an advantage only obtained if we lose that day) by beating them at St Marys. And there's still the 5.1 point gap anyway. This 'grinding out wins at the end of the season' thing is fantastic.

[Rasiak-9-]

Whichever result keeps the greatest distance between us and 3rd place please

 

This.

 

Here's the deal.

 

NO-ONE CARES WHO "WINS" THE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

...and nor should we.

 

1st and 2nd are completely equal. The only value in being 1st is an instrumental one in being able to be overtaken by one team and still go up.

 

I see no reason why we can't be pushing for Europe in 5 years and the champions league in 10. (Got an Italian mate who's a Napoli fan (a big club who went down to the third tier as well)

 

Why the hell CAN'T we reach that level? Why the hell can't we build a fanbase that fills out an expanded 50,000 St. Mary's!? Its not a question of where we want to be. Its who we want to be.

 

Everything we do from now on is a slow and steady climb upwards towards expansion as a football club and as a major force in English football, we're owned by billionaires ffs!

 

Anyhoo. I genuinely believe thats all perfectly possible and if I thought mid-table in the Premiership wasn't just a stepping stone but actually a glass ceiling we couldn't penetrate I'd probably cling to the dubious honour of "Championship champions".

 

But F'ck it. Who gives a sh't. Lets just get out of this league and back where we belong. 1st or 2nd or 5th and winning the play-offs is the same damn thing.

[Thedelldays]

draw would be best

failing that, reading win

well, if not, west ham win

 

any result will do lol

[david in sweden]

This.

Here's the deal. NO-ONE CARES WHO "WINS" THE CHAMPIONSHIP ...and nor should we.

1st and 2nd are completely equal. The only value in being 1st is an instrumental one in being able to be overtaken by one team and still go up.

 

I see no reason why we can't be pushing for Europe in 5 years and the champions league in 10.

(Got an Italian mate who's a Napoli fan (a big club who went down to the third tier as well) QUOTE]

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Although I don't think that everyone inthe present line-up would cut-it in the Prem. there is the nucleus of a side that could play good football for the next 2-3 years, at least. By which time - the Reeves, Shaw's, Stephens', Chambers, Sinclairs and Ward-Prowses (or whoever they are by then) will have graduated to the Prem. standard we hope for, (or be settled into a career in L1).

 

Either way, in the short term I'd expect more success from this squad before the players move on to lesser glory in the lower leagues - because the "European football " you suggest - may have to wait for the next generation of players under their veteran captain England midfielder Adam Lallana is about to hang up his boots.

[Cabrone]

Perfect results are Wham to lose at Posh, Reading beat Wham and we beat Reading.

 

If those results were added to the current table we'd need 7 points from 6 games for auto and 11 points from 6 games for top spot.

[sammysaint]

I think to be honest perfect result would be draw and us to win meaning not just promotion but champions.

 

For me would be perfect if WH fail to win and when we play pompey if we win we can pretty much grantee promotion or get promotion that would make my day.

[Under Weststand]

Ideally a draw, next best a Reading win.

But as most have said any result hurts at least one of our rivals.

End of the day its all about us, we are in control of our own destiny.

We know how to do it under pressure,& its West Hoof that are cracking

[Eastcowzer]

If Wham lost both we'd just need 8 points from 7 guarantee promotion, pretty much relegation form.

 

If we beat Blackpool we'd need 5

If Wham lost their next game on Friday 6th we'd need 2

We would go into our game on Saturday 7th knowing a win would GUARANTEE promotion. Now who is that against?

 

That's a fair few ifs, but it would be a complete fairey tale.

 

There is a hell of a lot of 'if's there.

[saints_is_the_south]

Simples, draw please so they both drop points. I want to go up as Champions, would be quite dissapointed if we finished 2nd now (obviously still delighted about actually getting promoted). A draw also means the pressure would be totally off for us at Blackpool in the evening.

[up and away]

If West Ham lose to Posh, I think I'd want them to go on to beat Reading.

 

Yes, it would shave a tiny fraction off our chances of getting promoted, but it would substantially boost our chances of going up as champions.

 

There's some sort of acceptable trade-off here in % terms, but I'm not sure what it is....

 

I don't think you would. If West Ham lose to Posh and Reading, that would mean we could afford to lose 4 games and still be in the driving seat. That would be absolutely massive, with Paddy Power paying out for promotion there and then.

[Saint Without a Halo]

Boleyn bloodbath with mass injuries & cards for each team

 

But more importantly a saints win at Blackpool followed by slaughtering of skates, pulverising of palace, routing of reading, then 2x boro bashings & crushing Coventry should just about see us champions

 

This

[Saint Without a Halo]

A draw means 4 points are lost a win by either party means only 3 are lost so the draw is best at present given the further uncertainties for all teams going forward!

[Glasgow_Saint]

The word 'if' features 42 times on this thread!!!

[VectisSaint]

Simples, draw please so they both drop points. I want to go up as Champions, would be quite dissapointed if we finished 2nd now (obviously still delighted about actually getting promoted). A draw also means the pressure would be totally off for us at Blackpool in the evening.

This. Pretty clear to me that this is the best result for us, and of course we should be aiming to be Champions. I really hate these posts that say being Champions doesn't matter its getting promoted thats important. ******, its being Champions thats important, especially of the Football League (maybe it wasn't quite so important last year). We enter competitions to WIN, not be a loser. Thankfully our players and manager don't take the namby-pamby attitiude of some supporters here who seem to think like Sky that the prize is being in the Premier League. The prize this season is WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP. No-one cares who comes second. The result of winning the prize is that we get promoted. Make the most of it, because its likely to be a long long time before we get the chance to win another league trophy. Fed up with being second best, I want our team to win something and show what we all know, that we are the best team in the league.

[Window Cleaner]

Boleyn bloodbath with mass injuries & cards for each team

 

But more importantly a saints win at Blackpool followed by slaughtering of skates, pulverising of palace, routing of reading, then 2x boro bashings & crushing Coventry should just about see us champions

 

obviously a fan of alliteration

[farawaysaint]

Draw, followed by hammers win, champions would be fantastic Also I'd very much like our game against Reading whatever the result to still have the Royals at least 6 points behind, from that position I'd say we're unassailable. (That and the buggers won't stop winning.)

[Nexstar]

If West Ham do anything other than win on Tuesday, then i'd like to see them beat Reading. We would be at worst 5 points clear still after next weekend then.

[saints-cris]

If west ham don't win on Tuesday, then I want to see reading win on Saturday.

[patred44]

and as a a 'brucy bonus' I want it all settle time we play Coventry City..

 

Then hope that the skates are relying on us to beat Coventry

[Nexstar]

and as a a 'brucy bonus' I want it all settle time we play Coventry City..

 

Then hope that the skates are relying on us to beat Coventry

 

Please no, because we'll probably beat Coventry. I hope they're down long before that

[patred44]

but imagine the party at SMS that day.. the result will be irrelevant.

I think even our players will join in the party.

 

My dream is that we are already promoted, and Pompey need us to beat Coventry..

1-1 with a minute of added time to go.. and we get a penalty!!!!

 

Ricky strolls towards the spot.. only to be told..no your not taking it! Kelvin is.

 

:lol:

[dubai_phil]

Lol at this thread the permutations can do your head in

 

No wonder Nige goes on about Controlling the Controllables, taking each game as it comes.

 

Max number of dropped poits - ie draw helps us on our way.

 

Sod the rest of the permutations, this team and us as fans have been here before, we'll do what we need to just like we did last year

[derry]

A draw because WHU cannot win at home, another nail in the coffin and both Reading and WHU drop more points. It also means our result at Blackpool is at best an increased lead, no change, but only six games left or worst case a loss of one point.

[trousers]

Whichever result keeps the greatest distance between us and 3rd place please

 

^ Still this

 

Simple logic.

[SaintBobby]

This. Pretty clear to me that this is the best result for us, and of course we should be aiming to be Champions. I really hate these posts that say being Champions doesn't matter its getting promoted thats important. ******, its being Champions thats important, especially of the Football League (maybe it wasn't quite so important last year). We enter competitions to WIN, not be a loser. Thankfully our players and manager don't take the namby-pamby attitiude of some supporters here who seem to think like Sky that the prize is being in the Premier League. The prize this season is WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP. No-one cares who comes second. The result of winning the prize is that we get promoted. Make the most of it, because its likely to be a long long time before we get the chance to win another league trophy. Fed up with being second best, I want our team to win something and show what we all know, that we are the best team in the league.

 

Agree with the sentiment here entirely. Winning the league does matter. Quite a lot.

 

That said, I can imagine a West Ham victory over Reading perhaps being preferable to a draw if we really want to aim for top spot.

[adysaint]

If WHU beat Posh and Reading - and we lose to Blackpool. It'll be 3 pts gap and Saints V Reading to play.

 

Then I think WHU will fancy it.

 

Thats how quick the situation could change.

[trousers]

Agree with the sentiment here entirely. Winning the league does matter. Quite a lot.

 

Logically or emotively?

 

Goal no.1 = promotion

 

Goal no.2 = league winners

[Saint137]

Draw with a couple of reds each for violent conduct. **** guaranteeing promotion, I want to go up as champions. Be great to get Saints' name on that venerable old trophy.

 

Regardlesss of what those two do I think we'll do it mind. Draw against Blackpool and then 3 wins will be enough.

[SaintBobby]

Logically or emotively?

 

Both.

 

It's not the absolute be all and end all of football to be in the Premiership.

 

Glory matters, not just financial considerations.

 

Being able to have "Football League Champions 2012" on our CV would be fantastic.

[trousers]

Both.

 

It's not the absolute be all and end all of football to be in the Premiership.

 

Glory matters, not just financial considerations.

 

Being able to have "Football League Champions 2012" on our CV would be fantastic.

 

I agree it would be fantastic, but, in my opinion, our no.1 goal is to get as many points between us and 3rd spot. If that means Reading pip us to the top spot then so be it.