Saints / Reading / West Ham run in: Games to go . . .

[vince]

Unfortunately I don't think we will be

 

We have already blown it, because we are currently NOT in form

 

Darren Furguson will be the one laughing on Tuesday evening IMHO

 

Here's the form table for the last 8 games:

 

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/oform.html

[SuperMikey]

Tuesday Night Predictions:

 

READING vs Notts Forest (Reading win)

SAINTS vs Peterborough (Saints win)

WEST HAM vs Bristol City (Draw)

[Whitey Grandad]

What happens if we finish level on points, GD and goals scored?

A play-off match. I think it's one game on neutral ground. We came very close to this a few seasons ago when it would have been Coventry.

[Pilchards]

Tuesday Night Predictions:

 

READING vs Notts Forest (Reading win)

SAINTS vs Peterborough (Saints win)

WEST HAM vs Bristol City (Draw)

 

So West Ham have not won a home game during the week since 2005?

 

Wow that's a hard nut to crack for them!

[Thedelldays]

Tuesday Night Predictions:

 

READING vs Notts Forest (Reading win)

SAINTS vs Peterborough (Saints win)

WEST HAM vs Bristol City (Draw)

west ham are away

and they will win

[Window Cleaner]

So West Ham have not won a home game during the week since 2005?

 

Wow that's a hard nut to crack for them!

 

Aren't they away on Tuesday? It's home midweek games they have difficulty with, win away OK

[Saint Garrett]

Think we'll draw, and both Reading and WHU will win,

[Micky]

As long as we are still 2nd going into the Coventry game then I think we're there.

 

I stand corrected - so long as we get 3 points tuesday, a draw at boro - I will feel a little more confident going into the last game. I still think it's a big ask though - I dont think our confidence is very good right now.

[ludgershallsaint]

A play-off match. I think it's one game on neutral ground. We came very close to this a few seasons ago when it would have been Coventry.

 

I think you'll find that they look at the head to head before a one off play off.

[alpine_saint]

I stand corrected - so long as we get 3 points tuesday, a draw at boro - I will feel a little more confident going into the last game. I still think it's a big ask though - I dont think our confidence is very good right now.

 

This.

[LGTL]

I stand corrected - so long as we get 3 points tuesday, a draw at boro - I will feel a little more confident going into the last game. I still think it's a big ask though - I dont think our confidence is very good right now.

 

I'd say the way we played last night, our confidence should be sky high.

[alpine_saint]

I'd say the way we played last night, our confidence should be sky high.

 

 

Yeah, sod the fact that we lost and the gap to 3rd has almost disappeared- in the sense that we now need to get a result of some description from ALL 3 of our remaining games - as a result.

[LGTL]

 

Yeah, sod the fact that we lost and the gap to 3rd has almost disappeared- in the sense that we now need to get a result of some description from ALL 3 of our remaining games - as a result.

 

Well guess we'll see. I'm just hoping the players aren't as precious as the majority of our fans.

[alpine_saint]

Well guess we'll see. I'm just hoping the players aren't as precious as the majority of our fans.

 

Lets hope that some of them - they know who they are - are professional and level-headed enough to analyse their own roles and do something about it on Tuesday.

[GAS]

We are up against wham here, the team with the premiership players and the wage bill to match. Our season has been special and will continue to be.

 

Yeah, sod the fact that we lost and the gap to 3rd has almost disappeared- in the sense that we now need to get a result of some description from ALL 3 of our remaining games - as a result.

[alpine_saint]

We are up against wham here, the team with the premiership players and the wage bill to match. Our season has been special and will continue to be.

 

Then we should give up trying to reach the PL now then, if that is an acceptable explanation, because we are always going to be up against 3 teams with PL players and wage bills to match.

[Whitey Grandad]

Then we should give up trying to reach the PL now then, if that is an acceptable explanation, because we are always going to be up against 3 teams with PL players and wage bills to match.

 

More than that now that there are four years of parachute payments.

[alpine_saint]

More than that now that there are four years of parachute payments.

 

Indeed, but I was assuming that most sides that are relegated only manage to keep their team together for most of the first season (not the case following our relegation, sadly)

[GAS]

I thought you were the disillusioned one? I think we are doing ok. Just realistic that it is a tough league and we have to fight to the very end to get what we want. You seem to think we should have won the league by now.

Then we should give up trying to reach the PL now then, if that is an acceptable explanation, because we are always going to be up against 3 teams with PL players and wage bills to match.

[alpine_saint]

I thought you were the disillusioned one? I think we are doing ok. Just realistic that it is a tough league and we have to fight to the very end to get what we want. You seem to think we should have won the league by now.

 

If we hadnt have gone AWOL for the last 2 weeks, we probably would have.

[The Kraken]

If we hadnt have gone AWOL for the last 2 weeks, we probably would have.

 

How do you win a game by going AWOL?

 

Its quite a talent to be able to do that.

[alpine_saint]

How do you win a game by going AWOL?

 

Its quite a talent to be able to do that.

 

Oh, yawn. Palace are currently sh*te. You clutch your straw..

[The Kraken]

Oh, yawn. Palace are currently sh*te. You clutch your straw..

 

What straw? You made the comment that we went AWOL for 2 weeks. I just find it amazing that our 0 men beat their 11 men, no matter how sh*te their 11 were.

[gazzzza]

 

Yeah, sod the fact that we lost and the gap to 3rd has almost disappeared- in the sense that we now need to get a result of some description from ALL 3 of our remaining games - as a result.

And we should win all 3, though with the odd mistake defensively i reckon we'll take the 7 points we need.

[alpine_saint]

What straw? You made the comment that we went AWOL for 2 weeks. I just find it amazing that our 0 men beat their 11 men, no matter how sh*te their 11 were.

 

I forgot that subtlety is beyond you....

[The Kraken]

I forgot that subtlety is beyond you....

 

And I forgot that reality is beyond you. There we are.

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

Here's the form table for the last 8 games:

 

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/oform.html

 

A more current reflection of form is form over the last 6, which you can find here: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/CurrentForm/0,,10280~20117,00.html

 

In terms of teams ending up on level points, etc., these would be an interesting (if rather unlikely!!) set of results:

 

[table]

[tr]

[td]Saints[/td]

[td][/td]

[td][/td]

[td]West Ham[/td]

[td][/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Reading[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]P'boro(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Bristol City(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Forest(h)[/td]

[td]Lose 1-2[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]M'bro(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Leicester (a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Palace(h)[/td]

[td]Win 3-0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Coventry(h)[/td]

[td]Lose 0-2[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Hull (h)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Brum(a)[/td]

[td]Lose 1-2[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

This would result in the following table:

 

[table]

[tr]

[td]Team[/td]

[td]F[/td]

[td]A[/td]

[td]Pts[/td]

[td]GD[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Saints[/td]

[td]79[/td]

[td]45[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]34[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]WHam[/td]

[td]79[/td]

[td]45[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]34[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Reading[/td]

[td]71[/td]

[td]41[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]30[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

As you can see, Saints would be crowned champions by virtue of results against W.Ham. WHam would come second and Reading would finish third on goal difference! The likelihood of Reading also having the same points, GD and GS as Saints and Reading is so remote I won't bother showing what that would look like, though it would result in Reading coming first and Saints second.

[Whitey Grandad]

A more current reflection of form is form over the last 6, which you can find here: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/CurrentForm/0,,10280~20117,00.html

 

In terms of teams ending up on level points, etc., these would be an interesting (if rather unlikely!!) set of results:

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD]Saints[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]West Ham[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Reading[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]P'boro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 1-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Bristol City(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 1-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Forest(h)[/TD]

[TD]Lose 1-2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]M'bro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 1-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Leicester (a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 1-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Palace(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Coventry(h)[/TD]

[TD]Lose 0-2[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Hull (h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 1-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Brum(a)[/TD]

[TD]Lose 1-2[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

This would result in the following table:

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD]Team[/TD]

[TD]F[/TD]

[TD]A[/TD]

[TD]Pts[/TD]

[TD]GD[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Saints[/TD]

[TD]79[/TD]

[TD]45[/TD]

[TD]88[/TD]

[TD]34[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]WHam[/TD]

[TD]79[/TD]

[TD]45[/TD]

[TD]88[/TD]

[TD]34[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Reading[/TD]

[TD]71[/TD]

[TD]41[/TD]

[TD]88[/TD]

[TD]30[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

As you can see, Saints would be crowned champions by virtue of results against W.Ham. WHam would come second and Reading would finish third on goal difference! The likelihood of Reading also having the same points, GD and GS as Saints and Reading is so remote I won't bother showing what that would look like, though it would result in Reading coming first and Saints second.

 

This is not the world cup, a single playoff game I think you'll find.

[Window Cleaner]

A more current reflection of form is form over the last 6, which you can find here: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/CurrentForm/0,,10280~20117,00.html

 

In terms of teams ending up on level points, etc., these would be an interesting (if rather unlikely!!) set of results:

 

[table]

[tr]

[td]Saints[/td]

[td][/td]

[td][/td]

[td]West Ham[/td]

[td][/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Reading[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]P'boro(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Bristol City(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Forest(h)[/td]

[td]Lose 1-2[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]M'bro(a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Leicester (a)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Palace(h)[/td]

[td]Win 3-0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Coventry(h)[/td]

[td]Lose 0-2[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Hull (h)[/td]

[td]Win 1-0[/td]

[td][/td]

[td]Brum(a)[/td]

[td]Lose 1-2[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

This would result in the following table:

 

[table]

[tr]

[td]Team[/td]

[td]F[/td]

[td]A[/td]

[td]Pts[/td]

[td]GD[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Saints[/td]

[td]79[/td]

[td]45[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]34[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]WHam[/td]

[td]79[/td]

[td]45[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]34[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Reading[/td]

[td]71[/td]

[td]41[/td]

[td]88[/td]

[td]30[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

As you can see, Saints would be crowned champions by virtue of results against W.Ham. WHam would come second and Reading would finish third on goal difference! The likelihood of Reading also having the same points, GD and GS as Saints and Reading is so remote I won't bother showing what that would look like, though it would result in Reading coming first and Saints second.

 

Reading lose at home to forest, my my that's a bold predicition, then again Galileo always said the earth wasn't square.

[dune]

I forgot that subtlety is beyond you....

 

Is this subtlety beyond you Captain Schettino?

 

[MOSaint]

Peterborough are in dreadful form and have nothing to play for, the kind of side you want to be playing in must win situations.

 

Bristol City v West Ham on the other hand is no gimme for West Ham, Bristol City are unbeaten in 5 and if Coventry lose, Bristol City will be safe if they can win here so they will be up for it.

 

We should forget the 6-0 against B&HA, they put in a similar performance against Blackpool and followed it up by drawing 6 out of 7, no guarantee they'll kick on from that result.

[S-Clarke]

Peterborough are in dreadful form and have nothing to play for, the kind of side you want to be playing in must win situations.

 

Bristol City v West Ham on the other hand is no gimme for West Ham, Bristol City are unbeaten in 5 and if Coventry lose, Bristol City will be safe if they can win here so they will be up for it.

 

We should forget the 6-0 against B&HA, they put in a similar performance against Blackpool and followed it up by drawing 6 out of 7, no guarantee they'll kick on from that result.

 

Similar happened after the Barnsley away game, all of a sudden they won 4-0 and were world beaters. I think it got to their heads too as they were caught off guard by Birmingham.

 

I can't see all 3 winning in mid-week, one will slip up. I still wouldn't swap our fixtures for WHU's, I think they've got 3 horrible fixtures to get through - and get 3 wins from. Let's not forget that, nothing less than 3 wins is good enough for them, whereas we can drop a point or 2 and still do it. (not that I want us to drp any points)

[Nidger]

Peterborough are in dreadful form and have nothing to play for, the kind of side you want to be playing in must win situations.

 

Bristol City v West Ham on the other hand is no gimme for West Ham, Bristol City are unbeaten in 5 and if Coventry lose, Bristol City will be safe if they can win here so they will be up for it.

 

We should forget the 6-0 against B&HA, they put in a similar performance against Blackpool and followed it up by drawing 6 out of 7, no guarantee they'll kick on from that result.

 

This seems to be the point that everybody is missing about the West Ham game! Coventry are at home to Millwall (who are in good form of late themselves) and if they lose to Millwall and Bristol City beat West Ham, Bristol City will be safe.

 

Not forgetting that a Bristol City win would also relegate the Skates as well!

[Minsk]

I don't think any of the three teams will win all three of their remaining matches.

 

My predictions are this:

 

[TABLE=class: cms_table]

 

[TR]

[TD]Saints[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]West Ham[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Reading[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]P'boro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 2-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Bristol City(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-1[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Forest(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-1[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]M'bro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Draw 1-1[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Leicester (a)[/TD]

[TD]Draw 2-2[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Palace(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Coventry(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Hull (h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Brum(a)[/TD]

[TD]Lose 1-2

 

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

 

[/TABLE]

[maxi_sopez]

I don't think any of the three teams will win all three of their remaining matches.

 

My predictions are this:

 

[TABLE=class: cms_table]

[TR]

[TD]Saints[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]West Ham[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Reading[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]P'boro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 2-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Bristol City(a)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-1[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Forest(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-1[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]M'bro(a)[/TD]

[TD]Draw 1-1[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Leicester (a)[/TD]

[TD]Draw 2-2[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Palace(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Coventry(h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Hull (h)[/TD]

[TD]Win 3-0[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Brum(a)[/TD]

[TD]Lose 1-2

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

this is how i see the results going! Shame got a ticket for Boro next saturday hoping it was gonna be a promotion/party relaxing day, alas! gonna be nervous as well!

[Lord Duckhunter]

It wasn't just the West Ham result that was dissapointing,but Leicester's on Sat. They were coming with a late run and if they were still in with a shout of play offs, it would be a tougher game for West Ham.

 

I do think we'll need 7 points, with the Boro game being the biggie.We really could do with them losing on Tuesday, and their play off hopes pretty much gone when we kick off

[Charlie Wayman]

Reading lose at home to forest, my my that's a bold predicition, then again Galileo always said the earth wasn't square.

 

 

Yeah! but he rescinded when the Clergy put the screws on him and his life was in mortal danger, so people remember only the good bits.

 

Trouble with this hopelessly optimistic scenario is that Reading won't lose again either. Of the three we are the most shaky right now so if anybody is to drop points it'll be us through silly errors one suspects of the Merrington variety "What we don't want to do now is Eff it up"

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Have those of predicting Birmingham will beat Reading on the last day of the season considered that Brum are likely to have secured a playoff place by then and will therefore rest players? They're currently 5 points ahead of 7th and their next 2 games are Ipswich and Brighton away, where they'll surely pick up a point at least? They wouldn't want to finish 6th and play the 3rd place but I don't think they'd be too bothered if they finish 4th or 5th. Not bothered enough to risk their big players against Reading anyway.

[Wade Garrett]

I know it's not in the spirit of this thread. But I really couldn't give a toss how Reading or West Ham get on. We have to beat Peterborough on Tuesday, simples.

[Window Cleaner]

I know it's not in the spirit of this thread. But I really couldn't give a toss how Reading or West Ham get on. We have to beat Peterborough on Tuesday, simples.

 

Absolutely, to me winning on Tuesday and on the last day against Coventry will be enough.

[dune]

We have to beat Peterborough on Tuesday, simples.

 

No we don't. Obviously it'd be good for the nerves if we did, and no doubt the knobs on here will go into meltdown if we don't, but it is not a must win game.

[Jack]

Seems to me that most of the melts on here that never go to games are the ones predicting the worst outcome for Saints, where the regular attendees are more optimistic. Yes, we've only won 1 in 4, which is disappointing. But with the exception of Blackpool we've been by far the better side in all of those games. The skate game was a freak occurrence. Sh*t players like that score goals like that once or twice in a career, lightning struck twice in a night. Palace away was as comfortable as you like. We outplayed the top form team for most of the match, but didn't take our chances as we have been for most of the season. Reading will still drop points IMO, they've ridden their luck recently and I think it'll catch up with them. Would be a completely different story if Brighton weren't so gash at finishing (against Reading), and defending (against WHU).

 

Many twists and turns yet, the title isn't won, the playoffs aren't decided. Just try to enjoy it a bit! We're 3 points clear of 3rd place, in the Championship, with 3 games to play, after getting promoted just 11 months ago.

[dune]

I actually wish we could go back to 2 points for a win. It'd take all this must win mentality out of being a fan and we could enjoy the actual games more in the knowledge that a draw isn't a mediocre consolation. Or even 6 points for a win and 2 for a draw (3 points for a score draw) would make it better.

Edited 15 April, 2012 by dune

[Wade Garrett]

No we don't. Obviously it'd be good for the nerves if we did, and no doubt the knobs on here will go into meltdown if we don't, but it is not a must win game.

Fair point. I would rather win at Posh, to give the leeway for a draw at Boro though.

[S-Clarke]

Fair point. I would rather win at Posh, to give the leeway for a draw at Boro though.

 

That's how I see it, obviously not winning isn't the end of the world on Tuesday, but the pressure if we don't will be absolutely massive. No question about that.

 

We then go into a live TV game, not a normal KO time, against a team looking to get into the playoffs - and we'd need to win by a couple of goals. That's why we really need to do the business on Tuesday so there isn't as much pressure going into the Boro game, there still will be pressure....but going into it on the back of a nice win is what we need.

[Dr Who?]

Any chance of the skates going out of business in the next few days? Would help somewhat.

 

No thought not!

[Dr Who?]

That's how I see it, obviously not winning isn't the end of the world on Tuesday, but the pressure if we don't will be absolutely massive. No question about that.

 

We then go into a live TV game, not a normal KO time, against a team looking to get into the playoffs - and we'd need to win by a couple of goals. That's why we really need to do the business on Tuesday so there isn't as much pressure going into the Boro game, there still will be pressure....but going into it on the back of a nice win is what we need.

 

Also if we lose and West Ham win, it is possible that we could be 3rd on Tuesday night.

[S-Clarke]

Also if we lose and West Ham win, it is possible that we could be 3rd on Tuesday night.

 

I wasn't even trying to contemplate that horror story! We'll do the business, I'm sure of it.

[Thedelldays]

I wasn't even trying to contemplate that horror story! We'll do the business, I'm sure of it.

if we lose on tuesday...I would say that would be that....although it won't but it would rock the club IMO

 

they have their best defender out...cannot see how they will be able to cope with lambert. he will be bang up for it. he was like a man possessed for about an hour against reading....

 

now, if lallana can put his shooting boots on, we will win comfortably.

I can see boyd causing us problems mind

Edited 15 April, 2012 by Thedelldays

[S-Clarke]

if we lose on tuesday...I would say that would be that....although it won't but it would rock the club IMO

 

they have their best defender out...cannot see how they will be able to cope with lambert. he will be bang up for it. he was like a man possessed for about an hour against reading....

 

now, if lallana can put his shooting boots on, we will win comfortably.

I can see boyd causing us problems mind

 

As odd as it sounds, they were a stronger outfit when we played them last year at their place.

 

CMS, Ryan Bennett, Zakuani (sp), Little, Tomlin - all part of the side that played us in the 4-4 game, they are either no longer there, injured or out of favour (none of them started their last game). They are replaced by youth team players and a couple of other players from L1.

 

We're stronger, they're weaker. They have nothing to play for, and we have all the drive and motivation in the world (well we should have.)