ozzmeister Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 So looking at the table I am fairly happy that we are better than both Reading and QPR who are conveniently below us. However, to stay up the argument always is you have to beat and be better than the teams around us! So of the bottom half relegation contenders who do we think we are better than and who can we expect to finish above. I would hope we are better than the likes of Stoke, Norwich and Sunderland over a season, maybe Aston Villa to. Apart from that I'm not sure! My worry is that the team has potential and has the signs, but are we better than third worse in the league over the season? This isn't a rant/moan/being negative. Just a general view of current EPL make up, where we potentially stand, and hopefully to encourage some discussion. UTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingwing Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 I'd take 17th, we are a lot better than QPR, we should beat Reading comfortably and we hammered Villa who are looking really like a champ team thanks to Paul Lambert. Any higher and the likes of Stoke, Norwich, Sunderland (dare I mention Newcastle and Liverpool) and we can party to celebrate a good first season in the prem. Would be nice to be a better team but survival is the name of the game this year and we should be able to do it. Getting above our station too early on will be bad for the team especially for a potential second season where it could just fall apart a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 As someone famously said about us, If we finish above Wigan, we will stay up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 So looking at the table I am fairly happy that we are better than both Reading and QPR who are conveniently below us. However, to stay up the argument always is you have to beat and be better than the teams around us! So of the bottom half relegation contenders who do we think we are better than and who can we expect to finish above. I would hope we are better than the likes of Stoke, Norwich and Sunderland over a season, maybe Aston Villa to. Apart from that I'm not sure! My worry is that the team has potential and has the signs, but are we better than third worse in the league over the season? This isn't a rant/moan/being negative. Just a general view of current EPL make up, where we potentially stand, and hopefully to encourage some discussion. UTS Certainly wouldnt say we are/will be better than Stoke over a season. Can't stand them or Pulis, would (Keegan Style) love it if they went down. So bored of their "let's have a team of giants and constantly pump it into the box" approach, but for all that - it works, and will continue to do so. They aren't going to pull up any trees, but they will be fine again, just continuing to grind out points. Seems odd that you have said maybe Villa, when I would think Stoke, Norwich & Sunderland are probably better sides than them. At the minute I would say the main contenders for the drop are us, QPR, Reading & Villa. Though, Sunderland could be dragged into this, if they don't start to improve. The Geordies could be in serious trouble if they can't find a solution to their injury woes, which is not going to be helped by the impending African Cup of Nations. This will have a massive impact on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 At the moment the 'worse' three sides are Reading / Villa / QPR, QPR have potential to get a bit better, Villa limited opportunity to get better, Reading very little chance of getting better. Newcastle and Sunderland both look mediocre, Sunderland haven't been very good for a while and their time might have come no obvious signs where they are going to improve. Newcastle have a lot of injuries and Thursday footie to contend with but they do have the players to get out of it. I don't think Norwich or Wigan will go down, Stoke aren't even in the mix, all three have decent managers and a method that accumulates points. Ditto Saints, injuries are obviously key for us, but we have shown that our first X1 can compete and pick up points, but major question marks over squad depth. Who will change their teams in the window? Depends who can afford new players AND who can attract new players of the required standard. Would think Newcastle and QPR fit that descriptor and would like to think we will try to strengthen, particularly if we are not cast adrift at that stage. If I had to pick now I would go for 18 Sunderland 19 Villa 20 Reading 15 Saints! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 one thing is for sure...we need a better keeper to have a chance..we will have to beat at least 1 probably 2 top 6 teams as well as the other points we get to do that..usually, your keeper plays a blinder....at the moment, he is almost throwing the ball into his net every game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Come Christmas we'll have played Reading, Villa, Sunderland, Wigan, Newcastle, Norwich, Fulham all at home. The only teams of the bottom 10 that we will have played away will be QPR and Liverpool. So we're going to have to pick up point against the teams around us away from home and from the better sides at home. Although our run in is relatively kind, it's still going to need some big performances between now and the end of the season. It's so important that we beat Reading and Sunderland at home IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 also, reading win their game in hand, they are above us......despite being so bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Oh joy, we get to see tdd's writing about Gazza on every thread now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 So looking at the table I am fairly happy that we are better than both Reading and QPR who are conveniently below us. However, to stay up the argument always is you have to beat and be better than the teams around us! So of the bottom half relegation contenders who do we think we are better than and who can we expect to finish above. I would hope we are better than the likes of Stoke, Norwich and Sunderland over a season, maybe Aston Villa to. Apart from that I'm not sure! My worry is that the team has potential and has the signs, but are we better than third worse in the league over the season? This isn't a rant/moan/being negative. Just a general view of current EPL make up, where we potentially stand, and hopefully to encourage some discussion. UTS OMG, bed wetter alert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Sunderland Norwich Villa Reading Saints QPR Pretty sure the bottom three will come from that group and if I had to pick the three now I would go with QPR, Reading and Sunderland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Sunderland Norwich Villa Reading Saints QPR Pretty sure the bottom three will come from that group and if I had to pick the three now I would go with QPR, Reading and Sunderland. wigan..? they looked really good for most of the game yesterday to be fair....had city on the ropes but come just short in the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 wigan..? they looked really good for most of the game yesterday to be fair....had city on the ropes but come just short in the end I think Wigan will be fine but they would be the most likely "other" I guess. But I think all of the teams I mentioned have bigger concerns: I watched the Sunderland v QPR match on the telly and Sunderland were genuinely rubbish. The crowd was also on their backs pretty quickly. Norwich, whilst hardworking, are poor going forward and they won't keep winning games 1-0 all season. If Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan are your best attacking players you really aren't that good. Villa are full of players who, frankly, I have barely heard of and they were carp against us. QPR will probably improve but they are quite far adrift already. Reading are tinpot. We have some really good players but are making too many mistakes. However, I believe we will keep imroving and should pull out of the relegation battle eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 As things stand, we are battling for 17th. I was starting to get my hopes up that we had turned a corner over the last few games, then last night the usual brain fart came from one of the back 5. However, if we successfully address the back 5 in the next 6 weeks (GK, CB, maybe a LB), we can look towards sitting on the top of the bottom half of the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 We need O'Neil to lose it and walk out on Sunderland, preferably on the 1st February. All we can do is stay in the mix which we will do because we can score goals. 17th would be just fine this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 We will comfortably finish mid-table (8th at best) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoneuelllfanclub Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 one thing is for sure...we need a better keeper to have a chance..we will have to beat at least 1 probably 2 top 6 teams as well as the other points we get to do that..usually, your keeper plays a blinder....at the moment, he is almost throwing the ball into his net every game yawn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 yawn. its all well and good saying yawn..but it is true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjsaint Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 As things stand, we are battling for 17th. I was starting to get my hopes up that we had turned a corner over the last few games, then last night the usual brain fart came from one of the back 5. However, if we successfully address the back 5 in the next 6 weeks (GK, CB, maybe a LB), we can look towards sitting on the top of the bottom half of the table. I think we have turned a corner - it was 1-1 instead of 1-3, we held firm for the draw against a side which improved in the second half. At any rate we are undefeated in 4 although I think that will go on Saturday. The back 4 are improving, and we'll sort out the GK problem in early January. I'm sure we're already sniffing around from a respectful distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 its all well and good saying yawn..but it is true Yes, it was also true when you mentioned it on the match thread and the thread you started on the subjected. It's a fair point, granted. But, does it really need to be repeated on every other thread? We get it, you don't want Gazza in the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMarlin Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 I think there are more than a few teams involved. There's always one team that goes into freefall and although they had a good start, I don't think West Ham will be safe from danger. The fixture list was as kind to them as it was harsh to Saints and they have a run of fixtures now against teams in the top half. They lost to Spurs, they lost Man Utd and although there was a goalless draw with Citeh tcked in there, I think their bubble will burst. On Tuesday night, four teams around Saints - Villa, Reading, QPR and Sunderland - managed one goal between them. It's not an infallible yardstick but Saints really did look better than all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Yes, it was also true when you mentioned it on the match thread and the thread you started on the subjected. It's a fair point, granted. But, does it really need to be repeated on every other thread? We get it, you don't want Gazza in the team. I was commenting on this thread on 17th position..and right now, the keeper is VERY MUCH, the weak link in finishing 17th.. should we just ignore it....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 I was commenting on this thread on 17th position..and right now, the keeper is VERY MUCH, the weak link in finishing 17th.. should we just ignore it....... Who are you arguing with? No-one is disagreeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 its all well and good saying yawn..but it is true you were saying the same about Adkins recently but seem to have switched to Gazza now. think you will be proved to be equally off the mark with your latest victim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 one thing is for sure...we need a better keeper to have a chance..we will have to beat at least 1 probably 2 top 6 teams as well as the other points we get to do that..usually, your keeper plays a blinder....at the moment, he is almost throwing the ball into his net every game Rubbish, we write those game off FFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 I was commenting on this thread on 17th position..and right now, the keeper is VERY MUCH, the weak link in finishing 17th.. should we just ignore it....... Al Habsi, whilst being a very good keeper, has cost Wigan goals in the last two games he's played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Keepers are at fault almost every week in the prem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 how many points do we think it will take to stay up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 Bolloaks to 17th, we should be 13th already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 you were saying the same about Adkins recently but seem to have switched to Gazza now. think you will be proved to be equally off the mark with your latest victim. is gazza not a cause for serious concern..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 As things stand, we are battling for 17th. I was starting to get my hopes up that we had turned a corner over the last few games, then last night the usual brain fart came from one of the back 5. However, if we successfully address the back 5 in the next 6 weeks (GK, CB, maybe a LB), we can look towards sitting on the top of the bottom half of the table. ^ This. Get decent players for these positions during the window, and I think we will have a good team. Should have been done in the summer of course. I'm hoping we can at least stay roughly where we are until the window opens, and then strengthen accordingly. Fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 29 November, 2012 Share Posted 29 November, 2012 17th I am famous for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 17th I am famous for it. This season, I'll take that. Gladly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint J 77 Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 This season, I'll take that. Gladly. Me too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 Al Habsi, whilst being a very good keeper, has cost Wigan goals in the last two games he's played. He was utter shoite against us as well, couldn't (or wouldn't) hold anything and was barely pushing fairly simple shots away from the danger area. He nevertheless kept a clean sheet in that match, which Gazzaniga also managed less than a week ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 how many points do we think it will take to stay up? Historically (and statistically) 42 gives you a better than 50% chance of staying up, so anything more than 42 would leave me reasonably pleased, especially with some teams setting record low points totals in the early part of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 Historically (and statistically) 42 gives you a better than 50% chance of staying up, so anything more than 42 would leave me reasonably pleased, especially with some teams setting record low points totals in the early part of the season. 42 ? can't see us getting that many, was thinking more on the lines of 38 being enough. As we're only on 12 points another 30 in 24 games is a tall order really. Now if we hadn't thrown away the wins we should have had lately 42 would be feasible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 42 ? can't see us getting that many, was thinking more on the lines of 38 being enough. As we're only on 12 points another 30 in 24 games is a tall order really. Now if we hadn't thrown away the wins we should have had lately 42 would be feasible. Might have been nice to have known that Wigan were pretty decent when we played them too, can't really complain about us wasting our learning experience mostly in matches we wouldn't win anyway, provided we win the ones that matter and show we've improved in the new year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasiak-9- Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 I was commenting on this thread on 17th position..and right now, the keeper is VERY MUCH, the weak link in finishing 17th.. should we just ignore it....... Your blame should be entirely on Adkins not sorting it out in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 Your blame should be entirely on Adkins not sorting it out in the summer. sorry, that was beyond a school boy error...as many of his howlers have been.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 also, reading win their game in hand, they are above us......despite being so bad. Yeah, but at the same time Sunderland will lose and give us another team to close in on .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint si Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 There's always one team that goes into freefall and although they had a good start, I don't think West Ham will be safe from danger. Yep, I agree with this. They're starting to drop like a stone and will soon find themselves in or around the danger zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 30 November, 2012 Share Posted 30 November, 2012 Yep, I agree with this. They're starting to drop like a stone and will soon find themselves in or around the danger zone. they are playing the same sort of fixtures we had at the start of the season man city man u they have chelsea tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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