[Archived] Relegation Watch

[SoccerHQ]

We always play @#/? in Manchester, complete opposite for you tbh! I would just forfeit the games and send them the 6 points every season.

No football team does things the easy way. You're got rid of your out of his depth rookie and got a proper prem manager in now who knows how to geat teams out of this state so have faith as to me on the outside, the results and performances have been on the whole encouraging.

And we don't want the Fernhurst half empty for most of the games next season!

[waggy]

the guy in the telewag reckons we will beat west spam

[MCMC1875]

the guy in the telewag reckons we will beat west spam

What does he know? It just seems like we're readng rehashed press releases in the Telegiraffe thesedays, rather than good independent journalism.

Now if the late great Peter White had still been writing, I might have taken a closer look.

[SoccerHQ]

Easy peasy now.

3 home wins required plus a point at Stoke.

Well done Rovers, now if you could help us out and nick a point at Arsenal aswell, all the more better.

[DE.]

We aren't out of it yet by any means, but the result tonight is a huge boost to our survival hopes. As I said before, we'll have to have an absolutely shocking final run of results to go down. Proud to be an optimist tonight

[Rainmaker]

We aren't out of it yet by any means, but the result tonight is a huge boost to our survival hopes. As I said before, we'll have to have an absolutely shocking final run of results to go down. Proud to be an optimist tonight

The major upside is of course that the relegation battle is now totaly in our own hands.

We don't have to rely on other results as long as we do the business ourself.

[RibbleValleyRover]

The major upside is of course that the relegation battle is now totaly in our own hands.

We don't have to rely on other results as long as we do the business ourself.

Spot on.

[jim mk2]

Easy peasy now.

3 home wins required plus a point at Stoke.

Well done Rovers, now if you could help us out and nick a point at Arsenal aswell, all the more better.

Help.

[DE.]

The major upside is of course that the relegation battle is now totaly in our own hands.

We don't have to rely on other results as long as we do the business ourself.

Exactly - pulling off a win tonight will be a huge boost for confidence (especially considering we were without RSC, Dunn, Grella ... ok forget Grella) and means we won't necassarily need to take points off Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea (though it would be a bonus to do so!) as long as we keep up the good work against the teams around us.

[Gus Gus]

Did the BBC Predictor again...

Pessimistic Gus: 19th, 34 points

Optimistic Gus: 9th, 44 points

Realistic Gus: 15th, 41 points

Liverpool champs Arsenal 4th on goal difference :shrug: West Brom, Portsmouth, Boro down.

We have 3 home games that I think are important - West Ham, Wigan, and Portsmouth. I think that if we can win these and pick up a few others along the way then we will be safe easily.

[MCMC1875]

Just done the BBC Sport predictor.......

......Rovers finished 12th on 44 points.

Down.... West Brom, Boro, Newcastle.

FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO FAR SO GOOD - COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not looking good for Newcastle - no manager and nightmare remaining fixtures - hard to see them picking up many points at all.

[Hughesy]

We should really break this down. Games we should really be targetting a win, where it will most hurt. Games we should be able to get something, and then finally games where its difficult and even a point is a great result.

Games we need to really need to target a win - Spurs, Stoke, Pompey, West Brom. (That gets us the magical 40 points)

Games we can get something: Fulham, West Ham, Wigan, City

Games where anything is a bonus: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea

Good start - hope we can continue in this form!!

[Hughesy]

Martins - Relegation Fear has kicked in following Blackburn win

If they dont get a result at Hull then they really are in deep brown stuff with Arsenal & Chelsea next up.

[roversmum]

I feel a desire for Hull to win coming on...

[Iceman]

Would be funny if those barcodes go down. I hate that BIG club, as well as that other BIG club Spurs! C'mon you blues, 1 point would be great today, 3 would be super duper fantabulous :-)

[Paul Mellelieu]

I feel a desire for Hull to win coming on...

Prefer a draw to keep Hull in the mix.

[thenodrog]

Exactly - pulling off a win tonight will be a huge boost for confidence (especially considering we were without RSC, Dunn, Grella ... ok forget Grella) and means we won't necassarily need to take points off Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea (though it would be a bonus to do so!)

Have you forgotten about European qualification?

Would be funny if those barcodes go down. I hate that BIG club,

Care to speculate how much more funny Sam would find it?

Mind you some new barcode owner would prob waive a cheque book offer the usual empty promises and come in and nick him away!

[gumboots]

Mind you some new barcode owner would prob waive a cheque book offer the usual empty promises and come in and nick him away!

Doesn't that mean he'd do without one? What's he going to offer? Cash in a wheelbarrow?

[thenodrog]

Doesn't that mean he'd do without one? What's he going to offer? Cash in a wheelbarrow?

Hey up! History repeating itself in time of depression? The 'Rentenpound' perhaps?

[Iceman]

Gordon, Sam would probably be lying on the floor with laughter if Newcastle go down. Both Newcastle and Spurs have a tough run in, so that will be interesting to watch. Just need to concentrate on our own results, and we will be okay.

[BRFC1995]

got us in 14th with 40pts on predictor, relegation 37pts hull, boro and wba gone

[tony gale's mic]

If Stoke - Newcastle in a couple of weeks time isn't a draw, whoever loses that game is going down I think.

[brfcs5359]

The Magic 40 enough?

Hulls Fixtures - Points required 7 - Run in = difficult

4 at home 5 away. Must win v. Stoke and Portsmouth at home. ManU and Liverpool other home fixtures. Not many points likely on the road either. 3 of top 5 to play.

Wigan v Hull, 13:30

Hull v Portsmouth, 1

Middlesbrough v Hull, 15:00

Sunderland v Hull, 15:00

Hull v Liverpool, 15:00

Aston Villa v Hull, 15:00

Hull v Stoke, 15:00

Bolton v Hull, 15:00

Hull v Man Utd, 16:00

Stokes Fixtures - Points Required 11 - Run in = Very Easy

Apart from Arsenal away, easy run in 5 at home 4 away. At home Blackburn, Newcastle, Boro, Wigan & West Ham towards the end. West Brom, Fulham and Hull away. Plenty of points available for the battling Potters.

Stoke v Middlesbrough, 15:00

West Brom v Stoke, 15:00

Stoke v Newcastle, 17:30

Stoke v Blackburn, 15:00

Fulham v Stoke, 15:00

Stoke v West Ham, 15:00

Hull v Stoke, 15:00

Stoke v Wigan, 15:00

Arsenal v Stoke, 16:00

West Broms Fixtures - Points Required 18 - Run in = Easy

Only Liverpool to play, the rest relegation rivals. 6 at home and 6 away. Upcoming back to back home wins to Bolton and Stoke a must. Could be all over after the next 3 fixtures as the gap widens to far.

West Ham v West Brom, 20:00

West Brom v Bolton, 15:00

West Brom v Stoke, 15:00

Portsmouth v West Brom, 15:00

Man City v West Brom, 15:00

West Brom v Sunderland, 15:00

Tottenham v West Brom, 15:00

West Brom v Wigan, 15:00

West Brom v Liverpool, 15:00

Blackburn v West Brom, 16:00

Newcastle Fixtures - Points Required 11 - Run in = Horrendous

5 at home, 4 away. Back to back home defeats to Chelsea & Arsenal to leave them adrift. Not enough easy games. Must win all easy games to stay up. Tall order. 4 of top 5 to play and derby v Boro. Cant see where enough points are coming

Newcastle v Arsenal, 17:30

Newcastle v Chelsea, 15:00

Stoke v Newcastle, 17:30

Tottenham v Newcastle, 15:00

Newcastle v Portsmouth, 20:00

Liverpool v Newcastle, 15:00

Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Newcastle v Fulham, 15:00

Aston Villa v Newcastle, 16:00

Portsmouths Fixtures - Points Required 11 - Run in = ok.

Big games away at Hull, f/b home to West Brom and Bolton. Bad run here could spell relegation with Arsenal and Man U next home games. Will have to win at Blackburn and Newcastle to stay up.

Portsmouth v Everton, 12:45

Hull v Portsmouth, 15:00

Portsmouth v West Brom, 15:00

Portsmouth v Bolton, 15:00

Man Utd v Portsmouth, 20:00

Newcastle v Portsmouth, 20:00

Portsmouth v Arsenal, 15:00

Blackburn v Portsmouth, 15:00

Portsmouth v Sunderland, 15:00

Wigan v Portsmouth, 16:00

Middlesbroughs Fixtures - Points Required 13 - Run in = Difficult.

Last 5 games are tough for one reason or another. Must get out of trouble in the next 4 games or face going down.

Stoke v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Bolton v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Hull, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Fulham, 15:00

Arsenal v Middlesbrough, 13:30

Middlesbrough v Man Utd, 15:00

Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa, 15:00

West Ham v Middlesbrough, 16:00

Blackburns Fixtures - Points Required 10 - Run in = good

5 at home, 4 away. 2 of the top 5 to play but only away. Home form against relegation rivals key.

Blackburn v West Ham, 15:00

Blackburn v Tottenham, 12:45

Liverpool v Blackburn, 12:45

Stoke v Blackburn, 15:00

Blackburn v Wigan, 16:00

Man City v Blackburn, 15:00

Blackburn v Portsmouth, 15:00

Chelsea v Blackburn, 15:00

Blackburn v West Brom, 16:00

Tottenham Fixtures - Points Required 8 - Run in = Difficult

5 at home, 5 away. Tougher run in than Newcastle. 5 are against top 6 - 3 home wins v. Man City, West Brom, Newcastle and Cockney rivals a West Ham will do it. Otherwise a win at Blackburn or 3 draws or surprise win v. top teams. Loss at Villa, Home to Chelsea and away at Blackburn will ramp up the pressure.

Aston Villa v Tottenham, 16:00

Tottenham v Chelsea, 15:00

Blackburn v Tottenham, 12:45

Tottenham v West Ham, 15:00

Tottenham v Newcastle, 15:00

Man Utd v Tottenham, 17:30

Tottenham v West Brom, 15:00

Everton v Tottenham, 15:00

Tottenham v Man City, 15:00

Liverpool v Tottenham, 16:00

Sunderland Fixtures - Points Required 8 - Run in = Tough

4 at home, 5 away - 3 of the home fixtures v. Chelski, Everton & ManU. Defeats away next 2 and then ManU at home will put the pressure on game v. Hull. Will need to win away from home to stay up.

Man City v Sunderland, 15:00

West Ham v Sunderland, 15:00

Sunderland v Man Utd, 15:00

Sunderland v Hull, 15:00

West Brom v Sunderland, 15:00

Sunderland v Everton, 15:00

Bolton v Sunderland, 15:00

Portsmouth v Sunderland, 15:00

Sunderland v Chelsea, 16:00

Bolton Fixtures - Points Required 7 - Run in = ok

4 at home, 5 away - 3 of the top 5 to play yet. Home wins v. Boro, Hull and Sunderland should see them safe. West Brom, Pompey, Wigan away plsu Man City on the last day!

West Brom v Bolton, 15:00

Bolton v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00

Portsmouth v Bolton, 15:00

Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00

Wigan v Bolton, 15:00

Bolton v Sunderland, 15:00

Bolton v Hull, 15:00

Man City v Bolton, 16:00

Hull need 7 points. Might do it?

Boro and Pompey need wins in the next 4 as they face tough run ins.

Stoke need to chip away draws and odd win to be safe. Beatties goals drying up?

Newcastle need some spectacular results or they are going down.

West Brom - next 3 games or too much an uphill battle.

Blackburn - like Stoke, need to keep chipping away, draws with a couple of wins might do it.

Spurs - will get the 8 points somewhere

Sunderland - Tough home fixtures - must win away

Bolton - Enough easy home & away games

[USABlue]

I'd like to see Stoke stay up and based on their run in they can do it. Love to see WBA, Boro and Pompey or the Barcodes drop, Newcastle going down would be nice.

[brfcs5359]

Just done the BBC predictor

4 home wins for Rovers plus away at Stoke and a home draw. Optimistic I know....

Here's my final table.