[Archived] The Relegation Thread

[rovers11]

The sad thing is, with a decent manager and just a bit of the cash Venkys promised, we would be Premier League mid-table. Its hard to take how let down we've been.

It is very sad. This club belongs in the premiership. Everything about the club is premiership: The stadium, the academy, the training facilities, the fans. OK, we're not ever gonna be as big as the Man Utd's of this world but we are premiership. Unfortunately, two major factors at the club at the moment aren't premiership: Kean and Venky's.

I just can't see Venky's being here in a year or two. It's just completely untenable. They know that - that's why they don't come to the games anymore.

[thenodrog]

We'd be good enough to finish mid table championship, I reckon. If teams like Southampton and Brighton can flourish in the Championship with their poor teams then I don't see why we couldn't.

I'm praying for new owners, though. The only way this club can be a force again. Until then, we're gonna be a mid table championship side.

You are plainly an optimist. Mark my words we will plummet through the Championship unless very very drastic changes occur.

[rovers11]

You are plainly an optimist. Mark my words we will plummet through the Championship unless very very drastic changes occur.

Drastic action HAS to occur. Not arguing with you there. We probably won't even have a club to support if it doesn't. Just can't see Venky's sticking around long term. No benefit to them - no brand recognition, no return on their profit etc etc

[thenodrog]

Drastic action HAS to occur. Not arguing with you there. We probably won't even have a club to support if it doesn't. Just can't see Venky's sticking around long term. No benefit to them - no brand recognition, no return on their profit etc etc

What do you think they will leave behind thats worth a light?

[BPF]

for me its down to who we sign and can keep in jan, if its a good window we might well stay up if not its dowm we go

I'd love to agree with you Des, but you have to go with the stats.

For us to stay up now would take qualifying for Europe form from here to the end of the season.

[John]

Given our results, and that we have Kean as manager, it still surprises me that we are currently only 4 points off safety.

[DE.]

Given our results, and that we have Kean as manager, it still surprises me that we are currently only 4 points off safety.

And 7 of our points came from Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd. Truly bizarre.

[Mattyblue]

There is no way on Earth we are going to get 40 points.

Only hope is that the other sides are just as bad and it is a 33/35 point season.

[AJW]

much will depend on the home games , Fulham Wigan Norwich QPR and Aston Villa , we must take maximum points anything we get from Newcastle Liverpool and Man Utd is a bonus , and we need to be so much harder to beat in away games , if that means playing 1 upfront and a midfield 5 which has none of Rochina Hoillet and Formica starting at City Spurs Arsenal and Chelsea and boring the pants out of the opposition then thats fine and maybe just use 1 of them at the likes of Everton and Wolves Bolton and West Brom and try and nick a win

[Kelbo]

much will depend on the home games , Fulham Wigan Norwich QPR and Aston Villa , we must take maximum points anything we get from Newcastle Liverpool and Man Utd is a bonus , and we need to be so much harder to beat in away games , if that means playing 1 upfront and a midfield 5 which has none of Rochina Hoillet and Formica starting at City Spurs Arsenal and Chelsea and boring the pants out of the opposition then thats fine and maybe just use 1 of them at the likes of Everton and Wolves Bolton and West Brom and try and nick a win

I feel you are being massively optimistic!

[AJW]

I feel you are being massively optimistic!

Maybe but realistically i think we could get a further 23 points from those fixtures , whether that is enough depends on what other clubs do

[LeChuck]

There is a 5 point gap between the bottom 5 teams and the rest of the division now. I won't totally rule out Swansea and Norwich having bad runs that could drag them down, but as the rest are definitely safe it's looking increasingly likely that 3 from the following 5 will go down:

Bolton, Rovers, Wigan, QPR, Wolves

A lot depends on what happens to QPR in January, they've got the money to buy themselves out of trouble.

[Savory]

yep pretty much.

how we could have done with appointing oneill when he was available.

[47er]

Maybe but realistically i think we could get a further 23 points from those fixtures , whether that is enough depends on what other clubs do

Home games------played 10/lost 8!

[Pedro]

I'd love to agree with you Des, but you have to go with the stats.

For us to stay up now would take qualifying for Europe form from here to the end of the season.

That's the thing, it actually wouldn't need that. We just have to out-perform Wigan and Bolton and get a win and a draw more than Wolves or QPR.

[cn174]

That's the thing, it actually wouldn't need that. We just have to out-perform Wigan and Bolton and get a win and a draw more than Wolves or QPR.

Doesn't sound much, but we've not got very far with it so far have we?

[47er]

Doesn't sound much, but we've not got very far with it so far have we?

Pedro wants to give Kean more time so we can assume he has a very "positive" outlook!

[rovermagic]

We registered an !18m loss this past year and that includes what we gained from P Jones move. 87% of our turnover is eaten up by wage bill. Highest in league by far. Our wages are I think 9th highest. Our turnover about 19th highest. We are desperate to shave wage bill. Hence we cannot play Sqlgado or Roberts. We really need alsO to unload Dunn and Peds.

[Paul]

We registered an !18m loss this past year and that includes what we gained from P Jones move..

No it doesn't include the Jones money, that was in July from an accounting view.

[purplegrover]

And 7 of our points came from Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd. Truly bizarre.

Bizarre indeed. I'm wondering if the bigger teams get lazy and have a tendency to underestimate. Man U were horrible until they were shockingly 2-0 down, and only then did they start trying. We can't win against clubs our own speed because they don't display the utter disregard and complacency for the 'minions' that the monster clubs do. I reckon sir Alex and his zillion dollar squad just thought "3 points in the bag and a stroll in the park" and only when it was too late and the momentum was against them did they get burned. Our next win will probably come against Chelsea... and that'll be it for the year.

[alexanders]

Bizarre indeed. I'm wondering if the bigger teams get lazy and have a tendency to underestimate.

This is Uniteds biggest problem this year.

Crystal Palace - Basel - Blackburn.

Wow.

[Hughesy]

I'd love to agree with you Des, but you have to go with the stats.

For us to stay up now would take qualifying for Europe form from here to the end of the season.

European qualification form to stay up?? Dont talk wet.

We are 2nd bottom, 1 point behind 3rd bottom and a couple from 4th and 5th bottom. European qualification form would be needed if we were already cut adrift.

[Sparky Marky]

Jesus you sure have your head in the sand . We'rescrewed mate....too much to do.

[Mattyblue]

European qualification form to stay up?? Dont talk wet.

We are 2nd bottom, 1 point behind 3rd bottom and a couple from 4th and 5th bottom. European qualification form would be needed if we were already cut adrift.

We have 14 points, at the very least we need another 20 points, and that is hoping 34/35 points is enough this year. If the other teams get going, make that 26 points to get to the magic 40.

Kean going to get us those? Considering we have lost 7 out of 9 home games and have to go to Spurs, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City?

[den]

European qualification form to stay up?? Dont talk wet.

We are 2nd bottom, 1 point behind 3rd bottom and a couple from 4th and 5th bottom. European qualification form would be needed if we were already cut adrift.

To reach 38 points would see us having to take 24 points from the next 18 games. That rate over a season would see us get to around 50 points? 7th place in the league last season was taken by Everton on 54 points.