[Archived] The Relegation Thread

[Jimmy612]

Absolutely no chance that Swansea or Norwich will be dragged into the relegation zone, both are far too organised and will easily gather enough points to be safe will before May.

West Brom might get sucked in if they have a bad run, but otherwise I think it's three from four (assuming Hughes + money guarantees QPR survival).

I reckon its all on the bottom 5 now. All bloody bad teams and all scrapping it out in what is developing into a mini league.

QPR might be ok, Hughes will make them horrible to play against and has money for January.

Us, Wolves, Wigan and Bolton. Its going to be dreadful!

[jim mk2]

Swansea play a free-flowing passing game like Blackpool last season but with more pace and a far better defence. I think they and Norwich will be fine as they both have canny managers.

Still think we are odds-on to go down because we only win when teams have real off days such as Fulham and United and we don't have the players (or the manager) to scrap it out with the more physical teams.

To repeat, those home defeats against Everton, West Brom, Bolton etc will our undoing unless we somehow win the corresponding away matches.

[DE.]

No chance of Swansea or Norwich getting dragged into it now. Both are light years ahead of the bottom five.

[BuckyRover]

There is more often or not a club that drops like a stone.

Maybe Villa?

Also, this time last year Blackpool had just beaten Liverpool. Norwich have also conceded in every game (like us).

It's not over yet (although it's going to be bloody horrible until it is).

[Bluefudge]

West Brom for me !!!

Hodgson has the look of the man he was in his last days as manager of Rovers. Wheels have fallen off their Waggon.

[BuckyRover]

West Brom for me !!!

Hodgson has the look of the man he was in his last days as manager of Rovers. Wheels have fallen off their Waggon.

Indeed. Things do seem a bit more positive at the moment. We go to Everton knowing that our last away game in the prem was a win at OT.

[jim mk2]

Everton played well at Villa yesterday....unlucky not to win. Important Rovers keep this run going and accumulating points; a draw would be acceptable.

[BuckyRover]

Everton played well at Villa yesterday....unlucky not to win. Important Rovers keep this run going and accumulating points; a draw would be acceptable.

Their fans seem to be getting on their back a bit at home. Could work in our favour.

I expect us to lose though. It's less painful that way.

[rovers11]

Swansea were impressive today. Didn't see them winning that. With West Broms poor home form, I still think they'll be dragged into it. Don't think it's just between bottom five. Others can easily get dragged back in. West Brom looked safe after they beat us and now they are only five above us (with a tough trip to stoke next). But if we don't get the required wins, it will all be academic anyway.

[Audax]

Today you saw Swansea win at home and that's been immense for them, I doubt if they could totally lose their formidable home form, they drew Spurs too which I did not expect.

[rovers11]

Today you saw Swansea win at home and that's been immense for them, I doubt if they could totally lose their formidable home form, they drew Spurs too which I did not expect.

It's disappointing for us they are doing so well but pleased for their fans. When you consider where they were nine yrs ago and where they are now is a miracle. Talking of miracles, who would have thought a month ago that we'd be out of the bottom three in mid Jan.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

When you have a referee that's obviously hearing voices in his head and gives a penalty out of nothing when you're up against it then anything is possible.

[Waggy76]

Could have done without Swansea winning today , but thats life !!

Still not convinced they won't be involved come the end of April ..

[47er]

I discount both Norwich and Swansea as relegation candidates. They are too far ahead and playing rather well.

West Brom could well be sucked into it though, absolute tragedy that we gave them 3 points.

A draw at Everton would be an achievement but the real key is winning future home games.

If we could keep Hoilett and Samba and have Ollson, Givet and Dunn fit and playing regularly, and Lowe, Henley, Hanley continue their progress and if we sign a good striker to play alongside the Yak and a good mid-fielder to play alongside N'Zonzi we have the look of a half-decent team.

The trouble is that, with Venkys, it will be stuffed up someway, somehow.

[m1st]

We need to start narrowing the gap on WBA & Everton and Villa [McLeish couldn't relegate a midlands team for 2 consecutive seasons, could he?]. Let's try to make it a 6- or 7-team mini-league at the bottom of the table.

A [flukey] 3 points next Saturday would greatly assist in that aim, with the ideal scenario being draws in the QPR v. Wigan and Wolves v. Villa games, and Stoke beating WBA.

[alexanders]

Gary Cahill officially a Chelsea player.

Bolton got money to spend, but what will they buy and will it strengthen them? It has been rumoured that they will try and get a centre-back from USA.

I think they need a goalgetter more than anything.

African nations cup:

Wigan: will be missing Diame who have been a steady performer in the midfield for the Latics. I wonder how they will play without him tonight?

QPR: Missing Adel Taraabt and Armand Traore. They lost yesterday against Newcastle who were without Demba Ba and Tiote.

[Audax]

Everton finished 7th last season, it would be amazing if the Rovers won, which they really need to, they'd have 20 points, Everton 25.

Rovers need to be careful that this is NOT the game where Landon Donovan becomes MOTM. Everton then plays City as their next match so, hardly anyone defeats City.

But I agree with others, usually this season, Everton lack punch. Lacklustre, almost like Bolton who were able to nail on a defeat of them.

Everton and Aston Villa are considered big clubs. I don't think Fulham are really one though some people might call them that.

So, the Toffees, Villans could be dragged into the relegation struggle as well, Villa were in trouble until about 2-3 weeks left in the season, Villa had a bit of a cushion and were able to escape and not too close of a call.

I'm going on here, but it seems to me, Stoke City and Newcastle in the league had extended periods of time in the 2nd half of last season where they won very very few games, of course, Stoke City did well in going to the FA Cup Final.

I know, long net posts are often not read but there you go.

[Hasta]

We have 17th points after 21 games. I've gone back through the last 4 season (not had time to go back further) and with our points total after 21 games we would have been:-

2010/11 Bottom

2009/10 19th

2008/09 Bottom

2007/08 17th on GD

So in 2008 we would have been in the same position we are now. That was a freakish season as Derby finished with only 11 points. However to stop up that season you would have needed ........ 37 points (or 36 and a good goal difference).

Completely pointless but interesting.

[RTM08]

We have 17th points after 21 games. I've gone back through the last 4 season (not had time to go back further) and with our points total after 21 games we would have been:-

2010/11 Bottom

2009/10 19th

2008/09 Bottom

2007/08 17th on GD

So in 2008 we would have been in the same position we are now. That was a freakish season as Derby finished with only 11 points. However to stop up that season you would have needed ........ 37 points (or 36 and a good goal difference).

Completely pointless but interesting.

The difference this season is that there is no cast aways just yet, despite Wigan, Rovers and Bolton trying their hardest. We can beat Everton, they were the luckiest team I've seen at Ewood since THAT West Ham game, and I fancy a point out of them. We'll have to watch for Baines smashing them from long range though, Robbo seems to have a knack for letting long-rangers in...

[Audax]

I wonder what the odds are that Rovers, Bolton and Wigan all survive, must be astronomical odds. Though, I think 1 will survive, maybe 2. 3??, seems near impossible.

[Hughesy]

I wonder what the odds are that Rovers, Bolton and Wigan all survive, must be astronomical odds. Though, I think 1 will survive, maybe 2. 3??, seems near impossible.

Bolton depends very much on who they sign and if Coyle gets them right or not. The fans are starting to go against him now, and I work with about 20 season ticket holders and all of them think they are down already.

Wigan I think will go down, and possibly never return.

[Mattyblue]

West Brom are a poor side, Fulham? If their home form deserts them, then they could fall.

[Tom]

Today worries me I can see other teams picking up wins for some reason I expect Bolton to do Liverpool and Wolves to do Villa

[PAFELL]

I think wigan, bolton and fulham for the drop. Though I can see fulham changing their manager soon, which could change things.

[Audax]

Last time out, it seemed all the scores went our ways, I won't enumerate on all of the matches but it seems today, they are mostly against us...

But yes, I think Bolton could well get a result vs. Liverpool today, hope the Rovers can come back,

Wolverhampton were down 1-0 against Aston Villa and Wolves now lead 2-1, we need to see that in this Blackburn game.