[Archived] The Relegation Thread

[Lurid Coat]

Agreed - we've all used the term 'must win game' a bit loosely, but if you have to pick a 'must win game' from a big list of 'must win games', this weekend is it. If we can't win this one, you would have to question our right to be in the PL at all really.

Disagree. The Wolves match is, IMO, a "must not lose" match. Newcastle just drew 2-2 v Wolves, and no one can question their right to be in the league (just to pick a silly example). I'd argue that losing at home against Wigan and Norwich, however, would mean that we don't belong in this league.

I pray and hope that we manage to sneak a couple of wins from our remaining March fixtures (Wolves (A), Sunderland (H), Bolton (A)), as April is going to be a tough month. Doubt we'll get anything from the matches against Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs, although a point could be possible. Tricky away days at WBA, who's in great form, and Swansea, who's got several players capable of making things difficult for us (Sigurdsson, Graham, Sinclair, etc). The Norwich match is obviously a must win (unless we've managed to pick up 5 wins from the matches before that one...)

[MarkBRFC]

I'd argue that losing at home against Wigan and Norwich, however, would mean that we don't belong in this league.

Which must mean that WBA don't belong in this league then. (to use a silly example)

[roversmum]

DM's take on relegation battle Hmmm...

[Stuart]

DM's take on relegation battle Hmmm...

Winning 4 out of 5 of our home games - including Liverpool?

Not sure what that's based on.

[Majiball]

Winning 4 out of 5 of our home games - including Liverpool?

Not sure what that's based on.

Ferrari's.

[DE.]

DM's take on relegation battle Hmmm...

With our home form as it has been their predictions are optimistic to say the least.

[Mattyblue]

Almost every pundit I've heard, non Rovers fan I've spoke to think we'll stay up.

Usually down to the fact that 'Rovers have some good players', Keano seems to have escaped their conciousness.

[BuckyRover]

Almost every pundit I've heard, non Rovers fan I've spoke to think we'll stay up.

Usually down to the fact that 'Rovers have some good players', Keano seems to have escaped their conciousness.

That was the general concensus last time we were relegated iirc.

We will know more tomorrow

[broadsword]

With our home form as it has been their predictions are optimistic to say the least.

i'd be amazed if we beat Liverpool at home.

Could well be Wolves and Wigan go down and one of Rovers and Bolton down on goal difference.

[alexanders]

That was the general concensus last time we were relegated iirc.

We will know more tomorrow

Nervewreck already.

[Amo]

That was the general concensus last time we were relegated iirc.

We will know more tomorrow

Thing is it was true in 98/99.

Sutton, Gallacher, Jansen, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Dunn, Duff, McAteer, Henchoz. All good enough to play in the PL. True, we had our share of stinkers too, but it was a combination of two bad managerial appointments and a divided squad that did it for us in the end.

[Mattyblue]

Hodgson was a decent appointment, top 6 finish was proof of that.

Player power did for him, as confirmed by Flitcroft t'other week.

[DE.]

At both the big clubs Hodgson managed in the PL (we were big at the time) he was ousted by player power. Seems he struggles to handle a dressing room full of big egos.

[Amo]

Hodgson was a decent appointment, top 6 finish was proof of that.

And Davies, Peacock, Daily, Blake & bottom of the table were what exactly?

[Gav]

And Davies, Peacock, Daily, Blake & bottom of the table were what exactly?

He made some terrible buys and blew millions in the process

[Mattyblue]

We saying he wasn't a decent appointment?

Heralded at the time, did a good job for a year, obviously he also bought a lot of crap (I remember me and my dad slating Dailly watching the 98 World Cup- a few weeks later 'Dad, guess who we've just bought?')

But, for me we would not have gone down if we'd have kept him.

Ps a decently unbalanced piece here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/mar/08/fearful-five-premier-league-relegation

[Gally]

They seem to be pretty balanced in their optimism, I think QPR fans will be pretty happy with their 10 points from Liverpool, Spurs, Stoke and West Brom away.

Looking at those fixtures I still think we're likely to stay up based on the other teams not being up to the task or having too much of a tough run in. Of course, losses tomorrow, at Bolton or heaven forbid, at home to Wigan changes that.

[Amo]

But, for me we would not have gone down if we'd have kept him.

On what basis, Matty?

We were rock bottom. He'd lost the dressing room and spunked Uncle Jack's money on mostly crap (except Perez <3). I really see nothing to suggest that he'd have saved us.

[Ozz]

The dressing room is under the Jack Walker stand, uncle Jack had plenty of money left, and why is Perez less than 3 ? ¦)

[Amo]

The dressing room is under the Jack Walker stand, uncle Jack had plenty of money left, and why is Perez less than 3 ? ¦)

[47er]

He made some terrible buys and blew millions in the process

I agree with Gav. I don't understand anyone saying we'd have avoided relegation if he'd stayed. We were getting worse.

This started in the previous season where we were top early on but could hardly win a game as the season wore on.

Hodgson's first attempt at English management and he hadn't a clue.

[Mattyblue]

On what basis, Matty?

We were rock bottom. He'd lost the dressing room and spunked Uncle Jack's money on mostly crap (except Perez <3). I really see nothing to suggest that he'd have saved us.

A competent manager, which Woy certinaly was could have kept us up, we somehow made a fist of it under that eejit Kidd, almost taking it to the last day (Ward you absolute clown!), obviously we'll never know.

[Clitherover]

talksport are running a poll on their site on which club is most likely to avoid the drop this season. It seems the rest of the nation reckon we are the best equipped team to stay up out of the bottom five surprisingly.

talksport relegation poll

I personally voted QPR as the best equipped to stay up, they have a better manager than any of the other four and some good players and I see them turning their bad form around today against Bolton.

[Hasta]

Bolton V QPR is the 12.45 kickoff. Obviously a draw would be the ideal result for us. That's annoying because it's hard work watching a live game when you actually want a draw !!

Some people may think a QPR result is not too bad a it puts Bolton really in the mire but I can only see that as being a positive if we won. In fact QPR would appear to have the most difficult run-in.

To see remaining fixtures see the link below to an image on a Swansea board. If anyone can download and host the image to be viewed on here that would be good!

Remaining Fixtures - Bottom 5

[jim mk2]

A competent manager, which Woy certinaly was could have kept us up, we somehow made a fist of it under that eejit Kidd, almost taking it to the last day (Ward you absolute clown!), obviously we'll never know.

Hodgson had lost the plot (and the dressing room) completely by the time he was sacked. The team was in freefall and he appeared to have no idea how to turn it round. An average manager who made his name abroad and has never lived up his reputation here.