The good thing about our run in is that in the final 4 games Reading and Birmingham will definitely be playing for nothing. It'll be very hard to get motivated for a game with no fans when there's nothing to play for compared to how motivated we should be if we're in the thick of it.
Think there's a decent chance we'll be back in the bottom 3 after Brentford away as it's a tough run until then but the three after that are very winnable.
The good thing about our run in is that in the final 4 games Reading and Birmingham will definitely be playing for nothing. It'll be very hard to get motivated for a game with no fans when there's nothing to play for compared to how motivated we should be if we're in the thick of it.
Think there's a decent chance we'll be back in the bottom 3 after Brentford away as it's a tough run until then but the three after that are very winnable.
I would be shocked if both us and Wigan have something to play for when we meet.
I think the one thing all the games played without fans so far around the world have shown is we can ignore any sort of home advantage. I'm more confident we'll stay up after Saturday but I still fear the lack of goals could bite us big time.
I see QPR as another big game. Yes, they are all potentially big games, but, like the Hull fixture, the difference between winning and losing is significant. A win means we can ride a couple of losses. If we lose, you start struggle to see where the next win is coming from. Big game.
I think we will lose all 4 away matches. We need imo 6/7 points from the 4 home games. Qpr is the key game for me. Win that and rest players at Cardiff and Brentford.
When you are in a relegation battle, the NEXT game is vitally important. And you should take each game as it comes. Hull is behind us. It seems to be a good time to play QPR and on paper it is very winnable, although I'm sure it will be a hard game. It is always the case. When you look at the number of teams around us, that is a positive, and some will do better than others. Another three points will be big.
I think we will lose all 4 away matches. We need imo 6/7 points from the 4 home games. Qpr is the key game for me. Win that and rest players at Cardiff and Brentford.
With 5 subs available, players having a long time off, and with Bowyer not the sort of manager to roll over and give away the points I can't see us resting players unless they really need it.
I think at this stage of the season we need to play for every point we can get.
My son reckons 8 more points will be enough, I’m not sure, just got to get some momentum going and forget what’s gone before, and treat it like a fresh start.
The truth is we may well win or draw games we expect to lose and vice versa. If I could successfully predict the outcome of football games I'd be a millionaire. We'll just have to see, which is one of the beauties of sport, the unpredictability.
One thing I've not seen factored in is the weather. Recently its been warm but breezy but by the weekend its supposed to be hotting up. Playing in 80° heat wont be fun & will definitely be sapping. They always say that foreign players wont be any good "on a freezing Mancunian evening...." but now its the opposite.
One thing I've not seen factored in is the weather. Recently its been warm but breezy but by the weekend its supposed to be hotting up. Playing in 80° heat wont be fun & will definitely be sapping. They always say that foreign players wont be any good "on a freezing Mancunian evening...." but now its the opposite.
I've been out running longer distances than these players over the last few weeks
Your right, the heat really does sap your strength and thats before humidity comes into play... Whilst the drinks breaks are annoying as a delay they are sensible
Dont envy them as compared with me, they dont get a choice when they go out and exercise
I think you can basically add 3 points to the tally of anyone playing Hull. Warnock in at Boro will lead to re-evaluations of how they are going to perform in these
i dont think there are any easy run ins, everyone can beat everyone in this league, its going to be one game at a time looking at other results and hope we get something. There is a long way to go, sit tight.
Got to hope Luton and Barnsley both lose their next two and it knocks the stuffing out of them before some easier games... And Hull just lose them all. Huddersfield and us with the toughest run ins I think.
Hull: Birmingham (A) L Middlesbrough (H) L West Brom (A) L Bristol (A) D? Millwall (H) W Wigan (A) L Luton (H) W Cardiff (A) L
That'll have em on 48 pts.
Charlton: QPR (H) L Cardiff (A) D Millwall (H) L Brentford (A) L Reading (H) W Birmingham (A) D Wigan (H) W Leeds (A) L
What is in our favour is the number of clubs down there. We have to do our bit of course, but with 5 clubs in and around us and 2 a bit below us (and potentially Wednesday joining them), some will do better than others. If we win a couple more and draw one - that would be quite a gap for Luton and Barnsley to make up in 8 games. Then one of Hull. Boro, Wigan, Huddersfield or Stoke only have to have a poor run in.
If Wednesday are docked 12 points, they will be on the same points as Barnsley and would need to gain 12 points from their remaining games. Then you do have to wonder were Hull's next point is coming from.
We are far from out of it, but have a decent chance of survival after the terrific result at Hull.
Stoke: Lost to Middlesbrough 0-2 Wigan (A) Barnsley (H) Leeds (A) Birmingham (H) Bristol (A) Brentford (H) Forest (A)
Post-restart form: DL
Huddersfield: Lost to Notts Forest 1-3 Bacuna sent off Birmingham (A) Preston (H) Reading (A) Luton (H) Sheffield Wednesday (A) West Brom (H) Millwall (A)
Charlton: Beat QPR 1-0 Cardiff (A) L Millwall (H) W Brentford (A) L Reading (H) D Birmingham (A) L Wigan (H) L Leeds (A) W
Post-restart form: WWLWLDLLW Final Points: 52
Wigan: Beat Blackburn 2-0 Stoke (H) W Brentford (A) L QPR (H) W Barnsley (A) W Hull (H) W Charlton (A) W Fulham (H) L
Post-restart form: WWLWWWWL Final Points: 62
Stoke: Lost to Middlesbrough 0-2 Wigan (A) L Barnsley (H) W Leeds (A) L Birmingham (H) D Bristol (A) W Brentford (H) L Forest (A) L
Post-restart form: DLWLDWLL Final Points: 50
Huddersfield: Lost to Notts Forest 1-3 Bacuna sent off Birmingham (A) L Preston (H) L Reading (A) D Luton (H) W Sheffield Wednesday (A) D West Brom (H) L Millwall (A) W
Post-restart form: LLLLDWDLW Final Points: 50
Middlesbrough: Beat Stoke 2-0 Hull (A) W QPR (H) D Millwall (A) W Bristol (H) L Reading (A) D Cardiff (H) L Sheffield Wednesday (A) W
Post-restart form: LWDWLDLW Final Points: 52
Hull: Drew with Birmingham 3-3 Middlesbrough (H) L West Brom (A) L Bristol (A) L Millwall (H) D Wigan (A) L Luton (H) D Cardiff (A) L
Post-restart form: LDLLLDLDL
Final Points: 44 - Relegated 23rd
Barnsley: Drew with Millwall 0-0 Blackburn (H) W Stoke (A) L Luton (A) D Wigan (H) L Leeds (A) L Forest (H) L Brentford (A) L
Post-restart form: WDWLDLLLL
Finak Points: 42 - Relegated 24th
Luton: Beat Swansea 1-0 Leeds (A) L Reading (H) D Barnsley (H) D Huddersfield (A) L QPR (H) D Hull (A) D Blackburn (H) D
Post-restart form: DWLDDLDDD Final Points: 44 - Relegated 22nd
Comments
Think there's a decent chance we'll be back in the bottom 3 after Brentford away as it's a tough run until then but the three after that are very winnable.
Maybe optimistic, but the three wins I’ve mentioned are very winnable. Feel free to swap any of the losses to a draw in place of Millwall.
I think at this stage of the season we need to play for every point we can get.
If I could successfully predict the outcome of football games I'd be a millionaire.
We'll just have to see, which is one of the beauties of sport, the unpredictability.
Your right, the heat really does sap your strength and thats before humidity comes into play... Whilst the drinks breaks are annoying as a delay they are sensible
Dont envy them as compared with me, they dont get a choice when they go out and exercise
Add to that, Colin W*nk*r as manager to organise and motivate them, then they'll need shootin' if they get themselves relegated.
Boro played an unexpected card this morning - who saw that coming?
First let's see how we get on against QPR on Saturday.
If we get the 3 points, the other relegation rivals will at least all have to match that. And not all of them will.
#onegameatatime
Birmingham (A) L
Middlesbrough (H) L
West Brom (A) L
Bristol (A) D?
Millwall (H) W
Wigan (A) L
Luton (H) W
Cardiff (A) L
That'll have em on 48 pts.
Charlton:
QPR (H) L
Cardiff (A) D
Millwall (H) L
Brentford (A) L
Reading (H) W
Birmingham (A) D
Wigan (H) W
Leeds (A) L
50 points and safety *JUST* secured.
If Wednesday are docked 12 points, they will be on the same points as Barnsley and would need to gain 12 points from their remaining games. Then you do have to wonder were Hull's next point is coming from.
We are far from out of it, but have a decent chance of survival after the terrific result at Hull.
Beat QPR 1-0
Cardiff (A)
Millwall (H)
Brentford (A)
Reading (H)
Birmingham (A)
Wigan (H)
Leeds (A)
Post-restart form: WW
Wigan:
Beat Blackburn 2-0
Stoke (H)
Brentford (A)
QPR (H)
Barnsley (A)
Hull (H)
Charlton (A)
Fulham (H)
Post-restart form: WW
Stoke:
Lost to Middlesbrough 0-2
Wigan (A)
Barnsley (H)
Leeds (A)
Birmingham (H)
Bristol (A)
Brentford (H)
Forest (A)
Post-restart form: DL
Huddersfield:
Lost to Notts Forest 1-3 Bacuna sent off
Birmingham (A)
Preston (H)
Reading (A)
Luton (H)
Sheffield Wednesday (A)
West Brom (H)
Millwall (A)
Post-restart form: LL
Middlesbrough:
Beat Stoke 2-0
Hull (A)
QPR (H)
Millwall (A)
Bristol (H)
Reading (A)
Cardiff (H)
Sheffield Wednesday (A)
Post-restart form: LW
Hull:
Drew with Birmingham 3-3
Middlesbrough (H)
West Brom (A)
Bristol (A)
Millwall (H)
Wigan (A)
Luton (H)
Cardiff (A)
Post-restart form: LD
Barnsley:
Drew with Millwall 0-0
Blackburn (H)
Stoke (A)
Luton (A)
Wigan (H)
Leeds (A)
Forest (H)
Brentford (A)
Post-restart form: WD
Luton:
Beat Swansea 1-0
Leeds (A)
Reading (H)
Barnsley (H)
Huddersfield (A)
QPR (H)
Hull (A)
Blackburn (H)
Post-restart form: DW
millwall at home Friday bows will want a result for the fans and I think if we win that we will be fine