Very difficult to predict. On past performances we could get something out of any of those matches, except probably Man C and Spurs. However, 7 out of the first 4 matches, 4 out of the next 4, and 6 out of the last 4, 17 in all, is certainly possible. That really assumes Tim can get things to click fairly quickly; a win at Newcastle would certainly see us on our way. Your 14 is also a decent guess.

I think the finishing line will be below 36; Sunderland, QPR and Burnley keep shipping points. We do as well but I think we've more potential to change it. Leicester have gone; Pearson seems determined to play as if he's still at the top of the championship, not bottom of the PL.

I'm an optimist. I'll stick with 17.

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As at 24/Feb'15 Villa'a Points total is: 22
Newcaste (Away) Lose - 22
*West Brom (Home) Draw - 23
*Sunderland (Away) Lose - 23
Swansea (Home) Draw - 24
Man U (Away) Lose - 24
Spurs (Away) Lose -24
*QPR (Home) Win -27
Man C (Away) Lose - 27
*Everton (Home) Draw - 28
West Ham (Home) Lose - 28
Southampton (Away) Lose - 28
*Burnley (Home) Win - 31

*Potential 'six pointers' if you know what I mean.
Ooer - it's gonna be close!
I'm sure you'll disagree with some of my predictions but what are your thoughts?

Stealing your table KillPage!

As at 24/Feb'15 Villa'a Points total is: 22
Newcaste (Away) Lose - 22
*West Brom (Home) Win - 25
*Sunderland (Away) Win - 28
Swansea (Home) Lose - 28
Man U (Away) Lose - 28
Spurs (Away) Lose -28
*QPR (Home) Win -31
Man C (Away) Lose - 31
*Everton (Home) Draw - 32
West Ham (Home) Draw - 33
Southampton (Away) Lose - 33
*Burnley (Home) Win - 36

I 100% agree its going to be close! The teams around us are also finding it tough, but this season has been a strange season so far. The top teams not really looking too great...hence Man United sitting in the top 4 without looking as the Man U everyone knew.

I am hoping that the Sherwood effect will kick in after 4-5 games and that run at the end of the season will result in 5 points and keeping us up! Potentially the last game of the season could be who stays up!

Usually the bottom teams are there cause they struggle to score goals....maybe an obvious statement, but the teams at the bottom now all have competent goal scorers who could drag them out.

QPR - Austin
Hull - Jelavic/N'Doye
Sunderland - Defoe
Leicester - Ulloa/Kramaric
Burnley - Ings

If we get 31 points KP we will be long gone

Somehow from that lot we need minimum 15 points. And that may not even be enough.

Best bet for 15..........West Ham at home they may have nothing to play for. QPR Burnley and Baggies first two must wins. And maybe Swansea for same reason as West Ham.

Christ knows but a win Saturday would be useful

CBB's table is close to what I was thinking when I ended up with 17.

I reckoned 2 wins out of Newcastle/Baggies/Sunderland, and a draw with Swansea.

Then beat QPR and get a draw somewhere out of Man U/Spurs/Man C.

Finally beat Burnley and get another win out of Everton/Southampton/West Ham.

Don't forget other teams have problems, maybe only Man C, Spurs and possibly Southampton don't.

Getting something at Newcastle could be massive.

Next 4 games are key:

WBA might be tough for you.

Newcastle, Sunderland and Swansea are all sitting ducks. 7 or 9 points from those 3 game would make all the difference.
3 points or less from those 3 games and it is curtains for Villa.

I see Villa going down now this year. 32 points or so.

Shame as I'd like QPR, Hull and Palace to drop!

Losing Vlaar may be a good thing, clearly on Saturday his head was elsewhere!

Clark and Baker not being out of contract at the end of the season will want to still be in the PL at the end of it. Where as Vlaar will just join another team if we drop. Possibly lost his fight and looking at staying injury free for his Manchester United medical.

I personally think we are doomed. We'll hit 31-34 points which won't be enough.

I think Lambert was removed too late and Tim has too much to do with a completely demoralised squad.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong. Learner has a lot to answer for. He took my shares off me - I didn't give them willingly!

I don't want Villa to go down, but naturally I want Albion to beat them in both forthcoming games.
If Villa do go down, the mismanagement at the club goes back to Martin O'Neill in my opinion. He spent far too much money on both transfer fees and wages for the legacy he left. Simply not value for money despite the high league placings. How much are Villa in debt to Randy Lerner?

Don't judge O'Neill too harshly. Before the financial crash the going rate for fairly ordinary PL players was quite high. The figures for his first too years were not that high. It was the third year when players like Dunne and Collins came in that the figures rocketed. At the start of the fourth year Lerner indicated that he wanted a more sell to buy policy, but in the end sanctioned further purchases like Downing, but O'Neill failed to shift some of the players who were benched, largely because of the developing financial crisis affecting the transfer market. Hence increasing strain between Lerner and O'Neill during that year; the fact that they rarely spoke, unlike Lerner and Lambert, didn't help. We know how that ended.

Your saving grace maybe QPR and Burnley taking the last two spots (apologies to Leicester fans if they think they've still a chance stopping up). Very very close though. Good luck.

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As at 24/Feb'15 Villa'a Points total is: 22
Newcaste (Away) Draw- 23
West Brom (Home) Win - 26
Sunderland (Away) Win - 29
Swansea (Home) Draw - 30
Man U (Away) Lose - 30
Spurs (Away) Draw -31
QPR (Home) Win -34
Man C (Away) Lose - 34
Everton (Home) Lose - 34
West Ham (Home) Win - 37
Southampton (Away) Draw - 38
Burnley (Home) Draw - 39

I'm slightly more pessimistic with the must-win games against clubs in the same position as yourselves.

You should beat QPR & West Ham, but Everton might squeeze a win while Burnley could be a draw because both clubs will be fighting for their lives, and being at home you'll be under additional pressure, which might affect some relatively inexperienced-under-pressure players.

Having said that, I do fancy you away from home, getting draws against Newcastle, Spurs & Southampton; and a win against Sunderland.

So that's 17 points, putting you on 39 points. Which should be enough to keep you up (1 point better than 2011/12(16th) & 2013/14(15th)

Too close to call, but good luck!

McParland, I take your point about Martin O'Neill, although he seemed (and still seems) one of the 'higher-maintenance' managers around in terms of transfer kitty requirements.

Going down!

Looks like the six games from twelve that Sherwood wants would be your home games:West Brom, Swansea, QPR, Everton, West Ham & Burnley.
On current form that's a very tall order.
You had all better put lumps of coal up yer jacksies now, that way you'll be pooping diamonds out come the end of the season...squeaky bum time indeed!

6 wins is more than enough. Reckon the line will be drawn somewhere around 34 points, looking at the games QPR and Burnley have coming up. So 4 wins and a draw might well do it. Think we should get something at Sunderland away. Wouldn't rule out another point or two elsewhere. It all depends on us breaking this cycle of losing. We shouldn't be losing like we are, especially the last two matches.

Six wins?Considering villa have only won 5 games all season?
Unlikely!

Daunting when you put it that way.

The pest in the vest is back again. He must be upset that he's not got a Premier League derby and an FA Cup quarter final to look forward to this week.

I reckon 37 points will be enough for what it's worth. That means Albion just need 2 wins and a draw!

Happy days!

Oh and if you fail to win tonight, I reckon you're as good as down.