Under any other manager than Kean (with the possible exception of Ince) in recent history, I would have been relatively confident that the team we have would easily be able to stave off relegation with these fixtures.
However, as we do have Kean in charge; I do worry about our chances.
I really can't see it OOJW. Aside from QPR, we've failed to beat any of the teams around us (unless you count Fulham who I think are safe).
The next 4 games are absolutely huge. We must get at least 5 points and really can't afford to lose to either Wolves or Bolton.
The point against WBA looks ambitious as does 3 against Norwich to me!
One injury to a CB and we're down.
I think we need to pick up at least one away win (bolton/wolves) to have any chance. 35 points sounds about right.
Clean sheets and we stay up. Sounds simple
I think a win versus Norwich isn't really that amitious if we don't have injuries.
We took the game to them at Carrow Road and definitely should have won that game so I don't see why we couldn't get 3 points at home.
Of course, like you said, one CB injury would completely ruin us. I wonder if there are any decent free agents we could bring in to help boost our numbers?
It's pointless raking over old ground, but it's truly astonishing that we've been placed in this situation by the owners. Hanley wasn't even in the picture 6 months ago and he's instrumental right now, I can't believe I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't get injured in the jock friendly.
Surely the manager can have a word with the SFA - he's Scottish after all and could do without a fringe player risking injury in a meaningless game.
As Robbo said on MOTD2 last Sunday, the next 4 games are huge. I’ve said all along, yes we concede too many goals but history shows that to stand any chance of avoiding relegation, you need to be scoring goals too, something we are doing a lot of. Fortunately, the same cannot be said for Bolton, Wolves, Wigan who are all struggling to find the net. I may be clinging onto straws but as long as the Yaks goals don’t dry up I genuinely feel we have a chance.
What about M.Diarra. What a solid addition he would be to anchor the midfield, would be great with Nzonzi sat in front of him. Knowing there's a free agent like that around who would be up for a short term deal with a prem team would be a great piece of business. O no wait...i'm a week to late
Agree with others that clean sheets = prizes and also with Wild Rover than one major positive is that we still carry and retain a goal threat going forward.
The downside being that we are wide open at the back and with a new back four of Orr, Dann, Hanley and MO have little experience or cover.
Clearly it is all still to play for and we are no worse than the others, but we just do not obtain consistent results under VenKean and it is hard to predict where our points will come from.
Diarra, whilst undoubtedly better than the majority of our midfielders, is not a defender. As shown by N'zonzi's stint at the back at the start of the season, it's not enough to be decent in the tackle and good in the air.
Defending is mainly about positional play and I don't think M.Diarra would have been a good option.
Nonetheless, I'm surprised we didn't at least attempt to bring him in.
"Nonetheless, I'm surprised we didn't at least attempt to bring him in."
-------------------------------------------------
I'm not,sadly. The guy used to play for Real Madrid!
Imagine Aruna Chuckle being told how much his wage demands would be, she'd laugh her head off!
Great article, as always OOJW.
Hate saying this but weve got the wost god awful defence in the premier and that will cost us long term.
"Hate saying this but weve got the wost god awful defence in the premier and that will cost us long term."
You are quite right star. Clean sheets urgently required and have been all season!!
Thanks DD, but this was just a recap of last weeks article as the countdown to the Championship begins....
I did the beeb predictor first realistically and got 14 points which equals almost certain relegation.
I then did it with blue and white tinted glasses and got to 39 and possible relegation.
It's sad that even in my hopeful heart it's hard to see past the drop.
In the past, 12 games realistic versus hope may have been a 10 or 12 point split, now it's 4...
To reach any conclusion, you've got to do the predictor for all the teams at the bottom, not just one. Everybody has a tough fixture list.
True, but I have to pretend to work at some point!
There is also the small chance that we may be one of those teams that have one of those unbelievable runs picking up unexpected points.
Not due to Kean directly but indirectly, the players just decide eff it and start to play!
Lots of six pointers in the mini-league at the bottom which are difficult to predict. A win for Rovers on Saturday and Villa could be drawn into the mini-league too. Rovers should have the whole squad fit - what team will Kean choose? Villa look out of sorts and will be without Bent and Keane. Let's hope for all three points.
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Final Countdown - Part Two
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posted on 29/2/12
Under any other manager than Kean (with the possible exception of Ince) in recent history, I would have been relatively confident that the team we have would easily be able to stave off relegation with these fixtures.
However, as we do have Kean in charge; I do worry about our chances.
posted on 29/2/12
I really can't see it OOJW. Aside from QPR, we've failed to beat any of the teams around us (unless you count Fulham who I think are safe).
The next 4 games are absolutely huge. We must get at least 5 points and really can't afford to lose to either Wolves or Bolton.
The point against WBA looks ambitious as does 3 against Norwich to me!
One injury to a CB and we're down.
posted on 29/2/12
I think we need to pick up at least one away win (bolton/wolves) to have any chance. 35 points sounds about right.
Clean sheets and we stay up. Sounds simple
posted on 29/2/12
I think a win versus Norwich isn't really that amitious if we don't have injuries.
We took the game to them at Carrow Road and definitely should have won that game so I don't see why we couldn't get 3 points at home.
Of course, like you said, one CB injury would completely ruin us. I wonder if there are any decent free agents we could bring in to help boost our numbers?
posted on 29/2/12
It's pointless raking over old ground, but it's truly astonishing that we've been placed in this situation by the owners. Hanley wasn't even in the picture 6 months ago and he's instrumental right now, I can't believe I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't get injured in the jock friendly.
Surely the manager can have a word with the SFA - he's Scottish after all and could do without a fringe player risking injury in a meaningless game.
posted on 29/2/12
As Robbo said on MOTD2 last Sunday, the next 4 games are huge. I’ve said all along, yes we concede too many goals but history shows that to stand any chance of avoiding relegation, you need to be scoring goals too, something we are doing a lot of. Fortunately, the same cannot be said for Bolton, Wolves, Wigan who are all struggling to find the net. I may be clinging onto straws but as long as the Yaks goals don’t dry up I genuinely feel we have a chance.
posted on 29/2/12
What about M.Diarra. What a solid addition he would be to anchor the midfield, would be great with Nzonzi sat in front of him. Knowing there's a free agent like that around who would be up for a short term deal with a prem team would be a great piece of business. O no wait...i'm a week to late
posted on 29/2/12
Agree with others that clean sheets = prizes and also with Wild Rover than one major positive is that we still carry and retain a goal threat going forward.
The downside being that we are wide open at the back and with a new back four of Orr, Dann, Hanley and MO have little experience or cover.
Clearly it is all still to play for and we are no worse than the others, but we just do not obtain consistent results under VenKean and it is hard to predict where our points will come from.
posted on 29/2/12
Diarra, whilst undoubtedly better than the majority of our midfielders, is not a defender. As shown by N'zonzi's stint at the back at the start of the season, it's not enough to be decent in the tackle and good in the air.
Defending is mainly about positional play and I don't think M.Diarra would have been a good option.
Nonetheless, I'm surprised we didn't at least attempt to bring him in.
posted on 29/2/12
"Nonetheless, I'm surprised we didn't at least attempt to bring him in."
-------------------------------------------------
I'm not,sadly. The guy used to play for Real Madrid!
Imagine Aruna Chuckle being told how much his wage demands would be, she'd laugh her head off!
posted on 29/2/12
Great article, as always OOJW.
posted on 29/2/12
Hate saying this but weve got the wost god awful defence in the premier and that will cost us long term.
posted on 29/2/12
"Hate saying this but weve got the wost god awful defence in the premier and that will cost us long term."
You are quite right star. Clean sheets urgently required and have been all season!!
Thanks DD, but this was just a recap of last weeks article as the countdown to the Championship begins....
posted on 1/3/12
I did the beeb predictor first realistically and got 14 points which equals almost certain relegation.
I then did it with blue and white tinted glasses and got to 39 and possible relegation.
It's sad that even in my hopeful heart it's hard to see past the drop.
In the past, 12 games realistic versus hope may have been a 10 or 12 point split, now it's 4...
posted on 1/3/12
To reach any conclusion, you've got to do the predictor for all the teams at the bottom, not just one. Everybody has a tough fixture list.
posted on 2/3/12
True, but I have to pretend to work at some point!
There is also the small chance that we may be one of those teams that have one of those unbelievable runs picking up unexpected points.
Not due to Kean directly but indirectly, the players just decide eff it and start to play!
posted on 2/3/12
Lots of six pointers in the mini-league at the bottom which are difficult to predict. A win for Rovers on Saturday and Villa could be drawn into the mini-league too. Rovers should have the whole squad fit - what team will Kean choose? Villa look out of sorts and will be without Bent and Keane. Let's hope for all three points.
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