We're not going down! Who is? From fantasy to reality...
Ok ladies and gents.
Now that we could be 3 points off the relegation zone tonight (although that could also be 9), I think it's fair to ask this question. This thread is solely about us and our plight, as opposed to a general relegation thread, and weather you genuinely fear the drop.
Last win: 4th Feb - Saints 1-3 WHU
Since then:
WBA (h) 2-2 draw
Watford (a) 1-1 draw
Chelsea (h) 1-2 loss
Bournemouth (a) 3-2 loss
Leicester (h) 2-3 loss
Hull (a) 2-1 loss
2 points from 6 games, 13 goals conceded.
Scaremongering or reassurance to follow...
Now that we could be 3 points off the relegation zone tonight (although that could also be 9), I think it's fair to ask this question. This thread is solely about us and our plight, as opposed to a general relegation thread, and weather you genuinely fear the drop.
Last win: 4th Feb - Saints 1-3 WHU
Since then:
WBA (h) 2-2 draw
Watford (a) 1-1 draw
Chelsea (h) 1-2 loss
Bournemouth (a) 3-2 loss
Leicester (h) 2-3 loss
Hull (a) 2-1 loss
2 points from 6 games, 13 goals conceded.
Scaremongering or reassurance to follow...
Comments
On the plus side, I think a relatively low total will keep you up this season, 36 or even 35 points could well be enough, so although I still think we'll stay up (at the moment) I am a little concerned and am more worried about just staying up than trying to finish top 10.
WBA (h) 2-2 draw:- dominated and conceded a dubious late goal:- 2 more points.
Watford (a) 1-1 draw:- dominated again and should've killed the game off:- 2 more.
Chelsea (h) 1-2 loss :- good performance.
Bournemouth (a) 3-2 loss:- bad performance but should've seen the game out at 2-2-: 1 more point.
Leicester (h) 2-3 loss:-- except the first 10 mins, we created lots and played v.well. Should've won:- 3 more points.
Hull (a) 2-1 loss:- poor performance 2nd half but once again should've seen out the game at 1-1.- 1 more point.
Confidence is low and we are getting severely punished for individual mistakes but its something than can be rectified and worked on as its basic decision making and intelligent game control, its not as though teams have been playing us off the pitch or WHU havent had a foot hold in the games. We need to go a bit back to basics and craft our game more because sometimes we are a bit too impulsive and dont have the athleticism to adapt/recover quickly enough. I dont expect us to beat arsenal , though we certainly have it in us to beat them; but we do have a number of very winnable games against teams down there:- Swansea, Stoke, Sunderland, Burnley, in addition to important home games- LFC, EFC, THFC.
Would also argue in the times we are getting dominated in game we are lucky to not be 3 or 4 down giving away gilt edged changes. When we dominate the game even against Leicester we weren't creating enough gilt edged chances. There is a difference I think...
Randolph
Byram - Fonte - Collins - Masuaku
Is simply not good enough. Fonte is a good player but will need Reid or Ogbonna besides him.
I agree it would be great if the individuals stopped making errors ... but then they'd be consistently good, and be off to more prestigious teams.
As to Luke's question, I don't think we'll be relegated.
I don't think we're going down.
I think if all our CB's were available I'd rather Reid and Fonte or Reid and Collins.
But as Reid is injured we do miss him next to one of the current two, and he also offers us the chance to go three at the back, which I think works with a left-footed LCB, but struggles for balance when it's three right-footers.
I didn't realise he had played with an injury all season, which explained his rustiness.
The same way as Noble and Cresswell are now getting pelters, however I still think both are among our best players when on form.
However those 'questioning him' had no idea he was playing with an injury.
Lukerz,
Cressie has not been the same since he returned from injury and now he seems to be up and down with his hamstring. We may have seen the best of him.
The truth is however, that there are Five or six teams realistically fighting to avoid the final relegation slot and we are very much in the mix so there is no reason why it could not be us.
Thankfully I believe that it is comfortably within us to avoid getting further embroiled but right now, our form and the form of those around us means it is twitchy bum time.
COYI
Hopefully we can just go and attack today and maybe get 3 points to make up for the last few weeks.
Sunderland is the most likely three points. Get a point from Swansea, Stoke and Burnley and we'll creep home.
Crikey, I miss last season.
We need at least 4 points from the next two.
Feels good.