Upcoming fixtures and survival!

[ITFC2024]

I think it’s a four horse race at the moment. Clearly looking at the table and upcoming fixtures, the mini league is now ITFC, Everton, Wolves and Leicester.

Everton have been relegation bound for a few seasons and personally I’d like to see them go down. Wolves are a hard nut to crack, but I’d prefer they survive over Everton. Leicester are not as good as us, so they should fall as well. Anyway it all comes down to how we perform, but I think many people in the football world have hopes we’ll survive.

[QldBlue]

I’m still optimistic. For obvious reasons, I’ve always thought we’d pick up more points in the 2nd half of the season. Some great defensive performances recently, we can look forward to Axel’s return and I still think KMk will get a tune out of Phillips. Cajuste looks superb and you just know that under KMk, other players will keep improving. I just wish we weren’t so paper thin up front. If Delap picks up any kind of injury we are so screwed. I know Hurst is due back in a couple of weeks but it does look like he is injury prone. I hope we can bring in some quality up front in this window although it’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat in this market.

[shabba]

I see it that we need 19 points from 19 games….

We have every team to play and need a four point improvement on the first half of the season.

[Bluemike]

I see it that we need 19 points from 19 games….

We have every team to play and need a four point improvement on the first half of the season.

Well we threw away a lot more than 4 points so should be a doddle.

[Bluemike]

I’m still optimistic. For obvious reasons, I’ve always thought we’d pick up more points in the 2nd half of the season. Some great defensive performances recently, we can look forward to Axel’s return and I still think KMk will get a tune out of Phillips. Cajuste looks superb and you just know that under KMk, other players will keep improving. I just wish we weren’t so paper thin up front. If Delap picks up any kind of injury we are so screwed. I know Hurst is due back in a couple of weeks but it does look like he is injury prone. I hope we can bring in some quality up front in this window although it’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat in this market.

I agree about needing quality additions up front, as you say Hirst is very injury prone and not reliable, I also think he's OK for 15 to 20 mins against tiring defenders but not quite good enough to start games at this level. We need another big, strong and experienced Premier League striker, getting one is the problem.

[hallamblue]

Not sure I'd agree he's injury prone. He had a significant hamstring ( rupture as I understand it), that's months of rehab. And as is often the case a player suffering a severe injury and long lay nearly always picks up another injury.

This he did, a knee problem. Now whether that was on the same side as the hamstring injury I dont know. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

Hamstrings play an important role in knee stability.so conceivably linked. Then he has a 2nd knee injury. Same knee? Same problem not previously addressed?

Prior to joining us he'd had no injury history. One significant hanstring injury can be behind these current issues.

Hirst is a different type of striker to Delap. I'd say Hirst has more guile and loads thd line better. He runs defences ragged and usually did this way past 60mins. We are very lucky you have two different, and very good strikers.

They poses different problems for defences and if anything id say starting with Hirst with his guile and work rate paves the way for Delap to follow on from . Defenders would die on their feet at the prospect of trying deal with his explosive runs and power when they've been run ragged by Hirst for 60 +,mins

But we do need a third one because Al Hamadi isn't up to this level atm.

Ultimately I'd love to see Hirst number 9 and Delap wide right ( where he did so much damage for Hull last season)

[arana peligrosa]

Southampton seem f*cked, bam they're not a factor. Shame as it's something of a traditional club name with a certain proud history but they're just not going to be good enough to retain top level status. 1 win from 20 and confidence in disarray, think you can take them out of any equation.

I don't wish no Everton relegation, can't be impartial on that issue and besides the club name is charmed regards potential drop to lower league. You don't go so many times on the verge of actual relegation and survive each and every occasion without realizing some things are meant to be. It's more set in stone than any measure of good fortune.

LCFC appear or are the next most likely to fall away. Van Horseface may work for a time but it can't last and they're destined for a straight return to lower level. That only leaves Wolverhampton, ourselves and say Crystal Palace. The former have done well in recent games, picked up one or two standout wins or results but over the course of 38 or 40 games just can't see them being strong enough to stay outside the drop zone by end of final game.

A month or two back wouldn't have given much hope to ourselves but recent results have picked up and collectively there's a strong team when every squad member is reading from the same hymn sheet. If only McKenna would put more emphasis on attacking policy during or starting a game you'd feel more settled in our abilities. It's up the players to believe they're good enough to retain top league status. Do that and we got every chance of making it.

[JohnnyB]

Southampton and Leicester to go down.

Plus one more from ourselves, Wolves and Everton.

[marko69]

Think its as Saint says, Everton always seem to have the Midas Touch in March & April……. Id say wolves or Palace……….

……… Ipswich Messiah FC will be up in nearer mid table!

Was going to add a “winky” …… but that really is condescending as fk! ….. (like it though!)

[TODD66]

I'm going to stick my neck out and say if we have a similar 2nd half to the season as our start but with our experience/lessons learned from those games we can turn half of our losses and draws into draws and wins.

That given we can aspire to a potential mid table finish!

Not normally known for my optimism so fingers crossed.

[Shed on tour]

My heart says we will survive but my head has serious doubts or maybe it should be I have serious doubts about my head.
So much will depend on whether we pick up more serious injuries to key players in the 2nd half of the season. One thing for sure is we can’t keep throwing points away late in games like we have against Leicester, Bournemouth and Fulham as every win and the 3 points that go with it are going to be crucial if we are to survive.

[hallamblue]

McKenna needs to take a leaf out of the Forest managers book of " game management." 2-0 up at Wolves, and he brings on defenders late in the second half ......and they scored a 3rd in injury time, on the break!

[TODD66]

McKenna needs to take a leaf out of the Forest managers book of " game management." 2-0 up at Wolves, and he brings on defenders late in the second half ......and they scored a 3rd in injury time, on the break!

They look good. All 3 goals scored in a similar fashion.

Solid defence and a very dynamic front 4.

Good pattern to follow.

[hallamblue]

The commentator said NF spend a large amount of time essentially being " quiet" in a game. Just remaining solid, keeping their shape, and essentially conserving energy, before intermittently springing forwards into counter attack. Just about everytime NF did thst last night they scored.

Wolves looked very dangerous tbf ( without their best player btw), yet NF dealt with it. You can't fault their tactic as a means to winning games. They're 3rd.

What i really admire about NF is they slick, fluidity when they do attack. Its so well drilled and every player is moving forwards at the right time and the pattern of play as they move forward with pace reminds me of Town under SBR / Burley in the use of triangle passing patterns all over the pitch. It's lively to watch.

[BLUEBLOOD]

All the results have gone our way tonight and we are 4th from bottom now .

[arana peligrosa]

We're back in the relegation zone. Makes today's setback all the more significant, you can ask all the what's if's and maybe's but it's not going to be much use when reviewing a defeat.

Took a moment to wonder if the team can beat a Chelsea squad by two clear goals one week and then lose by the same score to a more inferior club name at the same venue almost the next league encounter thereafter then where's it going to eventually leave us. There's too much inconsistency on our part, the team's prepared to fight or ready to succeed one moment and then it's devoid the next.

Don't like to leave our fate in the hands of others but really if we can't find a rhythm or some proper consistency in the weeks and months ahead the team may well be looking to others in order to survive. It shouldn't have to come to that.

[mendipblue]

If we beat Southampton, Leicester, Wolves, Everton and Spurs and get 5 draws against any of the rest we will stay up.

[hallamblue]

I think Id agree with that. But we simply haven't turned up against the sides around us have we.

This isn't a new problem by Town sides either. We've always had this problem, historically.

[RRanger]

After the halfway mark of the season , the win against Chelsea) we had 15 points . We've earned 1 more point since then with the draw at Fulham but considering that the next 4 games included Man City,Liverpool and Brighton, we've arguably come through a very tough period. Southampton was a terrible result and most of us ,I'm sure ,would say it was a 3 point banker and at the end of the season could be the game that got us relegated but in a spirit of hope and optimism I've gone through the remaining fixtures and given my suggestions of possible results ( in brackets my very optimistic ones)

Aston Villa away 0 (1)
Spurs home 3
Man.Utd away 1 (3)
C Palace away 0
Notts Forest home 0
Bournemouth away 0 (1)
Wolves home 3
Chelsea away 0
Arsenal home 0
Newcastle away 0
Everton away 1
Brentford home 3
Leicester away 1 (3)
West Ham home (3)

So, my pessimistic head (no brackets ) adds up to relegation with 12 points
My optimistic head (brackets but including any positive results without brackets 'example Spurs at home 3 points' 21 points and we stay up with a total of 36 points.
The reality will probably be somewhere around 30 points. Can we squeeze anything out of Palace, Chelsea,Arsenal and Newcastle ?

[ITFC2024]

If KM sticks to his philosophy, I don’t see us getting enough points to survive. If he experiments with a more defensive approach and strengthens the midfield, it’s possible we could sneak a few surprises. I’m not optimistic we’ll survive, but I’d like to see us put up a good fight and if we are relegated go into the Championship with confidence. We’ll lose a few players if relegated, but we need a plan that will prepare us for the drop with the players that remain. If that means KM has to tweak his philosophy then he should. Not being negative just realistic based on how we’ve performed in the Prem so far.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

My feeling is that the 3 promoted clubs will be relegated.
Wolves are 3 points clear, have certainly improved recently, and given their activity ib the January transfer window I'd say we have no chance of overhauling them.

[Blue Wilf]

After the halfway mark of the season , the win against Chelsea) we had 15 points . We've earned 1 more point since then with the draw at Fulham but considering that the next 4 games included Man City,Liverpool and Brighton, we've arguably come through a very tough period. Southampton was a terrible result and most of us ,I'm sure ,would say it was a 3 point banker and at the end of the season could be the game that got us relegated but in a spirit of hope and optimism I've gone through the remaining fixtures and given my suggestions of possible results ( in brackets my very optimistic ones)

Aston Villa away 0 (1)
Spurs home 3
Man.Utd away 1 (3)
C Palace away 0
Notts Forest home 0
Bournemouth away 0 (1)
Wolves home 3
Chelsea away 0
Arsenal home 0
Newcastle away 0
Everton away 1
Brentford home 3
Leicester away 1 (3)
West Ham home (3)

So, my pessimistic head (no brackets ) adds up to relegation with 12 points
My optimistic head (brackets but including any positive results without brackets 'example Spurs at home 3 points' 21 points and we stay up with a total of 36 points.
The reality will probably be somewhere around 30 points. Can we squeeze anything out of Palace, Chelsea,Arsenal and Newcastle ?

Sadly, not. We will (most likely) go down and will (hopefully) have a few surprises along the way but I fear the damage has been done as the lessons were not learned fast enough.

[hallamblue]

Based on our performances v Villa, Spurs and Man Utd earlier in the season, I'd say a couple of wins from the next three games should be very much on the cards if we keep an organised defence and take our chances.

[ITFC2024]

I’ve mentioned it before, but I think Davis could contribute more if he’s played as an attacking midfielder. So with that said, here’s my starting lineup for the remainder of the season depending on who’s fit.

Palmer

Tuanzebe O’Shea Greaves Townsend

Morsy Cajuste

Philogene or Hutchinson Enciso Davis

Delap

[mendipblue]

I’ve mentioned it before, but I think Davis could contribute more if he’s played as an attacking midfielder. So with that said, here’s my starting lineup for the remainder of the season depending on who’s fit.

Palmer

Tuanzebe O’Shea Greaves Townsend

Morsy Cajuste

Philogene or Hutchinson Enciso Davis

Delap

I like this, why not

[ITFC2024]

Some will argue, we won’t have any back up if Townsend gets injured. Well if that did happen, you move Davis back to LB.

Just curious, have Johnson or Woolfy ever played LB?

[Dubai Blue]

In my opinion the 17th place points total may very well be among the lowest in the PL era. So we need to get a win from somewhere quickly to keep the pressure on the other teams battling for this place.

[Blue Wilf]

I’ve mentioned it before, but I think Davis could contribute more if he’s played as an attacking midfielder. So with that said, here’s my starting lineup for the remainder of the season depending on who’s fit.

Palmer

Tuanzebe O’Shea Greaves Townsend

Morsy Cajuste

Philogene or Hutchinson Enciso Davis

Delap

I like this, why not

Well it is not my ideal choice as I am not sure Davis has the close ball skills in attack of a Broadhead but in the interests of trying something different, why not - even for 60 minutes

[RRanger]

When we played Brentford at their ground back in October we started with Hirst and Szmodics and were 2-0 up against the side with one of the best home records in the Premier League. I was there amongst the home/neutral fans ( where I normally sit when I watch them) and they were stunned .It was only towards the end of the half that Brentford got it together and scored . Anyway, my point is that I think the starting lineup without Delap took Brentford by surprise and Delap only came on in the 73rd minute. We went 3-2 down as a result of a penalty and Harry Clarke was sent off and then Mbuemo crossed from the right and everyone including Muric watched the ball go in the net. With the game in time added on We went down the other end and Delap scored and then literally with the last attack of the match Delap almost scored again ,hitting the post -since the penalty we'd been playing with 10 men. My point is that Delap coming on that late in the game made his running at a tired Brentford defence even more effective than it usually is and Hirst's holdup play worked superbly for our 2 early goals. Why not try that against an Aston Villa side who are still hoping to do things in the Champion's league 3 or 4 days later and could well be resting some key players.

[hallamblue]

Hirst is definitely the key going forward. He offers us a totally different approach to our attack. Frankly and bit of guile.