Who is for the Drop?

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I've probably just given Blackburn the kiss of death by suggesting on their thread that they'll avoid the drop.

My teams for the drop are the three new boys. I think inexperience will ultimately count against them. QPR's recent poor results are not far off becoming a freefall. Despite very respectable starts, I don't see Norwich or Swansea scoring enough and believe their commendable work rates may lead to them both running out of gas around Easter.

All carefully worked out and most likely entirely wrong. What do others think?

guildfordbat wrote:Some more twists and turns yesterday. I certainly didn't expect QPR to beat Spurs and thought Wigan might pick up a point at Fulham. Wrong as usual.

What next?

GB
Pretty much what I expected as well. To be fair, Wigan were close to taking the point and only conceded the winner very late. QPR though showed great fight against a Tottenham side that has become the very model of inconsistency over the last couple of months.

It's QPRs away form plus inability to keep eleven players on the field that has been a major factor in their current plight. The players sent off also miss the next three to four games which is also having an impact.

When Mark Hughes took over as manager, I did expect them to pull away from the relegation zone, but hadn't forseen their disasterous disciplinary record. I think they must be a "good bet" for relegation - they have to play both Chelsea and Man City away who both have something to play for.

Qpr seem to be labelled with the same thing after every game, beat a good side at home, yet still going down because of their hard run in which to be fair they have made an absolute mockery of.

Saturday morning though I thought they were probably favourites to go down along with Wolves although after seeing the weekends results I think they might just might stay up as I think a win at home to Stoke will be enough to keep them up.

Would mean Bolton need to take 8 from their last 5 and Blackburn would need 7 from their last 3 to catch them.

So I would have to disagree Nore and say they are probably a good bet to stay up now. Although the odds might not be as appealing as they would have been 4 or 5 games ago.

Next up tomorrow (Tuesday) evening: Aston Villa V Bolton
This is Villa's game in hand, while Bolton will have one more game in hand after tomorrow (against Spurs on Wednesday week).

It's too tight at the bottom. I just hope Bolton stay up. I fear for their financial security should they become relegated. Reports say they are 100 million in debt. So sad if that's the case because they are a team that nobody seems to dislike.

I wish owners would run their clubs properly. That is the minimum they owe their fans.

Nore Staat wrote:Next up tomorrow (Tuesday) evening: Aston Villa V Bolton
This is Villa's game in hand, while Bolton will have one more game in hand after tomorrow (against Spurs on Wednesday week).

Big game tonight for both clubs.

Can easily see us(villa) losing this one.

Was at the game on saturday, wasnt the best to say the least.
Thank god for a poor lino.

Thing that worries me is there is a real lack of experience in our team now, Given, Cuellar, Heskey aside.
The young guys are decent players, but a lot of pressure on them now.

WBA a
SPURS H
NORWICH A

our fixtures after tonight.
can see us losing those 3.

I know wigan & blackburn have to play each other, and that QPR & Blackburn have to go to Spurs and Chelsea, but they may still pick up maximum points.(Blackburn at OT.).

Having said all that, think we'll be ok, but certainly worrying times at Villa Park.

To be honest West, think Villa will stay up, but more to do with other teams then what you do. Win tonight and i think you're safe, a draw might be good enough.

West was also at the game Saturday and did not fill me with optimism, just struggle to see where a goal is going to come from, Weiman looked run into the ground towards the end of the game and whether we go with Heskey or Gabby neither are particularly prolific. Would not be so bad but as you have alluded to there is a serious lack of experience in midfield to take up the responsibility or weigh in with a goal or two. Have to say if we don't get at least a point tonight my confidence will not be great.

Alessandro Ciambella wrote:It's too tight at the bottom. I just hope Bolton stay up. I fear for their financial security should they become relegated. Reports say they are 100 million in debt. So sad if that's the case because they are a team that nobody seems to dislike.

I wish owners would run their clubs properly. That is the minimum they owe their fans.

This is why most neutrals should back my club Wigan, our owner Dave Whelan threw money at the club to get us into the PL, but since then he's trimmed the budget to such an extent that we're clawing it all back year on year, none of our players are on much compared to the rest of the PL and even quite a chunk of the championship, compare our top earners on £35k per week to those at QPR on £90+k or even Bolton, Blackburn or West Ham where their wage bills are double ours and you'll see where I'm coming from.

Well, dont think we'll even get another point this season.

Shambolic

Villa 1 Bolton 2 final result

Update to the Race for the Bottom table

R20: Wolves		19: Blackburn		18: Bolton		17: Wigan		16: QPR		15: A Villa
P35 GD-41 Pts23		P35 GD-26 Pts31		P34 GD-28 Pts33		P35 GD-26 Pts34		P35 GD-18 Pts34		P35 GD-14 Pts36
Swansea (a)		Tottenham (a)		Sunderland (a)		Newcastle (h)		Chelsea (a)		West Brom (a)
Everton (h)		Wigan (h)		Tottenham (h)		Blackburn (a)		Stoke (h)		Tottenham (h)
Wigan (a)		Chelsea (a)		West Brom (h)		Wolves (h)		Man City (a)		Norwich (a)
				Stoke (a)

I think, considering the remaining fixtures, current points and goal differences, at the present time Blackburn and QPR must be "favorites" to join Wolves in the Championship next season, but everything is getting closer, and now Aston Villa have almost been caught.

Looking at it solely from a villa perspective our last two games have been Sunderland and Bolton both at hone, we have scored one goal and taken one point, if that is not relegation form I don't know what is, I have no faith at all left, as westi has said fail to see where we get another point, our only hope is looking at the run in the same may be true of Blackburn and QPR

I think very roughly we might "expect" the following for the remaining games:
Blackburn 3pts ==> total 34 pts final position 19
QPR 3pts ==> total 37 pts final position 18
Wigan 4pts ==> total 38 pts final position 17
Bolton 6 pts ==> total 39 pts final position 16.
A Villa 3 pts ==> total 39 pts final position 15 (better goal difference).

I'm guessing that the 3 points you've put for Blackburn is in their game against Wigan? If that is the case, for Wigan to get 4 points from their other two games they'd need at least a draw against Newcastle. I think that would be a struggle for them with Newcastle chasing fourth spot, which would leave Wigan level on points with QPR and probably relegated due to their inferior goal difference.

Blackburn and QPR especially have a horrible looking set of games remaining!

Enforcer wrote:I'm guessing that the 3 points you've put for Blackburn is in their game against Wigan? If that is the case, for Wigan to get 4 points from their other two games they'd need at least a draw against Newcastle. I think that would be a struggle for them with Newcastle chasing fourth spot, which would leave Wigan level on points with QPR and probably relegated due to their inferior goal difference.

Blackburn and QPR especially have a horrible looking set of games remaining!

Yes, that's how I saw it - Wigan got three points from Man Utd at home, and three points from Arsenal away - hence I can foresee them getting a point at home to Newcastle. I was "generous" with Blackburn "giving" them a home win against Wigan (probably will be a draw) - but even with that, Blackburn end up in 19th place and a "long way" from a "safe" spot.

I think Blackburn are done, definately agree with you on that one. I think Wigan will get something from the Blackburn game and with a win over Wolves it should see them safe either way!

Hope Blackburn are done. Feel sorry for the club but hope the owners lose every penny possible.

Wolves, Blackburn & QPR

Don't feel either Bolton or Wigan deserve to go down. Bolton get everybody's sympathy vote anyway and Wigan would be top 8 if they had played anything like the kind of football they are playing now earlier in the season.

Blackburn deserve to go down for such rubbish owners I' m afraid and as for QPR well likewise for the most arrogant egocentric manager.

Looking at the weekends games - they all look difficult for the bottom teams. It could be as you were with two games to go. I suspect that Bolton, Villa and Wigan will each sneak a point.

Nore Staat wrote:Looking at the weekends games - they all look difficult for the bottom teams.

Bang on, Nore Staat.

Of the teams still fighting to avoid the drop, Wigan have a difficult home game against Newcastle whilst the other four are all away. A win for Aston Villa at West Brom would take them to 39 points and almost safety. However, Villa seem in freefall. More twists and tuns to come ....

Early days but Bolton are totally outplaying Sunderland (who appear to be thinking about their holidays) Bolton leading by a goal to nil (I'm sure O'Neill will have something to say at half time).

Wigan have control of the midfield and are leading 3-0 against Newcastle.

Not really sure what is happening with Wolves, they are losing 4-2 to Swansea and it isn't yet half time.

Sunderland have just equalised: Sunderland 1 Bolton 1
Wigan go further ahead: Wigan 4 Newcastle 0

With Wolves at home coming up you'd have to fancy Wigan to get over the line.

FreekShow wrote:With Wolves at home coming up you'd have to fancy Wigan to get over the line.

Terry Connor is fighting for his job and pride - so I should imagine that Wolves will give it a go. But Wolves defence is woeful.

Nore Staat wrote:Wigan go further ahead: Wigan 4 Newcastle 0

Update to the Race for the Bottom table

R20: Wolves		19: Blackburn		18: Bolton		17: QPR		16: Wigan		15: A Villa
P36 GD-41 Pts24		P35 GD-26 Pts31		P35 GD-28 Pts34		P35 GD-18 Pts34		P36 GD-22 Pts37		P36 GD-14 Pts37
Everton (h)		Tottenham (a)		Tottenham (h)		Chelsea (a)		Blackburn (a)		Tottenham (h)
Wigan (a)		Wigan (h)		West Brom (h)		Stoke (h)		Wolves (h)		Norwich (a)
		Chelsea (a)		Stoke (a)		Man City (a)

Todays results:
Swansea 4 Wolves 4
Sunderland 2 Bolton 2
Wigan 4 Newcastle 0
WBA 0 Aston Villa 0

So it is up to Blackburn and QPR to perform tomorrow.

Superb result for Wigan. Awful day if you are a QPR fan.

Southampton and Reading will be in the Premiership next season.

Note: In the unlikely event of QPR winning and Blackburn losing on Sunday, then Blackburn will be effectively relegated. What seems likely to happen tomorrow is that QPR will have a player sent off against Chelsea, and ten man QPR will lose to Chelsea.

Fantastic result for Wigan, and not a bad draw for Bolton. Wolves at last show something, with a more than credable 4-4 draw at Swansea, after being 4-1 down at one point.

QPR, are at the moment losing 4-0 to Chelsea with half time approaching.

Looking bad for Blackburn & QPR.

I would say that Wigan are safe enough now. Blackburn have to get something at Spurs but I cant see that happening.

Bolton have WBA at home and Stoke away.
QPR have Stoke at home and Man City away.

Both should win the home game, leaving it to the final day of the season. I'd rather go to Stoke than Man City, so Bolton to stay up

Pressure does funny things.

Bolton have to play twice before Blackburn and Wigan on Monday night- who knows what the table will look like in a weeks time.

Also Villa are falling fast and have the 2nd worst form in the league - if anyone out of QPR (seems unlikely), Blackburn and Bolton can pull 2 wins out of the bag Villa may well be relegated.

Bolton are poor at home though, they are a much better away side plus they have got a pile-up of games. It's going to be tight.

Gutted we didn't beat the Villa yesterday, with results going as they did it would have been a blow though the QPR loss would have helped them. Just beat Bolton next week instead!

Blackburn in a perilous state. Following their loss to Spurs, they seem almost certain to join Wolves for the Drop.

As for QPR today, dreadful result and performance. Best thing for them was no one being sent off!

Whilst Villa look poor, the end of the season should come just soon enough to save them.

Even if Wigan lose at Blackburn, they should beat Wolves at home on the last day.

On that basis, last place for the Drop seems to rest between QPR and Bolton. Too tight for me to call there ....

We were a disgrace today to not even get a shot on target!!

TBH I know we are down now regardless of the Wigan match next week, and just want this season to end so we can rebuild in the summer.

Update to the Race for the Bottom table

R20: Wolves		19: Blackburn		18: Bolton		17: QPR		16: Wigan		15: A Villa
P36 GD-41 Pts24		P36 GD-28 Pts31		P35 GD-28 Pts34		P36 GD-23 Pts34		P36 GD-22 Pts37		P36 GD-14 Pts37
Everton (h)		Wigan (h)		Tottenham (h)		Stoke (h)		Blackburn (a)		Tottenham (h)
Wigan (a)		Chelsea (a)		West Brom (h)		Man City (a)		Wolves (h)		Norwich (a)
				Stoke (a)

Chelsea 6 QPR 1
Spurs 2 Blackburn 0 - as James said Blackburn didn't have a single shot at goal (or or off target).

QPR at least managed 11 shots at goal, 7 on target and one goal.

Considering goal difference, Blackburn can no longer realistically finish ahead of Wigan, who are 6 points ahead and 6 goals ahead in terms of GD.

QPR's heavy loss means that Wigan now have a better goal difference than them.

Bolton play their game in hand this Wednesday.

James_182 wrote:TBH I know we are down now regardless of the Wigan match next week, and just want this season to end so we can rebuild in the summer.

Recognise this feeling from near end of last season with West Ham....

If Bolton lose their game in hand, it will be squeaky bum time for them as well considering their poor goal difference.

NS surprised that Blackburn even managed a corner- they were that bad. Also couldn't understand why they took Yakubu off as he didn't look injured. So Blackburn basically down it seems.

Would be happy to see QPR go down as well. Nothing against the club more the arrogant manager.

Good results for us today.

Blackburn cant overtake us now, even if they win last 2 and we lose.

Looking for a Spurs win in the week aswell, hopefully we can get something against them next sunday.

Should be just about safe going to Carrow Road on last day.

Blackburn were totally pathetic today and wouldn't have looked out of place in League Two on that showing. Were the corner flags white?... because if they were one of their players could have waved one in the air and be done with it.

How Steve Kean can call himself a Premier League manager I don't know. It's been complete arrogance on his part believing he'd get them out of trouble when he's been a fish out of water all season.

FreekShow wrote:Blackburn were totally pathetic today and wouldn't have looked out of place in League Two on that showing. Were the corner flags white?... because if they were one of their players could have waved one in the air and be done with it.

How Steve Kean can call himself a Premier League manager I don't know. It's been complete arrogance on his part believing he'd get them out of trouble when he's been a fish out of water all season.

I have to admit the media treatment of Blackburn fans has been disgraceful. The Blackburn fans knew Kean would take them down so they wanted him out. Sure they did it in a harsh way but that was the only way they could get their voice heard. The media slating them for that was outrageous. Do they watch Blackburn every week? In the end Blackburn fans were unfortunately right in the terms of Kean would take them down, but at least they should get rid of him now

I agree Olly. If I was a Blackburn fan having to watch that dross week in week out I'd be livid. As I said it's complete arrogance turning up for work every day when the fans as a whole - the fabric of any football club - want you out. He never should have been given the job in the first place. What did he ever do to warrant a mangers position at a PL club?

It doesn't defend the disgusting abuse he has received at times though. He might not be a great manager but he is only trying to do his job. Maybe the fans should be more concerned with those that appointed him. I'm sure he has had many opportunies to leave with a good pay off but he has stayed. No-one person should take responsibility. The manager, the onwers, the players and also the fans for not getting behind their team when they are on the pitch are all to blame.

People shouldn't just support their club through the good times.

spencerclarke wrote:It doesn't defend the disgusting abuse he has received at times though. He might not be a great manager but he is only trying to do his job. Maybe the fans should be more concerned with those that appointed him. I'm sure he has had many opportunies to leave with a good pay off but he has stayed. No-one person should take responsibility. The manager, the onwers, the players and also the fans for not getting behind their team when they are on the pitch are all to blame.

People shouldn't just support their club through the good times.

Right firstly they did protest against the owners for not sacking Kean. Second they have no money so they couldn't pay off Kean. Third a paying fan has the right to protest if they want to because they have the club at heart. The fact that they were there protesting shows they were still turning up to games, they never stopped supporting the players.

Sad story Blackburn. Somewhere up near the beginning of this thread I think I'm on record as saying that I hoped Blackburn stayed up on account of the amount of personal abuse that Kean was having to put up with. He seems to have kept his dignity in the face of everything going on.

But looks as tho' Blackburn are not going to stay up anyway...

Protesting before and after is one thing. Boo a few minutes in to games is not helpful. It is becoming the norm for fans to boo in no time. Not buying into the paying fan having the right to abuse an individual like the blackburn fans were. It was personal not just a case of getting rid of a manager. Too many thick fans now a days I'm afraid. Every club has them. Some United fans boo Giggs three or four years ago. A couple of your own fans not too long a go tore up their season tickets on the opening day of the season, more money than sense!

It's no suprise that teams such as West Ham and Boro play better away from home when their own fans are so quick to get on their backs.

To be honest I've about given up going to live games. The horendous abuse that gets shouted about and just ignored is obscene. I wouldn't dream of taking my nephews to a game. Everyone has a responsibility to represent a club, including those that put money into the club. Funny how Mike Ashley's abuse has subsided. fickle

a good example was on Stan Collymores radio show today (yes I am hanging my head at listening to talk sport!). He had been getting abuse tweets for being critical of the Villa support. Then when he asked them to phone in and have a debate on the matter he recieved nothing but supportive calls. Chequered past an all but he made some sense.

spencerclarke wrote:Protesting before and after is one thing. Boo a few minutes in to games is not helpful. It is becoming the norm for fans to boo in no time. Not buying into the paying fan having the right to abuse an individual like the blackburn fans were. It was personal not just a case of getting rid of a manager. Too many thick fans now a days I'm afraid. Every club has them. Some United fans boo Giggs three or four years ago. A couple of your own fans not too long a go tore up their season tickets on the opening day of the season, more money than sense!

It's no suprise that teams such as West Ham and Boro play better away from home when their own fans are so quick to get on their backs.

To be honest I've about given up going to live games. The horendous abuse that gets shouted about and just ignored is obscene. I wouldn't dream of taking my nephews to a game. Everyone has a responsibility to represent a club, including those that put money into the club. Funny how Mike Ashley's abuse has subsided. fickle

Every football fan is fickle. I was there when we lost 7-1 to Colchester. I have never been so depressed at a football game, it was so bad we actually started celebrating Colchester's goals. What every football fan wants is a return to the good days, like the days we are having now.