2024/25 Relegation Battle (Without Everton!)

[bazza86]

I find it bizarre as well, so many modern managers have this "we play our way, regardless of the results, available players or opposition". It would drive me mad if I was watching that. The likes of Southampton and Ipswich don't seem capable of shutting up shop if they go a couple of goals up in a game. That could benefit us this season. Leicester is a bit different, they changed the manager, but he seemed very dejected after their latest defeat to Fulham.

Hoping Chelsea can beat Wolves tonight so we keep our 4 point lead and a game in hand. Chelsea have not been on a great run though, no win in the last 5 in the league.

Not just a 'modern managers' trait...........Not so very ago I seem to remember our very own egg headed dinosaur with the same fixation with a fixed style of play. And you're right, it did drive us mad!!

 

[Eggs]

….so if I think we need 5 more wins, that logic suggests the teams below look like they could need 7 wins before the end of the season. Leicester and Ipswich have both won 3 in 22, so it’ll take some improvement from them.

5 more wins for us will be tough enough but it’s what I want to achieve.

 

[neil999]

That Ipswich hammering has really come at the right time

 

[ToffeeTim]

….so if I think we need 5 more wins, that logic suggests the teams below look like they could need 7 wins before the end of the season. Leicester and Ipswich have both won 3 in 22, so it’ll take some improvement from them.

5 more wins for us will be tough enough but it’s what I want to achieve.

I think 4 wins could be enough if we also get a few draws. 5 will definitely be enough.

Staying 16th is important because it gives us more margin for error if one of the teams below goes on a run of form.

 

[Mark Bisson]

Stand a chance? We'll be well out of it by late March.

Hope so mate because April looks grim

 

[hoppy]

Will we need 40 points to be safe

 

[jazzy]

No excuses those 5 home games you mention are all very winnable, Goodison isn't going to let us go down.

I'd include the United game as very winnable , they're terrible

 

[davek]

Will we need 40 points to be safe

No.

Probably 36 points gets you safe.

 

[jazzy]

Totally agree with the first part. The real top managers constantly reinvent. Pep is the master. Lesser managers like Ange, or Russel Martin, or even Dyche, cling stubbornly to one style of football, it doesn’t make you principled it just limits your shelf life. Too much analytics in the game now- if teams know how you’ll play they’ll work out how to beat you.

Thought Moyes got it spot on yesterday with his sort of hybrid approach at the back. None of us knew for sure what it was going to be from the team sheet, I’ve seen people argue about what it was even now it’s been. Worked yesterday, might work next week, won’t work forever. I’m sure unlike Mr “this is how we play, mate” Moyes is canny enough to know it.

Totally agree . It's selfish arrogance to do what Kompany did at Burnley and Martin did at Southampton

 

[Titus Bramble]

Will we need 40 points to be safe

Ipswich currently on track to end the season on 28 points. 34/35 would probably be enough but we should be aiming for more.

 

[Alan Whittle]

No.

Probably 36 points gets you safe.

If Everton maintain their current points per game ratio (taken for the whole of this season) you will get to 36 points.
Ipswich would need to virtually double their points per game from 0.7 to 1.3 in order to get to 37 points. Leicester and Southampton more so.

 

[OneTrueLegend]

No.

Probably 36 points gets you safe.

You are probably right, but at this stage of the season I would rather hope that we can get to 40 points or be 6 points clear of the bottom 3 going into that final home game against Southampton, so we can just enjoy the last home game at Goodison

 

[brieverton]

Things just feel a lot less heavy today.
Lots of work to do, but at least you feel now there is a man with a plan.

 

[TN Toffee]

Will we need 40 points to be safe

It’s been 15 years since a team needed 40 points to stay up. Only once in that time has a team needed more than 37. The league has become absurdly top heavy.

At this stage it’s looking like a decent bet that 35 will keep someone up this season. But yes, 40 would absolutely guarantee safety.

 

[blue to the bone]

Will we need 40 points to be safe

No