Relegation 2022/23

[OneTrueLegend]

Doucoure out is a big miss. Never mind his distribution that some get ratty about, he is a presence up front and his return has coincided with our better form.

Overall though we have been adaptable: Dyche has asked for goal contributions all over the team and he's got it from them.

The next big landmark for us and statement of intent is an away win.

I’m thinking Garner would come in, but play him deep alongside Gana and move Onana further forward, where Doucoure had been playing.

With some of the results tonight, Leicester, Bournemouth and Forrest losing, it’s a bonus for us, would be amazing to get a result at old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

 

[Drico]

How have you reached that conclusion?

Leicester are behind us and what "resources" are you referring to with all the clubs mentioned?

I'm talking about those sides having enough decent players that we cannot be too sure we'll finish above them. Whereas I would expect us to finish ahead of Southampton, Bournemouth and Forest for sure - and perhaps a couple of the sides above. In other words, I think the likes of Leeds will have enough about them to stay up and so we are better off with them beating Forest and targeting Forest as the side we must finish above.

 

[kithnou]

Southampton, Bournemouth and Forrest it looks like having to be for me.

I think Leicester and Everton need to find something. Leeds keep getting results despite everyone saying how bad they are.

The others will pull away.

 

[TraffordBlue]

I'm talking about those sides having enough decent players that we cannot be too sure we'll finish above them. Whereas I would expect us to finish ahead of Southampton, Bournemouth and Forest for sure - and perhaps a couple of the sides above. In other words, I think the likes of Leeds will have enough about them to stay up and so we are better off with them beating Forest and targeting Forest as the side we must finish above.

I agree on the other sides but Leeds finished behind us last season, we've taken 4 points off them this season and have only gone ahead of us by beating a struggling Forest.

People keep saying how much quality Leicester have, yet they're sat in 19th. The evidence just doesn't support it. From Palace down we are all poor sides, but some are in trouble related to poor managerial performance. We've had Benitez and Lampard and an injury hit Calvert Lewin to contend with.

 

[Matelot]

Fantastic to finally see the three teams with the worst goal difference below us. It’s not been like that for a long time as Forest were up towards mid-table a few weeks back.

It’s as good as an extra point over our rivals below us.

 

[Stanley Parker]

Nine games left!

In the top half, we play Man Utd A, Fulham H, Newcastle H, Brighton A and Man City H

In the bottom half, we play Crystal Palace A, Leicester A, Wolves A, Bournemouth H

With the possible exception of Fulham and perhaps Palace, all these opponents are still fighting for points.

Hard to predict the outcome when so many teams are involved. Fasten your safety belts; it's going to be a rough ride.

 

[The binman chronicles]

I’m thinking Garner would come in, but play him deep alongside Gana and move Onana further forward, where Doucoure had been playing.

With some of the results tonight, Leicester, Bournemouth and Forrest losing, it’s a bonus for us, would be amazing to get a result at old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

We could have easily (on paper and previous form) come away from these 3 games with 0 points, if we can pick up another at Utd it would be a great, great result. A point per game average is what we needed - with perhaps another 2 points on top to make doubly sure.

Those late equalisers can't be underestimated, we are a couple of points nearer the target, hopefully like you say we can get another bonus on Saturday.

 

[Blueclouds]

People suggesting Gardner to come in for Doucouré. The fume on here when it's Davies instead

 

[brieverton]

Great results last night. We might be starting to see the shakedown begin to emerge.

We can't write off any side, especially Bournemouth still.

Wolves still have questions to answer and Leicester even more so. A bad appointment for them and it could make a bad situation worse. The other sides will get out of it I think, Leeds and W Ham.

My hunch is we'll get nothing on Saturday but if we could manage a point it would be another massive step forward.

I've thought for a while if we could get out of this period of games with our situation intact or no worse then that also is a huge step forward.

 

[Evertonthat]

Great results last night. We might be starting to see the shakedown begin to emerge.

We can't write off any side, especially Bournemouth still.

Wolves still have questions to answer and Leicester even more so. A bad appointment for them and it could make a bad situation worse. The other sides will get out of it I think, Leeds and W Ham.

My hunch is we'll get nothing on Saturday but if we could manage a point it would be another massive step forward.

I've thought for a while if we could get out of this period of games with our situation intact or no worse then that also is a huge step forward.

It's so tight down there, any bad run of even a couple of games can see a team in the bottom 3. West Ham have games in hand but they are vs Newcastle and Liverpool, so I expect they may struggle to make them count. Forrest have the hardest run in though, so they're up against it now. Its 3 from Wolves, forrest, Leicester and Southampton for me. I believe we have enough to get at least 9 points from the last 9 games, but time will tell.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

That set of results last night puts our hard earned point against Spurs in a very valuable context.

 

[PhilM]

I've thought for a while if we could get out of this period of games with our situation intact or no worse then that also is a huge step forward.

Yesterday was good in the sense that most teams, apart from West Ham, now don't have a game in hand and the situation hasn't changed.

Leeds are apparently getting results, but are only two points ahead of us. This shows that we ourselves are ticking off relatively well too.

It'll be a massive ask, but a victory against United would go a long way to pushing us to a situation where we're in the driver's seat for the final run in.

A draw would be a great results too! If we lose, well I'd rather it be against United than Fulham the week after.

 

[Neiler]

Key thing in this run of the last three and most other clubs having 4 fixtures to our 3, was not getting cut off and adrift and staying in touch, with Utd to go so far we have done that and got through two of those fixtures unbeaten.

At this stage last season we had 25 points after 29 games and just been beaten by Burnley, with games against Utd, Mordor, Chelsea and Arsenal to go.

 

[marsh]

Horrible relegation battles though aren't they

 

[Eggs]

….in respect of the relegation battle, last nights results were perfect from my perspective.

I chose to watch B’mouth v Brighton. Whilst B’mouth have a conventional striker and carry some threat they are lacking in quality and very poor defensively.

Brighton play ‘pure football’, their possession stats must be top drawer. We’ll have to ride our luck against them but if we can I can see us frustrating them. They look to play from the back (as do B’mouth) in quite a risky way, not sure if Doucoure is available for that game but high press could reap dividend. Also, the keeper is very small and that could help our set pieces.

I’d never have thought it a few months ago but I go into most games thinking Dyche’s Everton have a chance of getting something. I wouldn’t write ‘Brighton Away’ off.