Relegation 2022/23

[davek]

I said this after the Brighton game two weeks ago...

I keep asking myself this question: "we're on 32 points. Is that enough?".

If our GD was better than Leicester's I'd be inclined to say there's a good chance 32 will be enough.

Sticking my neck out here, but probably...PROBABLY...another draw would see us safe given that in all likelihood Forest wont win another point and Leeds have inferior GD.

It's a tantalising one that'll become even more tantalising if the next round of games see Leicester, Leeds and Forest all beaten...regardless of what we do against City.

We're getting into that area now where all this is not just idle speculation but informed calculation.

....apart from the Forest stuff, I think that might prove to be right on points required.

 

[Swartzy]

Sky loving the prospect of us going down here.
I actually hate Hitchcliffe you can feel the hatred in his voice.

Though that for years, ever since he became a pundit. its like he carries some deep down hatred for us, which has never made sense to me...
Dunno what went wrong with him while he was here but it certainly wasn't the fans. Yeah he played through some dark years for us but I always liked the lad.

Something obviously happened as its so god damn obvious whenever he speaks about us...

 

[Nightman]

If we'd have won 1 game at home against any of Forest, Southampton, Leicester we'd have been safe. Even drawing all 3.

And if that had occured, we'd may well have been pumped by Brighton 5-1 and lost 1-0 to Wolves at the weekend.

The butterfly effect.

 

[matty1878]

Matty with the factos

lol

 

[knowing your history]

Remember those halcyon days after the Brentford game back in March when we all said 2/3 wins will do us.

We’ve won once since then, and still out of the relegation zone. Crazy.

That's the weird thing for me. Lampard gets plenty of stick (and rightly so based on his last three months which could still relegate this team) but he ended last season with pretty much a 50% winning ratio from last 8 games and that was enough to just about get the club safe.

The current situation is team hasn't won a single home game since early March and has lost last three at home so limping over the line a fair bit. It's a flip of last season as away I think it's only 1 defeat in last 7 on the road so the frequent draws have been enough to balance out the disappointing home results and somehow resulted in the team being 17th going into the last day which everyone would've taken the day Dyche came in.

Only 8 defeats on the road which surprised me so that really needs to continue next season to have any chance of a solid mid table finish.

 

[Joewood1889]

I agree with the points about it being in our hands but assuming we will just cruise past Bournemouth because they’re 15th and we’re at home is a dangerous game. We can do it but it’s not going to be easy

 

[davek]

Always twists on final day though. One of Leeds/Leicester getting ahead early and Goodison will inevitably get nervous and start demanding the makeshift FBs fly forward at every opportunity rather than play strategic.

Always remember 98 and that massive roar when Chelsea went 2 up, think that was just after Coventry equalised so that was the lift needed for the players just to realise playing the ball around their own half with Coventry not bothered at all was the best tactic.

Get the feeling with return of these World cup style injury times they'll be a crucial goal scored right at the end so hopefully Mina is still healthy at that point as I'd rather a big chance falls to him than the strikers or midfielders.

I remember that day well mate.

But what was happening at Chelsea didn't stop us falling back and allowing Coventry into the game.

Yes, the other results will be affecting matters. No question. We are in our own little world though. The extra two points allows us that cushion.

 

[PhilRegan]

I reckon 36 points is enough this year, just got a feeling

 

[mahermi1]

It's in our hands and that's probably what scares me, how many times have we been in this situation and thought, this is it, this is our chance, then fail miserably. I will be a bag of nerves on Sunday, please Everton don't disappoint us again.

 

[matty1878]

Rightly so.

It's comforting, but it wont make Sunday any easier to get over the line.

I'm quite hopeful that what we have right now might be enough.

The other two cant win and they go into their games against better opponents who can blow them away with the counter attacking game they can bring out.

honest to god dave stop it

 

[Neiler]

The thing for me is that West Ham will be wanting to be competitive. It's their last game for 12 days and that final. They'll want to play their best players to keep them ticking over and they'll also be relaxed about the game and playing without nerves....and the players they have are a nightmare to face when they're confident and looking to break on defences.

I cant see West Ham failing to score a couple.

Moyes is going to play his strongest team, think about it where else would you get that experience of atmosphere and feel of a knock out and all riding on one game ahead of an actual final, he will want his final players immersed in that.

 

[matty1878]

It's in our hands and that's probably what scares me, how many times have we been in this situation and thought, this is it, this is our chance, then fail miserably. I will be a bag of nerves on Sunday, please Everton don't disappoint us again.

that’s why we all like sheet. everton seem to f it up when it’s in our hands

 

[knowing your history]

I agree with the points about it being in our hands but assuming we will just cruise past Bournemouth because they’re 15th and we’re at home is a dangerous game. We can do it but it’s not going to be easy

Bournemouth have won 3 of their last 4 away, 3-2 at Spurs and 1-0s at Leicester and Southampton to keep them up.

They did that with likes of Vina and Outtara scoring and dangerous on counter attacks. Tavernier and Billing scored the winners in the respective 1-0s. None of them started v Man. United so I will have great interest in what team they select at half 3 on Sunday.

 

[knowing your history]

Moyes is going to play his strongest team, think about it where else would you get that experience of atmosphere and feel of a knock out and all riding on one game ahead of an actual final, he will want his final players immersed in that.

The time to worry about West Ham was Sunday.

They have a week's rest now and the europa final is still 10 days or so away so makes no sense to rest half the team suddenly when they could've done it v Leeds but didn't.

They'll be competitive. Only issue is if Leicester score in first 10 minutes as they're not as good getting back into games when behind away from home as they are at Olympic stadium.

 

[davek]

honest to god dave stop it

Basically my message is: "being ahead by 2 points going into the final game is a good thing".