Monday, January 15, 2007

 

How Can We Stay Up?

Simple - we must get results in crucial winable games. On one hand you can say this weekend was one of those games and was perhaps the game we needed to give our season a lift. On the other hand look at the circumstances of that game and one could say we did very well to even be in the position of holding on to that game.

Inside the first 10 minutes we lost 2 key players who were integral to our defense and attack in Collins and Tevez. On 15 we conceded a goal, and looked like we may struggle - how many games have you seen this year where we've conceded first then gone on to lose?? But we showed character in this game and clawed ourselves back into it.

I have previously dismissed relegation as a formality but I decided to look at the fixture list and see where we could get our points and I thought maybe we can do this. So here are my thoughts on how it can be acheived.

I'd say the next couple of games we are in a bit of bother. We have lost 3 players to injury and Bobby Zamora will be suspended. I expect us to take a bit of a beating at Newcastle and I don't expect much from our home game against Liverpool - if we get anything from those games it will be a plus.

Newcastle (A) L 0 points
Liverpool (H) L 0 points

Reports are suggesting Tevez & Gabbs are out for 6 weeks. We need to get in a new defender fast and and a striker would be nice. If we can do this by the end of the month I would expect us to get a rare away point at Villa and then go on to beat Watford at home. February we can expect the return of Dean Ashton hopefully on the back of finding some confidence from our home victory against Watford. We will now go on a little run beating Charlton away in a valuable 6 pointer and claiming our annual 3 points from Spurs at Upton Park. We will fight Blackburn in a rough encounter at Ewood Park to claim a draw whilst claiming the formalities of a home win vs Boro.

Villa (A) D 1 point
Watford (H) W 3 points
Charlton (A) W 3 points
Spurs (H) W 3 points
Blackburn(A) D 1 point
Boro (H) W 3 points

Our 6 game unbeaten run will come to an abrupt end as Arsenal look to punish us at Cashburden Grove for our streaky win at Upton Park and sealing bragging rights in our final encounter at Highbury. Chelsea will will be all guns blazing at Upton Park in their title bid which will surely end in disappointment for us.

Arsenal (A) L 0 points
Chelsea (H) L 0 points

Another six pointer at Brammal Lane will see the hammers grab a much needed victory before going on to defeat Everton at Upton Park. An away visit to Wigan will see us all but relegate the Latics as we secure our Premiership safety.

Sheff Utd (A) W 3 points
Everton (H) W 3 points
Wigan (A) W 3 points

Our final games of the season against our bogey team Bolton will wield little success and a mauling should be on the cards at Old Trafford.

Bolton (H) L 0 points
Man Utd (A) L 0 points

So you see the glass is half full - now we need to fill it to the top and get out of this mess!



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