Now the dust has settled...

[fbm]

...lets look a little more objectively at our position.

Yesterdays win for Barnsley did a lot for their survival chances. But look at the final fixtures for our rivals (together with a prediction of the outcomes) -

Leicester - current points - 47

Birmingham (H) - lose
Preston (A) - draw
Barnsley (A) - draw
Wolves (H) - draw

Total points prediction - 50.



Barnsley - current points - 47

Palace (H) - win
Leicester (H) - draw
WBA - (A) - lose

Total points prediction - 51



Hull - current points - 45

Stoke (A) - lose
Cardiff (A) - lose
Plymouth (H) - win

Total points prediction - 48


Leeds - current points - 45

Southampton (A) - lose
Ipswich (H) - win
Derby (A) - lose

Total points prediction - 48



Therefore 2 wins and a draw would see us get 49 points, and therefore a good chance of survival. Our nearest two rivals handle the pressure better at home than away, and two of their games are away. We are currently dealing with the away games better as there is less pressure, and so we may have the advantage here.

But at this nervy stage of the season, who's to say that any result is going to go to form? And if we get to within 2 points of safety on the last day of the season, anything can happen.

The point is, that until we are down, we are not down and we shouldn't be so defeatist.

Keep the faith.

 

[EastStandBlue]

It's going down to the very final game of the season at Southampton.

My only worry is that Tilson has said it's being the nervousness and fear factor thats affected the performances lately. If the boys thought these last games have been tough to deal with, how the hell are they going to cope with a last day of the season trip to Southampton if its a must win?

 

[shrimpled]

At least its an away game! Playing so much better away from home when the support never stops! We weren't bad yesterday but we certainly weren't fantastic.

 

[JoshC]

sorry but this is all **** barnsley weren't down for a win against birmingham or us but they won them both... keep the faith though

 

[Beefy]

Yeah I was thinking about this last night. We've still got a chance but it's dependent on us picking up points and I just don't see that happening. If we beat Luton (a big 'if', that) then we'll almost certainly still be in with a mathmatical chance of staying up on the final day and who would have thought that in December?

 

[Flinty]

well done FBM...i concur with your predictions.....see also my lets have some belief thread

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Trouble with your theory FBM, as much as I admire you optimism, is that all the results which you have put down which you expect to happen are irrelevant because they only matter if we do in fact acquire 7 points out of 9, as seeing as there is about as much chance of Ron Martin replying to my letter as that happening, I think it is fairly safe to say that they could all lose there remaining fixtures and we would still go down!

Nicely thought out though :)

 

[Pubey]

take it one game at a time.. we could lose against plymouth and still be in it! there are more twists and turns to come but in my heart of hearts i think we will go down

 

[sufcintheprem]

I think the problem is that we have to suddenly turn on some prolific and consistent form in some very difficult games. Of course, we've shown in 2007 that anything's possible with this team but we've also shown that it works to both sides of the spectrum.

One thing's for certain, we can't be conceding three goals a game

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

One thing's for certain, we can't be conceding three goals a game

Well, there's no way we'll beat Luton 5-3, because lets face facts, even if we do get a result at Plymouth we'll gift them 3 goals (probably at least 2 from corners)! :p

If I was Uncle Ron, I'd look at investing in soundproof perspex to put in front of each stand!

 

[SUFC_Al]

If I was Uncle Ron, I'd look at investing in soundproof perspex to put in front of each stand!

can I have some of that to put behind me so I dont have to hear the bull**** spouted by some people at the back of block V?

 

[Jam_Man]

...
The point is, that until we are down, we are not down and we shouldn't be so defeatist.

Keep the faith.

There is still a possibility of survival but its not being defeatist to accept we are down, just realistic.

Yes Two wins and a draw may be enough, however after one win in four and with the dire performances we have seen reminiscent of October of last year I dont see how we will possibly get those 7 points.

If we do feel free to ram these comments down my throat at a later date...

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

There is still a possibility of survival but its not being defeatist to accept we are down, just realistic.

I'd far rather be prepared for relegation and then pleasantly surprised come May 6, rather than expect to stay up & be gutted!

 

[fbm]

Trouble with your theory FBM, as much as I admire you optimism, is that all the results which you have put down which you expect to happen are irrelevant because they only matter if we do in fact acquire 7 points out of 9, as seeing as there is about as much chance of Ron Martin replying to my letter as that happening, I think it is fairly safe to say that they could all lose there remaining fixtures and we would still go down!

Nicely thought out though :)

So what do we say then - that's it, we're down?

If we can't be optimistic, then why bother supporting the team at all? We may as well just give up now.

Come on, it ain't over 'til it's over. Stop pis sing on everyone's chips.

 

[fbm]

So what do we say then - that's it, we're down?

If we can't be optimistic, then why bother supporting the team at all? We may as well just give up now.

Come on, it ain't over 'til it's over. Stop pis sing on everyone's chips.

And that goes for everyone who also shares Richard Cadettes pessimistic but realistic view.

:p

COME ON!

I know it's easier to accept the worst and then be ecstatic but that's not what we're here for.

 

[Pubey]

just did some sensible predictions on the bbc, we went down with 47 points. to be honest this season will still have been a success in a lot of ways even if we did go down. there are plenty of positives to take and although deep down I'll be disappointed, after watching col u and seeing too many teams beat us when on our day we should have won... I'll still be proud of all the boys and T&B!

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

I just hope come the morning of the 6th May we can still stay up!! I really fancy us to win at Southampton

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

I really fancy us to win at Southampton

Well it will be our one & only remaining shot at doubling somebody this year so who knows?

 

[Richard_Cadette]

So what do we say then - that's it, we're down?

If we can't be optimistic, then why bother supporting the team at all? We may as well just give up now.

Come on, it ain't over 'til it's over. Stop pis sing on everyone's chips.

I havent given up FBM, but it doesnt matter how optimistic I am, the simple fact of the matter is we are not going to stay up this season. I wont believe it actually isnt possible until mathematics come into play, but I dont see any point in kidding myself!

You should be saying that to the players though, not the fans, doesnt matter how pessimistic/realistic the fans are, its the players whose belief really makes a difference, but watching them on Saturday I think they believe in there heart of hearts that it is all over.

I am happy to be proved wrong, in fact, I would be over the moon to be proved wrong, but I just dont see it happening, thats all.

I dont think that is p1ssing on anyones chips, its just being a realist, and I always prefer to be pleasantly surprised than constantly dissapointed!

 

[fbm]

I havent given up FBM, but it doesnt matter how optimistic I am, the simple fact of the matter is we are not going to stay up this season.

Optimistically, we can stay up by winning our last 3 games.

Realistically, we are probably down but we can still get out of it so there's a chance.

Pessimistically, we are down.

Your above quote is that of a pessimist.

After the Col U game you posted about the players lack of fight and desire. You retracted this after Preston. Now you're back again with the criticism again after Barnsley and I'm sure you would love to post another retraction after Plymouth.

But can't you see a pattern here?

Look, the players care more than most fans. After all, it's their wages, their win bonuses, their livelihoods. However, our lot can't handle the Roots Hall pressure very well. They don't decide which games they are going to play well in - it just happens and it has as much to do with how the opposition play as with how we perform.

But trust me - they care and they believe.

If you're a realist, then you can afford just a little optimism, can't you?

COME ON YOU BLUES!