Relegation

[tidus_mi2]

Unless we change manager I have no confidence we stay up, only way it will happen is if Derby go to the wall, then our gap over Peterborough increases to 4pts, with probably better goal difference since we both get hammered at about the same rate these days, so essentially 5pts.

Frankly if we finish below Peterborough we're already relegated regardless of what Derby do.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Frankly if we finish below Peterborough we're already relegated regardless of what Derby do.

Pretty much this really.

[Royal_jimmy]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

[Stranded]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

It really isn't. It's a big game and ut could be pivotal but we can lose there and stay up or win there and go down.

[Loafer]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

Not at all.

[Mr Angry]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

Thats complete rubbish; it is a must win game.....for Barnsley. We get a draw and that is a great point for us, as it would be anohter game gone and Barnsley no closer to us.

[windermereROYAL]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

Thats complete rubbish; it is a must win game.....for Barnsley. We get a draw and that is a great point for us, as it would be anohter game gone and Barnsley no closer to us.

The worse case scenario is that they could be two points ahead of us going into that game.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I'd take a point at Barnsley comfortably. As said, they are the chasing team, not us. It would be acceptable to go there and not lose so they don't gain any ground and it's just another game we can chalk off. Having said that, that's with the situation as it is now. If they are above us come that point, then of course, we need to beat them.

[Stranded]

Lose to Barnsley in a few weeks and our fate is a given. A draw there might not be enough either

Thats complete rubbish; it is a must win game.....for Barnsley. We get a draw and that is a great point for us, as it would be anohter game gone and Barnsley no closer to us.

The worse case scenario is that they could be two points ahead of us going into that game.

Yes and would involve Barnsley beating Bristol City and Sheffield United (a) whilst we lose both. The latter is more likely than the former.

My gut feeling is that they will go into that game in the same position as today. They will win tomorrow and we'll scrape a win against Blackburn - though they will score of course.

[PATRIQT]

We are so bad, that every game I'm now sat taking more notice of Derby, P'Boro and Barnsley than I am of our own dire performance. Saturday's are now about hoping others do worse than we are. I have zero faith in our squad, and quite honestly I'm glad most of them are OOC this summer.

Even if we go down, seeing several or more U21's come in, who are young and hungry and have a better attitude than the current crop, will be better for us, even if it sets us back a few years as they adapt and develop.

[windermereROYAL]

Lets be fair, even if we survive with the restrictions we will be under next season it`s very probably just delaying the inevitable, I don`t think I could stomach another season like this one, hell we`ve had plenty of practice though i the last 5 years.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Lets be fair, even if we survive with the restrictions we will be under next season it`s very probably just delaying the inevitable, I don`t think I could stomach another season like this one, hell we`ve had plenty of practice though i the last 5 years.

I'm leaning towards this point of view as well really. I think next season could be even more of a struggle. I don't think it will be as embarrassing as this season, as I think there will be more of an understanding if we end up in the bottom 3 next season given what our budgets will be and what our squad could look like. We will have one of the smallest budgets in the league next season, we would do well to survive.

[URZZZZ]

It’s surprising that we’re still a two game cushion ahead of 22nd given that we had the same points cushion after our win at Swansea (late November) and since then picked up just 9 points. Those 5 wins in 6 from September to October may end up massive for us

It’s the same story every game though. Anyone competent enough would have realised the danger Johnson and Spence cause and yet after just 19 seconds, we concede from that exact position by giving them acres of space again. The CB’s have been awful this season but it must be so demoralising watching the other team put cross after cross in to no challenge. And we used to complain about Gunter and Blackett In fact aside from Peterborough (in which we really should have conceded from one of their numerous crosses/set plays), I can’t remember the last game where we haven’t conceded from some sort of crossing position. Surely not Hull?

You could even compensate for the goals conceded if we were entertaining in any way. But we’re not. We’ve scored a fair few goals but it’s all so reliant on 1/2 players and as has been the case for a while now, there’s little pace or drive in the team

It’s been a shambolic season and if we do manage to survive, it’s unlikely to be on merit. So many players have performed well below standards and no, not just Drinkwater

[Stranded]

Lets be fair, even if we survive with the restrictions we will be under next season it`s very probably just delaying the inevitable, I don`t think I could stomach another season like this one, hell we`ve had plenty of practice though i the last 5 years.

I'm leaning towards this point of view as well really. I think next season could be even more of a struggle. I don't think it will be as embarrassing as this season, as I think there will be more of an understanding if we end up in the bottom 3 next season given what our budgets will be and what our squad could look like. We will have one of the smallest budgets in the league next season, we would do well to survive.

It probably will but the unknown is we simply do not know who may start on negative points, or get a deduction next year, plus business plans. There must be 4 or 5 teams in the frame for one. So we may find that we are better placed as in the summer, all though restricted, we can offer longer deals and potentially even pay the odd, but small, fee for a player.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

That for me is our only saving grace. For as bad as we've been, 3 teams below us have been worse. Derby maybe not withstanding but they are struggling again now as well.

We very much deserve to go down, not just for this season but for the last 3/4 years of shambolic ownership at the club at this level, thinking we can do certain things when we just simply can't.

We weren't unentertaining under Pauno but, towards the end of his tenure, obviously the focus was on disgraceful performances and results rather than some pretty decent football at times. What concerns me is we could always score goals under Pauno, but that doesn't seem to be the case under Ince as much. No goals against Millwall or Forest, 1 at Blackpool and 2 against Birmingham. I'm not sure we will score tomorrow night either. It's not really a good time in the season to stop scoring goals, especially when that's basically our selling point in terms of staying up. We still don't even look remotely close to keeping a clean sheet and I'll look beyond the 4 goals each at Blackpool and Forest, but even Millwall and Birmingham as well I never thought we would keep a clean sheet.

Our poor defence won't change in the last 10 games, but if our good attack starts to falter, we will struggle to stay up.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Lets be fair, even if we survive with the restrictions we will be under next season it`s very probably just delaying the inevitable, I don`t think I could stomach another season like this one, hell we`ve had plenty of practice though i the last 5 years.

I'm leaning towards this point of view as well really. I think next season could be even more of a struggle. I don't think it will be as embarrassing as this season, as I think there will be more of an understanding if we end up in the bottom 3 next season given what our budgets will be and what our squad could look like. We will have one of the smallest budgets in the league next season, we would do well to survive.

It probably will but the unknown is we simply do not know who may start on negative points, or get a deduction next year, plus business plans. There must be 4 or 5 teams in the frame for one. So we may find that we are better placed as in the summer, all though restricted, we can offer longer deals and potentially even pay the odd, but small, fee for a player.

Yes I think that is the saving grace for next season. The possibility of Rotherham and Wigan coming up who are likely to struggle, Hull are likely to struggle next season I think and maybe the likes of Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Stoke could all end up starting on minus points or have points off during the season. There will probably be another team or two that end up coming out of the blue under FFP restrictions, Huddersfield for example if they don't go up this season, maybe even Blackburn.

[URZZZZ]

That for me is our only saving grace. For as bad as we've been, 3 teams below us have been worse. Derby maybe not withstanding but they are struggling again now as well.

We very much deserve to go down, not just for this season but for the last 3/4 years of shambolic ownership at the club at this level, thinking we can do certain things when we just simply can't.

We weren't unentertaining under Pauno but, towards the end of his tenure, obviously the focus was on disgraceful performances and results rather than some pretty decent football at times. What concerns me is we could always score goals under Pauno, but that doesn't seem to be the case under Ince as much. No goals against Millwall or Forest, 1 at Blackpool and 2 against Birmingham. I'm not sure we will score tomorrow night either. It's not really a good time in the season to stop scoring goals, especially when that's basically our selling point in terms of staying up. We still don't even look remotely close to keeping a clean sheet and I'll look beyond the 4 goals each at Blackpool and Forest, but even Millwall and Birmingham as well I never thought we would keep a clean sheet.

Our poor defence won't change in the last 10 games, but if our good attack starts to falter, we will struggle to stay up.

I don’t really think we were ever that entertaining under Paunovic in all honesty. We had a few games like Bristol, Blackburn, Brentford and Bournemouth where we played well but it was few and far between. A fair amount of our wins came when we somehow managed to score almost every chance, which I guess is a quality in itself but not a quality you can usually sustain over a long period. We had a run of about three months where we were having no more than 2/3 shots on target - certainly not entertaining

Especially when you consider the attacking prowess we were supposed to have, with the likes of Joao, Meite, Swift and Olise

But then I guess we all see the game different. I prefer a slightly more direct approach whereas under Paunovic, it was more of a measured approach, intricate passing around the box

[Stranded]

Yep, that's one of the reasons why staying up is going to be key for the club. If we can stay up, write this season off - hopefully get the manager choice right and build a new squad with an aim of getting in young talent where we can then next year could be an improvement but not my much.

I can't help but feel that next year will follow a similar pattern regardless of which division we are in. Early struggle, followed by a period where things improve before tailing off to finish lower mid table (16th to 20th). Much rather than in the Champ than L1.

A potential defeat at Goodison Park is better than one at The New Lawn.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I don't think we would struggle in League One, I just don't think we'd come back up at the first attempt. I think we'd end up in a similar situation to Sheffield Wednesday, start well, go well off the boil and come on strong towards the back end of the campaign like they are doing now.

It's all just a big rebuild though next season for ourselves no matter what league we are in though. It will be tough in either division.

[PATRIQT]

I don't think we would struggle in League One

I remember being that naïve in 98 when we went down. I was fed up of a few years of struggle in Division 1, and I thought it would be 'fun' in Division 2 and that we would walk it, especially with our flash new stadium and knowing the 'little' clubs would be envious of us. How long did it take us to get back out of that league?

Look at Sunderland, Bolton, Wigan, even Leeds who were down there a few years. It's a tough gritty league, and we would be going down with a threadbare squad that needs mass recruitment whilst under strict restrictions to what we can offer players to play here.

We would 100% struggle in League 1. It would be a disaster!