by TiagoIlori »
25 Jan 2019 00:38
Stranded Looking at the fixture list and it seems pretty clear to me that the next 8 games will define if we are likely to stay up or go down. Starting with the Bolton game on the 29th our fixtures are as follows:
Bolton (a) 22nd place
Villa (H) 12th
Weds (a) 16th
Blackburn (H) 10th
Sheff Utd (a) 3rd
Rotherham (H) 21st
Ipswich (a) 24th
Wigan (H) 20th
So we play all 4 teams currently around us (2H, 2A) and have 2 winnable home games in Blackburn and Villa. Of the 2 trips to Sheffield, you would probably only write off the trip to United as a game where points are not likely. The last 3 games could be the most vital run we've had in a few seasons - 7-9 points there and we can breathe a lot easier.
It is this run that will tell us if Gomes' vision for the way the team should play is just pretty or effective too. The bedding in period is done, this is now or never time. Take each game as it comes but if can pick up say 14/24 points here that will go a long way to securing safety - anything less than 10 (Esp if we lose 2 of the last 3) and that may well be too much left to do.
I’m very optimistic at the moment, but I have a horrible feeling we are only playing well due to new manager hype, and that the much much worse is still to come. I don’t know that though, so I’ll make a prediction optimistically.
Bolton- massive off the field problems, should win- W
Villa- looking shaky, I think they’ll punish us for a few mistakes which cost us the points we need- D
Wednesday- new manager but hoof ball doesn’t really work anymore, reckon we could snatch a draw- D
Blackburn- in good form but we seem to always beat them at home- W
Sheffield United- far too good- L
Rotherham- terrible away- W
Ipswich- they will definitely be up for this but Oliveira will be fully fit by then so I reckon it’ll get us a point or three- W
Wigan- crap side again, W