Its funny how we were supposed to be the ones with the easiest run-in - whereas I would argue that it is far harder to have to play against teams scrapping for their lives. We saw on Sunday the reality of Chelsea playing a top team with nothing to play for. It was the same when they played us - only Chelsea didn't gift them a goal.
Yeah, Newcastle could be in huge trouble especially if they don't win on the weekend. So our game with them is potentially massive, might even be be televised.
Final day split screens. :bow:
Chelsea play Tottenham, Villa and Everton who all have something to play for though so I don't really get the point (plus I would doubt many to predict we'd have got as many points from our run in as we have). Just because Chelsea won against Man Utd, doesn't mean their run-in hasn't been hard. They dropped points at Anfield when we figured they might, for instance.Quote:
Originally Posted by IBK
Fair point. I'll modify that then to say that just because teams are at towards the bottom of the league doesn't necessarily mean that we have an easier run in at this point in the season - when they are desperate and scrapping for their lives.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
That's fair. However there is a greater scope for getting points against those teams, as the pressure to get something encourages those weaker teams to attack more and of course is more likely to induce mistakes out of them. It doesn't necessarily work like that of course but that much is true throughout the season.
I didn't think us, Chelsea or Tottenham would drop points in anything more than two games from our last five. I say that because I think we'll get points totals that reflects about where we are. Chelsea a bit better than last season in the league, us and Tottenham much where we were last season.
Yeah - the one thing that is certain is the unpredictability of games at this stage of the season. Its disappointing that we are in this dogfight - not for the league, but for 4th place! Still - its made for far more interesting football watching these past couple of weeks. Its perverse that tomorrow night is one of our very biggest games of the season - and for the teams concerned there is extra bite as AVB will want vengeance!Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Chelsea had the toughest run (coupled with the Europa League) and I'm surprised they're the ones in pole position. Although IMO they have the best squad in the league so maybe it's not too surprising.
I actually think we have the toughest run in. Wigan at home is not going to be fun, we know on their day they can beat anybody.Quote:
Originally Posted by IBK
Newcastle away is also a very tough game, they should not be in the position they are in, they have a pretty decent starting XI, top 10 quality IMHO. What makes it worse is that we will go there needing a result and they most likely will need a result as they are "deep in it" now.
Wigan: Robles, Boyce, Caldwell, Scharner, Espinoza, McCarthy, Watson, McArthur, Maloney, McManaman, Kone.
Subs: Al Habsi, Jones, Di Santo, Henriquez, Gomez, Stam, Golobart.
Swansea: Vorm, Tiendalli, Monk, Williams, Davies, Rangel, Britton, de Guzman, Routledge, Shechter, Hernandez.
Subs: Tremmel, Bartley, Taylor, Dyer, Moore, Agustien, Donnelly.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Come on Wigan.