Almost halfway thru the season so who are your 3 for the big drop ?

Villa......Norwich ......Bournemouth for me

Agreed

Still think it'll be too much for Watford to turn round.
Norwich haven't the slightest chance of survival.
Villa have suffered a big blow with their latest injury,
but I think the third place is still up in the air.

Watford will still go despite their win over a rubbish United. Ditto Norwich. Villa? I hope not but as has been mentioned the latest injury is not going to do them any good. Just out of interest when was the last time the bottom three at Christmas all went down. One for the statos.

And when was the last time we were above the cheating gooners at Christmas?

houseboy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2019 4:02 pm

Watford will still go despite their win over a rubbish United. Ditto Norwich. Villa? I hope not but as has been mentioned the latest injury is not going to do them any good. Just out of interest when was the last time the bottom three at Christmas all went down. One for the statos.

And maybe ahead of Manure by New Year

If Watford can get a result against Sheff. United then I think they may well
put in decent run and start to climb out of it. They're certainly a much better team
than their position suggestions and gave Liverpool a good game and
deservedly beat Man United.

Villa play Norwich and Watford in their next two games and then us.
Do badly in those three and they'll struggle to get out of the bottom three.

It'll be a dog fight no doubt and there may well be a few surprises
and other teams (possibly Bournemouth and West Ham) could also struggle if they don't start winning a few.

Hopefully we'll be ok albeit we've got some tough games coming up.

Think and hope brighton will get caught.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2019 4:09 pm

Think and hope brighton will get caught.

Oh CFC you must get over this obsession. It's not good for your elf... .

Down_Rover wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2019 4:06 pm

And maybe ahead of Manure by New Year

Now that would be good.

We had an equivalent thread a week or two ago
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43724&p=1162717&hil ... n#p1162717

Itll be interesting to see if the ideas are different this time. I went for Norwich, Watford, Southampton. Im still thinking Norwich and Watford but maybe Villa rather than Saints now. Saints seem to be recovering a bit (Danny Ings playing a big part in that) whilst things seem to be getting worse for Villa with leaking goals and injuries.
On the previous thread, us getting dragged in was mentioned by a few pessimists but, after Saturday, Id think Cherries are more likely to go south than us.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2019 3:53 pm

Still think it'll be too much for Watford to turn round.

Based on what?
They're 6 points from safety, and just 7 from 14th position with 20 games to go, (60 points).
Just 2 wins between now and the end of this next run of games and they'll probably be about level with teams who are nowhere near as good as them.
I expect them to finish comfortably clear of Norwich and Villa, but who gets that 18th spot, who knows?
We're a long way from safety yet, and therefore - as has been pointed out- Bournemouth and Brighton must be worried.

My bookies currently has it as: Norwich (1/6), Watford (4/9), Villa (8/13) all odds on
then
Saints 3/1, WHU 4/1, Bournemouth 4/1.
Brighton (15/2) and Newcastle (8/1) after that before you get to us (and Palace) at 12/1.

I had a bet pre-season on Bournemouth (6/1 then). Still in with a chance there but I also had a bet on Swansea to come up- not looking too good that one.

My bookies currently has it as: Norwich (1/6), Watford (4/9), Villa (8/13) all odds on
then
Saints 3/1, WHU 4/1, Bournemouth 4/1.
Brighton (15/2) and Newcastle (8/1) after that before you get to us (and Palace) at 12/1.

I had a bet pre-season on Bournemouth (6/1 then). Still in with a chance there but I also had a bet on Swansea to come up- not looking too good that one.

Norwich - definitely
Villa - probably, especially now they have mcGinn out for 3 months

Then it's any one from:
Watford - A lot of catching up to do. Is it new manager bounce? Or a genuine revival?
West Ham - Truly awful against us, could Fabianski save them?
Bournemouth - Lots of injuries, they could be the decider.
Southampton - Not sure about them, but they are an Ings injury away from being in serious trouble.

Everyone else will be fine, including Brighton unfortunately.

I think it's really open this season. Until we get 40/42 points I don't consider us out of it.

I think Watford can still do it. A lot depends on Sarr who was bought for £30m (yes). He scored his second goal yesterday albeit a scrappy effort hugely helped by De Gea. If he can step up his game he could prove crucial for Watford.

I think Norwich and Villa are gone, both conceding way too many goals. Watford are good enough to get out of it if they put their minds to it. I think Southampton are very reliant on Danny Ings. I agree with a few others that Bournemouth could be in trouble.

think a lot still depend on the Jan window with who buys whom. Can see Villa spending again but will it be a team or just expensive individuals. I think Watford will come out of the bottom three by the end of March, one of those rare teams to escape the dreaded bottom at Christmas means you're down.

Norwich, Villa then perm any one from four, will also depend upon management changes, will West Ham stick or twist, need to decide soon, yet I feel they are to good to go down therefore I will add Southampton as the 3rd right now, but after the Jan window will give a lot better indication.