Rival Watch

[CountryRoyal]

We're in the same boat as Wigan just at the other end.

Yes it's possible for us to finish outside the playoffs, yes it's possible for them to avoid relegation.

But sweet Jesus it isn't going to happen.

[andrew1957]

Not sure we should worry too much about the rest. We have 10 games left - win 5 and we are in the play offs.

Normally 4 wins would be enough as historically 74 points usually puts you in the play offs but with Fulham in very good form I have a feeling that it will be 78-79 this time. So 5 wins and happy days.

Not too confident of the next 2 games but 5 from the last 8 looks doable.

Pretty accurate prediction though I do say it myself. We have had the 5 wins with two games to spare. However, Leeds really should win their last two and so it might take 80 to reach the play offs this season.

That is an incredibly high number as 74 has been enough for the last 20 years or so if I recall rightly.

[CountryRoyal]

Not sure we should worry too much about the rest. We have 10 games left - win 5 and we are in the play offs.

Normally 4 wins would be enough as historically 74 points usually puts you in the play offs but with Fulham in very good form I have a feeling that it will be 78-79 this time. So 5 wins and happy days.

Not too confident of the next 2 games but 5 from the last 8 looks doable.

Pretty accurate prediction though I do say it myself. We have had the 5 wins with two games to spare. However, Leeds really should win their last two and so it might take 80 to reach the play offs this season.

That is an incredibly high number as 74 has been enough for the last 20 years or so if I recall rightly.

Record is 78 I think.

[Sutekh]

78 points is highest recorded to ensure play-offs (although that same season it was GD that decided it ), 68 the lowest.

[glass half full]

These are impressive figures. Thank you.

[Stranded]

We're in the same boat as Wigan just at the other end.

Yes it's possible for us to finish outside the playoffs, yes it's possible for them to avoid relegation.

But sweet Jesus it isn't going to happen.

Not at all saying we will ( I am confident we have done more than enough) but just showing that it would only take a not unusual set of results for us to miss out.

[Winston Smith]

78 points is highest recorded to ensure play-offs (although that same season it was GD that decided it ), 68 the lowest.

Last season you could avoid relegation by getting 40 points but 3 years earlier 54 points sent you down. Seem quite the variation I think you will agree.

[genome]

Indubitably Winston, although I would've gone with the variation between the 54 point season and the season before

[genome]

So, Newcastle promoted. None of the staff or players seem that bothered and the fans muster only mild applause.

Weird.

[CountryRoyal]

So, Newcastle promoted. None of the staff or players seem that bothered and the fans muster only mild applause.

Weird.

The expectation was promotion, was the minimum aim, and tbh it's never really looked in doubt.

Job done by all accounts. Championship is small fry for them.

[genome]

So, Newcastle promoted. None of the staff or players seem that bothered and the fans muster only mild applause.

Weird.

The expectation was promotion, was the minimum aim, and tbh it's never really looked in doubt.

Job done by all accounts. Championship is small fry for them.

I guess so, but you'd expect more passion from the Geordies. Remember them being a lot more animated in 09/10

[muirinho]

So, Newcastle promoted. None of the staff or players seem that bothered and the fans muster only mild applause.

Weird.

The expectation was promotion, was the minimum aim, and tbh it's never really looked in doubt.

Job done by all accounts. Championship is small fry for them.

I guess so, but you'd expect more passion from the Geordies. Remember them being a lot more animated in 09/10

Think I'd rather be us, tbh. Yes we've had some horrible days, but at least we know when we've done well, and we celebrate it. If they don't celebrate promotion, what are they going to celebrate? Are they really going to win the PL, or get top 6, or win a cup in the foreseeable future?
How flipping boring it must be to have nothing to aim at, that the fans and players can think - yeah we did that, and it was good.

[From Despair To Where?]

With Newcastle, you get the distinct feeling they feel they've come second in a one horse race.

[Winchester Royal]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/ ... um=twitter

Steve Sidwell - "When we did it with Reading ten or 11 years ago, that looked like a kids’ party at McDonald’s compared to last Monday"...

[CountryRoyal]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/15242379.Party_was_an_eye_opener_for_Sidwell___and_the_Premier_League_might_be_for_colleagues/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Steve Sidwell - "When we did it with Reading ten or 11 years ago, that looked like a kids’ party at McDonald’s compared to last Monday"...

Steve obviously a fan of the poppers and latex groove then.

[leon]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/15242379.Party_was_an_eye_opener_for_Sidwell___and_the_Premier_League_might_be_for_colleagues/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Steve Sidwell - "When we did it with Reading ten or 11 years ago, that looked like a kids’ party at McDonald’s compared to last Monday"...

THey are obsessed. Weird.

[Sutekh]

The expectation was promotion, was the minimum aim, and tbh it's never really looked in doubt.

Job done by all accounts. Championship is small fry for them.

I guess so, but you'd expect more passion from the Geordies. Remember them being a lot more animated in 09/10

Think I'd rather be us, tbh. Yes we've had some horrible days, but at least we know when we've done well, and we celebrate it. If they don't celebrate promotion, what are they going to celebrate? Are they really going to win the PL, or get top 6, or win a cup in the foreseeable future?
How flipping boring it must be to have nothing to aim at, that the fans and players can think - yeah we did that, and it was good.

Doesn't that some up the PL though. You have - generally - 6 teams that are going to challenge to win it and basically the expectation for those teams is to win/avoid defeat in every game which by and large they do. So that in itself must become extremely boring and tedious as there's effective only 10 games that could be seen as contests. That said though, all credit to Liverpool in trying to make every game a contest season after season....

The rest of the division basically have nothing to aim for except a race to avoid the bottom three places, so for them the occasional challenge on the top 6 from one or two of them becomes a season to remember and just perhaps, once in a blue moon, a miracle happens...

[Norfolk Royal]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/15242379.Party_was_an_eye_opener_for_Sidwell___and_the_Premier_League_might_be_for_colleagues/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Steve Sidwell - "When we did it with Reading ten or 11 years ago, that looked like a kids’ party at McDonald’s compared to last Monday"...

Odd thing to say.

[genome]

He's just pandering

[bobby1413]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/15242379.Party_was_an_eye_opener_for_Sidwell___and_the_Premier_League_might_be_for_colleagues/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Steve Sidwell - "When we did it with Reading ten or 11 years ago, that looked like a kids’ party at McDonald’s compared to last Monday"...

Odd thing to say.

I don't really get what he means - either way it's a bit of a needless thing to say.