Who Will Go Down - Last 4 matches.

[Big Ern]

I reckon we will go to Derby needing to win and hoping other clubs do us a favor. In true Reading FC style, we will bottle it and lose to Derby and go down. The other teams have players with grit determination and skill that can change a macth on their own. Just consider Bullard, Nolan & McFadden. we have nobody of tha calibre in our team and that may be the decidng factor. Our unwillingness to SPLASH THE WARCHEST may prove our undoing, and if that is the reason we go, we can have no complaints.

Would you seriously rather be us needing a win at Derby or Bolton needing to win at Chelsea or Fulham needing to win at Pompey?

If we lose to Derby and the other two win then we deserve to go down and frankly we should be looking for a new team. I just think you need to be a real pessimist not to see survival as the most likely outcome.

Stranger things have happened.

Remember the last day of last seaons, Man Utd 0 - 1 West ham. Also, there is a chance a draw would be good enough, did you see Wigans result at Chelsea last night?

[sheshnu]

Stranger things have happened.

Remember the last day of last seaons, Man Utd 0 - 1 West ham. Also, there is a chance a draw would be good enough, did you see Wigans result at Chelsea last night?

Are you saying you are confident of the right result going into this weekend's game with the Arsenal?

At last, some positivity.

[Big Ern]

Stranger things have happened.

Remember the last day of last seaons, Man Utd 0 - 1 West ham. Also, there is a chance a draw would be good enough, did you see Wigans result at Chelsea last night?

Are you saying you are confident of the right result going into this weekend's game with the Arsenal?

At last, some positivity.

Considering how we played against Newcastle and Fulham, I am fully confident we can get a result against Arsenal, just as long we are playing Aresnal Ladies (then I could still be accused of being too positive).

[sheshnu]

Reading are above the following teams in the form table (last six games):

Bolton, Birmingham, Derby, West Ham, Blackburn, Spurs, Arsenal.

We have to play three of those teams between now and the end of the season, the other game being against Wigan who are 1 point ahead of Reading in the same table.

Not inconceivable that we will pick up a few more points, just have to hope Liverpool turn up against our rivals...

[Blue and White Toucan]

TBH I would rather have Tottenham at home in the run in than Liverpool.

Tottenham have just not turned up in recent weeks and TBH their fans are happy as they have already won a trophy this year that in November looked likely.

I think we can get 3 points from that. plus I fancy a draw at Wigan and a win against Derby.

7 points and safety. OK neing less optimistic then 3 points from the last 4 but that will still be enough.

Fulham and Bolton to go.

[Coppelled Streets]

Birmingham's run in looks a bit poo.

[KC Royal]

Fulham definitely. I can't see them getting more than 30 points at most, they've left it too late.

I've also gone for Bolton, but not with any great certainty! Its going to be very tight between us and them. Davies being suspended for the next 2 games is a big loss for them, but they may possibly sneak 1 point from the next 2, against Boro. I expect they'll beat Sunderland and lose at Chelsea to give them a final points total of 32, possibly 33 points.

The worry for Brum is that they haven't won many times since McLeish took over, they seem to be the draw specialists. They'll lose at Villa, but may nick something against Liverpool if Liverpool get distracted by the Champions League and focus less on the league. The Fulham match looks a draw to me, and the Blackburn match also looks a draw, although they could win that should they need to. That would give them a final points total of 34-36 points.

As for us, although I can't see where the next win is coming from I would hope we could get 2 points from the last 4 games..

[floyd__streete]

As I started the previous thread, I'll start this one, in the light of recently changed circumstances

Recently changed circumstances nice one Dirk! Exactly what changed circumstances would they be then, as if we haven't played dreadfully all season?

[Royal Rother]

8 wins and 8 draws in 34 games, including wins over Liverpool, Everton and Man City so far would suggest we haven't played dreadfully ALL season.

That is nearly an average of 1 win and 1 draw every 4 games. So, in the remaining fixtures, if we pick up our current average points per game over this season of playing dreadfully, we should be okay.

During this season when we lost 3 on the bounce we then picked up 9 points from the next 5 games, another 3 losses and we picked up 8 points from the next 4 games, 8 losses and 10 points from the next 5 games, so we have shown we CAN bounce back from poor runs - the question is how long will this current bad run last?

Okay they are only more straws but maybe of some small comfort for those prepared to think a little optmistically....

[Blue and White Toucan]

I think we may actually beat Spurs at home and get a draw at Wigan. I would be surprised if Bolton and Brum get more than 1 point in their next 3.

That could be 36 points going in to last game away at Derby.

Table going in to the last game:-

URZZ 36pts (34pts if we only get 2 draws in the next 3)
Brum 32 pts
Bolton 30 pts
Fulham 27pts
Derby 11pts Oh dear

Brum home to Blackburn needing a point, Bolton at Chelsea needing 3 !!!!!!!

In a nutshell ONE more win WILL be enough BEFORE we play Derby. Away at Wigan would be nice but home to Spurs will do.

Fulham Bolton it is then and we will have more of the same next year - Bring it on !!!

[papereyes]

If we get a win before the last game of the season, then I really don't think the Derby game will be all that vital.

I just really fear going to Derby, needing a win and producing a performance like that against Fulham. Or Bolton. Or Fulham at Fulham. Or Bolton at Bolton.

[hiro]

As geographical reason, I hope Wigan and Bolton go down, and Fulham and Brum remain in PL.
Reading players and URZ will have less travel time and distance in away game then.

[Forbury Lion]

My predictions based on Reading not winning any of the 4 remaining games:

13 Middlesborough 42
14 Sunderland 37
15 Wigan 38
16 Reading 32
17 Birmingham 32
....................................
18 Bolton 30 R
19 Fulham 28 R

Brum on the end of a few 7-0 defeats then?

Why not, we don't have the monopoly on odd scorelines do we?

[RoyalBlue]

My predictions based on Reading not winning any of the 4 remaining games:

13 Middlesborough 42
14 Sunderland 37
15 Wigan 38
16 Reading 32
17 Birmingham 32
....................................
18 Bolton 30 R
19 Fulham 28 R

Brum on the end of a few 7-0 defeats then?

Why not, we don't have the monopoly on odd scorelines do we?

There is a very big difference between 7-4 and 7-0!

[papereyes]

There is a very big difference between 7-4 and 7-0!

Dave Kitson, twice and Shane Long's arse being a significant part of it

[Mr Irascible]

Buuger...just plugged into BBC predictor and we go down on goal difference!

[Royal Jelly]

I'm as depressed as anyone after saturday, and I still can't see how on earth we're going to stay up, but a look at oddschecker has cheered me up no end. Those clever bookies (all of whom are a lot richer than me!) seem pretty sure its going to be Fulham and Bolton, and thats good enough for me (honest).

[Leamington Royal]

I plumped for Brum and Bolton. We're now seeing the real Fulham (i.e. with Bullard and McBride back) and I can see them picking up the points to overtake Brum, especially when they play them.

I also think Bolton will feel the absence of Kevin Davies for half of their games. Their whole approach is built around using him as a battering ram.

I still think we will at least match Brum's points, which keeps us above them. The question is whether we get enough to keep ahead of Bolton. Our goal difference could come back to haunt us. On that basis I think 4 points will see us right, 1 from the next 3 games and 3 from Derby. More would be a bonus.

Where can I buy a truck load of straw?

[Big Ern]

8 wins and 8 draws in 34 games, including wins over Liverpool, Everton and Man City so far would suggest we haven't played dreadfully ALL season.

I think the league table would suggest otherwise.

[Kes]

I can't see Reading getting out of it. A team that can't score from open play.