Reflecting on Dropped Points: Chelsea, Man Utd, and Bournemouth
Since our last issue, we’ve lost at Chelsea, beat Burnley and Burton and were seconds away from beating Manchester United and endured a 0-0 at home to Bournemouth, do you think we might regret not picking more points from Stamford Bridge and against the Red Devils?
Dawud Marsh: I think we are going to regret the Chelsea, Man Utd and Bournemouth results for sure. We had opportunities to win all of those three matches and even if we had won one, we would be in a better position than we are now. It seems whatever results we get those above seem to stay the same distance above us.
Gary Pitty: I think it’s been a good run of form. I think we’ll always have regrets over the course of the season. That’s the nature of football. I feel that we deserved a point at Chelsea and were very unlucky. The late goal that Manchester United scored was a blow but a point at the start of that game you’d take.
Meirion Williams: It’s so close at the bottom now but our current results have given us a fighting chance. The problem is we could have opened a healthy gap over Forest if we had taken those five points on offer at Chelsea and at home against Manchester United. It’s certainly five points missed and with those we would’ve been clear of Forest and probably Leeds. I still feel that our destiny is now in our own hands but that final game of the season against Leeds will be the one that we will need to win to maintain our Premier League survival. Bournemouth was a good point against a difficult side. It will be squeaky bum time until the very end of the season.
Geoff Hillyer: I think it’s irrelevant really. For instance, we can say that we dropped points against Manchester United, but we can also say that we beat Spurs right at the end. Ultimately, what matters is what we do now – the damage was really done earlier in the season with the horrendous run of results that we had. I agree with Gary, it’s been good form lately, despite the late concessions – the team’s been playing well.
The Relegation Scrap: Assessing Our Survival Chances
What do you think our chances of survival are now? Forest aside, who do you think is still within our reach?
DM: I think all three of Forest, Leeds and Spurs are catchable but we need to put our chances away. We have tightened up at the back, which shows what a sound decision it was to put Hermansen back in goal, and our centre backs are finally clicking, but we need to bury those chances we get. I think Forest are most likely to go down. It will go down to the wire with us needing to beat Leeds at home on the last day of the season for us to stay in the Premier League.
GP: I still maintain that we’ll stay up. Maybe that’s more the heart talking. I might be wrong but I think the managerial changes that both Forest and Spurs have made could be huge gambles. I think it’s between us three now to be honest. Going to be tough to catch anyone else. Playing catch up is always going to be tough as unfortunately you end up relying on others despite getting a good result yourself.
MW: Forest seem to be the one now in the most danger but then there’s always one team that suffers an end of season collapse and gets dragged down into the relegation mix. That team this year is clearly Tottenham but the question is will the change of manager help or be a hindrance. I have a feeling that Leeds could grind out some wins and that we will be above Forest going into the last game of the season. The question is where will Spurs be. It would be marvellous to see our North London rivals drop down to the Championship and it could just happen.
GH: The field of catchable teams has narrowed, of that there’s no doubt. Seems to me that if you are less than two wins away from us, you’re looking over your shoulder. That says to me everyone from Leeds downwards, and yes that includes Spurs. I think our chances of survival are still reasonable, but we must make sure that we stay in touch – we can’t afford to lose ground.
January Transfer Window Review: Finding the Right Balance
What did you make of our January transfer window now that we’re a few weeks on?
DM: I was disappointed how our business in January seemed to run out of steam by the end of the transfer window, but Disasi seems to have been a sound move as he has done really well. The key thing has been finally resolving the Paqueta issue by selling him to his boyhood club that has seen Fernandes play so well and given us more options in midfield and going forward. The team were being held back by Paqueta but now there is more freedom for players to play in their preferred positions. Taty is an excellent buy but Pablo is a serious loss and I’m not sure Wilson can fill that gap. One of the biggest additions is Paco Jemez who by all accounts has had a huge impact on the team.
GP: January has been good in respect of the transfer window. Taty works so hard and I think we’ll miss Pablo and his work rate. Axel Disasi looks solid at the back. A leader that was clearly needed.
MW: I think it’s turning out to be a good window for us. Taty looks good as does our loanee from Chelsea. We also got rid of some dead wood and yes I include Paqueta in that statement. Pablo will be missed though. His sheer physical presence offers us so much. I hope he will be back for the final push otherwise it will mean an over reliance on Callum Wilson who may not have the legs for a regular full 90 minutes.
GH: Good window, although the purchases were obviously too late. We look more solid and compact than we have done for a while, and we seem to have a better balance. But I think we need Pablo back – he just brings physicality to the team, and his work rate is phenomenal. Him coming back sooner rather than later might just make the difference in our season.
FA Cup Hopes: Momentum vs. Survival Priority
What are your hopes heading into our FA Cup game against Brentford?
DM: Winning breeds confidence but after how we stumbled over the line against Burton Albion, we either have to go for this with a strong team or turn our focus on Premier League survival. I love a cup run but not this year. Losing Potts for three games shows the dangers of staying in the Cup. Cup games under the lights are special, but this year we need to make sure we are a Premier League side for next season. But if we were to win, I’d like to see us play Southampton or even Wrexham if they beat Chelsea.
GP: Keep the confidence up and try to win that game I say. A cup run can continue momentum and that’s what we need. I’m always going to value the FA Cup and I hope we manage to secure a quarter final place. Looking at who’s left, I think you would take any of the following in the quarter finals: Leeds, Norwich, Fulham or Southampton. This is based on the ‘big’ teams winning those other ties.
MW: Premier League survival is the prime concern. But I’m of an age that still sees the FA Cup as a major honour. All the domestic competitions in the world and yes, I’m including European honours, the FA Cup still holds the most memories for me. I loved all the build-up to it in the 70s and so to win it would be a fantastic achievement. It’s been moved to a Monday night, which is not a great night for a lot of people and looking at the teams still left in the cup competition, it’s going be tough ask even if we get through Brentford. It pains me to say that this is not the year for a cup run, but then another part of me says I would love to see us in a final just one more time.
GH: Make no mistake, Brentford will be tough. I think they are not going to make Europe this season, and will see this as their best route to European football next season. However, I think the match is winnable, and I also think the cup is winnable too. I think we should aim to win every match we take part in, and of course I want a lesser-ranked team at home in the QF if we do get through.
Looking Ahead: Navigating the March Fixtures
We face Fulham, Man City and Villa in the league in March – what are your hopes for these games?
DM: I would love us to be competitive against Man City and I fancy we can get a draw from Villa, but we will need at least a win amongst those games, which could be against Fulham who seem to be struggling for form at the moment. Four points and Forest have tough games, we could be above them going into the second half of March.
GP: I’d hope that we secure three points against Fulham. I can’t see us getting anything from the Man City game. Aston Villa can be inconsistent so I think a point may be achievable.
MW: It’s a tough few games. All three are pretty inconsistent. Suddenly Manchester City look like title contenders as Arsenal are doing their usual bottling job and heading for a second place finish. Our game against Villa are always close but they have been inconsistent. I’d love us to come away with four points. But it’s going to be pretty tough so my hopes are four points in the bag and an FA Cup quarter-final but points at the moment are better than prizes.
GH: This could literally be anything. Like others, I think that four points would be decent. If we can get six, that’d be fabulous. I think Man City will be tough but I also think the Villa and Fulham games are both opportunities to pick up points. If we could be at 30 points heading into the Wolves game, that would represent a brilliant return. I think 28 is more likely, but let’s see.
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