The Race to be Relegated with Wolves, 24/25 Thread

[Tony Towner]

And I expect us to beat Southampton too when we play them?

But you are arguing whether being 4-6 points behind them come March is likely when they play them next week and we don't

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

But you are arguing whether being 4-6 points behind them come March is likely when they play them next week and we don't

Fair enough.

I just don't think we are going to just lose every game or that 30 points will be enough either.

Things can change for no obvious reason.

However I do agree we need a catalyst, that could have been Manu, it could be Cunha settling and signing a new contract, it could be a new signing*.

I too would bring in the enthusiasm and pace of Lima and Gomes, we're quite flat and I'm so tired of RAN's half arsed attitude.

*I know, I know

 

[jd1981]

Leicester and Man Utd are simply not in the same category as Villa and Liverpool who we’ve got next.
There’s zero evidence that’s been portrayed by ourselves this season that we’ll get anything in those two matches.
Put it this way how would a neutral bystander predict our next 4 fixtures L,L,L,L.
As said might not happen but saying we’ll get positive results is more wing and prayer than logical thinking.

 

[Jeb01]

Sadly, we’re not good enough for the EPL, but maybe, just maybe, there are three teams worse than us.
Fosun are absolutely responsible for this.
Unfortunately the uncertainty is likely to last until the end of the season.
I don’t want us to be relegated, of course but I have little confidence in this team fighting to stay up.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Villa have played 11 away games. W4, D2, L5. It doesn’t strike me as a game we can’t get something from. Not saying we will but we shouldn’t be going all Gary O’Neill about it.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Leicester and Man Utd are simply not in the same category as Villa and Liverpool who we’ve got next.
There’s zero evidence that’s been portrayed by ourselves this season that we’ll get anything in those two matches.
Put it this way how would a neutral bystander predict our next 4 fixtures L,L,L,L.
As said might not happen but saying we’ll get positive results is more wing and prayer than logical thinking.

How many would have predicted a Leicester win today after LLLLLLL? But it happened.

But anyway, I haven't said we will!?

I'm saying that drawing conclusions on things that haven't happened yet is folly. Just like it's daft to be depressed about Cunha getting injured or sold.

If it happens then yeah, moan.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Villa have played 11 away games. W4, D2, L5. It doesn’t strike me as a game we can’t get something from. Not saying we will but we shouldn’t be going all Gary O’Neill about it.

That's a good point, people are doing exactly what GON was (rightly) criticised for.

 

[BillyDee]

How many would have predicted a Leicester win today after LLLLLLL? But it happened.

*cough*

Post in thread 'Prediction League 2024-25 week 23 (25 - 26 January 2025)'

Friday at 10:13 PM

Saturday 25th January
AFC Bournemouth versus Nottingham Forest 1-2 C Wood
Brighton & Hove Albion versus Everton 1-0 D Welbeck
Liverpool versus Ipswich Town 3-0 M Salah
Southampton versus Newcastle United 1-3 A Isak
Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Arsenal 1-4 G Martinelli
Manchester City versus Chelsea 2-2 E Haaland
Sunday 26th January
Crystal Palace versus Brentford 1-1 J-P Mateta
Tottenham Hotspur versus Leicester City 1-2 J Vardy
Aston Villa versus West Ham United 2-1 O Watkins
Fulham versus Manchester United 1-1 R Jiminez

• BillyDee

 

[Tony Towner]

That's a good point, people are doing exactly what GON was (rightly) criticised for.

Yep, that's EXACTLY the same

 

[jd1981]

That's a good point, people are doing exactly what GON was (rightly) criticised for.

How are we? I’m not saying it’s a guaranteed defeats nor am I saying losing continuously was acceptable against decent sides. The point was simple that it’s very possible we could be 4-6 points adrift in a month that’s not an awful prediction it’s just reality of where we’re.

 

[jd1981]

Villa have played 11 away games. W4, D2, L5. It doesn’t strike me as a game we can’t get something from. Not saying we will but we shouldn’t be going all Gary O’Neill about it.

Who have they lost to away from home? My memory suggest it was at Forest, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs the odd one out. They’ve beaten West Ham, Everton, Leicester and Fulham away. Tends to indicate they are decent v bottom half fodder away from home.

 

[Trips]

Villa have played 11 away games. W4, D2, L5. It doesn’t strike me as a game we can’t get something from. Not saying we will but we shouldn’t be going all Gary O’Neill about it.

Played 11 home games. W2, D1, L8. No game strikes me as a game we can get something from currently

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

*cough*

Post in thread 'Prediction League 2024-25 week 23 (25 - 26 January 2025)'

Friday at 10:13 PM

Saturday 25th January
AFC Bournemouth versus Nottingham Forest 1-2 C Wood
Brighton & Hove Albion versus Everton 1-0 D Welbeck
Liverpool versus Ipswich Town 3-0 M Salah
Southampton versus Newcastle United 1-3 A Isak
Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Arsenal 1-4 G Martinelli
Manchester City versus Chelsea 2-2 E Haaland
Sunday 26th January
Crystal Palace versus Brentford 1-1 J-P Mateta
Tottenham Hotspur versus Leicester City 1-2 J Vardy
Aston Villa versus West Ham United 2-1 O Watkins
Fulham versus Manchester United 1-1 R Jiminez

• BillyDee

One then

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Played 11 home games. W2, D1, L8. No game strikes me as a game we can get something from currently

That’s the spirit!

We’re crap, we all know it but that doesn’t mean we can’t get something from Villa. They play Celtic on Wednesday and that will be a handy distraction for them. Throw in that the form book often goes out of the window in local derbies and we can definitely get at least a point. West Ham nearly got all three today at Villa and they’re hardly world beaters.

 

[jd1981]

That’s the spirit!

We’re crap, we all know it but that doesn’t mean we can’t get something from Villa. They play Celtic on Wednesday and that will be a handy distraction for them. Throw in that the form book often goes out of the window in local derbies and we can definitely get at least a point. West Ham nearly got all three today at Villa and they’re hardly world beaters.

Arsenal had the same distraction but it counted for nothing.
The “form book goes out the window” in derbies is just a cliche and another footballing myth. To add this a phoney derby anyway.
We can get something from this yes but bring reliant on opponents fatigue and the fact it’s a derby is a very loose argument.
To point out we won at the etihad 72 hours after winning in Istanbul in 2019.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

To point out we won at the etihad 72 hours after winning in Istanbul in 2019.

That point actually works the other way doesn't it?

Despite all the things that were against us, we won a game very few expected us to.

 

[EnglishBob]

It's turned into a real bum fight at the bottom! Four absolutely terrible teams scrapping it out to be tallest midget.

Didn't have to be this way. But Fosun seemingly content to be absentee owners of a team that just isn't built to win. Even the players here don't want to be, and the table most certainly does not lie.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Arsenal had the same distraction but it counted for nothing.
The “form book goes out the window” in derbies is just a cliche and another footballing myth. To add this a phoney derby anyway.
We can get something from this yes but bring reliant on opponents fatigue and the fact it’s a derby is a very loose argument.
To point out we won at the etihad 72 hours after winning in Istanbul in 2019.

Villa’s record after CL games suggests it’s a significant factor. As for the derby myth, is there any statistical evidence either way?

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Villa’s record after CL games suggests it’s a significant factor. As for the derby myth, is there any statistical evidence either way?

Anecdotal, but Albion's record against when we were so often the better team on paper suggest it's a leveller to me.

 

[Trips]

Villa’s record after CL games suggests it’s a significant factor. As for the derby myth, is there any statistical evidence either way?

Villa have won in the Prem only once following a CL game, against *checks notes* Wolves