A case of premature relegation?

[North Staffs Canary 0]

Ok we are bottom of the table, the defence is leaky and Delia''s hit the bottle but are we really in a situation we can''t get out of?

Palace are 6 points ahead so let''s say we need to be winning two more games than them and one draw between now and the end of the season. Here are the remaining fixtures :-

Palace

Chelsea v Crystal Palace, 15:00 - Can''t see any points here.
Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough, 15:00 - One point at best.
Everton v Crystal Palace, 15:00 - Everton to win
Crystal Palace v Norwich, 15:00 - Must win for the Canaries!
Blackburn v Crystal Palace, 19:45 - Palace to get at least a point
Crystal Palace v Liverpool, 15:00 - Point at most
Newcastle v Crystal Palace, 15:00 - No points here
Crystal Palace v Southampton, 15:00 - Palace win
Charlton v Crystal Palace, 15:00 - Draw

So thats 7 points to Palace.

So we need 13 (or 14 if we take into account goal difference) so here goes :-

Bolton v Norwich, 15:00 - 1 point
Arsenal v Norwich, 15:00 - Can''t see anything here.

Helveg back.

Norwich v Man Utd, 17:15 - If Palace can secure a point so can we.

Bentley back.

Crystal Palace v Norwich, 15:00 - Must win 3 points here.
Norwich v Newcastle, 19:45 - 3 points
Norwich v Charlton, 15:00 - 1 point
Southampton v Norwich, 15:00 - 1 point
Norwich v Birmingham, 15:00 - 3 points here
Fulham v Norwich, 15:00 - 1 point.

14 points and up we stay.

This of course assumes that WBA don''t make a late surge and Southampton don''t get any funny ideas about winning games!

[Canaries for Ever 0]

Whilst I''d love to believe it, losing only 1 game between now and the end of the season is very hard to believe

[Being Jan Kristiansen... 0]

If we cant beat Man City at home with a two goal head start we cant stay up. If we can not even come close to winning away we cant stay up. If we cant defend at corners we cant stay up. If we continue to concede at least 2 goals a game..... I think you get what im trying to stay.

We have to many negatives and not enough time to sort them out this season.

[Ayrton Twigge 0]

Of course its possible - but difficult to believe given the last months results - our lack of it and our competitors real progress, West Brom, Palace and Saints. In all cases they''ve sured up their defences. Blackburn - well they''re more or less out of trouble now.

I''d love to believe it - ask me again after the next two games.

[Andrew Polley<IMG src="http:new.pinkun.comforumsimagesline.gif"><BR>Andy P.<BR> 0]

We should NOT be too disappointed if we do get relegated, either. We should see this season and next as part of a ''bigger picture''.

The Club is very well run at all levels and there appears to be a great sense of teamwork. There will be at least two strategic plans in place that run on a rolling three to five year basis. One will assume Premiership survival this year, the other will not.

If relegation occurs then the planning will encourage continuity wherever possible and I am sure it will see the retention of Worthy''s services as key. He will be far more experienced to tackle the Prem the second time around, as will the nucleus of players that we retain. Financial management is second to none at our club and whilst relatively boring because its not ''on the pitch'' it is actually VITAL to our goal of an established place in the Premiership.

In terms of the playing squad, the Club is not under the traditional pressures of having to sell key assets to survive. Some will go, but no longer at a knock down price.

The parachute payment and income from any sales will then be available for wise strengthening ready for firstly a strong onslaught on the Championship and then the Prem.

With the current management in place, and allowed to see through the existing strategic plans, I am entirely confident that Norwich City are only a few seasons away from consolidating its position in The Premiership!

( Just in time for it to be disbanded in favour of a European league structure!!...but thats another story.)

[NavMan 0]

Good post Andrew.  Fully agree.

[Being Jan Kristiansen... 0]

[quote]We should NOT be too disappointed if we do get relegated, either. We should see this season and next as part of a ''bigger picture''. The Club is very well run at all levels and there appears to be a g...[/quote]

Good points but we will go down.

[Francesco Volpe<P><BR><EM><FONT size=3><STRONG>A<STRONG><FONT>wesome<STRONG><FONT size=3>S<FONT><STRONG>ublime<STRONG><FONT size=3>H<FONT><STRONG>onest pro<EM><EM><FONT size=3><STRONG>T<STRONG><FONT>alented<STRONG><FONT size 0]

Well said Andrew, however didn''t they borrow against the parachute payments to pay for the Ashton signing???

[ZLF 342]

[quote]Well said Andrew, however didn''t they borrow against the parachute payments to pay for the Ashton signing???[/quote]

Or was it the Geoffrey legacy we borrowed against?

 

OTBC

[chirpy canary 0]

Surely premature relegation is better than premature elation, as being suffered by the Binners at the moment?!!

[0 0]

NORWICH
Bolton (a) - 0 points
Arsenal (a) - 0 points
Man Utd (h) - 0 points
Palace (a) - 1 point
Newcastle (h) - 1 point
Charlton (h) - 3 points
Southampton (a) - 1 point
Birmingham (h) - 3 points
Fulham (a) - 0 points

Points Total : 29


WEST BROM
Chelsea (a) - 0 points
Charlton (a) - 0 points
Everton (h) - 0 points
Villa (a) - 1 point
Blackburn (h) - 3 points
Spurs (a) - 0 points
Boro (a) - 0 points
Arsenal (h) - 0 points
Man Utd (a) - 0 points
Pompey (h) - 1 point

Points Total : 26


SOUTHAMPTON
Boro (a) - 0 points
Chelsea (h) - 0 points
Blackburn (a) - 1 point
Villa (h) - 3 points
Bolton (a) - 0 points
Portsmouth (a) - 1 point
Norwich (h) - 1 point
Palace (a) - 1 point
Man Utd (h) - 0 points

Points Total : 31


PALACE
Chelsea (a) - 0 points
Boro (h) - 1 point
Everton (a) - 0 points
Norwich (h) - 1 point
Blackburn (a) - 0 points
Liverpool (h) - 0 points
Newcastle (a) - 0 points
Southampton (h) - 1 point
Charlton (a) - 1 point

Points Total : 30


FINAL TABLE
...................PTS
17. Southampton...31
-------
18. Palace........30
19. Norwich.......29
20. WBA...........26



But if we win at Fulham....