--S A L V A T I O N--

A selection of the very best posts and/or most memorable threads on KUMB since the current Forum launched in 2002.

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Adam 'The Smudge'
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Post by Adam 'The Smudge' »

I agree Frank, but the thing that worries me most about today, is losing by two goals or more.
This puts us bottom and after being unbeaten in a while, this would be a real kick in the b*llocks.
I must say that all week I've had this feeling we'll get something from today's game, a draw would be a further confidence boost whereas a smash and grab would be a fantastic. We have a real chance today with the side perhaps taking a different shape with Bowyer on board.
Today's is a nothing to lose fixture as you say although with the spectre of being bottom again it means everything.
Strange but true.
I just hope we don't go there to contain them because as we all know, with our defence we simply can't.
Hope Pearcey is back playing where he should be. :roll:
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Post by FDiMcA »

OK so we got past that one (arsenal away) with only a couple worse off on Goal diff. As usuall tonight is THE MOST IMPORTNAT GAME OF THE SEASON.

But it being a game-in-hand, arguably defeat wouldnt be the worst thing.
Also win it or get a point and against most of our relegation rivals we would still have a game in hand. SO its almost a gameinhand-on-a-game-in-hand.

Im still fuming over the Newcatsle result, not helped by Goddard on TAlk Sport last night previewing the Charlton game by saying "The defence were guilty of a lack of concentration v Newcastle which cost us 2 points" PAUL WHAT DISTRACTED THEM PAL? was it that at the time they were dsefending a throw in our half and you subbed 2 players including the midfielder protecting teh defence on teh side the throw was - and trhat you bought Pearce on and no-body knew if he was going up-front or at the back?

"Distracted"

GNASH.

So anyone I was expecting my Salvation bandwagon to be well and truely rolling after Newcatsle and the managment scupered it.

But tonight - we loose - we have a great cup-tie to pick oursleves up with.

Any other result and hanfg on here come West Ham.

Bowyer was just finding his match fitness v Arsenal and a mid-week game will help him, also its his old club so he will score (un-written rule that) , Les added to the side means we should be attacking and Defoe is goona love trying to steal the limelight also Charlton hate him sooo much he can wind em right up.

I sorta see it as a no-loose situation.

Players playing for a cup spot, and Bowyer getting teh hang of us, im quietly confident.

I wont spoeak to soon, but just think how scared Sunderland will be if we get a result, and Birmingham with all their vaunted new arrivals would also be saying 'hang on a minute"

Fulham 1 game in hand :27 points and only -3 goal diff.
Birmingham :26
Bolton 1 game in hand :21
Sunderland :19 and only 1 better GD than West Ham
West Brom up the creek :17 and only 1 better GD than West Ham
West Ham 2 games in hand :17

after tonight it could be that Sunderland and WBA who have shunned the transfer window and have no tricks left will be bottom hence-forth.

West Ham would then be in a 4 way fight with Bolton, Fulham, and Birmingham for survival.
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Post by FDiMcA »

SOME INTERESTING UP-COMING GAMES:

TONIGHT

Charlton Athletic v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers (fingers crossed)

28 January 2003
Bolton Wanderers v Everton

29 January 2003
Manchester City v Fulham KO
West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers

1 February 2003
Arsenal v Fulham

Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City (By here West Ham will have used up their 2 games in hand on Brum arguablly we want a Bolton (prob the lower team) win

2 February 2003
West Ham United v Liverpool

4 February 2003
Birmingham City v Manchester United (Us at home to Liverpool we have a chance, lest hope Brum have no chance)
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Post by upton o'good »

FDiMcA wrote:after tonight it could be that Sunderland and WBA who have shunned the transfer window and have no tricks left will be bottom hence-forth.

West Ham would then be in a 4 way fight with Bolton, Fulham, and Birmingham for survival.
Always great fun to criticise Roeder. But on the Newcastle substitutions point, to be fair I think he tried to make the subs earlier, but the 4th official delayed things. So not his fault that it was when we were defending? Just the Upton sense of fair play cutting in, I mean why replace Cisse at all...
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Post by FDiMcA »

Middelsborough! Middelsborough? Where the hell did they drop from?

West Ham finished last season gazing at the top 6. There was however a massive points gap. It appeared teams Like Boro and Everton, and Villa would be challenging the Hammers for the 7th spot - but unlikely any team like Leeds or Liverpool would create space in the European zone. Here we are and Southampton are sat in 6th a position many thought West Ham would do well to achieve.

It is a genuine surprise to see ALL these clubs in teh bottom half so far in to the season: West Ham, Leeds, Villa, Boro ~ this league stinks.

However West Ham are no longer concerned with the unbelievable opportunity an outsider has to get establish themsleves as a European club. All West Ham give a **** about is survival.

When assesing the Hammers chances it is about as usefull discussing points targets or teams out of reach, as it is discussing European qualification.

All season Villa have hovered above the danger zone. Last night they probably waived goodbye to it for the duration.

A few months back Birmingham were riding high and Leeds were in schtuck. But now with the transfer window almost shut - and teams pereparing for the last lap the teams that are in danger is no longer a list punctuated by teams that shouldnt be there.

The bottom 6 teams really are all in danger, and it really is a very clear competition.

Welcome to the league of DOOM!

There is a 10 point gap between bottom and top 17 points to 27.

West Ham have 15 games to get above half-way. There is a 5 point gap to safety.

Can West Ham outstrip 3 other teams by 5 or more points over the next 15 games?

Here is an unexpected advantage the Hamers have.
Fulham - have failed to utilise the transfer window. Al Fayed has broken cover he is in it to develop property. We've all read Striker and we all know Fayed will be hapy to see relegation, it will makes his ground manouvering that much easier. There is no way he will replace Tigana if the team slump, Tigana couldnt give a toss he is off in the summer whatever happens. Fulham have no cards left to play.
Birmingham - can't sack Bruce after poaching him and backing him - also they have stupidkly used the window to buy a whole new team, watch as team spirit drops, the 'being sucked in' stuff becomes self-fullfilling, and Bruce fiddles away with a brand new deck, Bruce has overplyed his hand with pure panick.
Bolton- probably have the best manager in the drop zone - they wont sack him as he would be the man to get em up again, they are struggeling to score, and have no cards left to play - the transfer window will close without them landing their required striker.
Sunderland - already sacked a manager and lost a coach - no cards left to play just an attempt to out draw the opposition. If they survive it wont be on a run of wins it will be by the narrowest of margins.
WBA - The worst squad in teh prem spent bugger all as the board are alraedy preparing for Megson to win them Div 1 next season - all they are doing is consolidating and preparing - already down.
West Ham? any cards left to play? How about DiCanio, Kanoute, Ferdinand all ariving back as the window closes. AT last recognition that Ian Pearce can do a job, and Johsnosn and Bowyer 2 class additions to teh squad. Also West Ham of all teh league of doom clubs are the only ones who can play teh major card of getting in a new manager. West Ham have been dealt a new hand, and unlike Birminghams it wont lead to confusion, Les is experienced, Lee is a local, and the others are already integrated.

===================================

Having said all that the clock is ticking. Fulham who play Man City away tonight have played only 23 games. If West Ham loose and Fulham get any sort of result. Fulham will probably be out of reach. Its imperitive that West Ham involve as many teams as possible in the paranoia around them., Having been 'botom at Xmas' and therefiore already relegated, West Ham - any team who West HAm get above or near will be panicking.
So West Ham had bloody well better start to get above or near anyone.

Tonight is a classic opportunity.
At home under the lights - a game no neutral expects teh Hammesr to win is a classic scenario for a classic West Ham win. Add to that the return of DiCanio and Joe Coles fine form, and Lee Bowyers increasing return to match fitness - and teh HAmmers are worth a bet to win.
Loose this one and the game may well be up.
WIN IT AND WEST HAM COULD BE ABOVE WBA, AND SUNDERLAND. AND JUST 6 POINTS OFF BIRMINGHAM WITH A GAME IN HAND AND A SIX-POINTER TO COME.
West Ham are far from down.



A) West Ham are in the RELEGATION zone.

B) West Ham are 4 points and a positive 5 on to their goal difference away from being out of the relegation zone. pretty much as has been since Xmas.

Recent form:
Team Pld W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Form
12 Blackburn Rovers 8 2 5 1 8 7
13 Fulham 8 2 2 4 4 7
14 Bolton Wanderers 8 1 4 3 7 10
16 Birmingham City8 1 3 4 4 13
17 Sunderland 8 1 2 5 8 12
WestBromwich Albion 8 1 2 5 7 13
20 West Ham United 8 0 5 3 11 18



C) The next game is tonight v Blackburn at UP. Although it is arguably a game in hand - defeat would see the dodgy goal difference become a large problem - as large as an extra point defecit.


D) The league table

team................ (GD)....Points

(S)Fullham -3g.d 27 pts
(S)Birmingham City -12 26
(S)Bolton Wanderers -16 21
(R)Sunderland -19 19
(R)West Bromwich Albion -18 17
(R)West Ham United -21 17


E) Upcoming Key matches

29 January 2003

Manchester City v Fulham

West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athletic

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers

1 February 2003

Arsenal v Fulham

Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City


Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion

Sunderland v Charlton Athletic

2 February 2003

West Ham United v Liverpool

4 February 2003

Birmingham City v Manchester United

8 February 2003


Birmingham City v Chelsea

Fulham v Aston Villa

Leeds United v West Ham United

Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
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Post by ashhammer »

I have been watching your postings with interest FDiMcA and really do hope you get it right then i will take my hat of to you sir !
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Post by FDiMcA »

After the Newcastle game heads were dropped.
For no known reason the general air on here before the home game with Blackburn (i.e after the Man U FA cup drubbing) the atmosphere on here was positive.

Reality appears to be setting in, in relation to how stuck, stuffed, poor WBA are.

Sunderland too - might stick with the Hammers for a time, but while West Ham (Defoe-DiCAnio-Kanoute-Ferdinand-Cole-Sinclair-Bowyer) are always likely to score and scamper off with the odd 3 points, Sunderland will be slogging along looking for 1 point draws.

I cant over-exagerate how psychologicaly mired these other clubs are. WBA have no players to add and are now adrift of already relegated 'bottom at Xmas' West Ham who have: Defoe-DiCAnio-Kanoute-Ferdinand-Cole-Sinclair-Bowyer. There is no way WBA whos board are preparing to challenge for promotion next season, will swap managers or act. Likewise at Sunderland - a long term plan has been initiated and their only star player KP would probably welcome relegation as the guaranteed way to get his move.

I am not saying West Ham will leave these two teams far adrift over night - but sanity suggestes after 5 or so more games - West Ham will be well clear ofn them.

That would/will leave West Ham in a straight fight with Bolton, Fulham, both gamley hanging on but embroiled - and Birmingham who have been dropping like a stone, have cocked up the dreessing room by buying a complete new team almost, whios early season form came from rubbish wins over rubbish teams, and whos run in is from hell.

I highlight Birmingham not because I believe them to be worse than Fulham or Bolton, but because West Ham have made up 4 points on them since Xmas, and the gap is now a mere 6 points with West Ham having a agme in hand. If people can accept we should/could finish above WBA and Sunderland - they can see it wont take much to get above just 1 more from Fulham, Bolton, and Birmingham.


The point of this is that when we survive Roeder has not pulled off a miracle - rather taht inspite of his efforts West Ham were too good to go down.

V Blackburn FIRST HOME WIN OF SEASON!!! Roeder still conspired to waste Joe Cole - who went down injured for a while after having beaten 4 men but was still out left just across teh half-way line, and Bowyer who is a po9tential goal-scorere is also being wasted out wide.

I dont know I sit behind the goal - but Carrick isnt doinga lot in teh middle is he?

Roeder it is inspite of him that our class players are staying up. Without him we would be like Everton and Soton level with Liverpool.

Liverpool at UP? a draw at least.

Brum up-coming games:
01-Feb-03 A Bolton Wanderers
04-Feb-03 H Manchester United
08-Feb-03 H Chelsea
23-Feb-03 H Liverpool
03-Mar-03 A Aston Villa
16-Mar-03 A Manchester City

Brums wins this season ALL SIX


4 31-Aug-02 H Leeds United W 2-1 (LEEDS WERE STRUGGELING, LUCKY WIN)

6 16-Sep-02 H Aston Villa W 3-0 (VILLA WERE IN TROUBLE AT THE TIME)

9 05-Oct-02 A West Ham United W 2-1 (WELL AWAY TO WET SHAM)

12 02-Nov-02 H Bolton Wanderers W 3-1 (V A STRUGGELING TEAM)

15 23-Nov-02 A Sunderland W 1-0 (MORE OF THE SAME)

18 15-Dec-02 A Fulham W 1-0 (MORE)


Now OK they have won the 6 pointers, but a little deeper they are unlikely to beat any higher-up teams, West Ham and Fulham always can - also Brum were riding teh promotion wave - confidence and reality will be conspiring to kill their dressing room. West Hams condfidenec is on teh rise.
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Post by Amsterhammer »

Goddammit Franko, why can't you spell "the"????????????????????


:roll:

:wink:

:lol:


:seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth: :seeth:
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Post by FDiMcA »

:lol: Karen Brady spent her saturday column in The Sun saying how odd west Hams board are - that Roeder had not been backed and teh result would be relegation, That brums board had lavishley backed Bruce and so would clearly survive. She then sort of ho-hummed on teh Leeds thing and accepted West Hams board might not be wrong! so lifting pressure off Brums board. It was an incpherent and rambling piece worthy of myself.
the conclusion was West Ham will go down and Brum wont based on er nothing really.

So from that the casual reader could only think "Kazza thou dost protest too much"

Since Xmas Brum have scraped just 2 points in 7 games. West Ham have scraped 6 points also from 7 games.

Karen waxed lyrical about the top draw players Brum had deluged themselves with - including Upson (not good enough for Arsenal who kept Jeffers and Pennent), and Clapham (not good enough for the Prem). We then have the matter of Dugarey. And so on Saturday afternoon Okacha-Djorkaef, and Compo trumped Karen Brady as Bolton put them to the sword.

I have re-read Bradsy article/rant at West Ham and the conclusion is Birmingham amongst others are scared of West Ham in a way that Sunderland and WBA are not seen as threats.

Since then it has emerged that Brevetts sale to West Ham was as we suspected an act of sabotage by Property developer Fayed.

--So back to UP - and James gifted Liverpool 2 goals after Repka had given them a first. Viewed from inside West Ham particularly right behind James goal - we are doomed. But in reality the result was not a slip back. Birmingham and Fulham at teh top of our group of death failed to capitalise (Fulham unlucky not to hold out at Highbury)

Although we are petrified having seen the 3 goals in the flesh, last week Birmingham at teh highest level (Brady) were petrified of us - since then they have LOST 2 more games.


West Hams next 3 games are tricky - an away at leeds who are in all sorts of trouble and will be depleted, an away to West Brom (a classic 6 pointer) and a home London derby that could go either way. Not one of these games is predictable - a bit like West Ham.
Because of their un-predictability we cant read too much into any one result - loosing the first 2 but winning the third for example would avearge us a point a game.

Birmingham face Chelsea and Liverpool both with their tails up before their away derby to Villa. Karen Brady probably cant see a win amongst those games.

Thats why our opponenets fear us - we could win all or any of our games -

OK we are losing confidence but we must be aware that our rivals be they Brady, Al Fayed, or Megson see us as TROUBLE.

and that is why we are still in good shape.

not cos we are doing well but because Fulham, Birmingham, Sunderland, and West Brom are just as bad - but unlike us are playing to the best of their abilities.

1win in the next 3 games will really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Fulham 25 GD-7 +3 pts
Birmingham City 26 GD-15 +2
Bolton Wanderers 26 GD-14 0
West Bromwich 25 GD-18 -4
West Ham United 26 GD-23 -4
Sunderland 26 GD-21 -5pts

Boltons next 3 games are the most interesting.

08-Feb-03 A West Bromwich Albion
22-Feb-03 H Manchester United
15-Mar-03 A Sunderland
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Post by Adam 'The Smudge' »

Your powers of reseach and concentration are bewildering Frank. :niceone:
Always good to read this ongoing thread.
My fears are that, although our run-in appears easier, don't you think that with so many games against teams around us we should fear their superior efforts.
They all graft harder than us. They realise the need to pull together.
I hope you are right. :wink:
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Post by brillo »

Adam 'The Smudge' wrote:Your powers of reseach and concentration are bewildering Frank. :niceone:
Always good to read this ongoing thread.
My fears are that, although our run-in appears easier, don't you think that with so many games against teams around us we should fear their superior efforts.
They all graft harder than us. They realise the need to pull together.
I hope you are right. :wink:

Think you are right there our run in is very easy compared to the others but we have to learn how to win again plus get at least two wins on the trot to get us and the players believing again.If we can't do this then I fear the worse.Listening to Sincs last night whilst feeling sorry for the fans only said'we can only carry on what we are doing and hope with the hard work that things come right'Really inspiring I thought,not. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
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Post by FDiMcA »

HOW THE HELL?

We have been useless, worse even and yet here we are still in with a shout of survival - boy there are som crap teams in this division.

Of those teams WEST HAM have the best attacking players.

Bolton have brilliantly attacked their way almost out of trouble. They were vyeing with us to be bottom at Xmas, and while we have been playing dour football and obsessing about defences, they have flung themselves at teams. and just drawn 1-1 with Man U to keep their run going.

At Xmas very few people believed Birmingham were in danger - but they are now bellow both Fulham and Bolton.

West Hams task is becoming harder by the game, but also clearer. A while back there were quiet a few teams involved in the relegation scrap, but Fulham particularly have legged it to safety.


16 Bolton Wanderers 28 (-14) 26
17 Birmingham City 27 (-17) 26
18 West Bromwich Albion 27 (-21) 21
19 West Ham United 27 (-24) 20
20 Sunderland 27 -(24) 19

Sunderland particularly with their stupid manager have had it. If West Ham can beat WBA tomoorow - they too will be gone. Both teams will be down not because they are XYZ points away from the others but because they are not teams that can accumulate points by scoring. Their trick is to defend first. Its that that condems WBA and Sunderland, and the opposite to that which has lifted Bolton.

The argument is dead, GG tactics and die or Attack Attack Attack.

#1 thing to do is get Joey involved in the middle, #2 is to put Bowyer in the middle where he can score from, # 3 is to play Defoe who averages a goal every other game (KAnoute is a 1 in 3 man) . Im dreadfully pesimistic for the WBA game im sure Roeder will play Les and the long ball and Joe out of position.

BUT there has been so much stories of unrest - who knows maybe the players are finally speaking up for themsleves.

IF we win tomorow and Brum loose to Liverpool we will have the rest of the season to overhaul Brums 3 point lead. Even with roeder in power we will do that.

If we loose tomorow maybe it will be the final straw and we will start to attack sides and then survive.

In my mind win tomorow and Brum fail to win - thats it all over Sunderland, WBA, Brum are relegated, game over SALVATION.
If we draw or loose we still have a massive task on our hands but one Sam Alardyces attack atack attack policies show clearly how to go about.


I think on Monday the papers will be full of ohhhh Look West Ham they can survive. :wink:
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Post by FDiMcA »

As predicted in my previous post Roeder opted for Les.
v Spurs that may not be a bad thing.
Although we faced Liverpool at exactly teh right time and lost, Spurs are in an injury crisis, one which Les could have solved.
Hoddle seems obsesed with helping out his aprentice Roeder, and who will be surprised if West Ham win a derby game.

It has become fashionable to say "im really crazy I know but guess what we are gonna stay up"

Just remember where you heard it first. :wink:


(P.S. Brum have a derby v Villa, Villa have just come good, which is nice)
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Post by flyingvisitmcatff »

There are 9 games left for West Ham.
In West Hams last 9 games they have gained 11 points

Birmingham have 10 games left, If they win tonight - they will have 9 games left(!) :lol:

and it shall read

There are 9 games left for Birmingham.
In Birminghams last 9 games they have gained 8 points. (assuming they beat Villa).

Its not exactly daunting is it :?:

If they DONT beat Villa at most Birmingham will be 4 points above West Ham with 9 games to go.

Its dodgy because one result can throw it either way, and the 2 teams still have to meet.

But it does seem odd that some people still can not see Birmingham finishing bellow the team that were bottom at Xmas.

even if Birmingham won tonight it is likely that at most they would be 3 points above West Ham on the last day

In the last 8 games Birminghams goal diff has gotten 12 worse, while in the last 9 games West Hams has only got 3 worse.

Today West Hams goal diff is just 5 worse than Birminghams.

If Birmingham fail to win tonight it could even be less than 5.........

all things taken in to account even if Birmingham win tonight they will not be out of West Hams grasp.

Should Brimingham fail to win tomorows papers will have no other subject to discuss - Birmingham are in the relegation mire.

Its this not points targets and stats that is teh key to Brum. West Ham are the shitty stick (bottom at Xmas) anyone who comes near the shitty stick is gonna be very worried, and thats not a good scenario for winning games.

The pressure is off West Ham(who were relegated at Xmas)

Birminghams desent into the malestrom has been slow and drawn out - it does however have a scent of inevitability about it.
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Post by Jedi Al Khalaas »

We are all focussing on Brum..


Hopefully Bolton will have there wheels come off and save us all the grey hairs.
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Post by upton o'good »

Always happier if you've two potential targets to overhaual though...

I agree Brum will be a bit nervous, esp if they lose at Villa. But beating L'pool will prob give them enough confidence to chip out a few results (and 3 points in the bag). Pity Id lobve to send them rather than Bolton down.
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Post by FDiMcA »

The really really important point re Fulham, and why their fans are so despondent is this:

19-Apr-03 H Newcastle United
22-Apr-03 A Leeds United
26-Apr-03 A Chelsea
03-May-03 H Everton
11-May-03 A Charlton Athletic

The Newcy and Leeds and Chelsea games would appear to be foregone conclusions.
So Everton at Home is tough. Everton have Man U last game so will be aiming to clinch 'above Liverpool/Europe etc' at Fulham (highly incentivised)
If as a Fulham fan you think you wont get any more points or maybe just a draw with Everton before Charlton. Charlton becomes the big game for you.

Oh dear its away.

Recent Away Form at Fulham is

Pld W D L F A Pts
Last 5 Away 5 0 1 4 3 12 1

That sole away point coming at UP.
Over the season Fulham have just one away win. September v ............yup......Sunderland.

Fulham are very unlikely to gain more than 4 more points.
And feesibly will only get one more (away to Charlton).

So Fulhams final total should be between 39 points and 42.

Fulhams current goal diff is 8 better than West Ham.
Assuming West Ham catch Fulham they will have been getting better results than Fulham , so their goal difference will have imroved relative to Fulhams.
Fulham also have the goal sapping spectre of Newcsatle and Chelsea. So its fair to assume that if level on points West Ham would be above on Goal diff.

Although its possible then that West Ham would only need to get to 39 points to survive, if they needed to get to 42 points that would be 10 points from 5 games for the Hammers! Impossible?

West Hams recent 5 games = 2 wins, and 3 draws; for 9 points.

And included in that was the banker (home to Sunderland)

Arguably West Ham wont make it to 42 points even if playing well.

West Hams games.
19-Apr-03 A Bolton Wanderers
21-Apr-03 H Middlesbrough
27-Apr-03 A Manchester City
03-May-03 H Chelsea
11-May-03 A Birmingham City

======================================
Maybe it can now be siad that on 42 points West Ham would be 100% safe. Clearly on 32 points or even 35 points they are 100% down.
=======================================

Thats a 7 point spread with the chances of safety improving as you go higher.

35 points down
36 points probably down
37 points should be down
38 points unlikely not to be down

The thing is you have to get up to at least 39 points before you can construct a strong case for safety.

39 points - small chance of safety

In modern parlance - 39 points - is the tiipping point.

There are STILL 5 points above us, and bellow 39.

40 points - last day safety
41 points - ohh just safe
42 points - 99.98% safe

What this means is that a draw away to Bolton IF followed by a win v Boro would leave West Ham only 3 points off the tipping point, and STILL in the race. A defeat at Bolton, and even I will concede defeat in optimism,
BUT regardless of other results a point away to Bolton will do.
A draw at Bolton and the press and bookies will have us down, but for me we will still be in the race.

===========================

BUT If Fulham have a job getting to 42 and are on 38 points now, it must be noted that 3 other clubs are with them on 38. Brum, Villa, and Leeds.

Villa have the home banker v Sunderland to come, so even with a freakishly Fulhamesque fixture list, should be OK.

19-Apr-03 H Chelsea
21-Apr-03 A Newcastle United
26-Apr-03 A Everton
03-May-03 H Sunderland
11-May-03 A Leeds United

But that just goes further to show how possibly the moment West Ham got relegated was Repkas pen v Villa. With Villas above fixture list had West Ham won on Saturday- Villa would still be 5 points off 42, and West Ham just 2 points behind.

Given the logic behind Fulhams shakiness, the fixture list must sugest Villa are not safe either, but it wasnt that they got a valuable point at UP, it was the points they stopped West Ham getting.

Leeds should have enough in the locker for :A Southampton H Fulham H Blackburn Rovers A Arsenal H Aston Villa.

And what of Birmingham? Can they get above 39 before they face us?

A Charlton Athletic - arguably tougher than playing them on the last day.
H Southampton - argaubly easy now they are in Europe and waiting for th FA final. But Strachan will keep pressure on his men.
H Middlesbrough - this is the key, It should be a routine home win (just as West Hams home to Boro), slip up here, and the last 2 games become mountains. If Birminghm have still not passed the tipping point by the Boro game, it could decide their fate.
A Newcastle United
H West Ham United


The unpredictability of their games does not mean it is unlikely they will go down. It does mean that they are still well in the frame.

That leaves just Bolton. 4 points adrift of the magic 39; tipping point.

H West Ham United
A Blackburn Rovers - Tough game -
H Arsenal - Impossible game -
A Southampton

If bolton are too make it to the last day above 39 points and they only draw with West Ham, they will be putting all their hope in to beating Strachans mob away. Loose to West Ham and they might give up hope.

H Middlesbrough - Last day nerves -

==============================
The really amazing thing is following a given home win to Sunderland, a good away point to Southampton, and a disastrous home draw to a poxy Villa team, West Ham are still alive in the Prem.

The race is on. Not to get to a certain points tally for mathematical survival but to get above 39 points to get out of the race for survival.

When you analyze how tough so many teams aregoing to find this, it will be no surprise iuf West Ham survive.

Creidt due where creidts due, this is the worst premiership EVER.
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ashhammer
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Post by ashhammer »

Although its possible then that West Ham would only need to get to 39 points to survive, if they needed to get to 42 points that would be 10 points from 5 games for the Hammers! Impossible?
Frank have you thrown the towel in or have we still got some hope :?:

For me mate like a lot of others its over, but there is still that slim chance PLEASE
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Post by Rio »

I think the only Salvation we're likely to see in the Salvation Army :( :( :( :(
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Post by FDiMcA »

ashhammer wrote: Frank have you thrown the towel in or have we still got some hope :?:

For me mate like a lot of others its over, but there is still that slim chance PLEASE
The whole point of nthis thread "salvation" was that when we miraculously survived, this thrad would bear witness that it was no Roeder born miracle. That a very good set of players had survived inspite of Roeder in a very poor division.
Roeder expertly removing Dailly, DiCanio, Bowyer (by never once playing him in his natural role), Camara (our left winger) etc etc managed to amazingly overturn logic, and remove football from teh equation.
Had Roeder just left teh team to ramble on they would hyave survived and hordes of fans would have rushedto back Roeder fior a further chance. This thread was all about showing why Roeder should be jetisoned inspite of survival.

I have thrown in the towel.

When Repka gave Alback that pen, i said out loud we are down.
Bolton offred one last long shot at survival, but we went down at home.

What I hadnt budgeted for was Joe being asked to protect the defence v Villa, and DiCanio being dropped, and Hutch the only other creative option kept out. Effectivley v Villa Defeo was never gonna score because of theses mad decisions.

IRoeder is today slagging of Fred and Jermaine for missing sitters v Bolton. By not supplying them with sitters v Villa, we were alraedy down.

It is unbelievable that Roeder pulled it off.

He is teh Inspector Clouseau of Football.
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