Scrapping at the bottom thread run in

[hitmanrangers]

Mar 23, 2024 7:07:37 GMT harr said:

When we come back we start with Games Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Followed by the following Saturday , Tuesday and Saturday

So from
Birmingham (h ) Fri 29 th March
Swansea (a), Monday 1st April
Sat 6th Apri, Sheffield Wednesday (h),
Tuesday 9 th April Plymouth (a),
Saturday 13th April Hull (a),
5 matches in 15 days that will pretty much decide our season.

Minimum 7 points from those games
9 would be fantastic
10 would keep us up

[harr]

I thought 47-48 would be the magic number to stay up this year but realistically think it’s 50 now.
If we get three wins and a draw from our last eight
Sets the teams under us to get 4 wins from 8.
Sounds achievable but you can bet your life one of these teams will get a couple of wins only
I feel 50 points setting the others 51 to send us down will keep us up.
We could do with minimum 6 points from these 4 relegation scraps, ideally 7.

[harr]

Seems to have been ages since the last match and waiting for Fridays one?
After only twice in eleven games, will it be a bad thing for us?
Bad timing for Rowett that’s for sure.
Anyone nervous for the next 5 games in just 15 days?

Good luck Rangers, final push now, do it for Marti.

[rickyqpr]

Mar 27, 2024 8:24:38 GMT harr said:

Seems to have been ages since the last match and waiting for Fridays one?
After only twice in eleven games, will it be a bad thing for us?
Bad timing for Rowett that’s for sure.
Anyone nervous for the next 5 games in just 15 days?

Good luck Rangers, final push now, do it for Marti.

Yeah, apart from being boring, the international breaks really do upset the momentum.

Teams playing well rarely carry on after the break, but when playing regularly the form can build – it is like starting a new mini-season after each break.

Injured players target the break for their return, giving teams more options. Players go away with their country and pick up knocks, sometimes serious ones, and by definition, these can be the best players a team has.

The harmony of the squad is disrupted through the call ups. Preparation for the next game for called up players, non-existent as they return so late, many are often rested for the first game. Rowett has said that he is yet to meet some of his top players.

Owners decide to make managerial changes ahead of the fortnight, so clubs can return with the new manager bounce. Analysis of the opposition, sending scouts etc. is a big part of successful management today, but Marti has no idea who Rowett will select or to what formation. Rowett is a 4-4-2 man, but that is not how Birmingham have been setting up. So planning will be less effective – a key part of the new manager bounce!

But perhaps the biggest impact is on the fanbase. Lose the game before the break, and drop into the relegation zone, and it is two long weeks to dwell and get miserable. A good victory and the message boards are quiet, and the optimism builds to an unrealistic level. Nervous going into the window, terrified when it is over.

But a crucial scheduled Birmingham game will be by Friday a very nervy occasion. But I suspect Marti will be concentrating on our game more. Armstrong & Dykes highly unlikely to start. Frey leading the line.

[harr]

Mar 27, 2024 8:55:58 GMT rickyqpr said:

Mar 27, 2024 8:24:38 GMT harr said:

Seems to have been ages since the last match and waiting for Fridays one?
After only twice in eleven games, will it be a bad thing for us?
Bad timing for Rowett that’s for sure.
Anyone nervous for the next 5 games in just 15 days?

Good luck Rangers, final push now, do it for Marti.

Yeah, apart from being boring, the international breaks really do upset the momentum.

Teams playing well rarely carry on after the break, but when playing regularly the form can build – it is like starting a new mini-season after each break.

Injured players target the break for their return, giving teams more options. Players go away with their country and pick up knocks, sometimes serious ones, and by definition, these can be the best players a team has.

The harmony of the squad is disrupted through the call ups. Preparation for the next game for called up players, non-existent as they return so late, many are often rested for the first game. Rowett has said that he is yet to meet some of his top players.

Owners decide to make managerial changes ahead of the fortnight, so clubs can return with the new manager bounce. Analysis of the opposition, sending scouts etc. is a big part of successful management today, but Marti has no idea who Rowett will select or to what formation. Rowett is a 4-4-2 man, but that is not how Birmingham have been setting up. So planning will be less effective – a key part of the new manager bounce!

But perhaps the biggest impact is on the fanbase. Lose the game before the break, and drop into the relegation zone, and it is two long weeks to dwell and get miserable. A good victory and the message boards are quiet, and the optimism builds to an unrealistic level. Nervous going into the window, terrified when it is over.

But a crucial scheduled Birmingham game will be by Friday a very nervy occasion. But I suspect Marti will be concentrating on our game more. Armstrong & Dykes highly unlikely to start. Frey leading the line.

It’s certainly going to be interesting Ricky.
Also we have the who will be scoring against Rangers day.
Dozell, Roberts , Sanderson, Laird 
I just hope we come away with minimum a point.

[robindubois]

Agree with all of Ricky's comment above.

As Dozell is on a loan I would have expected that we had a clause that he cannot play against us - unless we planted him on Brum to drag them down.

Of the others a Sanderson header from a corner most likely. Roberts - will he even be fit to play and Laird may still be down the nightclub.

[harr]

Mar 27, 2024 13:09:20 GMT robindubois said:

Agree with all of Ricky's comment above.

As Dozell is on a loan I would have expected that we had a clause that he cannot play against us - unless we planted him on Brum to drag them down.

Of the others a Sanderson header from a corner most likely. Roberts - will he even be fit to play and Laird may still be down the nightclub.

Lairds been playing quite a lot of their recent games and Roberts the last couple too.

[robindubois]

Mar 27, 2024 15:02:01 GMT harr said:

Mar 27, 2024 13:09:20 GMT robindubois said:

Agree with all of Ricky's comment above.

As Dozell is on a loan I would have expected that we had a clause that he cannot play against us - unless we planted him on Brum to drag them down.

Of the others a Sanderson header from a corner most likely. Roberts - will he even be fit to play and Laird may still be down the nightclub.

Lairds been playing quite a lot of their recent games and Roberts the last couple too.

Yeap and those games just happen to be at the height of Brums slide down the table - co-incidence?

[harr]

Mar 28, 2024 8:50:40 GMT robindubois said:

Mar 27, 2024 15:02:01 GMT harr said:

Lairds been playing quite a lot of their recent games and Roberts the last couple too.

Yeap and those games just happen to be at the height of Brums slide down the table - co-incidence?

Let’s hope so.

[Marc]

Rotherham could be relegated on Monday.

[harr]

Last 7 matches , after Blackburn have played Ipswich this evening

Swansea -
Fixtures: QPR (h), Middlesbrough (a), Stoke (h), Rotherham (h), Huddersfield (a), Norwich (a), Millwall (h)

Plymouth -
Fixtures: Bristol City (h), Rotherham (a), QPR (h), Leicester (h), Stoke (a), Millwall (a), Hull (h)

Blackburn -
Fixtures: Sunderland (a), Southampton (h), Bristol City (a), Leeds (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h), Coventry (h), Leicester (a)

Millwall -
Fixtures: , Rotherham (a), Huddersfield (a), Leicester (h), Cardiff (h), Sunderland (a), Plymouth (h), Swansea (a)

Birmingham -
Fixtures: Preston (h), Leicester (a), Cardiff (h), Coventry (h), Rotherham (a), Huddersfield (a), Norwich (h)


QPR -
Fixtures: Swansea (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h), Plymouth (a), Hull (a), Preston (h), Leeds (h), Coventry (a)


Huddersfield -
Fixtures: Stoke (a), Millwall (h), Preston (a), Bristol City (a), Swansea (h), Birmingham (a), Ipswich (h)


Stoke -
Fixtures: Huddersfield (h), West Brom (h), Swansea (a), Sheffield Wednesday (a), Plymouth (h), Southampton (a), Bristol City (h)

Sheffield Wednesday -

Fixtures:, Middlesbrough (a), QPR (a), Norwich (h), Stoke (h), Blackburn (a), West Brom (h), Sunderland (a)

[harr]

Blackburn, Plymouth , Huddersfield losses
Draws for Millwall Swansea Sheff Weds
Wins for QPR and Stoke
Pretty good day

Blackburn still having to play three of the top four too.

[hitmanrangers]

Stoke win at Hull probably gives them safety as they have some winnable games at home and showing decent form. Millwall's next two games against Rotherham and Huddersfield. I think it is now 2 from us and below with Blackburn in serious trouble. Sheffield Weds bad goal difference likely will send them down. 48 points now likely enough but I would like a couple more than that just to be sure.

[rickyqpr]

Looking at the fixtures drives me crazy. Our form since Marti arrived should give me confidence.
But we are QPR, and for every high, we seem to generate a low. So, Monday will be interesting. Will we be more relaxed, or complacent, or knackered?
Some of the clubs have tougher fixtures than us e.g. Blackburn. But our fixtures are skewed so that the next 3 are key and potential 6 pointers. If we can avoid defeat in all 3, with 2 of them away, we will be doing well.

[harr]

Ideally if we can be more than 4 points off relegation before we play Hull
Hull Preston Leeds and Cov is a tough rough in, so in an ideal position we could be say 6 points in from if the others.
Birmingham have to play Hudderfield in the penultimate game, what a game that might be and of course they can’t both catch 3 points on us.
Sheff Weds still have some tough games , Boro, Norwich, WBA away at ours etc.
We just need to keep it going , I’m hoping for 4-5 points from Swansea Sheff Weds and Swansea and we MUST NOT lose to Sheff Weds , even a draw. Would probably be ok if we can beat Plymouth or Swansea

[Marc]

Rotherham finally gone.

[sharky]

Apr 1, 2024 16:04:32 GMT Marc said:

Rotherham finally gone.

Not quite yet according to the BBC

[Marc]

Apr 1, 2024 16:07:52 GMT sharky said:

Apr 1, 2024 16:04:32 GMT Marc said:

Rotherham finally gone.

Not quite yet according to the BBC

No, but they have to win their last 6 games (they've won 4 all season) and hope teams above lose all theirs. And then there's their -49 goal difference!

[harr]

Almost the perfect day apart from Birmingham winning.
Their first win in 8 matches, 4 points from 24.
Their prize for that win is a trip to Leicester.

Blackburn win today against a rotten Sunderland team but their run in is still the worse by far, Sheff Weds is only their decent game and could yet be brought into this.
Millwalls bubble has burst recently, losing at Rotherham will hurt.

Some crunch games in Bold 



Swansea -
Fixtures: Middlesbrough (a), Stoke (h), Rotherham (h), Huddersfield (a), Norwich (a), Millwall (h)

Plymouth -
Fixtures: Rotherham (a), QPR (h), Leicester (h), Stoke (a), Millwall (a), Hull (h)

Blackburn -
Fixtures: Southampton (h), Bristol City (a), Leeds (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h), Coventry (h), Leicester (a)

Millwall -
Fixtures: , Huddersfield (a), Leicester (h), Cardiff (h), Sunderland (a), Plymouth (h), Swansea (a)

Birmingham -
Fixtures: Leicester (a), Cardiff (h), Coventry (h), Rotherham (a), Huddersfield (a), Norwich (h)


QPR -
Fixtures: Sheffield Wednesday (h), Plymouth (a), Hull (a), Preston (h), Leeds (h), Coventry (a)


Huddersfield -
Fixtures: Millwall (h), Preston (a), Bristol City (a), Swansea (h), Birmingham (a), Ipswich (h)


Stoke -
Fixtures: , West Brom (h), Swansea (a), Sheffield Wednesday (a), Plymouth (h), Southampton (a), Bristol City (h)


Sheffield Wednesday -
, QPR (a), Norwich (h), Stoke (h), Blackburn (a), West Brom (h), Sunderland (a)

[robindubois]

Stewards enquiry needed on Sunderland - disinterested and let in 5 to a Blackburn team that had only scored 4 in the previous 10 games. Not just 3 points but goal difference impacted as well.

Sunderland still have to play 2 of the relegation mix teams including last game of the season at home to Sheff Wed. .

[harr]

Just typical that Plymouth on a shocking run, have Rotherham on the TV Friday night , so if they get a win, finally it will boost their confidence at home to us.
We must put another good performance in Saturday

[robindubois]

Apr 2, 2024 13:16:46 GMT harr said:

Just typical that Plymouth on a shocking run, have Rotherham on the TV Friday night , so if they get a win, finally it will boost their confidence at home to us.
We must put another good performance in Saturday

Possibly but if they lose and Huddersfield beat Millwall they will be adrift in the bottom 3 before they play us and will either be less confident or fighting even more.

So many possible outcomes. We "just" need 6 more points and then can really relax but getting 6 more points is not as easy as it may seem with 2 bottom of the table fights, including Plymouth who I have no great recollection of being a team we do well against. That followed by 4 games against those fighting for promotion and play-offs. Plus now Preston is a dreaded Sky late kick-off.  

In theory three of the current 5 bottom teams should fill the relegation places but if any team from Swansea in 15th and below hit a bad run and lose say 5 of their last 6 they will be in trouble. Plus those in the bottom 5 have been on bad runs that could or are due to turn around turn quickly with a couple of wins.

Maybe we should have a "forecast the bottom three" competition - it would be harder than forecast the next result. 

Still sticking to my stance that we have control of our own fate so I concentrate on that and not what other clubs may do. I'm almost certain it will go to the last game of the season and probably then be decided on goal difference. Given where we were when Marti arrived who would have bet we would be in 16th with 6 games to go. The influence of his January signings have had a big part in getting us there imo as well as getting much more out of what we had.  Looks like we have found a good manager ....now I wonder who identified him and will that person(s) ever get any credit. Plus how long can we keep Marti?.

[harr]

I guess we shouldn’t be scared of anyone of our remaining games apart from Leeds as we have lost only two in thirteen now.
If we go undefeated in our next two matches that’s basically lost two in a third of the season, from where we was under GA that’s remarkable
Coventry just lost at home, Hull are up and down and not in great form, Preston lost to Birmingham , the first team Brum beat in 8 games.
For sure two wins will keep us up, maybe less points than that.
I think the bottom two will struggle to get 50.
I’m still not counting Blackburn getting sucked into this yet.
We also have games like Birmingham v Huddersfield where they can’t both pick up points.

[hitmanrangers]

Beat Sheff Weds then we are safe I think. 49 points and there is minimal chance Sheff Weds plus one other would get more than that with 5 games to go.

[harr]

It is possible that by next Tuesday Sheff Weds will not be able to catch us with 4 games remaining.
If we did win our next two games and Sheff Weds failed to beat Norwich on Tuesday.

Not getting carried away though, would so be the QPR thing to beat Birmingham and Swansea only to lose to Sheff W and Plymouth and put us right back in the lurch with 4 games to go.

But I think in 6 days time we will have a pretty good idea what Division we will starting in August.

[surreychad]

just read that several clubs are looking at Jake Clarck Salter. I am not surprised as he has been superb after getting past his injuries, but the attention is not welcome at this stage of the season.

[rickyqpr]

Apr 3, 2024 7:37:19 GMT surreychad said:

just read that several clubs are looking at Jake Clarck Salter. I am not surprised as he has been superb after getting past his injuries, but the attention is not welcome at this stage of the season.

I think that this feels quite real as rumours go.
I think JCS will be quite keen to progress, and he has had an exceptional 2nd half of the season.
We know we are a selling club, he has one more year on his contract, his value is higher than at any time since he joined, and he is always one tackle away from an injury and long layoff.
Hope that if he leaves in the Summer, we maximize the fee and spend it wisely.
Priority for the Summer, still a striker and a keeper, although thankfully Begovic had one of his best games at Swansea.

[robindubois]

Not surprised at the rumours and while we need cash selling him this summer would leave us weak especially with the formations Marti goes with.

Cook and Fox are both getting on so will they last another hard Championship season?. If not we are down to Dunne and need to make a big profit on someone and release others to afford to replace a striker, keeper, centre backs, right back and potentially mid fielders. Another unwanted giant rebuild.

Our FFP situation next season should be easier with the roll off of our bigger loss making season of the rolling 3 years and at some time we need to stick with a consistent squad and not rebuild every summer - even free's cost money with agent and signing on fees.

Only problem at the moment is the rumours could unsettle JCS and even start him pulling out of tackles or games to stay fit for a transfer - although I'm sure he has been aware of possibilities for some time and will want to perform well to pump up his potential wages either with us or elsewhere.

Big problem imo is we are stuck with Dykes for another couple of seasons and who would take him even on a free - maybe back to Scotland if he manages to score another goal this season.

[harr]

No so fussed with Fox but Cox could definitely do another season or two, he is one of the factors of why this team has turned it around.
Sad to lose JCS if we do, we stuck with him while things were bad, will he stick with us and honour loyalties, probably not it tends not to go that way in football.

[hitmanrangers]

Apr 3, 2024 10:22:25 GMT robindubois said:

Not surprised at the rumours and while we need cash selling him this summer would leave us weak especially with the formations Marti goes with.

Cook and Fox are both getting on so will they last another hard Championship season?. If not we are down to Dunne and need to make a big profit on someone and release others to afford to replace a striker, keeper, centre backs, right back and potentially mid fielders. Another unwanted giant rebuild.

Our FFP situation next season should be easier with the roll off of our bigger loss making season of the rolling 3 years and at some time we need to stick with a consistent squad and not rebuild every summer - even free's cost money with agent and signing on fees.

Only problem at the moment is the rumours could unsettle JCS and even start him pulling out of tackles or games to stay fit for a transfer - although I'm sure he has been aware of possibilities for some time and will want to perform well to pump up his potential wages either with us or elsewhere.

Big problem imo is we are stuck with Dykes for another couple of seasons and who would take him even on a free - maybe back to Scotland if he manages to score another goal this season.

Dykes - he must be moved on and I still think there are a few stupid clubs interested that would give us c£1-2m for him, especially with a decent showing at the Euros, if he gets minutes.