Actually no. If you have a better attack than defense yoi have more chances of staying up. Say you win 3 matches with 4-3 and lose 3 with 3-4. You have 9 points out of 6 matches.

If you win 1 match with 1-0,draw 4 0-0 or 1-1 and lose 1 match with 0-1, you have 7 points from 6 matches.

Multiply that by 38 matches. Yes,Bournemouth got relegated because they were poor defrnsively. But their attack wasn't that great either this year, with Callum Wilson not being the same, Ryan Fraser playing rarely as a starter and youngster Harry Wilson not being able to save them on his own. Also, injuries of David Brooks, Groenveld and many times Stanislas gave them few options.

But usually you get a higher chance of staying up with a good attack than with a good defence. It's mathematics. Of course, defence should not be neglected either. But it's better to play for 3 points even if it's once every 2 games than hold out for 2 draws.

A bit left field, but, a good piece & under the radar

[Link]

Professor Roy is a class act. I’m confident that with or without Zaha we will be nowhere near relegation. We’re not great to watch as we lack creative players, but this is a results business and we’re hard to beat. This is why we keep staying up.

We saw that when we do have a bit of creativity with the likes of RLC, Batman and Cabaye that Roy is capable of attractive football.

The run of 7 defeats was pretty dire but we were mostly up against the big boys who were fighting for European qualification. Nothing to play for in empty grounds probably my gets a bit demoralising for the players.

The signing of Ferguson and the emergence of Mitchell are big positives. Eze looks like it could happen. We’re a good striker away from a decent season again.

What about one of these.

Sarina Wiegman

Jill Ellis

Emma Hayes