It looks like a tall order from here, but if we can be on at least 16 points going into January, I’ll be more hopeful that we can beat the drop.

Let’s assume we’ll get nothing from the Chelsea match. There will then be another 13 games before the end of December. If we have 16 points at that stage, we will be 5 points off parity (i.e. one point per game). 16 points from 13 games equates to roughly 47 points over a season, which is sort of mid-table form. With the missing players returning and no further injuries to key players (yes I know, dream on), we are capable of that, aren’t we?

Then to reach 38 points from the remaining 17 games, we would need another 22. That’s slightly better form but still really only higher mid-table (49 points over a season, which we haven’t quite reached in the previous four seasons I know). However that should be doable, especially if we can strengthen adequately in January. After all, our form during all of 2015 bridging the two seasons was that of a top 6 side.

If we can gain more than 16 points by the end of the year, then so much the better, but we are likely to need more than 12 to stand half a chance of survival. Otherwise we would need to recapture that top 6 form again just to reach 38 points – and we don’t know for sure if that will be enough.

"Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
Mark Twain.

The average to dross teams above us must be thinking
" That's one place took up"
And only thinking they've got to be above two now.
As Mr Keegan said
" I would love it ,love it if we beat them"
Omg my only hope is to get fourth bottom then laugh back at the three below who would have sneered at us.
It's doable and possible and gonner happen.
Watch this space
COYP

Isn't the stat that matters is the club has zero healthy strikers with experience in the league?

When you think about it - since Xmas 2016 we have played 19 + 38 + 7 = 64 games and got 11 + 41 = 52 points.
That is disastrous!!

This will of course need to coincide with a transformation of our own fortunes.

We have easier fixtures ahead so there's reason to be hopeful but at the end of the day we still need the results regardless of how others play.