Cheque(book) please

[Forest Gump]

A short while back there was, perhaps, some justification for the fate-tempting phrase "only another 5 wins". But this now looks like quite a big "ask" in my book.

On the evidence of the last two home games it is difficult to see where this squad could earn another 5 wins? Watford at home perhaps; maybe Charlton away? Other than that I think we may be hoping for 13 or so draws to reach "safety". Assuming the worst out of Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Everton away and Portsmouth and Liverpool at home, we may have to avoid defeat in all of the remaining fixtures to reach a viable points target.

Of course there will be beneficial surprises on the way and it looks as if 2 of 3 relegation places are already filled - so we have a good chance but with the current squad it will probably be very close. A bottom half finish looks almost certain and a bottom 4 place is quite likely.

Hopefully a reality check is now taking place at Board level and the Wigan "model" is being re-adopted; must spend at least £7m on the transfer market during the window. This probably translates to £10m with inflation and the increased level of competition and will probably represent a solid centre-back and mid-fielder with a centre-forward and one other coming in on loan.

The current players were a truly great Championship side but they are now realistically out of their depth and we need to move on.

So I don't want to hear any of this "...it'll be better when Convey or Kitson are back" b*ll*cks - there are untried at this level and we quality players who can definitely cope at Premiership level.

The next person who says "only x points from a European place" - would they please shut up!

[Sharpy]

agreed, my dad who doesnt follow us atall said yesterday our squad is paper thin and we need competition for places and back up

[Stranded]

I love this board. 4 straight wins in November and it's Europe here we come. Then 1 pt out of 12 and it's a relegation battle and the team is out of their depth.

How about we are just having a bad run of form that the players could quite possibly turn around again like they have already done so.

Of course we will strengthen in Jan, that is a given. It won't be star names though, as that is not the Coppell way.

[Adz1871]

A short while back there was, perhaps, some justification for the fate-tempting phrase "only another 5 wins". But this now looks like quite a big "ask" in my book.

On the evidence of the last two home games it is difficult to see where this squad could earn another 5 wins? Watford at home perhaps; maybe Charlton away? Other than that I think we may be hoping for 13 or so draws to reach "safety". Assuming the worst out of Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Everton away and Portsmouth and Liverpool at home, we may have to avoid defeat in all of the remaining fixtures to reach a viable points target.

Of course there will be beneficial surprises on the way and it looks as if 2 of 3 relegation places are already filled - so we have a good chance but with the current squad it will probably be very close. A bottom half finish looks almost certain and a bottom 4 place is quite likely.

Hopefully a reality check is now taking place at Board level and the Wigan "model" is being re-adopted; must spend at least £7m on the transfer market during the window. This probably translates to £10m with inflation and the increased level of competition and will probably represent a solid centre-back and mid-fielder with a centre-forward and one other coming in on loan.

The current players were a truly great Championship side but they are now realistically out of their depth and we need to move on.

So I don't want to hear any of this "...it'll be better when Convey or Kitson are back" b*ll*cks - there are untried at this level and we quality players who can definitely cope at Premiership level.

The next person who says "only x points from a European place" - would they please shut up!

As long as we finish higher than the bottom 3, im not bothered where they come from ... It could be Charlton (aint hard) or Chelsea, whatever the case 3 points is 3 points and i'll be happy