Relegation dog fight - the twists and turns

[Coppelled Streets]

BiROFLmingham take a 5-1 hammering at Villa today and give us a bit of hope of survivaLOL.

Liverpool at home next for Brum.

FuLOLham all but doomed now.

13 Wigan Ath 35 36
14 Middlesbro' 35 36
15 Sunderland 34 36
16 Bolton 35 32
17 Reading 35 32
---------------------------------------
18 Birmingham 35 31
19 Fulham 35 27
20 Derby 35 11

Bolton away to Spurs next
Reading away to Wigan next
Birmingham home to Liverpool next

[mini _dariusz]

Birmingham will be playing Liverpool Reserves next week.

[rg6royal]

Birmingham will be playing Liverpool Reserves next week.

I think it will be a similar team that they put out against Fulham tbh

[crossie]

Talking of reserves:

"I'd just like to stick up for Steve Sidwell. Our reserves were going nowhere til he arrived."
Chels fan, via text

Anyway, I think it's gonna go down to the last game of the season.

[Kitsondinho]

Birmingham will be playing Liverpool Reserves next week.

Doesn't mean they will beat Liverpool......those reserves aren't that bad....they are just arent as good as United's or Chelskis reserves!

[Coppelled Streets]

I fancy Birmingham at home though. They'll we very fired up for it. McGleish (sp?) is a very good manager. He oozes passion. I love Coppell but wish we had someone in the mould of Alex McGleish.

Looking at remaining fixtures, Fulham have gone. No way back for them now.

I can't see Reading getting anything from the two away games. Derby County or not, I don't see it. Spurs is a massive game for us and we have to hope they have their feet up when they visit us in 13 days time.

Birmingham, don't they still have Fulham to play as well?

It'll take a major change in form for the Royals to survive but, as they say, the fat lady aint singing just yet. And if she dares stand up, the stewards will be quick to sit her fat arse back down I'm sure.

[readingbedding]

I fancy Birmingham at home though. They'll we very fired up for it. McGleish (sp?) is a very good manager. He oozes passion. I love Coppell but wish we had someone in the mould of Alex McGleish.
Looking at remaining fixtures, Fulham have gone. No way back for them now.

I can't see Reading getting anything from the two away games. Derby County or not, I don't see it. Spurs is a massive game for us and we have to hope they have their feet up when they visit us in 13 days time.

Birmingham, don't they still have Fulham to play as well?

It'll take a major change in form for the Royals to survive but, as they say, the fat lady aint singing just yet. And if she dares stand up, the stewards will be quick to sit her fat arse back down I'm sure.

Jesus Christ.

More 'passion' equals good manager/player bollocks.
I have lots of 'passion' for RFC, doesn't mean I could manage them any better than someone who had less 'passion'.
How do you measure 'passion' anyway?

[paultheroyal]

I fancy Birmingham at home though. They'll we very fired up for it. McGleish (sp?) is a very good manager. He oozes passion. I love Coppell but wish we had someone in the mould of Alex McGleish.

Looking at remaining fixtures, Fulham have gone. No way back for them now.

I can't see Reading getting anything from the two away games. Derby County or not, I don't see it. Spurs is a massive game for us and we have to hope they have their feet up when they visit us in 13 days time.

Birmingham, don't they still have Fulham to play as well?

It'll take a major change in form for the Royals to survive but, as they say, the fat lady aint singing just yet. And if she dares stand up, the stewards will be quick to sit her fat arse back down I'm sure.

Sounds like you have given up already!!

[Coppelled Streets]

I fancy Birmingham at home though. They'll we very fired up for it. McGleish (sp?) is a very good manager. He oozes passion. I love Coppell but wish we had someone in the mould of Alex McGleish.

Looking at remaining fixtures, Fulham have gone. No way back for them now.

I can't see Reading getting anything from the two away games. Derby County or not, I don't see it. Spurs is a massive game for us and we have to hope they have their feet up when they visit us in 13 days time.

Birmingham, don't they still have Fulham to play as well?

It'll take a major change in form for the Royals to survive but, as they say, the fat lady aint singing just yet. And if she dares stand up, the stewards will be quick to sit her fat arse back down I'm sure.

Sounds like you have given up already!!

It's been a tough season and I don't honestly see us picking up anymore points. I hope so, just don't see where from.

I look at Birmingham and see a handfull of players that are far better than that of our own. Same for Bolton.

But then a couple of months ago we couldn't see us winning three on the spin so who knows what will happen.

[Schards#2]

I fancy Birmingham at home though. They'll we very fired up for it. McGleish (sp?) is a very good manager. He oozes passion. I love Coppell but wish we had someone in the mould of Alex McGleish.

Looking at remaining fixtures, Fulham have gone. No way back for them now.

I can't see Reading getting anything from the two away games. Derby County or not, I don't see it. Spurs is a massive game for us and we have to hope they have their feet up when they visit us in 13 days time.

Birmingham, don't they still have Fulham to play as well?

It'll take a major change in form for the Royals to survive but, as they say, the fat lady aint singing just yet. And if she dares stand up, the stewards will be quick to sit her fat arse back down I'm sure.

Sounds like you have given up already!!

It's been a tough season and I don't honestly see us picking up anymore points. I hope so, just don't see where from.

I look at Birmingham and see a handfull of players that are far better than that of our own. Same for Bolton.

But then a couple of months ago we couldn't see us winning three on the spin so who knows what will happen.

Doesn't the fact that Derby have won only once all season give you some belief that we may pick up at least a point there?

It would be typical of Reading to balls it up but any outsider looking at that will see it as, at worst, a draw.

[The 17 Bus]

Villa winning today means that if they win their last 3 games they make the EUFA cup, they have everton, Wigan and west Ham away to play. This means if we beat wigan then they have to go to Villa, and Man U on last day of the season, Man U could still need a win to take title, if Chelsea beat them at Stamford Bridge, there is a lot to play for yet, and if we can show the spirit we can get out of this mess and regroup for the future, beat wigan and one more point could be enough.

[rg6royal]

Villa winning today means that if they win their last 3 games they make the EUFA cup, they have everton, Wigan and west Ham away to play. This means if we beat wigan then they have to go to Villa, and Man U on last day of the season, Man U could still need a win to take title, if Chelsea beat them at Stamford Bridge, there is a lot to play for yet, and if we can show the spirit we can get out of this mess and regroup for the future, beat wigan and one more point could be enough.

Bring It On

[Coppelled Streets]

Doesn't the fact that Derby have won only once all season give you some belief that we may pick up at least a point there?

It would be typical of Reading to balls it up but any outsider looking at that will see it as, at worst, a draw.

The way we're playing, I just can't see it. You'd almost expect a win wouldn't you? But we look lost out there.

A win at home to Spurs would set us up for that game and suddenly fill the team with belief, so fingers crossed.

[LUX]

beat wigan and one more point could be enough.

no. We'd go down on goal difference in that case.

But I get your general thrust. It was also very good that Sunderland lost yesterday. Not that I think we're likely to catch them, but if they lose at home to Boro (who are good away and are also in potential danger if they lose) they then go to Bolton needing something. If Sunderland beat Boro, they're on their holidays v Bolton, which would not be good.

[TBM]

Going into the last game of the season there is the potential for it to be like this:

14 Bolton 36
15 Boro 36
16 Wigan 36
17 Reading 36
18 Birmingham 34

IF
Birmingham:
Lose to Liverpool
Beat Fulham

Reading:
Beat Wigan
Draw Spurs

Wigan:
Lose to Reading
Lose to Villa

Boro:
Lose to Sunderland
Lose to Pompey

Bolton:
Draw with Spurs
Beat Sunderland

How exciting will the last game be then

[floyd__streete]

I can just picture the scene. Last day, Derby need to win to avoid the unwanted record low points tally, Reading need a win to stay in the division. Derby 2-0 Reading. Robbie Savage - predictably booed throughout by Reading supporters - runs over at full time to taunt those Reading fans who aren't busy crying, causing several nutters from Didcot go absolutely crazy and get arrested.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Surely the award for 'best effort at avoiding relegation in the face of sheer adversity' has to go to Bournemouth this season. Only 4 points away from climbing out of the drop zone after a 10 point deduction and having to borrow half a team from various clubs. Hope they do it

[Coppelled Streets]

Surely the award for 'best effort at avoiding relegation in the face of sheer adversity' has to go to Bournemouth this season. Only 4 points away from climbing out of the drop zone after a 10 point deduction and having to borrow half a team from various clubs. Hope they do it

'greed.

[Silver Fox]

Last day, Derby need to win to avoid the unwanted record low points tally, Reading need a win to stay in the division. Derby 2-0 Reading.

If avoiding the unwanted records is such a motivation and sure to get Derby the win, why isn't it going to work until the last day of the season?

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

It would be typical of Reading to balls it

And this is why we're down, we've seen us cock up time and time again. The last couple of seasons why been a blip on the readingshit-ometer.