03 Nov 2026 11:16:02
I was calling for Farke's head a year ago. And with a weaker squad he turned it around by tweaking and showing tactical flexibility. My faith in him isn't absolute but I've learnt my lesson from last time. I'd only begin to be slightly worried about Farke if we take less than three points from the next three. So a win vs. coventry and two defeats would be ok, not ideal, but ok.
We have a rough few fixtures, in Spurs, Chelsea, Coventry.
Ipswich: Bournemouth, Spurs, Villa
Fulham: Newcastle, City, Bournemouth
Coventry: Everton, Palace, Leeds
Manchester United: Villa, Liverpool, Brentford
Palace: Liverpool coventry, hull
Forest: City, Bournemouth, Chelsea
Sunderland: Chelsea, Villa, Spurs.
My point is aside from Coventry, and potentially Palace, it looks really hard for these sides to take too many points. Palace and Coventry actually play each other so it'll be hard for them to both do well in this run, a draw wouldn't be too bad there. Coventry will be under a bit of pressure with these 'kind-ish' fixtures to get at least four points I reckon, which brings its own kind of pressure.
Palace just lost Mateta for three games with a red, Larsen has had niggly injuries and they are shipping goals for fun. They still can't get Sarr fit and its too much for Wharton to shoulder alone. The owner clearly isn't convinced by the manager either, which doesn't help his authority.
Manchester United are a crisis club without a natural LB or fit centre forward. Fulham are struggling to score if it isn't Iwobi or Josh King. Glasner might be on the brink and Delap cant score (so glad we weren't in for him) . Sunderland have their share of injuries to Brobbey and Ballard, and are severely stretched with Europe. Their immediate run is even more brutal with Liverpool and Newcastle after Chelsea, Villa, Spurs. I'd be shocked if they take more than 4 points from that run.
You don't like to make the argument that we'll be ok because we're not good but there are x number of teams in worse shape right now. But it is worth noting. The table is beginning to take shape about a quarter of the way in. There's a reason why the teams behind are us are behind us.
Of course we have to start playing better and that Coventry game is big if not quite a six-pointer yet.
I also predict a managerial sacking merry-go-round has a better than fair chance of seeing Carrick, Le Bris and Glasner gone after these three games.
1.) 03 Nov 2026
03 Nov 2026 18:28:31
Eailing with regards to your managerial sacking predictions, I think you will need to definitely add
Sage in significant peril at Palace.
Jaissle at some peril at Newcastle.
And
Farke potentially in peril at Leeds if results continue to deteriorate further between now and end of December.
For all the lampooning by peeps of Lampard a few months ago, he is longer odds with bookies of being sacked than Farke and seven other EPL coaches !
2.) 03 Nov 2026
03 Nov 2026 22:51:15
You always see everything as it stands Baz, the football season is long and often changes.
Couldn't care less about Frank Lampard and his Club, maybe they survive or maybe they won't, who cares !
Unless clubs like Sunderland, Newcastle or Palace free fall, my money will be on chubby Frank to get his team relegated.
I'd also place my money on Sunderland and Forest scraping out of the mire by the end of this season.
3.) 04 Nov 2026
04 Nov 2026 00:30:24
Err OP it. was only a few weeks ago you were proclaiming Spuds as Relegation fodder.4 wins later they are up to 8th.
4.) 04 Nov 2026
04 Nov 2026 11:35:44
Last year after 9 games we had 8 points and finished 14th. This time after 9 games we have 11 points.
Don't panic Captain Mainwaring!
5.) 04 Nov 2026
04 Nov 2026 11:39:01
Their safety is no where near assured.
Let's see where they are in January, they are only 5 points from the relegation zone.
6.) 04 Nov 2026
04 Nov 2026 13:30:48
JR
Last seez we also had 11 points from 9 games ( 3 wins 2 draws 3 defeats)
7.) 04 Nov 2026
04 Nov 2026 16:31:43
I totally agree baz about palace and sage. I did say the owner doesn't like the coach over results performances and the canvot dropping incident.
I do think that sage is a decent coach. He essentially inherited a mess where the panicked on overspending on Larsen and Johnson which I've already covered, leaving to very little to work with. They rushed three signings over the line on deadline day including chilwell who's barely been used. Larsen hasn't hit the ground running and when mateta isn't injured he's getting sent off.
They then lost riad to ACL and even Henderson has missed time this season already. The only star they have is Wharton and he's struggling with the pressure and lack of support. I think 16th or 17th would be a huge success for sage but given what glasner did they won't accept that.