2025-26 Relegation thread

[Blue blood]

9 minutes ago, DE. said:

Looking increasingly like it's going to be between us, Portsmouth, Oxford, Charlton and Norwich for the final two relegation spots.

Charlton are on a horror run of form at the moment, they were looking pretty decent up until a couple of months ago, but they have fallen apart lately. 

Portsmouth are struggling but they have beaten both us and now Charlton recently, and if you're beating the teams in and around you, then that gives you half a chance. They'll be down there until the end, but they've got fight. 

Clement has dragged Norwich out of their death spiral, but they're still dropping a lot of points. A big January for them - invest a bit of money and I expect they'll claw their way out of it. Fail to do so and it'll be a nervy ride for them until May.

Oxford will have to make a very, very good hire to stay up. Curious to see who ends up there. They won't have much to spend in January, so they'll need to get in someone who can work with what he's got. Very difficult task. 

Our biggest concern, by far, is that we can't beat any of the teams in and around us. None of them. Unless a miracle happens and we spend well and wisely in January, we're going to be in for a tough few months. We really have to pray that when key players like Gudjohnsen and Morishita come back that they stay fit - and that Alebiosu also remains injury-free when he returns from international duty.

Exciting times, right Rudy? 

Good post. Only thing I can say which is encouraging is that all 4 of the other teams really do have a good case for going down. You've covered it well and I'd say all 4 other teams should be very worried. 

Oxford I think are sunk. Rowatt is a good manager and if he was struggling then I doubt there's a better hire that Oxford will get to turn things around. Saw their game vs Preston randomly and I do think they play worse stuff than us. For me even with our dire ownership Id put Oxford well ahead of us to go down. Lots of the players are League 1 quality still and they overachieved getting up so I think they are bound to go. 

No idea what has happened at Charlton after such a promising start. And from what I recall of Portsmouth this season and last a lot hinged on fitness of key players. If they keep them fit I think they'll stay up just but if they don't I would say they are very likely to go down

Norwich clearly have someone who is clueless in charge and we know ourselves how dangerous that can be. And whilst their form isn't as abject as before it certainly isn't good. Amd they've a few points to make up as well. They've played the change the manager card and it doesn't seem to be yielding great results. Given the cluelessness of those making transfers there I don't think they've too much cause for optimism either. 

Still reckon we'll be ok. Mainly because  there's only 2 places to play for/avoid and im very confident Oxford will take one of them. Given how neglected and mismanaged we are those are good odds having to be better than just one of those 3 other teams. Keep our best players and im confident we will do that. 

[DE.]

I think our fate will largely be decided by our January business (I don't exactly have high hopes here) and our injury situation for the second half of the campaign. If we get lucky with injuries/suspensions we probably have just about enough to survive this season. We're very fortunate that Wednesday have already taken one relegation spot. 

If I had to guess, I'd say it's going to come down to us, Portsmouth and Oxford. Charlton definitely a possibility as well, but if they get their early season form back then they'll be OK. I don't expect any of these teams, including us, will have a great deal to spend in January to strengthen. I'm not entirely sure on Norwich's situation, but Clement presumably wouldn't have been a cheap hire, so I assume they have some money set aside to try and improve the team. If you look at their form before and after Clement arrived there is noticeable improvement, but he did start from practically rock bottom. 

Managerial changes could also have a big impact. Val is safe as houses, so no point debating that. Mousinho I'd expect to be on solid ground as well with credit in the bank, but then, I didn't expect Oxford to sack Rowett. Not sure on Nathan Jones' situation - their form really is dire lately, but one assumes he will also have credit in the bank from last season's promotion. Oxford will be limited on who they can realistically bring in, and it's hard to imagine them bringing in somebody who can keep them up. Who knows though. They got Rowett in last season and managed it, so lightning may strike twice. 

[philipl]

Well that pathetic point at Hillsborough increased the gap to 22nd and 23rd.

[Ghost7]

We'd be on 32 points had the owners paid attention to or spent any money on the facilities they own. Inexcusable.

[lraC]

4 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

We'd be on 32 points had the owners paid attention to or spent any money on the facilities they own. Inexcusable.

Obviously still got the game in hand, but those 2 and possibly 5 points dropped, could prove to be crucial.

[sharpysharps86]

I keep looking at those awful looking final games of the season every time Rovers drop points in games they should be winning. It will catch up with them in the end I fear.

Portsmouth have turned a corner since beating Rovers, while I don't expect Norwich to be idle in January. I think its going to be Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, and one other between Norwich, Charlton, Pompey, and Rovers.

Edited 2 hours ago by sharpysharps86

[Wheelton Blue]

We retain an inability to win games.

When push comes to shove, we'll have to dig out some wins. I'm not sure we're capable of doing so, basically because the team as a whole doesn't score.

I thought from the season outset that we'd be a relegation candidate, and this still stands in my mind.

[RoversTilliDie]

We could struggle, with our long list of injuries, but if we can manage to pick up points in the 2 home games, teams below us, have tough games coming up.