Saint Fan CaM

Swansea will beat Stoke, may even get a result against Bompey (but probably not). So we need to go for two wins to really stand a chance. Can’t see us getting more than a point today and probably nothing. I still think there’s more chance of us going down than not.

I will be delighted with a draw, but ecstatic with a win as this will put huge pressure on other teams around us. Unfortunately though it is extremely likely we will lose and our relegation rivals will pick up points. Nothing is in the bag yet. Nothing.

This is the epitome of a must not lose game if ever there was one. Need to pack midfield so expect to see Austin up top on his own again and Tadic supporting in some way. Trouble is, Everton are a team that need to high pressed to reduce the pressure on our flaky defence and that could be difficult. If we get a draw it will be good day...lose and it’s goodbye Prem.

Four points minimum might be enough, however there are likely to be a number of surprise results from unlikely candidates over the last 3 games. We need to focus purely on what we do...nothing we can do about the others and nothing is certain. Lose to Everton and I think it’s over IMHO.

Brilliant win and atmosphere. Players seemed to care. I actually enjoyed a game.

Hughes has proved he can work with a limited squad and get a result. So yes for me, whatever league we're in. Players to lose are Redmond, Carillo, Davis. Regarding CBs it depends if we go down...go down we keep what we have...stay up we need to replace Hoedt, Bednarek or Stephens...or possibly even 2 of those 3.

Very little confidence we win. I suspect a goal from them on the counter as we try to push for the win. I would love us to turn in a huge performance and a big score...say 4-2.

No use looking back now...it's do or die. Personally I don't think we've got the players to pull it off. At best a draw. There's a reason why they are above us in the table don't forget.

3-0 Chelski. We might muster 1 or 2 shots on target if we’re lucky, but nothing of any substance or danger. Another detecting defeat for an already demoralised squad.

The Championship = the lower half of the Prem in terms of quality generally and we’ve been playing like a lower Championship team for two years. This is because we’ve packed out the squad with Championship/L1 quality players. So to get out of the Championship we will need a squad that collectively is better than lower half Prem (as we did with Adkins squad). It will be a very risky summer in terms of ins and outs and one I foresee Reed and Co getting horribly wrong.

I like the cut of this lads jib. He gives everything on the pitch and has an admirable care about the job he’s employed to do with the employer he’s contracted to. If he stays (i.e. Reed doesn’t sell him in panic) he will stand out in the Championship.

You lost me at 'win'. I'll eat my pants if we beat Chelski Sunday and then go on to beat Utd in the final. I'm am laughing uncontrollably as I write this at the sheer naivety thinking we'll win the cup.

Good analysis...that’s how I saw it too. Sometimes fans forget that players are given strict instructions to follow to deliver a game plan...in this case don’t lose. I will say however that I wonder whether having more attacking intent would have been a bad thing even if it did end in a loss. Providing it was not a heavy loss would it have made a difference? Is a point good enough when you’re desperate for three? Not sure.

Wouldn’t have a problem with Hughes staying, but doubt it will happen. It’s Reed I want out...he’s responsible for the mess we’re in through awful transfer business and managerial appointments. The squad we’ve been putting out is substandard...been saying for months...too many Championship/L1 level players.

It will be WBA, Stoke and us. Even if (and it’s a huge IF) we were to find some form, there’s too much to be done now to overcome an increasing gap. Need to face the facts...the Board (i.e. Les Reed) have turned a fabulous well designed project into a disaster in 1.5 seasons. Quite extraordinary really and a failure that should see heads roll, although I suspect it’ll not be top management that suffers.

We’ll lose. 2-0.

In what World does anyone think this squad - the one that has performed so terribly all season - will pull out of a terminal nose dive? Yes, I remember the great escape seasons, but there was more about the teams then. The very nature of the seasons performances lead me to believe we’re down already. Sure, it was better in the last two games...but we still lost, even when 2-0 up FFS. Games over...we’ve been found out...the Emperors clothes have been stripped from Les’ flabby back.

We will lose at Leicester unfortunately. There's just not enough in the tank with this squad. Les has assembled a disaster of a squad and it's a crying shame that he dallied around with sacking MP and appointing Hughes. I've expected us to be down for weeks now...actually months. And this based not on results, but mainly on watching the tactically inept poor performances over and over and over....

Yes. Needing some consistency now and he’s done a good job in a short time.

Hughes has made a difference, but we were down at Xmas when Reed didn’t act early to sack the clown. I am saving all my hope for better decisions in the Championship, starting with a new contract for Hughes...we need consistency now.

I like Sims, but defensively he has a lot to learn. Everyone berated Stephens and Cedric for Arsenal’s third, but if you watch Sims he is stood on the edge of the area ball watching...not the actions of a player that understands the predicament we’re in or the stature of a player that could make a difference defensively. Not entirely his fault...he’s not been near the first team consistently enough it could be argued to gain from that experience.

Surely it will depend on (a) whether there is a relegation clause in a given players contract and (b) whether the club is strong willed enough to ensure a given player sees out his contract? History tells us neither of these things will hold true, so if we go down there will be a significant overhaul of the squad, with many youngsters getting the call. I highly expect to see Targett or similar to be our LB next season.

Good bye game.

And that’s what happens if you lay back and invite pressure, don’t go for the 2nd and then switch off at the back.

Hughes has set the team up as perfectly as he could for this game. Ref looks like he might try to even things up for Arsenal.