An interesting fact is that there are only 4 potential teams that we haven't/will not take points off this season.
Palace and Arsenal definitely, Liverpool and Man City still to come....
Wolves have 9 fixtures left on the schedule. Currently in 7th, two points ahead of Spurs (though Spurs have two matches in hand) and two points behind West Ham, four behind Manchester United and five behind Arsenal (who have three matches in hand). Champions League is probably out of the question. So we are looking at possibilities of finishing as high as 5th and as low as 8th (12 points clear of 9th place Villa who have a match in hand).
Wolves remaining schedule consists of - opponent (current position in table):
Leeds (16th)
Villa (9th)
@Newcastle (14th)
Man City (1st)
@Burnley (19th)
Brighton (13th)
@Chelsea (3rd)
Norwich (20th)
@Liverpool (2nd)
Man U:
Leicester (12th)
@Everton (17th)
Norwich (20th)
@Arsenal (4th)
Brentford (15th)
@Brighton (13th)
Chelsea (3rd)
@Palace (11th)
To be rescheduled @Liverpool (2nd)
Also dealing with Champions League
West Ham:
@Tottenham (8th)
Everton (17th)
@Brentford (15th)
@Chelsea (3rd)
Arsenal (4th)
Norwich (20th)
Man City (1st)
@Brighton (13th)
Also dealing with Europa League
Tottenham:
@Brighton (13th)
West Ham (6th)
Newcastle (14th)
Aston Villa (9th)
Brighton (13th)
@Brentford (15th)
Leicester (12th)
@Liverpool (2nd)
Burnley (19th)
@Norwich (20th)
I think Wolves have the toughest remaining schedule because they play the top three, and two of them on the road. Those are half of our last six matches. So this next stretch before our final six is very important. We want to have points in hand and not chasing points down the stretch because it wouldn't be outrageous to see Wolves get 0 points from the Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City matches.
Must wins - @Burnley, Norwich
Should win - Brighton, Leeds
Swing match - Villa, @Newcastle
Hope for a point - Man City, @Chelsea, @Liverpool
In the last five seasons, 5th place has had as low as 62 points and as high as 71. But usually in the high 60s. But I think the mid 60s may be the number for this year. Can Wolves get 18 points from the final 27? It's a big ask, but that might be what it takes to get a Europa League spot this season.
An interesting fact is that there are only 4 potential teams that we haven't/will not take points off this season.
Palace and Arsenal definitely, Liverpool and Man City still to come....
Good one, Mich'...many thanks !
Excellent work Mich, thanks.
Good job Mitch, thanks, hope it thaws soon because I guess you must be snowed in in your cabin up there to turn that piece of work out!
Seriously, excellent stuff.
Updated results for the clubs involved. Since this post, Tottenham were on a tear until they lost to Brighton this past weekend. West Ham have been up and down, but so have Wolves. Arsenal have lost four of five and have Chelsea and ManU as their next fixtures. Wolves are only three and five points behind West Ham and ManU with a match in hand. However, half of our remaining matches are against the top 3 teams in the Prem. I think we have to get 7 from Burnley, Brighton & Norwich. And get 3 points from one of the other three matches. Otherwise, I don't like our chances of Europe very much. Probably need to beat either Leeds or Newcastle (or draw both) to feel good about our chances. Big ask of the club down the stretch, particularly without Neves!
Burnley win tonight against a mediocre Southampton side.
Good or bad sign for us?
I know what you mean Woking, we sometimes get ourselves in a promising position and then fail to turn up when really needed.
All games are important but I think tomorrow's game really is a must win against a side we have often been bullied by.