Rickoza Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 With things beginning to head towards the split, I thought it interesting to look at the respective run-ins and the likelihood of Motherwell making it. Anyone as far as Aberdeen could make it and even though Hibs are on 22 they have a chance albiet a rank outside one. There's no doubt the top three places are already secure, so there are realistically 7 teams fighting for three places. Aberdeen have five consecutive home matches this month but, once into March, they'll have five left - and four away back-to-back (including perhaps a key one at Fir Park). Saint Johnstone have 9 left, six at home but three of their nine are against the Old Firm. Dundee United are perhaps the best placed potentially given they still have 11 games before the split, but you'd have to think that so many games crammed into such a short space of time will take it's toll. They've just began four away games on-the-trot before five at Tannadice (and that's not including a further home match against Rangers), and the old adage of points on the board being more important than games in hand might be their undoing. Inverness have to face most of those competing for the top six at home in the next month but their home record being worse than away that's the thing which possibly sees them missing out. As for Kilmarnock, it was remarked on the radio yesterda that teams have now sussed out the Paataleinen way of playing. Certainly, no-one could have forseen them losing 5 at Pittodrie and perhaps this is the start of their slide at the wrong time. Again for Kilmarnock, they have key home fixtures against fellow top six contenders coming up soon. And ourselves. Two wins this week have seen Motherwell go from no hopers to real contenders so it would seem. Our run-in is perhaps kinder than those around us. The key for ourselves is the four league matches between 5th March and 6th April, we go to Inverness and Kilmarnock and then face Aberdeen and Dundee United. Those four matches, coupled with the Tannadice cup tie will define our season. Can we do it - why the heck not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 A comprehensive assessment Ricky. We mustn't forget too that many of our rivals will have a fixture backlog to address. We've now almost caught up. Playing 3 games in a week will result in tiredness and injuries, as we've found out to our cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweed Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 There really is nothing much between the seven teams. You could make a case for any of them. If 4th had a real chance of being Europe it would make the league immensely exciting as really anyone down to Aberdeen has a chance and the race to be in the six would be crucial to let you compete for it in the last five games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelboy Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 There really is nothing much between the seven teams. You could make a case for any of them. If 4th had a real chance of being Europe it would make the league immensely exciting as really anyone down to Aberdeen has a chance and the race to be in the six would be crucial to let you compete for it in the last five games. there's still an decent chance of 4th getting europe. the scenario would be that the old firm side that comes 2nd wins the cup. it could be quite controversial as if us, dundee united, st johnstone, or ict make the cup final against an old firm side and the top six we'd know which team winning the league guaranteed us europe. by the same token kilmarnock and whatever sides aren't in the final would know that their only chance of europe is of the other team winning the spl. there's a lot of potential for for manipulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmcd Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Thought a few weeks ago that we had not a chance in hell of making the top 6 and a few people on here thought we were going to get relagated. The run in is going to be really interesting and with killie getting pumped yesterday gives us a right good chance. As it has been said i would rather have the points on the board than the games in hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_mfc Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Celtic v Rangers DRAW St. Mirren v Hibs DRAW Tuesday, 22 February 2011 Aberdeen v Hamilton, ABERDEEN WIN St Johnstone v Dundee Utd, DUNDEE WIN Wednesday, 23 February 2011 Motherwell v St Mirren, 19:45 WELL WIN Saturday, 26 February 2011 Aberdeen v Hearts, 12:00 HEARTS WIN Hamilton v Dundee Utd, 15:00 DUNDEE WIN Hibernian v Inverness CT, 15:00 HIBS WIN Kilmarnock v St Mirren, 15:00 KILLIE WIN Sunday, 27 February 2011 Motherwell v Celtic, 12:45 CELTIC WIN Rangers v St Johnstone, 15:00 RANGERS WIN Tuesday, 1 March 2011 Hamilton v Hibernian, 19:45 HIBS WIN Inverness CT v Dundee Utd, 19:45 DRAW Wednesday, 2 March 2011 Kilmarnock v Celtic, 19:45 CELTIC WIN St Johnstone v Aberdeen, 19:45 DRAW Thursday, 3 March 2011 Dundee Utd v Rangers, 19:45 RANGERS WIN Saturday, 5 March 2011 Celtic v Hamilton, 15:00 CELTIC WIN Hearts v Kilmarnock, 15:00 HEARTS WIN Inverness CT v Motherwell, 15:00 MOTHERWELL WIN St Johnstone v Hibernian, 15:00 ST JOHNSTONE WIN Sunday, 6 March 2011 St Mirren v Rangers, 12:45 RANGERS WIN Monday, 7 March 2011 Dundee Utd v Aberdeen, 19:45 DRAW Thursday, 10 March 2011 Dundee Utd v Hamilton, 19:45 DUNDEE UNITED WIN Wednesday, 16 March 2011 Celtic v Hibernian, 19:45 CELTIC WIN Dundee Utd v Hearts, 19:45 DRAW Saturday, 19 March 2011 Kilmarnock v Motherwell, 12:00 MOTHERWELL WIN Dundee Utd v Inverness CT, 15:00 DUNDEE UNITED WIN Hamilton v St Johnstone, 15:00 ST JOHNSTONE WIN Hearts v St Mirren, 15:00 HEARTS WIN Saturday, 2 April 2011 Inverness CT v Celtic, 12:00 CELTIC WIN Motherwell v Aberdeen, 15:00 DRAW Rangers v Dundee Utd, 15:00 RANGERS WIN St Johnstone v Kilmarnock, 15:00 DRAW St Mirren v Hamilton, 15:00 ST MIRREN WIN Sunday, 3 April 2011 Hibernian v Hearts, 12:45 HEARTS WIN Wednesday, 6 April 2011 Motherwell v Dundee Utd, 19:45 DUNDEE UNITED WIN St Mirren v Aberdeen, 19:45 ABERDEEN WIN Saturday, 9 April 2011 Aberdeen v Hibernian, 15:00 ABERDEEN WIN Celtic v St Mirren, 15:00 CELTIC WIN Dundee Utd v St Johnstone, 15:00 DUNDEE UNITED WIN Hearts v Motherwell, 15:00 HEARTS WIN Kilmarnock v Inverness CT, 15:00 KILLIE WIN Sunday, 10 April 2011 Hamilton v Rangers, 12:45 RANGERS WIN Saturday, 16 April 2011 Inverness CT v Hearts, 15:00 HEARTS WIN Rangers v Kilmarnock, 15:00 RANGERS WIN St Johnstone v Celtic, 15:00 CELTIC WIN Sunday, 17 April 2011 Hibernian v Hamilton, 12:00 HIBS WIN 1 Celtic 82 2 Rangers 75 3 Hearts 73 4 Dundee Utd 50 5 Motherwell 44 6 Kilmarnock 43 7 Inverness CT 33 8 St Johnstone 29 9 Aberdeen 38 10 Hibernian 32 11 St Mirren 20 12 Hamilton 14 There is my predictions. What do we think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinjy Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 All I can say is we better hope that we get into the top six. After what I saw yesterday Accies will be relegated and possibly isolated by the time the split comes. Our games in the bottom six will be totally meaningless and will be a taster for a lot of games in a proposed 16 team league. I am old enough to remember the 18 team league in the sixties and we usually finished mid table with around 34 points from 34 games (two points for a win) and we had nothing to play for during the last few weeks of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderpig Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 A win against St Mirren on Wednesday and it will have been a great week for us. We might be finding a run of form at the right time, so i think we will finish top 6 comfortably, 4th place should be our target and a possible European place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pettywulliegrew-2 Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Starting to get very tight for the last three places,with Hivees now in the the mix and they have 2 games left against the Accies. With 3 home (Smellic,Sheep,Arabs) and 3 away (Calley,Killie,Tarts) SPL games left can we do it ??? Calley have almost the same run in as us except the Sheep but Arabs twice. Arabs have the fixture congestion but have Accies at home, h**s away. Sheep/Judas next four away from home StJonstn+Arabs+Us+ St Midden then home Hivees St john have games in hand but have both of the Bigot brothers Think wednesday night might be the result that could come back to haunt us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Dundee United will make it, that leaves one place for us, St.Johnstone, Caley and possible Aberdeen and Hibs. I think we have as good a chance as any of them as they are no great shakes. We'll have to win against Utd and Aberdeen and probably take something from Inverness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoza Posted February 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 I personally think Dundee United are going to be undone by their schedule, so many games on such heavy pitches are going to hammer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmcd Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 we got 3 points that no one predicted today so we just need to keep going and pick up as many points as we can until the split and see where we finish and if we end up in the top 6 then great and if not then its only because we never got enough points and can only blame ourselves but dont right us off just yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pettywulliegrew-2 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Saturday now becoming a massive game.......we have to avoid defeat and hope that Killie dont take anything from Swinecastle and a Sheep/arab draw would be nice on Monday Saturday, 5 March 2011Celtic v Hamilton, 15:00 Hearts v Kilmarnock, 15:00 Inverness CT v Motherwell, 15:00 St Johnstone v Hibernian, 15:00 Sunday, 6 March 2011St Mirren v Rangers, 12:45 Monday, 7 March 2011Dundee Utd v Aberdeen, 19:45 Thursday, 10 March 2011Dundee Utd v Hamilton, 19:45 Then Arabs pick up a few injuries before the 1/4 final !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomjac Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Much as I hate to say it and much as I hate to admit it, given how important Saturdays game is to us it is a foregone conclusion that we will get humped as is the usual when we get into these situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Skipper Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Be positive man! The disbelievers were saying the same things before the Celtic game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoza Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Indeed. Inverness are nowhere near the side they were pre-Christmas. I know we have been a bit inconsistent, but even when we've lost we have not been dominated. We can go there on the back of Sunday and take confidence from it. Do the chasing and closing like we did and it'll be another crucial three points in the bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Stall Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Indeed. Inverness are nowhere near the side they were pre-Christmas. I know we have been a bit inconsistent, but even when we've lost we have not been dominated. Weren't at Ibrox no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekwellfan Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 2 wins in our remaining 5 games should clinch a top 6 place. Due to the fixtures remaining and the teams in contention playing one another 43 points should be enough ( I actually believe 42 is the magic number but add one to be safe ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davie boy Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 A reckon if we win on Sat, that should see us through. Expecting Utd to clinch the other slot, with Aberdeen n Hibs scrapping out 5 meaningless games in the bottom half Hibs have just had a kind fixture list the past 5 games, making it look like "A revival" Whats the deal with 4th place getting a Europa spot this season, Celtic need to win the Scottish Cup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelboy Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 A reckon if we win on Sat, that should see us through. Expecting Utd to clinch the other slot, with Aberdeen n Hibs scrapping out 5 meaningless games in the bottom half Hibs have just had a kind fixture list the past 5 games, making it look like "A revival" Whats the deal with 4th place getting a Europa spot this season, Celtic need to win the Scottish Cup? celtic would need to come 2nd in the league and win the scottish cup. i think win on saturday sees us in as well. it would put us 8 points ahead of ict with them having to play dundee united (a), celtic (h), killie (A), hearts (h) and they'd be doing well to get 8 points from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weesacs Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 celtic would need to come 2nd in the league and win the scottish cup. what happens if we win the Cup?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelboy Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 what happens if we win the Cup?! a month long party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Just a month?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcalf Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Just a month?!? Need to go back to work sometime to pay for the holibags/europe trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderpig Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Indeed. Inverness are nowhere near the side they were pre-Christmas. I know we have been a bit inconsistent, but even when we've lost we have not been dominated. We can go there on the back of Sunday and take confidence from it. Do the chasing and closing like we did and it'll be another crucial three points in the bag. Our record in Inverness is great, last Sundays performance and result will give us confidence, so i predict a good win for the Well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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