These figures are calculated by comparing the goals-for home and away for every side in the Premiership. The results have been rounded to work out what the goal difference should be in each match. This is obviously bollocks, yet it was this sort of nonsense which alerted folk to our losing in 1995-96 long before it became a reality:

Toon Run-In

Oppo	Gf	GA	GD	Pts
Leeds H	1.6	1.27	0.33	1
Leics A	2.09	0.6	1.49	3
Spurs A	2.09	2	0.09	1
Bolton H	1.6	1.55	0.05	1
Sotton H	1.6	1.27	0.33	1
SAFC A	2.09	1.1	0.99	3
Arse H	1.6	1.9	-0.3	1
Pool A	2.09	1.3	0.79	3
Ippos H	1.6	1.1	0.5	1
Bburn A	2.09	1.4	0.69	3
Everton H	1.6	0.7	0.9	3
Villa A	2.09	1.2	0.89	3
Fulham H	1.6	0.67	0.93	3
Derby A	2.09	1	1.09	3
Charlton H	1.6	1.2	0.4	1
Hamers H	1.6	1	0.6	3
Sotton A	2.09	1.1	0.99	3

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

mackems run-in

Oppo	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Everton A	0.6	1.5	- 0.9	0
Fulham H	1.1	0.67	0.43	1
Boro H	1.1	0.64	0.46	1
Manu A	0.6	2.6	-2	0
Derby A	0.6	1	- 0.4	1
Toon H	1.1	2.09	- 0.99	0
Spurs A	0.6	2	-1.4	0
Bolton H	1.1	1.55	- 0.45	1
Chelsea A	0.6	1.9	-1.3	0
Sotton H	1.1	1.27	- 0.17	1
Arse A	0.6	2.2	-1.6	0
Leics H	1.1	0.82	0.28	1
Leeds A	0.6	1.9	-1.3	0
Pool H	1.1	1.55	- 0.45	1
Hammers A	0.6	1.4	- 0.8	0
Charlton A	0.6	1.4	- 0.8	0
Derby H	1.1	0.4	0.7	3

Ouch!

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

We win league and mackems relegated: you heard it here first.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Sounds fair enough to me.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

If it comes down to the wire, I hate that last game being at Southampton :-( phoenix

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

95-96... aahhhh I remember it well. Sat down on a train on the way back from W. Ham and predicted the results for United and Man U for the remainder of the season. I was a couple of points out as I thought Man C would beat Man U. Still had us short of the title.

I believe your stats Softie so TIWY!

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Unbeaten between now and the end of season? I'll buy you a crate of Guinness Softie if that comes true.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Actually, looking at he game you have us down for 3 points for they seem quite believeable. Although I think a couple of the 1 pointers will be 0 pointers.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I'm with you Jim, but some of them are more likely to be 3s. The amazing thing is that statistically we have only one game where we are actually likely to score less goals. If Man Utd had our run-in we'd all be shouting "Fix!". I hope we don't blow it!

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Well, here's hoping!!

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I think the Sunderland one is a bit unrealistic as teams always seem to get a boost when they get a new manager

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

The other thing about the Makems is that they tend to do well when Reid is up to his ankles in sh*t (and I'm quoting a Makem here).

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

It seems unfair to be blaming Peyter's (alleged) sexual proclavities for his team's failings. ;o{]

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

LOL.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

There are some strange ones for us there, such as about 4 home games with only a point - surely a Championship winning team needs to win those games?

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

DAMN! off the rails already with 2 too many points ;-))

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Good start with the Mackems' stats though. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

So, Softies wrong already!! 3 points instead of 1 agaisnt the Yorkshire Puddings.

Has Mr. Robson really produced a team that knows how to win? And, even better, knows how to get right under the skin of the opposition because we are a constant threat? Its just fantastic that the lads keep coming back and against arrogant teams like Arse and the Puddings. Fantastic. Fantastic.

However, the Chelsea and Manure results show just how we can be beaten.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

But Chelsea also struggle against the weak teams. If we can beat the weaker teams we will get into the Champion's League with ease.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Yes. That certainly seems possible. I think it might really help not to be involved in a European competition. Mr Robson clearly values a "whole week to prepare" as he mentioned in post match comments.

It seems that most of the current top 5 or 6 teams can really play excellent football at times. So the final placements are likely to depend on consistency, which Chelsea and Spurs seem to lack and I hope we don't from now on, and keeping the key players in the team, which Leeds are going to have a hard time doing because of being red- carded. Again, I hope we can avoid that - but Bellamy the Mouth is surely going to get sent off again sometime.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Again Sounder? I don't remember him being (rightly) sent off previously this season.........but Aah knaa where yer cummin' from lyek.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Glad to be wrong about that one:-)

The FA were right crafty with motormouth, they've waived the punishment but left the crime. This means that he faces a 5 match ban for another straight red rather than a 3 match ban. Keeps him on best- behaviour (we hope).

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002