Warning: You may find this depressing! I think we all feel that this is a very, very poor season but I was wondering earlier just how bad it could turn out to be compared to others in our history. Extrapolating our results so far over the full season would result in the following record: Played 46 Win 3.4 (so I've been optimistic and said 4), Draw 13.6 (assume 13), Lose 28.96 (rounded up to 29) Goals for 28.96 (rounded up to 29) Goals against 71.55 (assume 71) Goal Difference -42 Points 25 Based on the above results albeit my optimism re wins results in a higher points total than simply extrapolating current points which would suggest we'll get 23.85 points. More on that below. How bad would that be versus seasons since our formation? N.B. I've adjusted to assume 3pts for a win and GD added. I've gone back to 1895/96 as prior to that the number of games played each season was far lower e.g. 10 games in 1894/95. Our poorest seasons obviously stand out: 1899/1900 Division 2 Played 34 Won 8 Drew 7 Lost 19 For 46 Against 79 GD -33 Points 31 (Points per game: 0.91) 1910/11 Division 2 Played 38 Won 7 Drew 14 Lost 17 For 52 Against 62 GD -10 Points 35 (Points per game: 0.92) 1931/32 Division 2 (our first relegation to Div 3) Played 42 Won 12 Drew 9 Lost 21 For 55 Against 91 GD -36) Points 45 (Points per game: 1.07) We gained promotion again but had the same record in 1935/36 (W12 D9 L21) but with a better goal difference and avoided relegation. 1952/53 Division 2 (again relegated) Played 42 Won 5 Drew 8 Lost 29 For 47 Against 108 GD -61 Points 23 (Points per game: 0.54) 1958/59 Division 2 (again relegated) Played 42 Won 10 Drew 7 Lost 25 For 55 Against 91 GD -36 Points 37 (Points per game: 0.88) 1964/65 Division 3 (relegated to Div 4 for the first time in our history) Played 46 Won 9 Drew 11 Lost 26 For 54 Against 90 GD -36 Points 38 (Points per game: 0.82) 1997/98 Premier League (relegated) Played 38 Won 10 Drew 5 Lost 23 For 37 Against 82 GD -45 Points 35 (Points per game: 0.92) 2013/14 Championship (relegated) Played 46 Won 9 Drew 12 Lost 25 For 44 Against 77 GD -33 Points 39 (Points per game: 0.85) 2017/18 Championship (relegated) Played 46 Won 9 Drew 14 Lost 23 For 48 Against 72 GD-24 Points 41 (Points per game: 0.89) Conclusions: Our fewest number of wins in a season came in 1952/53: 5 but that was in a 42 game season. We need a further 4 wins this season to better it, 3 wins to equal it. Fewer than that means a new low. That same season saw our most defeats: 29. We need to avoid defeat in 8 of the remaining 19 games this season to ensure we don't equal it albeit in 4 more games. A further 13 defeats would mean 30 defeats in a season for the very first time. Our previous lowest goals scored in a season was in 1971/72 and was another relegation season from Division 3 to Division 4. We achieved 32 goals that season. At present that record is under threat, we need to find a further 16 goals in the remaining 19 games to better it. The good news is that we are very unlikely to concede anywhere near the 108 goals we did in 1952/53. We also conceded 90 or more goals several times in the 1950's/60s. A new record minus goal difference is therefore not at all likely. On the other hand, a continuation of our current points per game ratio would result in a new low over a season of 0.52 ppg, beating the 1952/53 season. We need another 11 points at a ratio of 0.58 per game over the last 19 games to better it. Unless there is a substantial improvement this will be our worst season since 1952/53 and quite possibly our entire history. I also looked at previous low points totals in the Championship. Several people have previously identified that dubious record is with Rotherham who won 5, drew 8 and lost 33 when gaining just 23 points in 2016/17. Current form (since Poya arrived) must improve if we're not to be the worst ever. Whilst researching this I found a Youtube video identifying the ten worst teams in the Championship (it only goes back to 1992 I think) and sadly it's almost certain imo that we'll enter that list - a number of teams were in tenth place with 36 points. The video is if you're interested. Finally, he cites ownership, change and chaos as being the key factors relegating clubs. All three of which I think we agree have dominated our season.
Just to be pedantic with "... Played 46 Win 3.4 (so I've been optimistic and said 4), Draw 13.6 (assume 13), ...". Using proper Maths (or the singular Math, as they say over here) rounding rules, it should be 3 Wins and 14 Draws, so you are being over generous this season.
Thanks SFO and I agree completely. I was aware of that and was somehow trying to present some sort of positivity but you're right, it's inconsistent with the rest, in which I attempted to be objective.
Are you throwing Barrow into the mix with the Injury Time penalty save Win, and the Win without a manager Win?
It’s a bit more than stats to answer this question isn’t it? The Premier League season is on that list and that, for me, has to be one of the best seasons in our history. This is by some distance the worst in my 50 years of watching them. The atmosphere, the division between the supporters, incompetence creeping out of every corner, of the field = even worse than on it, and to cap it all, absolutely no hope of anything changing under this regime.
personally, the admin season was my worst. not in terms of points totals, but genuine fear for the survival of the club. as bad as things have been this season, things haven't got that bad. after that though, this is probably the worst season I can remember in my 30+ years watching. in terms of points, on the pitch, off the pitch, the toxic atmosphere and sheer pace of decline in 9 months.
