Quote Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee View Post
They're too far adrift.

After 26 games last season, the team in 2nd had 49 points, the same total as this season's 2nd placed team. 2nd place ended up with 90 points. Fulham were on 39 points after 26 games and averaged 2.45 points a game to finish with 88 points.

If 2nd place is likely to be around the 90 point mark again this season for runners up, then Stoke are going to need 55 points from 20 games. Not even Fulham, as good as they were from this point last season, got close to that.
They're only 8 points off the playoffs. That's well within reach.