39 points to play for and 8 points behind 6th, we will need 9 because of our negative gd I think we can do it.
I think we will close the point gap for teh playoffs over the next five games: Bolton - H, Barnsley - A, Forest - H, Hull - A, Reading - H. Then the schedule gets tougher.
Bolton @ home a 2 - 0 win Barnsley away should be 1 - 0 win Forest @ home 1 - 1 Hull away another 1 - 0 win? Reading @ home 2 - 1 win Hopefully Basil is back in form
Thirteen pts out of fifteen. I'll take that now. Maybe we could even do a fiver. Enough to get us all excited before (probably) being brought back to earth.
That's the sort of run we need to get into Playoff contention. Consistency is the key in this league. We now have genuine determination and an effective tactical approach in recent performances, but can it be maintained? It's possible, but it's also a big ask.
True. Oliveira getting back into the goals could make all the difference. We can't go on relying on our CBs to get the goals!
I wouldn't get too carried away on the back of a couple of (hard fought) draws? In the reverse leg of those fixtures, we beat Reading, drew with Hull and Barnsley and lost to both Florist and Bolton. That's five (5) points of a possible fifteen. Got to love your optimism, though - don't forget this is Norwich City and we're due another ACN moment anytime soon!
Florist and Bolton were away games though, so we have to be favoured to win at home, given our recent results, so I'd say at least a possible 10 or 11 points from those 5 games if we are to stay in the race for the play-offs. If not, we're just preparing for next season.
As I've said before, this, to me is the most important thing from our remaining fixtures. This lingering (but fading, game by game as the points left to play for evaporate), play off dream is too far off, in my opinion, 8 points from 13 games is doable - but only if none of the current top 8 / 10 go on a similar run to what would be required. Plus the rest all would need to implode and lose game after game - unlikely. I'm happy for the season to end in 'consolidation', i.e finish putting the foundations in place for a concerted attempt next season when the system, coaching team and playing personnel are all fully integrated, focused and happy. Given the upheaval we saw in the summer, that would be a successful season for me, ok no silverware, but building blocks firmly in place and there for all to see.
I agree. Even before the season started I said that the root and branch restructuring would take time to settle, so consolidation would be the result, with a promotion push the following season. That said though, I'd like to see us continue the current run of form to demonstrate the ability to compete for automatic promotion next season (ie. averaging around 2 points per game).
And so say ALL (well, I would hope All!!) of us. There has been a vast difference in our resilience of recent weeks and the stats show that we're getting a greater percentage of our shots on target and testing opposing keepers, so I'm sure we'll soon start scoring more than one goal per game.
Interesting to note, despite our 'new' much-lauded defence this season, we're the only team in the top 14 with a negative GD at this point in the season.
True Rick - we've only had three games were we have won by more than the one goal (QPR , Wendies and Brum away) - we've had four 2 goal defeats and the 4-0 caning by Millwall has really hurt us.
Trust me, I'm not getting carried away with thoughts of promotion. I think we will do well over the next 5 games before the schedule gets tougher. As long as there's hope with this team and coach, I'll stay hopeful. Here's to the day when the phrase "Along Come Norwich" will strike fear in the hearts of the opposition
Instead of the 'Would you like your three points gift-wrapped or just as they come' version, which we've all seen far too often. I much prefer your Version, CS
I don't mean sound Pollyanish, it's just that this is an exciting time for NCFC especially after last season's dross.
