I always think you can start taking notice of the league table after 10 games. We are almost there. I remember some of us thought this year might be the toughest league 1 in our 4 seasons here. Thought I would try and have a compare against last year. Not an exact science but maybe an indicator. After 10 games last season there were 8 teams on 19 points or more, close enough to the points per game target talked about. This year this will be 5 at most. Lincoln and Peterborough had 22 points after 10 games. We have 22 after 9. Wigan can match it as well. 20th team in the league has double points this season, it was 17th team last season. I think this sort of suggests it is tougher all round with teams able to take points off each other more readily. Teams like Wigan, MK Dons, Plymouth and Oxford are all well ahead of where they were last season. I might be howling at the moon here but I think it makes our start even better. To have 22 points a game sooner than teams of last year is impressive. We have played a lot of teams that so far are in and around the top 8. It does perhaps also explain why games have been close. Teams are just better and it isn’t just us that have improved. Long way to go and if it is tougher then we can expect some tough tough games but to be clear of teams that may yet come strong like Rotherham and Sheffield Wed means we may be a tough team to catch. Probably just dreaming again and making stats fit my dream… cheers Statto
We've had a class start. I was a bit cautious because we've played 6 of the 9 games at home and I wondered how that stacked up against others. Turns out Wigan have played 6 of the 9 at home too. Wycombe however have played 6 of their 9 away, so perhaps we'll see more of them yet.
Think it is a tougher league mate. Fortunately we've got a lot tougher and hopefully will be out of sight in the run in. It'll be interesting to see the table come Christmas and the transfer window due. After our last window it's a long time since I haven't been desperate for the next.
Be interesting to see if we lose any and is it possible to improve us. We virtually have two 1st teams now.
Yeah the home games is a factor for sure. Mind you winning home games can take pressure of away games as you can get a freedom and confidence.
Good stats.... I assume that we will have some sort blip at some time... but hopefully not a long one and not at the end of the season... win the last 10 games on the trot to secure automatic promotion.
Every year people look at who’s come down and automatically assume they’ll “piss” it. Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham’s struggles show just how difficult this league can be.
We've had a class start to the season, and I really can't see any reason it won't continue. Sure, we will have a few defeats and draws along the way, but so will everyone else....I just think we will have less, and win more than the rest. Now, if only we hadn't lost those first 5 games.
Even last season this was a league where any team could beat any other team. From this I take that there were fine margins between winning and losing. A few of those factors were the affect of tiredness, injuries and suspensions in small aquads which had only limited quality and pace. What appears to be the big difference in us this season is the amount of quality we have together with pace throughout our squad. The only detrimental factors from last season that still affect us this time around is the generally ****e quality of the officials! This season I'm still sweating on the results of big games, like Sheffield Weds, but the likes of Cheltenham will truly fear us as this season we have the pace and the quality to undo any defence. Be it a long ball over the top to a runner breaching a high pressing offside trap to a mazey dribble and cross to open up a packed defence. For the first time in ages we are an exciting team to watch and it cannot be a coincidence that last night was the first game in ages that I've heard the supporters singing '[insert manager's name] Red And White Army!' This is Sunderland and so there will be slips, trips and the odd cock-up ahead, but for the first time in ages I feel that our pride in the team matches our pride in the club and its heritage. For the first time since we dropped out of the Premier League, promotion seems to be achievable rather than something we dream of.
Nah, can't recall the posters, but remember laughing at the posts. Tena lady sales went through the roof for a few weeks.....
I’ll settle for Easter and being able to say that any games in hand we have ( which we have a habit of blowing) are irrelevant!
Yes, I can remember some old ‘dinosaur’ bleating on, but I think maybe he became extinct?? Not seen in months.
Win your home games , draw your away games has for a long time been the measure for promotion so up to present time and it’s early days we’re 1 point ahead of target .
Averaging 2 points per game is usually promotion form, as you say Draw 1 win 1 .or win 2 games out of 3.
