I think the mistakes were those of omission. Assuming that getting up was our top priority, the winter window is best used to try and rectify problems that might boost or save a season. I think we signed decent lads, good long term prospects, but if Stewart gets a bad knock on the knee, or another centre half goes down we can just forget about going up. I'd also say that we could have done with an experienced midfielder to go with the young lad. Evans will have far more bad games than good ones. Maybe going up isn't the absolute priority.
Strange one that as I think the team would be better balanced with him in, and Winny in midfield in place of Evans . Another who looks ready is Clarke and he would start ahead of Embo out wide for me. We have cover to spare if any of these changes backfired but the chances are they would strengthen the side and give the coach tried and tested options. Settled sides are one thing, but to have an adaptable squad and an adventurous coach would be another level .OaU.
Got Bart as well , but I did like the look of our new central partnership, they clicked immediately and looked the best combo since Sanderson and O/9 if they can get a run of games, who knows where we could end up. This season is far from dead.
Atm we have a chance to get into the play-offs, if we win all (most) of our games and if those around us lose their games in hand. We have been on a horrendous run.. Also do you reckon we have got over the Wembley jinx? With the win in the Tinpot Cup?
Agree. The Clarke one is bizarre. Maybe it's a fitness issue, but as we saw with Defoe on Tuesday there is merit in starting him end seeing how long he can last
I don't know why every one is discounting auto promotion .Wigan have had a beating off us they could fall apart like we did. we seem to got over our bad spell
There’s a lot of things which have to fall into place for that. But I haven’t completely discounted it. Think we have to win every game though
No it isn’t. There’s a glimmer of hope for automatic promotion but, as I said, I think we have to win all of our games
To be fair, your predictive credibility took a bit of a knock earlier in he thread "We’ll get stuffed. Dreading this game tbh. Damage limitation". "
It’s just reality. We’re in a right battle to secure a play-off place, never mind automatics 16 points behind Rotherham (+1 less game) 7 points behind Wigan (+2 less games) 7 points behind MK Dons 3 points behind Oxford 1 point above Sheff Wed (+2 less games) 3 points above Plymouth (+2 less games)
I was one of many who were wrong, happy days we showed up for the first time in weeks. The hope of automatic promotion really needs to stop, though.
Give it a rest. Why? Because the negative say it’s realistic when the positive say it’s unlikely but possible? Why is being inherently negative more realistic than having some positivity?
Beating Wigan was the key to any hope, we did that quite easily. Wigan have a cup competition to squeeze in and we all know how that screwed us up. They completely lost the plot on Saturday and were arguing amongst themselves, they never worried me tbh. Sunderland, on the other hand, seemed to come together and there was a real unity in the team. We have Broadhead coming back as well as others who can make a difference. The gap looks big now but could look very different in just a couple of games.
Roll on Morecambe (A) last game of the season then, can’t wait to be celebrating automatic promotion. Have you just forgotten about the last few weeks and the numerous hideous performances/results? We beat Wigan and all is well again FFS.
