Not really a rival but Crewe have sacked Artell. Do not be surprised if he comes here as a coach or another capacity Sure I have read this before, multiple times
I reckon we will finish 4th, blew top 2 though in Feb a shame like, but don't fear any team in the top 6.
looks like they’re gonna keep tripping themselves up on their run in, which is great for us. If they really **** up they could drop out of the play-off spots.
We won 1 in 10 before going to Wigan and winning comfortably. It’s absolutely sickening, we’d be right up there going for the title if we hadn’t had that horrible bit of form…
I've said all along, if we do our job we will be fine. I said this when we were 7th and teams above us had games in hand. Everyone in this team is capable of dropping points or going on a bad run. We just need to do what we do and see where we end up. The automatics are (IMHO) too far away now, but we can absolutely be the form team going into the play offs. Rotherham look punch drunk, Sheff Wed and Plymouth always capable of losing games. 2 massive games coming up this weekend - win the both and we are looking very, very good
We say it every season - "if it wasn't for......" referring toi a certain run of games. Look at the implosions from the recent seasons: 2019 Form 2020 Form 2021 Form Terrible, terrible run of form at crucial times. In 2019 we were 2nd in the league going into our final 6 games. The Coventry game ****ed us and we took 5 pts from last 6 and finished 5th - we;d never been lower than 4th all season In 2020 we were 4th, 3 pts off top spot, 1 extra point in the last 4 games would have seen us in the play offs. 1 win would have seen us promoted automatically In 2021 we were 3rd, 2pts off the automatics with a game in hand. 8 games and 6 points later the season was over We need to be the Blackpool from last season, or the Charlton from 2019 - burst into the play offs as the team in form. It's so crucial we win all our remaining games
Tend to agree. Neil seems to have a plan for every team and whilst it won't always work, being tight at the back with the ability to sneak a goal is perfect for the play offs **** me, I'm starting to hope again. Bastards
Everything you've posted is true but doesn't tell the whole story. Sure we've shot ourselves in the foot but we've also had some terrible luck with Maja, injuries to key players like McGeady, fluke results from other promotion challengers and managers bottling it for no good reason. This feels different. We actually have players like Pritchard and Broadhead coming back which isn't usual for us. We also have 'fluke' results going our way for a change. But above everything we look like a team with a real determination and team spirit. No other team can match us for strength in depth and the bench is a key weapon. And Neil seems to be a manager with a strong nerve and the ability to change things during a game. Every match is critical now but I'm starting to believe other teams are the ones who'll blow up as we've done in the past.
Yes, I'm starting to have that feeling now. It almost feels as though we are Blackpool from last season and the likes of Sheff Wed/Rotherham are the Sunderland.
I keep staring at the table, there are 3 of us on 73 points, Sheffield Wednesday, same number of games, 3 GD better. Wycombe one game more and same goal diff. Tight or not?
73 is an omen, Bob Stokoe is looking down on us. Thankfully Sheff Wed have to go to Wycombe in a fortnight and, before that are away to MK Dons. Wycombe are also at home to Plymouth so someone is dropping points. I know we have to win our games but Sheff Wed could easily drop six points and draws would mean two teams are dropping two points. It really is in our own hands now and I'd take draws against Plymouth and Rotherham but think we're capable of beating them.
I scored these games without checking the table. I'll do that later and see what the results would mean. Wycombe 2-2 Plymouth Rotherham 1-1 Ipswich MK 1-0 Sheff Wed Plymouth 0-0 Sunderland Oxford 1-1 MK Rotherham 1-0 Oxford Wigan 2-0 Plymouth Wycombe 3-2 Sheff Wed Sunderland 2-0 Rotherham Plymouth 0-1 MK
Seems there's more thought gone into these last fixture permutations than the Government did into how to tackle covid
It feels different. Mainly the manager who is not overawed and is no nonsense. He will do whatever it takes. Also the players seem to have a better fit and and a better attitude. Still, the scars of recent years will be hard to heal. So let’s get it over with.
took the liberty of doing the maths for you as I was intrigued… these results would leave the table as: Wigan - P42 , 90 points MK Dons - P45 , 90 points Rotherham - P44 , 84 points Plymouth - P46 , 80 points Sunderland - P43 , 77 points Wycombe - P44 , 77 points Sheff Wed - P43 , 73 points Oxford - P44, 70 points
Maths isnt my strong point, but I have tried to work out what it will take to make top 2, a bif of fantasy footy I know. If we win our 5 games left we will be on 88 points. That will mean MK need 5 points from 4 games, I am assuming we wont overhaul a 9 gd advantage. They play Sheff Wed, Oxford, Morecambe, Plymouth. Like us their form is good, 4 wins and 2 draws in the last 6. Go back further and they are unbeaten in 15 games. Rotherham would need 8 points from 4 games as we would have beaten them. They llay Gills, Oxford, Burton, Ispwich. They are in rubbish form, 1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses. Plymouth would need 10 points from 3 games so are out. Sheff Wed would need to win all 5 and maintain a 3 better gd. They play MK, Crewe, Wycombe, Fleetwood, pompey. They have 3 wins and 3 draws in last 6. In reality it looks a tough ask because of MK and their form. There game with Sheff Wed is key, obviously. If they beat them I tend to think they are all but there. Sheff Wed win or draw then it becomes a bit more tense for them.
There's a quite nice predictor here. You can predict results for specific teams, and let it decide the others based on current form with a bit of random chance thrown in too: https://thefishy.co.uk/calculator0.php?Competition=3
Just tried it, according to that if we win every game we finish 3rd a point behind the top 2 and letting it calculate all results has us finishing 5th
