People need not worry about “the home form”. It’s a symptom of our lack of striker, nothing more. Our entire game is based around keeping possession and frustrating the opposition to force them to attack us whenever they get possession, allowing us to then counter them. Away from home it works because the home team feel compelled to go for it. At home is works less as away teams are willing to sit back, therefore frustrating US and forcing us to go forward more, which then opens us up to counters which in turn opens us up to set pieces etc. if we had a striker who could hold the ball up, it would allow us to adapt our style away from the one that depends on countering, allowing the ball to transition up the field quicker which in turn makes the game more open and encourages the opposition forward when they get possession, but with us being better set defensively as we didn’t play 20 odd passes getting it up the pitch and not being set defensively I honestly think we’d do better at home if we were willing to give the opposition possession in areas we were happy to let them attack us in, therefore allowing us to be set defensively and ready to spring a counter when we get back possession. At home it’s always us who is countered on
The more I look at it I can just see boro and cov settling for a draw boro are in regardless and cov only need a point no matter what we do, going to be a long week waiting I know that much, if Blackburn lose today do they go to millwall with nothing to play for?
Aye I’ve kinda written off Coventry as a team we can catch as can’t see them not getting a point versus Boro. If they don’t it’s a nice bonus. basically for us it will hinge on the Blackburn vs Millwall game. If Millwall win they definitely finish above us no matter what. If they can only draw (and we win) we are definitely above them. Which is why todays result is so important. Ideal is a draw today for Blackburn - as they’ll know they go above Millwall with a win on final day, but won’t be able to overtake us if we win Second preference is Blackburn lose today -they’ll have nothing to play for which makes the Millwall win more likely, but also means that a Blackburn win or a draw puts us above both Last preference is Blackburn win today. That way the only result between them next week that works for us is a draw. If either of them win they go above us and we are dependent on Boro beating Cov Of course this all requires us to win anyway it’s just nice to be in a scenario where if it comes down to goal difference - we win
This is where summer recruitment is going to be key, we can't be in the same position next season. 2 strikers minimum if Stewart stays. The number of times where we would have almost certainly scored if we had a centre forward is incredible.
It's nice to know fans of other clubs are doing all these calculations although they probably feel more entitled than us ... ... I'm going to Preston to cheer on the Lads, win, lose or draw. It was a great 'home send off' and this will be as good imo.
This may turn out to be irrelevant ... ... unless we have to play Boro, just shows how quickly things can change. "Captain Jonny Howson injured himself in the warm-up and his place has been taken by Paddy McNair."
I heard they left the ground, half an hour before the end, to line the streets in time for the open topped bus ... ... puts us to shame tbh.
I’m just concentrating on a Sunderland win, if we don’t make it because millwall and Coventry have won also the so be it. Can’t take anything away from the players this year they’ve been absolutely brilliant. Sets us up for being champions next season
This all day, tremendous performances from the lads, I've found the love again after short and the chancers. Hhhaaawwwwaaaaayyyyyyy the lads
We don't want Millwall 0-14 Blackburn, or Swansea 0-5 WBA for starters, or a Coventry (30 minute delay due to a UFO abducting the coach driver, or earthquake on the motorway etc) draw, we HAVE to win.
