.....to the bottom I have jus looked at the Championship table after beating Hull, and for the first time in a very long time I looked at the bottom of the table, and I'm surprised to see the teams that are down there, down there. The bottom reads: 12 Crystal Palace 18 1 26 13 Peterborough 19 2 24 14 Burnley 19 0 24 15 Barnsley 18 -1 24 16 Derby 19 -6 24 17 Millwall 19 1 22 18 Watford 19 -9 21 19 Portsmouth 18 -1 20 20 Bristol City 19 -10 20 21 Ipswich 18 -12 20 22 Nott'm Forest 19 -16 20 23 Coventry 19 -13 13 24 Doncaster 19 -18 13 Like I said, although I've been slightly distracted by Saints amazing run, some of the teams at the bottom are surprising, for example Forest (always considered them strong/promotion contenders since coming up into this league), Derby (chomping at the bit with us early season) and Ipswich (naturally assumed Paul Jewell would be relatively successful, around top half/top six). Is anyone else a bit surprised to see these teams here or hereabouts, or do i just need to open my eyes to other results bar ours Also, Pompey level on points with relegation zone..........not that I'm one to tempt fate......
Pride comes before a fall. Remember our target is mid-table security. Don't start screaming at me, as all I'm trying to say is that we may have a sustained bad run and will need all of us to be realistic and supportive then. UTS.
I was never, ever, convinced by Ipswich at the start of the season - despite every other person (particularly in the media) making them their outside bet for the top 6.
Yeah, although nobody has a divine right [or a divine left] it's strange to see Forest, Ipswich and Bristol city down there. And as some said, Derby have plummeted. Burnley are also a small shock. The others could be almost anywhere in the table and it wouldn't surprise me too much. The Championship is just about the most competitive league, even more so than League One & Two, in my opinion.
It's still very tight and early season still lingers in most of the div; Brighton and Leicester would have been bottom half if they had of not won two on the bounce in the last 4 days. Hull have nearly slipped in there by losing the last two. Ipswich have already spend 5 games down the bottom and 5 games near the play-off and have sunk back down. Basically, it's just us, WH, Cov 'n Donny who are currently nicely rooted
Can happen when the middle of the table is as closely packed as it is now; there is more separation between ourselves and fourth than there is between a playoff spot and the relegation zone.
I notice that Reading are finally - but quietly - moving up the table. If we get automatic, I'd quite like them to join us through the play-offs. Scary to think that after Blackpool in 10 days time, Reading will basically be one of only one of three big promotion contenders yet to visit St Marys (along with Cardiff and Leicester).
Even since they lost Steven Davies to that bad injury against us, they've seemingly been in freefall. Guess he really is important to them. That said, like with Ipswich, I've never looked at their squad and thought top 6 potential.
If you were pessimistic, how much would an injury to Lambo cost us? Small things can cause big problems.
I don't think there's much doubt that he's the difference between us being top of the table and being among the play-off hopefuls instead. Saying that, I think there is scope within Nigel's plans to allow us to play one or two games with him on the bench, rather than starting, Playing without him, when injured..? I wouldn't like it at all, but Saints have coped in the past. I'd just hope that Guly, Connolly and Barnard practice a lot together, in that scenario. Leave Rickie out entirely, when uninjured..? That's too awful to contemplate..! I was actually quite worried about Chaplow not being available against Hull City, but Saints seemed to work it out eventually.
The reason Burnley are so poor this year is because they sold us two of their best players from last year and the other two went to Bolton. Imagine if you took Ricky, lallana, Cork and Fonte out of our team....
