If we are honest, it just shows what a good job RLB and the recruitment team have done this season. We have been the only team that had the chance of making the top 2 other than 3 teams that had tens of millions from parachute payments. Look at what Sheff Utd spent in January. Yes we've made mistakes and didn't capitalise when the top 3 dropped points, but in reality, out of the top 4 teams we are the only team that actually finished higher than most expected us to. The top 3 would have been expected by most to be the top 3. The fact that some of our fans are disappointed with 4th actually shows how well we have done and how much expectations have risen from the start of the season.
think once the season is over, all the teams in the POs will be level pegging for me, cant say a for sure fav. and as SU have never won the POS to get out of the division, its anyones
Agree. Was said so early on, on here, they are the best teams in the league. Attack for one and defensive the other.
Sheff United have won the most points (comfortably), and have the much better GD. They’ll be the bookies favourites
For me I think this last game has shown that our shape and I tent is better. Even before they scored you could see the rhythm of how we were playing was good and we were attempting to play with the high press. Some of the players we needed to get minutes I to really looked more like first team squad players and it looked like the extra minutes has helped them greatly. I mentioned on another thread that I was more interested in shape and intent and I think we really showed that but did lack a bit of quality I the final third. Yes the results are a little worrying but in truth we have played Burnley twice this season and should have had 6 points off them we have played Sheffield twice this season and for me were the better team in both games. Leeds have been the best team we have played over the course of the season and are deservedly promoted. Burnley defensive record is outstanding and again are deservedly promoted. Sheffield will be favourites heading into the play offs but their results like ours is not great at the minute. The last 2 spots are still up for grabs but the truth is I think over 2 legs we still have the beating of all the contenders and the final it will be who shows up on the day. I also think results wise our preparation is not good but squad and depth wise we look about as healthy as we can be.
Luuuuuuuuuke That said, Esteve is middle of the pack here and nobody will convince me he isn't head and shoulders above every other centre back.
was slightly surprised to see he was also better in duels than mepham - immediate thought was to assume its because teams target his side more often so because hes actually pretty good his numbers get inflated. Then i realised I shouldnt try and think of an excuse for why, luke is just great.
This is really interesting. A few observations: As expected we concede most of our goals in the last 15 minutes Actually Sheffield Utd are "worse" than us with late goals - their average minute for conceding is 55 whereas ours is 54 Burnley are just utter filth - 4 goals conceded in the second half all season. insane. And 0 goals conceded between 61-75 minutes please log in to view this image
Aye, I posted a few weeks ago that we’d be 2nd in the table and 1 point off top iirc without goals beyond the 75th minute. Might’ve changed now after a few more matches.
Genuinely believe Millwall and Blackburn both win this weekend, giving them a chance to sneak in the top 6 on the last day
Bristol C should be a cert now having to play Preston still, but the latters form is that dreadful that they’ve been dragged into the relegation scrap and have something to play for now.. I reckon Plymouth beat them this weekend. Preston another ****e team we failed to beat this season
But what about momentum ... ... some of our supporters were saying that resting players, at this stage, would be a big mistake. If they lose tonight that'll be 5 defeats from 6 games. As people have kept saying, about Sunderland, how do they switch it back on for the playoffs ... ... surely people aren't using one rule for us and a different one for them
