Where do we go from here

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Calm down on the play-off predictions! Look at the season on groups of 5 games at a time. So far each group of 5 games had yielded 3, 7,6,8 and 6 points with 6 from the current group with the Notts Forest game to go. We can reasonably expect another 20 points from the 16 games remaining after that, without being sure which games will provide them. That is enough for survival, but we do not have the creativity of firepower to aspire to more. That is "job done" for Dyche, and his instructions for the next season will be the same. By the sale of Sordell, Bassini has ensured that he can meet the next installment of the bonds , and must hope to do the same next year by the sale of Marriapa. That will take us two more years into the "Bassini plan" of creating a debt free Championship club, which might be attractive to a new owner. Hopefully.
 
As things lie Coventry need five wins to catch us and Doncaster Rovers five wins and one draw. This does not count goal difference so we could be bottom of the league by match 36, this is never going to happen.
 
we are now closer to the playoffs than relegation, in terms of points surely we should start looking up

I think that if we first of all look at the fixture list, we'll have a better idea! I really don't expect us to get more than 3 points out of the next 12 - which may see us drop down again from the giddy heights of 15th. For the 15 on offer after that, I'd be surprised if we get less than 10 - more likely to get 12.

Beyond that, I really don't care - I doubt we'd have any chance of reaching the play-offs at all & would rather we steered clear of them anyway - we're simply nowhere near ready for that.
 
I'm with you Yorkie & H - we always knew this would be a very difficult season with a new manager, a new owner, players being sold and little of the money being made available to invest in new players. But what have we seen? A manager learning and growing with every game who clearly has the whole squad and club behind him. An owner who so far as delivered a few things and has not damaged the club (as a lot of us feared) - I saw him walking through the Legends Lounge after the game last night talking to the the staff and spend a few minutes with Don (Sticks) before walking across the pitch to spend time with the players. Yes we have sold players, but with the addition of another striker, I think we will be a competent Championship team. Are are unlikely to challenge consistently enough for a play-off place, but we can be a good mid-table club at the moment, and I for one will happily take that.
 
I think that if we first of all look at the fixture list, we'll have a better idea! I really don't expect us to get more than 3 points out of the next 12 - which may see us drop down again from the giddy heights of 15th. For the 15 on offer after that, I'd be surprised if we get less than 10 - more likely to get 12.

Beyond that, I really don't care - I doubt we'd have any chance of reaching the play-offs at all & would rather we steered clear of them anyway - we're simply nowhere near ready for that.

I'm not saying we should be looking at the playoffs, I agree that we are not ready for that. However I feel that there is just as little chance of relegation and instead of worrying about how many points we need to avoid relegation. Instead we should be looking to finish strongly and of possible better our league standing from last year and with games against teams such as Palace, Derby and Leeds who are all not far above us still to come, we should be looking to take points off of these teams.
 
and with games against teams such as Palace, Derby and Leeds who are all not far above us still to come, we should be looking to take points off of these teams.

Derby and Leeds, yes - they are in that group of five games coming up from which I think we will win four (probably lose at Coventry!). Can't honestly see us getting anything at Palace, nor from the WHam and Saints games - should beat Burnley though.

We also have a particularly tough April coming up - didn't want to dwell on that as I really don't expect much from those games either. :(
 
Wouldn't it be nice to get the money from a play-off final and lose, so we are not ravaged by the desire to stay in the greed is good league, but to beat Cardiff City in the semi-final.

<doh> just seen Ak put something similar earlier.
 
Between now and the end of the season there are 18 matches involving Watford and all the clubs below them playing each other. Millwall are involved in six, and they are playing away in all of them. Best placed is Nottm Forest who have four games at home. Coventry have four home games and two away. Obvoiusly Watford to win, but are we best served by all the rest finishing as draws.

I think I have all the games:
25-Feb Doncaster Rovers v Peterborough United
06-Mar Nottingham Forest v Doncaster Rovers
06-Mar Peterborough United v Millwall
10-Mar Nottingham Forest v Millwall
17-Mar Portsmouth v Bristol City
17-Mar Watford v Coventry City
20-Mar Bristol City v Watford
20-Mar Doncaster Rovers v Millwall
24-Mar Coventry City v Portsmouth
07-Apr Coventry City v Peterborough United
07-Apr Nottingham Forest v Bristol City
09-Apr Bristol City v Coventry City
10-Apr Portsmouth v Millwall
14-Apr Doncaster Povers v Millwall
17-Apr Coventry City v Millwall
21-Apr Coventry City v Doncaster Rovers
21-Apr Peterborough United v Watford
28-Apr Nottingham Forest v Portsmouth
 
Now is my time to start an arguement. This is how I see our season finishing, I worry about our games with Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest as we do not do well with poor teams.

Sat 11 Nottingham Forest WIN 39
Tue 14 LEICESTER CITY DRAW 40
Sat 18 Crystal Palace LOSE 40
Sat 25 SOUTHAMPTON DRAW 41
Sat 03 BURNLEY WIN 44
Wed 07 West Ham United LOSE 44
Sat 10 Derby County DRAW 45
Sat 17 COVENTRY CITY WIN 48
Tue 20 Bristol City LOSE 48
Sat 24 IPSWICH TOWN WIN 51
Sat 31 Leeds United LOSE 51
Fri 06 BLACKPOOL LOSE 51
Mon 09 Cardiff City LOSE 51
Sat 14 HULL CITY DRAW 52
Tue 17 Brighton and Hove Albion WIN 55
Sat 21 Peterborough United LOSE 55
Sat 28 MIDDLESBROUGH DRAW56

I will use these for the match threads as well, after the Leicester City match.

Actual results in heavy text with predictions for the matches to arrive.
Sat 11 Nottingham Forest DRAW 37
Tue 14 LEICESTER CITY WIN 40
Sat 18 Crystal Palace LOSE 40
Sat 25 SOUTHAMPTON
LOSE 40
Sat 03 BURNLEY WIN 43
Wed 07 West Ham United DRAW 44
Sat 10 Derby County WIN 47
Sat 17 COVENTRY CITY DRAW 48
Tue 20 Bristol City WIN 51
Sat 24 IPSWICH TOWN WIN 54
Sat 31 Leeds United LOSE 54
Fri 06 BLACKPOOL LOSE 54
Mon 09 Cardiff City LOSE 54
Sat 14 HULL CITY DRAW 55
Tue 17 Brighton and Hove Albion WIN 58
Sat 21 Peterborough United LOSE 58
Sat 28 MIDDLESBROUGH DRAW 59

Comments please.

I see we are 3 points ahead of your original posting Ak so on your predictions we would get to 59 points. Surely of the four defeats you've got us down for we could pick up 3 more points to make 62 points for the season and SD will have topped MM's 61 from last year.

Come on you 'ORNS <rofl>
 
Only 2 correct predictions so far since you started this thread - how is it you are doing so well in the predictions league?!! :))