With results recently going our way and us failing to capitalise albeit against top sides, the coming games are crucial. The gap between us and play offs is now 2 points and others now hot on our tails (Leicester and Leeds) nothing less than two wins are enough. Coventry and Portsmouth are in my opinion comfortably the two worst teams in the league, especially now Cov have sold Jutkiewicz whom I rated very highly. Nicky must go out with the intention of winning these games only, a draw is not enough. These two games will define our season.
We're still in it, win these two games and we're right back in it. Aside from Southampton and Reading no one else is really showing any real form, trouble is I can't see us grasping the nettle and staking a serious claim for the play off places. Our lack of goal scoring looks to have determined the outcome of our season. If Coventry come and park the bus next weekend then we could well see what we've seen for the majority of home games this season.
We've won one game in the last eight, we've dropped to 18th in the form table, we've lost our last two and we look weak without Koren, who's now out for a month. We might well win the next two, we might well spend a couple of weeks in the top six, but we're not scoring nearly enough to be there at the end of next month.
Could not of put it better myself olm .Nicky had the chance to define our season but kept faith in the players that had not done it all season
I listened with interest to Nick's interview yesterday and thought his choice of words telling. He said "we'll never give up" which is a strange thing to say for a club that is only 2 points out of the play-offs. I think it reflects how frustrated he is that all the excellent work we have put in this season will ultimately all be for nothing for the want of someone who can score on a regular basis. I'd almost rather have a boring "Not relegated, not promoted" season than suffer the frustrations of this season again and I reckon a good few will feel the same way. Something I'm willing to bet will be reflected in the season ticket sales for next season.
let's face it we're not ready for the PL, Southampton & West Ham are, Reading surprise me as they didn't look better than us but they've had a run based on confidence. We'll be top 10 but play-offs is really hard, not impossible but we'll ned a couple of dodgy 1-0s in unexpected places PLUS 6 points from Pompey & Cov and in all honesty Fratton Park is always tough.
Just because we didn't win our last two games, that's hardly a reason to start deciding out season is over. Bar Southampton, none of the other teams won both of their games in the same spell, most of them drew against lesser teams or played each other. It looks worse because we have dropped from 6th to 9th but it's only two points and we have a game in hand against some of the teams which will put us in a different position should we win it. It is annoying with this goal scoring drought, of course it is, but all we can do is believe I guess. You never know, beat Portsmouth and Coventry and we could be comfortably in the play offs (well as comfortable as possible, you know what this league is like).
There's only one problem with this plan, I can't even see us winning both these next fixtures to be brutally honest..
Whilst I agree... The next two teams do leak a lot of goals. If... If we do win these two games, and some of the players we need to score, get goals, this could potentially kick start the season. Potentially, mind.
Kick start the season????? There's only 8 games left. What has killed us this season is not being able to beat teams below us in the table at the KC. That time is now gone and we are now in "Have to win" territory. If we don't win these next two games, not only will we fall further away from the play-offs, but Lesteristan, TWS and Derby will overtake us.
might not win both games,but i bet we will have more possesion then both tho, and thats all that counts
The pack will be shuffled plenty of times before the final game, i'm not really confident we'll reach the play-offs but we've got a fairly soft looking fixture list, the likes of Pompey, Watford & Millwall, Barnsley Coventry & Forest. l can see plenty of clean sheets for us in those games, a few 1-0's are not out of the question. I do think we'll beat Portsmouth on Tuesday and that could take us back into the top 6. The Middlesbrough game looming on the horizon will be a massive 6 pointer.
Did you also notice that when Burnsie was talking to Fryatt about how he felt about the way City were playing and if it was right for him he said he couldn't say too much because he didn't know who was listening, he sounded really pissed off and frustrated. Really hope they can have a good shake up and the relationship between the players and the manager allows for everyone's point of view to be heard and hopefully acted upon. Surely Nick isn't going to be stubborn to the point that it is bad for the team and the remaining games.
I'm fine with being just outside the playoffs this season, well for the last two infact. They've been a work in progress. Firstly, we had to get rid of all the deadwood, last season, and over turn a large chunk of debt just inorder to survive. But we still had a go. This season, despite that twat Pearson jumping ship at christmas & trying to derail our progress, we sat 4th over the festive period, but our home form was ineffective and we lost ground and slipped down the table. On the plus side we were playing better football and keeping clean sheets. Now is the time to play out the season and look for summer signings. Barmby needs to be looking at improving the squad. He might have got away with people saying he inherited Pearson's ****e acquisitions (up front i mean ie Simpson and Pele Adebola) but he won't get much sympathy if he doesn't buy over the summer. Getting in the playoffs is fine. But i don't think we're good enough to go up. We'll just end up getting tonked week in week out if we do.
I can understand the negativity as things don't look like changing anytime soon, not to say they won't. However the next three games look like games where points will be up for grabs. If we do manage to get 7 points out of the next 3 games though we'll be well placed. I know form dictates this is a hell of a task and pretty unlikely, but this also has to be balanced out by the context of the teams we're playing. Rosenior, Mckenna and Stewart aren't in the greatest of form at the moment and that added to Koren's absence doesn't exactly fill me with confidence, but against a struggling Pompey/Coventry/Milwall whos to say they might have a cracking game that brings them out of the duldrums.Then its Middlesborough and thats obviously going to be a key game and i'd feel after this game we can truly start to assess how this season will turn out. To be fair I enjoyed the trip yesterday the game was poor after our spell at the start, but the atmosphere was excellent and even though I aren't Nigel's biggest hater, i did find myself joining in with his abuse and that of the ample breasted percussionist. I truly wish the away atomosphere could be translated to the KC and I bet theres many like me who get frustrated at wanting to sing but not being a lone voice in the solemnity of the West Stand. I found it interesting listening to Flat top's comments when I got back, when asked about said abuse he said that he wasn't too bothered as he wasn't much liked during his time with us. Personally I think he was a bit deluded there as although he had his detractors he had the backing of the majority of the fans. His personality didnt exactly endear himself to most and I suppose thats the crowd didnt seem to have much of a relationship with him. Other than the Odd Nigel, Nigel give us a wave. Anyway it was another oppurtunity lost and our lack of ideas and passing around the back four, especially after the red card could well prove a slip up too far, but I hope not. On a side note getting out from the car park was about as fun as the second half. On a more optimistic note teams in and around us have to play each other, as do we so anything can happen. If the Brum Cardiff game finishes as a draw today, we're still only 2 points off play off places and with a game in hand on 3 reachable teams. Teams around us seem to be stuttering also. If we don't go up, I would imagine we can get rid of Ghilas seen as he's doing pretty well this season which will free up a fair bit of money in terms of wages. I think this team only needs 3 or 4 players (not including retaining Mannone and 1 of King or Brady) to potentially be a side better equipped for a promotion race. If we can get a striker who can hold it up and score and have a decent return of goals and an attacking mid who can pick a pass and dictate a game then who knows? We can but dream eh.
