Its "cup half full" time. We've done enough moaning to last several seasons. I for one am now going to give the new ownership, ably advised by that footballing collosus Kenneth Bates, the benefit of every doubt for quite a time. There are a number of comments floating around (especially on ja606) about how its all too late for this season. So I thought I'd see what the recent past tells us. Last season, on 22 November 2011, after most teams had played 17 games, the table read: 1 Southampton 39 points 2 West Ham 34 points 3 Catdiff 31 points 4 Middboro 31 points 5 Leeds 28 points................ oh and also rans Reading in 14th place with 21 points. And what happened? Champions Reading with 89 points, followed by Ston on 88 and WHU (who eventually made it too) with 86 points. Leeds ended up 14th with 61 points. What I learn from that is - being in a good place after a third of the season is obviously positioning you with a better chance (well, knock me down with a feather with that one). But, also Leeds today after one more game are 2 points ahead of where Reading were a year ago. So, thats not a prediction. But its a statement of the possibility that a team in our position, led by a manager with a track record of getting promotions, and now with some real backing (remember I am in a cup half full mode here)...... can follow the Reading example and get us up. I think I'll put the champagne on ice.
Its a hard one to believe, if by some amazing chance we did get promoted I really do doubt it will be via the automatic route I can't see it happening either way and it does look as though next season will more than likely be the better season which is why I am so focused on manager
No, I am convinced. Anything less than automatic will be failure. In fact surely the title is in reach. As for you, you bloody canary, lets hope that global warming puts up sea levels smartish by 20 metres or so, and we can forget about all the webfoots. No offence.
I think you maybe right 2020. Your new owners are really the "Arabian Knights" and instead of giving NW a war chest in January they are giving him a magic lamp. As long as he uses his wishes wisely and asks for Becchio, Varney, Peltier, Lees, Green, and Byram to be turned into footballers and Diouf into a human being you will be safe this season please log in to view this image
I've moved on, I am now wondering who we should bring in during then summer to ensure we make the Champions League places in our first season back? TC, I am worried about you. There you are, hitting the dizzy heights of the playoff places, how will you cope with the inevitable disappointment when we storm past you and you miss out yet again?
I'm willing to give Peltier a chance, he seems to put in one good performance for every bad one. He's been ****ed about positionally too.
Peltier wasn't great yesterday, but he was at left back again I'm just glad Zaha stayed over on the left, where Byram kept him in his pocket. Don't know how Peltier would have coped against him. Seems strange to waste a vast chunk of the budget on a player to constantly play him out of position.
He's been ****ed about positionally, I'll give you that. However he has not given a good performance for every bad one I think also because he has been made captain, more has been expected from him. He isn't a captain and it annoys me that Colin has made him captain, he shoulda been dropped a few games ago but has been made to fit in. I still claim if Peltier is to fit in that team it is instead of Byram, but you have to play Drury on the other side. I don't understand what Drury has done wrong for a ****ty peltier to have his position
