I am sure some have already seen this but for those who havent. http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-17494039-detail/story.html? HOW THEY COMPARE AFTER 20 GAMES Nigel Pearson, 2010-11 ⢠Points 23 ⢠Final points 65 ⢠Final position 11th Phil Brown, 2007-8 ⢠Points 27 ⢠Final points 75 ⢠Final position 3rd Nick Barmby, 2011-12 ⢠Points 33 ⢠Final points 68 ⢠Final position 8th * First 15 games under Nigel Pearson Steve Bruce, 2012-13 ⢠Points 35 ⢠Final points ? ⢠Final position ?
Yes i know most teams will say that they have chucked points away already this season, Hull City have imo chucked more away than our rivals. Blackburn away should have been a draw - Charlton away should have been a win AND of the 3 home defeats and draw the Tigers should have had a draw with Blackpool and a win against Crsytal Palace as the very minimum. So thats 6 more points we could/should have had. 41pts and joint top with Cardiff City. All in all i am well happy so far and with the right January additions we can kick on and move into gear for the 2nd half of the season. Top 2 is well within our grasp.
Imo, it isn't worth chasing just a play-off spot. We won it last time but really it's a complete lottery and since we never seem to beat the other top sides, why would we suddenly do it in the playoffs? No, the way to do it is finishing top 2.
Should have, would have, could have. 35 points is fine so far with improvement to come with Hobbs back and who knows what in the transfer window. I said to my mate the other day that I think we are going up again, before the season started I thought we'd struggle to get near the play-offs. Nice to be pleasantly surprised.
Frustrating on the lost points. But that aside, I am happy with how it is going at the moment. I dont see Palace staying the pace and Cardiff always blow up in March. I think most teams will have more than an eye on us now. Once Steve Bruce gets that extra goal scorer in the place then who will stop us. ? As you say with Jack Hobbs to come back as well things will only get better. imo,.
I'm very happy with where we are, especially since as in we could, and should, have been on even more points. Let's see what SB does in the January Transfer Window and look forward to a successful second half of the Season!
I'd be extremely annoyed if City hadn't got a single point against the top lot at home. but since they were all away, i'm content. I think we'll give them more of a game at home.
7 defeats at this stage isn't great. Our record against other teams in the top 6 is very poor with defeats to Cardiff, Leicester and Boro. Draw at home to Palace. If we could improve our record against other teams in the top 6, then I think top 2 is realistic. We need to make a statement of intent in January by signing 2 quality strikers - to cash in on all the quality crosses into the danger area. Maybe a midfielder in the Meylor mould (if he has to go back to Sunderland). I still think we're the best team in this league, from what I have seen.
I dunno about the best team in the league bit, but i agree with the rest. I think at least one striker in January is a must.
I see this as a bit like a mid 80s 1500m Olympic final. The first two laps (where we are now) are just going round the track, with the big boys hiding in the leading pack, monitoring known rivals. In the third lap (after Jan), the pace is forced a bit and the gap between them and the also-rans increases. At the bell, just before Easter, the potential winners elbow their way to the front and move up through the gears. Perhaps perennial bottlers like Cardiff will get dropped off well before the final bend and one from the back of the pack (Watford? Forest?) will make a bolt for the line. We have to adopt a Coe/Ovett strategy, even Steve Cram. But not Steve Prefontaine.
BUT, all those games were away apart from the Palace game which we should have won comfortably. Cardiff have the best home record in Europe, we gave them a game. Prossie and McLean got their first start together at the Riverside where we seem to be cursed... Leicester was a battle of tactics which unfortunately Nigel Pearson won. I'm pretty sure these reverse fixtures will work more in our favour when they come back around. I definitely agree with signing a real poaching striker that can actually capitalise on some wicked crosses put in by Elmo and Brady, we never seem as though there's anybody to get on the end of them...
My rough guide for a promotion season is this: Teams in the top 8 - draw at home, lose away = 7 points (we're the 8th team) Teams in the middle 8 - win at home, draw away = 32 points Teams in the bottom 8 - win home and away = 48 points Total = 87 points At present, extrapolating our results we're on for 82 or 83 points, and it's the teams in the middle of the table that are costing us most to the target.
