11 games in and if we win our game in hand we will be top. However, let's just keep our feet on the ground. In reality our season starts here. Yesterday's match was a disappointment, but several times this season we have played games and won narrowly. In some of these games we have been very much in charge, but it seems that once a goal goes in then the foot comes off the gas peddle. The defence has played well, but there are always going to be mistakes on which the opposition could (and yesterday did) capitalize. For all the "41 passes in a row" passages of play we need to try and push home our advantage and not sit back. Remember who we have played: (current league position in brackets) Shef Wed - 23 Huddersfield - 13 # Ipswich - 11 Bolton - 21 Leeds - 15 Birmingham - 19 Brighton - 14 # Yeovil - 24 Middlesborough - 16 Barnsley - 22 Milllwall - 18 # # = draw Only ONE of these teams is currently in the top half of the table. Four of them occupy the bottom four places in the league. Only Ipswich are currently in the top half of the league ... and they are at No. 11. I, for one, am worried that too much time is spent relaxing a little and soaking up pressure - pressure quite often brought upon ourselves. We won't be able to do this against those clubs who, at the end of the season, will be fighting for a top 6 finish. Yesterday should be a lesson to all. Playing a poor Millwall side - even away from home - we should have done better in their half, pushed more and not let them have a sniff. If we play like that against Burnley, Forrest, Leicester, etc, we will be beaten. We can't score and just hang on. Look at the games to come: Burnley - 1 Wigan - 12 (2 games in hand) Derby - 8 Reading - 6 Charlton - 20 Doncaster - 17 Bournemouth - 9 Blackburn - 10 Blackpool - 5 Leicester - 3 Forrest - 4 Watford - 7 Christmas. Let us hope that this relatively easy start to the season has given the team a good basis on which to go forward. (Time to gel and all those other stupid phrases.) Now is the time to step up a gear or two. Play as we have been and we will be lucky to be in the top 6 at Christmas.
A good dose of reality there Eamon, but we've risen to every perceived challenge so far. Bolton and Leeds were supposed to be our major tests early on and we came through comfortably. We're stronger now than we were then and there's possibly one or two more names coming in. Next week will give us a fair indication of where we really stand with Burnley followed by Wigan our two biggest tests to date...
I think we will struggle if we dont start converting possession into goals and closing out games I'm worried about austin picking up an injury - goals are not exactly flowing from elsewhere. We haven't twonked anyone yet either I think eamon has this spot on. Beating Burnley is needed to set the pace
The season started in August, didn't it? Rangers can only beat the teams put in front of them. At the start of the season I'd have put the likes of Leeds, Bolton, Birmingham and Brighton as potential promotion candidates. It would not surprise me if at least one of them is in the play-offs come May. If you sit atop the league then the chances are that every other team you're going to face will be bottom-half.
Excellent and thought provoking OP, Eamon. We're sailing out of the cove, into the teeth of the storm! I'd like to hear more about how injured players are progressing. How we could do with a fit AJ in the months to come.
Only saw the high lights but Dunne error led to.first goal. No criticism from me since he is not perfect. Second was scrappy and preventable too - Barton knew so from his reaction. We will raise our game against the 'better' teams but I agree that we need to kill games off with a better goal margin. The injuries will certainly be welcome back and I think we have a lot more to see of Niko too. Bit gutted as I really wanted to stuff Millwall. Horrible fans.
We seem to be forgetting that derby games are never easy to predict. And, I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that Millwall, struggling this season would actually beat us. Although we have dropped points, sometimes a result like this (especially conceding at the end of a game) can be the kick up the arse that is required to help. We have also played a game less than Burnley so we could go top if we win that game in hand......although that is against Wigan. We have started very well hopefully the players will learn from this
A good OP and lots of relevant points there Eamo. One thing I would say though is that I wouldn't worry about who we've played and who we haven't. This League is all over the shop regarding its predictability and ofttimes lower sides are more difficult to beat than teams who can get it down and play a bit. We have players that have played Premier League football a lot and I think when the quality of the opposition rises, they'll be able to meet that challenge. Indeed, they may revel in it. I have a feeling that we may get more points against higher teams this season than we will against less skillful, dogged outfits. I wouldn't be surprised if we went up and beat Burnley next Saturday.
This league is crap, we can only beat whats put in front of us. Only we, Watford and Derby try to play football as far as I can see. With the type of players we have in our team now we'll be fine if we keep to the passing prinicples and keep the head at the back. Possession always results in goals eventually.
Like others have said you can only beat what is in front of you, once we play some of the other top 6 we will get a better idea of how good we really are. Another thing to consider is if all those lower place teams had beaten us then they would all be higher up the table as well.
It is certainly a crazy league. There are only two wins between 12th and the drop zone! Onwards and upwards. In Harry we trust.
I'm pretty much with you Eamon. I didn't go to the Middlesborough match and was away for the Barnsley one so I've not seen us play well so far this season; we've been no where near stringing 41 passes together when I've been at the ground. However winning tight matches is a great attribute to possess, along with our resilience; but for Dunne's uncharacteristic slip up or an unlucky rebound in our area we would have picked up another victory yesterday. That said our team spirit must be high. As has been mentioned elsewhere, our opponents have been generally defensive against us whereas Burnley will attack us next weekend which could play into our hands if they leave some space for us to exploit. We will have a much better idea of what this seasons holds in store for us this time next week, although that run of fixtures you highlight in December looks daunting.
I do wonder whether giving away those two points might work in our favour against Burnley? Dunne will not be happy with himself at all and neither will Barton (and whoever else it was next to him) for gifting Millwall with two goals. So, perhaps better a wake up call that leads to a draw where we seldom win, rather than a spanking next week. Harry and the team have a lot to do before next weekend.
One thing I'll give to Burnley, they turn out high scoring strikers at will. After shifting Rodriguez to Southampton and Austin to us you'd think they would struggle, but now Ings and Vokes are scoring at will. Lets buy them at Christmas. Next weekend is a bigger test for them than us. They are at home, against a team of grizzled old professionals who can also pass. Burnely 0 R's 1 (Hoilett).
I sent this to a Reading-supporting mate when he commented on our relatively 'easy' first 10 games: It's worth noting though that part of the reason our previous opponents aren't in the top 10, is because they've played us. They've missed out on 3 points(or occasionally 2), where different opposition might've yielded a better return. Plus their losses to QPR probably amount to more than -3 points, if you include the effect of momentum on following games.
Add 2/3 points to Ipswich/Brighton/Huddersfield/Middlesborough's tallies and they're all pretty much top 10, or thereabout. Add 1/2 more points for the effect beating "money bags QPR" would have confidence-wise on their following games, and they're comfortably top 10.
