Last 6 games Reading 11 points Rs 10 Wigan 9 Derby 8 not much between the teams on current form. I do agree we will probably get cheated in playoffs though
Let's get real here instead of deluding ourselves that we are playing well, doing just fine and as long as we stumble over the line into the play offs everything is fine and has gone according to plan. The reason why so many of us are pissed off is that after Blackpool we were 2 points clear at the top. I have just checked the stats. That was precisely the 20 game mark. So let's compare the stats against the 3 teams likely to meet us in the play offs. The Wigan stats are slightly anomalous because of course they were a couple of games behind the rest of us at that stage. However, here goes: 1st 20 games 2nd 20 games W D L F A Pts W D L F A Pts QPR 12 6 2 24 10 42 8 4 8 25 25 28 DERBY 11 4 5 42 26 37 9 5 6 27 20 32 WIGAN 6 4 8 19 20 22 13 6 3 35 19 45 READING 9 7 4 29 22 34 8 5 7 32 24 29 The significant change in stats is the fact that we won our games in the first half of the season by scoring an average of 1.2 goals per game and having a tight defence. All credit to the defence but we did ride our luck as many of the teams we played hit the woodwork at least once per game. Our form going into the critical period just before the play offs is mediocre - mid table form at best in what is a very poor league. While Derby and Reading have slipped slightly, Wigan have come good and are looking the strongest. We also show no signs of putting in a consistent run of form but then that is hardly surprising when our manager changes the team with such regularity. So while Swords like all of us on here will be happy with a win however poorly we play and however boring it may be to watch, I'm afraid he is deluding himself if he really believes that that it's all going according to a (limited) master plan to sneak over the line. Add to that the fact that Wigan are big match specialists and the other three have all beaten us when it mattered in the last few weeks. There is going to have to be a dramatic improvement in our performance levels for us to have any chance at all. I'll happily subscribe to the hope that if we can win our last three games, Watford, Millwall and Barnsley, we may build up sufficient momentum to see us through the play offs but I would rather not be playing two clubs who are likely to be still battling for their lives to avoid the drop. If I was the manager, I would look to rest Hill and Dunne in alternate games. They both need a rest, especially Dunne. They can then come into the play off period a bit fresher. I would drop BAE and give Yun the chance to stake a claim to play in the play offs. We need to make the arrogant sod (BAE not Yun!) work for the right to play for us. At the moment , it's just too easy for him because he knows that hell would stand more chance of freezing over than Redknapp might actually use the next six games to see who else might be willing to step up to the challenge.
Yorkshire, you're forgetting to mention that our form tailed off following Austin's injury. Now that he's back and will get a run of games before the Semis, do you think then that we've as good a chance as any of the other three?
We seem to do better when we do have a man sent off. Last time they had Gorkss sent off and they beat us.
No I don't. I thought we were past the days when we could pin our hopes on one talisman? He's not a talisman. He assumed mythical status simply because he is our only competent centre forward through the choice of the man in charge but that is not enough on its own. It's not fair to put that much responsibility on the shoulders of one man. Our defensive form has also been said to have tailed off as a result of Simpson's injury. Yet how then do we explain the two soft goals on Saturday. The fact is that the other teams in this League have found us out for what we are - a team that is actually short of creativity and does not have players of the right calibre throughout the team. It just goes to show you cannot simply pack a team with so-called utility players aka midfielders whose only collective skill is their so-called team ethic. It does not seem to count for much when teams stand up to them.
I tend to think more like you except I would say that the reason why we're so goddam frustrating is that we do have good players. We do have an excellent squad for this league but they play under their ability and they're poorly managed. Anyone who watches us play will easily see that there are no good plans being played out on the pitch. We're a confused team who doesn't know what we're doing! So that's why I don't agree with the people who say we shouldn't be frustrated this season. We know we should be playing better. We should be literally pulling certain teams apart but we're not. After Bournemouth went down a man we should have put them right under the kosh and smashed them. But what we saw instead was us actually get worse, almost if the players were like "ooo.... Something has changed. We weren't expecting this. What do we do now?" There isn't someone in the club to really drive the team and give them a clue, due to enthusiasm. Harry doesn't seem to have enthusiasm. Another point I wanted to make, regarding what people have said about keeping a promotion team together in the PL. That's what we should have done when we got promoted before!! We should have stuck with Warnock and a squad that walked all over the Championship and built from there. Now, if we get promoted, we've only got a team who have luckily been promoted because they're very talented players (who have picked up enough points due to simply having a better squad than other teams) but with no drive or determination. What I mean by that is our squad on paper is excellent but we'll get trounced in the PL because they're not up for it and they're not well organised tactically or in terms of morale.
Sadly, this makes a lot of sense. Seems to me we are stuffed either way. If we stay down, bad news for the finances but perhaps a chance for a new manager to build a proper team. If we go up, we will be rooted to the bottom for the whole season with this team. I think I would prefer the former though would worry about FFP.
Unless you have some wonderful powers of seeing into the future, how do you know we will be rooted to the bottom all season ?? After all, how many last year had Palace for the drop ? One thing I'm pretty certain of is that not getting promoted this year would be a disaster and COULD mean there is a whole lot of trouble in store for our beloved football club. And with great respect, if you prefer that, then you must be f****** mad.
RTID preferring it if we don't go up is quite simply bizarre. If we do manage to go up, I can see us going from strength to strength and staying up there for a number of years. Of that I've no doubt.
OK, gents. Further explanation required. Staines, I said we would be rooted to the bottom with this team. Can you really see it any other way? As to preferring to stay down, that is merely a reflection of what many on here have been wanting. A systematic, long term approach, building a team that functions properly as a team (like Leicester) and reaches the PL needing some addition to survive / develop but not needing wholesale change. If the price of that is another season in this league, so be it. I did, however, also reflect Staines' concern about the financial side with my 'worry about FFP' I don't think that is too bizarre or unreasonable?
And what do you base this lunatic optimism on? Harry will pull some wondrous footballing rabbits out of a hat? Last season's malaise has never fully been exorcised and added to Harry's total lack of tactical acumen it's hard to see us going up let alone going from strength to strength. Sounds like you've been dabbling with the Poteen Swordsy...
I hope you're right, for fans the number one thing is to get rid of Redknapp, I'd rather have another season in the champ than be in the PL under him. Obviously its a different story for TF and our finances.
RTID, every team that goes up would most probably struggle with the team they go up with. That's why we'd do what every other side does upon Promotion and strengthen the squad. You know what? Sometimes it only takes one quality player to transform a side and I think that's all this team requires. Its been sorely out of balance all season but spend some good money on a quality sitting midfielder and this side would mutate overnight into summat totally different. Then when the dregs are out the door, get in some hungry young players and one or two experienced heads and we'd be well up for the Prem. I reiterate that this current side are actually more suited to a higher level than the battering ram type of a league we're now in. You're spot on regarding the malaise not being dispersed yet because such was the rot, it was impossible to do it in one Summer. However, they're all out of contract this year so the Revolution can be completed. Yes Redknapp's had better seasons but I'm telling you this man, few other Mangers would have been able to turn last seasons wasters into Playoff qualifiers this time round. Harry made us as solid as a rock for the first 20 games by bringing in the Dunney Monster on a free. Okay, he's clapped out now and should be replaced but with the massive overhaul of players pre-season, can you think of any other Managers that would have had us in with a shout of Promotion this season? There might be a handful but they would've been out of our reach. If we don't go up then Harry's failed and he can pack his bag but if we do, then its been a roaring success. That's what it all boils down to - results. And we'll know the final result in a few weeks time. Until then, I still think its on. Bottom's up!
