RER - You're quite right to 'have no blind faith', at least until you see that our style of play and results CONSISTENTLY improve and NONE of us know that they will, though we certainly hope that they do; otherwise, as you say the 'honeymoon period' with some of our 'Boo Boys' will be very short-lived!!!!
So will I Supers, as Phelan leaving is one of my concerns. So far AN has handled that well by all appearances and credit to him for that, but we need Phelan's experience now as much as we did when Adams was in charge.
So, what is your prediction for this season? You have nailed your colours to the mast in terms of the new manager's skills so what do you think that will translate into in terms of finishing position?
I'm guessing your post was directed at Supers, but I'll give my view that we'll finish no lower than 5th - as long as we don't suffer any major injury problems.
I think we'll finish top 6 now and if we could manage to secure six points from our next two matches, I don't think top two is impossible. Unlikely, but possible. I didn't think we'd finish top six until the change was made but I like what I see in the new man and my confidence is returning.
More or less exactly what I was thinking. I am now much more confident that we will make the play-offs. And, to be fair, I think Adams is due his share of the credit for that - we could have had a dreadful start like Fulham or Cardiff and then had a mountain to climb, plus he has left us basically having helped turn round the October/November slump. Despite Carrabuh's truly astonishing positivity, I cannot see us quite making autos. I wouldn't be surprised if we fall just short due to either (a) another slump for a few matches or (b) looking back on this first half of the season rueing a couple of the home results. So my best guess would be 4th or 5th, maybe five or six points shy of autos. Which would leave us around the 75-80 point mark I believe. To have any chance of autos we simply cannot afford another slump. The odd loss on the road is acceptable, but they have to be amidst a sea of wins. I would also like to say that I don't see injuries causing us any problems because I don't think it can get much worse than the first half of this season has been and our squad depth is good enough to cope with whatever we do get, but I don't want to talk that one up...
Good post Rob. My opinion is we can probably only afford two more defeats to make autos. I think we'll fall just short personally and as I said yesterday, those two Reading games will haunt us
That's probably true, though obviously depends on the number of draws (which I think we have to put down as two points lost at this stage). From this time of year under Lambert in League 1 we made up a massive 16 points on Leeds, despite being defeated five times. But this was helped by their terrible form and only two draws for us, plus we were better placed then anyway. I think that's what we will have to rely on - three or four of the teams ahead of us having a real drop in form as well as us having a boost. I think we can expect two of them to fall back, but not any more. Not just the Reading games, but I can see why you pick them.
The reason I keep harping on about the two Reading games is because at the time of both our matches, their form was even more wretched than ours was! It doesn't matter which dropped points we highlight - they're all as frustrating as each other - but those two games really were dreadful results
I think it wll be our final win column that will see us top. I have no time for this Division, really poor. Granted I have not seen alot but I have certainly not seen an even remotely good side. Wolves, Ipswich, Derby, total crap. I do think Alex wil get the spark back into things, its the only reason I am so confident. I don't know if I've mentioned earlier but I feel exactly how I did in League One when we lost to Leeds, it was clear we were the much better team and I just knew we'd catch up and win the league (it was on the old 606). 8 points from 21 is not alot and once we get that roll going I think we'll be exceptionally hard to stop. We still have Derby at home which could make 5 making it even more likely. I know its if and buts but having the best squad that we do I expect we will overtake them all and finish top. Unlike the last two appointments, this guy is a winner. Given how much I hate Scottish players, for me to say that would take somebody I find impressive. I'm not going to be moaning at the board for this appointment (even if it goes tits up) because I can see why we picked him.
I agree, I think to get to the points total that will probably be required for Top 2 is probably going to be a bit beyond us. Even with a W12 D6 L3 set of results we would only get to 82 points which would probably leave us just short, although the year before last it would have been enough for second spot. I'm going for 4th, but with the momentum to take us to a playoff victory.
I agree, I think to get to the points total that will probably be required for Top 2 is probably going to be a bit beyond us. Even with a W12 D6 L3 set of results we would only get to 82 points which would probably leave us just short.
Nice to have you back carrabuh and feeling so positive. I'm looking forward to seeing what the starting 11 will be in the coming matches and who we sign in the next few weeks (and who leaves, but don't think we'll see many leave!!).
I find these predictions pretty amazing, frankly, which makes me feel even more that the over-expectation bug is going to hit big time later on. Carrabuh's "I think it will be our final win column that will see us top" will be wonderful if it happens, but it will be very, very embarrassing for him if it doesn't. Over expectations gone through the roof! To finish top we'd have to get at least 50 points from 21 games. That's almost 2.4 points per game. I'd be very, very happy, but also very amazed if that happens (has Carrabuh found some happy dust somewhere?). I'd say 80 points would be a reasonable hope, but I doubt that would get us into the top two places. Should we happen to lose two more matches, we'd have to go unbeaten for the rest of the season to accomplish that. Top two should be the target, but not the expectation, or else we'll be looking for a new manager at the end of the season.
The next three games will tell us a lot. Cardiff and Brentford at home, rejuvenated Birmingham away. Anything less than 7 points and I think talk of automatic promotion will wither
I really don't think its over expectation. My thoughts are simply. The Division is poor We have the best squad I don't consider 8 points to be alot I think the manager has what it takes to make us play as the best in the Division. Finally I'm no fool, I'm correct virtually all the time, and I mean that sincerely.
We'll see Carrabuh. I'll say again that I'll be very pleased if you're right, and will commend you for your vision if we finish top, but I have to say that it would take something very exceptional to manage that. The Division is poor (It's better than you think, as has been shown) We have the best squad (We have good players, but they need to create synergy as a team - your mission AN!) I don't consider 8 points to be a lot (Over 21 games it is a fair challenge) I think the manager has what it takes to make us play as the best in the Division. (I very much hope you're right) Finally I'm no fool, I'm correct virtually all the time, and I mean that sincerely. (We'll quote you on this prediction, which might just be the first dent in your virtually perfect life up until now!)
