...I left it at that on purpose.! Ok so looking at our next 6 games I think we should be taking something from 5 of them. For me 13 points is achievable, March on paper looks a very tough month so we need to get a good return from February. So make your predictions. (W - L - D) Here are the fixture with my prediction; Sat 31 Jan 3:00pm Wigan Athletic H (W) Sat 7 Feb 3:00pm Rotherham United A (D) Tue 10 Feb 7:45pm Sheffield Wednesday H (W) Sat 14 Feb 3:00pm Fulham A (L) Sat 21 Feb 3:00pm Reading H (W) Tue 24 Feb 7:45pm Birmingham City H (W)
Hoppers i don't think you'll be too far off. I think we'll beat Rotherham and should draw with Fulham tho. The futures bright,the futures blue.
(On Paper) a favourable run of matches - But as we know football isn't played on paper. I have said all through Mick's tenure that we wouldn't lose many... but we also wouldn't win enough. So far I've been proved incorrect (and delighted) Another consideration is that in that 6 match spell, Bournemouth face both Derby & Brentford, with Brentford also facing Middlesborough so points will be dropped by those around us somewhere along the way I don't think we'll lose any of those matches. 4 Wins & 2 Draws would be my guess..
I'm hoping the break has freshened us a bit, as we were starting to look a bit tired and predictable. I think we'll have an "OK" next six games, with 3 wins (Rotherham, Sheff Wed and Brum), a draw (Wigan) and two defeats (Fulham and Reading) - fortunately, everyone around us will be playing each other, so everyone will be dropping points. Looking closely at the next 6 fixtures, we are the only team in the top 8, who won't be playing against any of the other top 8 (looking at Bournemouths fixtures, they have a very tough run of games coming up) But, in saying that, this is all immaterial, as we all know that pretty much anyone can beat anyone in this division (Blackpool excluded).
Im with weighty, 12 points is the return we should be looking for. An average of 2 points per game is always good going in this league.
I don't think weve played particularly well since the Brentford match so the break might have come at the right time for us, as for next 6 matches? a minimum of 12 points is a must at this crucial part of the season leading up to the game against The Budgies.
8 points for me. Gonna go 2 wins 2 draws 2 losses. Birmingham are much improved. As are Fulham, that will be a horrible away game. Sheff Weds home won't be easy also. I just wanna see how it goes game by game. As soon as you start thinking " well we SHOULD " beat these etc football all of a sudden isn't football. Expect the unexpected! I don't think we'll win all 4 home games either.
Everyone else has fixtures that could trip them up - ours, on paper at least, are the lite option. I'm reasonably happy but squeaky bum time has come early, all the same.
Lets take each game as it comes....should start with a strong 3 pts....give ourselves a timely boost to go on a run of sorts. My prediction is 4 wins, a defeat and a draw.....13 pts I make it. And up to 2nd by end Feb, Horses mouth you have it!
I think we will not even play all six as one match has to be postponed due to bad weather but if we do play them all then i think we will win against Wigan, lose to Rotherham, win against Sheff, lose to Fulham, win against Reading and dtaw with brum, so 10 points for me!! Whilst im in the predicting mood, i think Derby will win the league, Bmouth 2nd, mboro, Watford, Norwich, Brentford and Ipswich 7th!! Nah only jesting, we will be 5th in place of the sista shaggas
I was really confident of autos but just think Mick has started to go too negative again and that will cost us!! Please, no more Skuse and Tabb in same team!!
Spanish - i usually have you're back in here, and and primarily agree in principle with your opinions, but i honestly don't think it's a case of MM being too negative. I think it's just a case of us being a little jaded and tired from playing a lot of games, with just a small squad. I also think good teams are now finding us out a bit, as we generally do play one style. In saying that, in the three games we've lost laely, and although we haven't played that great, there's no disgrace in losing to the third best team in the prem, probably the best team in the championsip, and a team on the up that shouldn't be in the position they are. I'm very confident we'll make play offs, but unfortunately thats where our season will end. I think McG needs to be dropped, and Sears given a start, with N Hunt coming on if it's not working out.
I agree Spanish....but sorry you didnt rise to my bait on another thread! If we do manage 2-3 wins over next 3 games, then we will be well placed for very tough games next month.....but then again, so have those around us! Cant remember enjoying footie this much in mid-winter for years!
I don't think Skuse and Tabb being in the same team is a problem, Skuse & Hyam then yes I agree is a huge no no in my book. Skuse is important to the team as he makes the midfield tick over, he needs either Bru or Bish beside him to look for the defence splitting passes. Tabby is very good at making those runs behind the defence, the early derby one is a prime example, just because he doesn't do 100m in 9.5sec with the ball doesn't mean he is negative. Saying that I would probably prefer if Mick went 3 in midfield Skuse/Bish/Bru and 3 up front in Murphs/Hunt/Sears.
Murphy is out injured with a calf strain but Dids is back and I reckon he will start with Sears up front.
Spanish if we get 10 points from the next 6, with 11 to play it's going to be some ask to drop to 7th ! Murphy being out is a massive blow I'm now very nervous about tomorrow!