I think it is all over for Ipswich. The top 5 with either Brentford or Wolves for the 6th slot will be the make-up. Despite making a mess of the Wigan game I am still looking at Norwich City and Watford for the automatics, the play-offs are an absolute lottery and any one can come through.
I still think it is up in the air, but have a feeling we will make the auto spots. But have to say this has been one of the most entertaining championship seasons for a while!
Proves my theory of it being a strong league,and not as a lot of people say,a weak league. A weak league usually has 1 or 2 good teams,who run away from everyone else (see last season) A strong league has 6 or 7 teams all of similar ability.
Much more interesting and enjoyable than competing for mid table mediocrity in the pl- I'll miss this league if we get promotion
My theory is even the team's at the top are not very good either. If a team like Ipswich can be even close to the top 6 there is something wrong.
Not worth starting a new thread, but the next 10 days are going to be HUGE for most of the teams in the top 5 positions - Bournemouth V Blackpool Sat 14 Mar 15:00 Cardiff V Bournemouth Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Bournemouth V Middlesbrough Sat 21 Mar 12:15 Norwich V Derby Sat 14 Mar 15:00 Derby V Middlesbrough Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Wolves V Derby Fri 20 Mar 19:45 Watford V Reading Sat 14 Mar 15:00 Wigan V Watford Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Watford V Ipswich Sat 21 Mar 15:00 Middlesbrough V Ipswich Sat 14 Mar 12:15 Derby V Middlesbrough Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Bournemouth V Middlesbrough Sat 21 Mar 12:15 Norwich V Derby Sat 14 Mar 15:00 Huddersfield V Norwich Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Norwich V Nottm Forest Sat 21 Mar 15:00 No team has an easy run of games (though Watford's is probably the easiest) and I think Boro and Derby's is particularly tough and both must drop points over these 3 games. Look like I'll have to go down the pub to watch the early kick offs for the next 2 Saturdays!!!! My prediction is that Bournemouth will still be top come 5pm on 21st March.
I've given up making predictions for this season, but we should have a clearer picture by the end of these 3 fixtures before the international break. We have as good a chance as anybody, but the Derby match is crucial for us. Looks like Martin and Bent will both still be out for that.
I think we'll get 6 points form the next two matches and could well be top by then. I think we are playing Derby at the right time - as previously posted they have key injuries and their confidence has probably taken a knock and I can see us brushing Huddersfield aside. For some reason the Forest game makes me nervous but there are so many twists and turns to come before the end of the season. I doubt McNally has put down a deposit for an open top bus in May as yet...
My great-great-great grandmother was a young midwife at your birth! Apparently she took one look at you and slapped your mother! Only kidding carrabuh!
Gentlemen - it is 'gratifying to be proved correct' My next prediction ....... will be on April 7th!!!!
Not sure why anyone thinks Bournemouth are home and dry, far from it if you ask me. They've got some very losable games left, starting with our old muckers Ipswich next up and they also trips to Brighton and Charlton that they could definitely slip up in. They've never been in anything like this situation so surely the pressure will start to tell at some point.
