It's in our own hands - looks do-able on paper, assuming we can handle the stiffs in the league ! Fixtures remaining against top 10 clubs(as it stands today). Burnley......................5 Boro...........................6 Hull City AFC..............2 Brighton.....................5 Derby.........................5 Wendies.....................4 Cardiff.......................5 Brummy.....................5 Ipswich......................4 Preston......................4 Brucie...attack, attack, attack !!! In every game.
A good stat really so long as we don't start losing to the likes of Rotherham again. Could be that we just got through the trickiest period.
Agree with the last sentence. The first sentence is now unfortunately wrong; it's no longer in our hands (and largely because he doesn't agree with the last sentence).
Depends on how many of the bottom teams come needing points to avoid relegation. You can see teams coming and setting up like Brighton or Wednesday to play for a point. At the moment we haven't been successful in breaking down teams that come to play this way.
It also doesn't take into account the other teams being able to beat the other top teams. Just because Burnley and Boro have tougher fixtures doesn't mean they will lose them.
We'll obviously see some twists & turns, but the next 5/6 games seem critical for the top 4 teams...do well & momentum will build positive reactions for those who do, a fair bit of nervousness for those who falter. Burnley play 1 of top 10 teams in their next 5 games, 2 in the next 6. Borough play 1 of top teams in next 5 (us), 2 in 6 games. We play 1 in next 5 (Boro), 2 in 6 (Derby is other one). Brighton play 2 in the next 5, 3 in the next 6. Derby play 1 in 5, 2 in 6 (the second being us). Handle ourselves well in the next 5/6 games we'll do it, barring a gigantic collapse in the last 6 remaining games. Mind you, it is City....can't believe I said that !
Rotherham, Bolton, Bristol City, MK Dons are all likely to be needing 3 points against us, not just 1 point, so they're not likely to be parking the bus & with our talent we should be able to capitalize on that.
Of course not - but we have fewer tougher fixtures to win, and they have more tougher fixtures where the points might be split. Would thatnot be to our advantage ?
It's certainly an advantage if we win our games, but it won't make a difference if they just continue winning. Which Burnley seem to be doing.
I haven't seen Thursday's Brummy game yet, but listening to it on TigerPlayer audio it sounded as though there was much more emphasis on going forward. Problem was the players ****ed up their opportunities. Maybe he is getting the message.
True enough. However Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham, Boro & Preston may just prove a little too much. PS: Did you watch Burnley's game against Blackburn today ? In all honesty it was a very close battle, could have gone either way. A Gray penalty won it, but Blackburn were not outplayed by any stretch. They may well falter against better teams.
It's been proven many times that the "on paper" expectation often comes unstuck. However, Middlesbrough, to me, look to have this league 'in the bag' with the games left but we could well put a spanner in their works by beating them. Many would call this a "Must Win" game. Burnley would take second spot I believe unless they slip up badly - I am hoping that they will. Have we got a team that can compete in the Premier League though?
Boro have nothing in the bag. If we can close down Ramiraz and Adomah we can beat them. I am afraid I was not impressed with Rhodes and don't think he was worth the money Boro paid for him. Watched their match on Friday and it was the two above who created the problems, prevent them playing and I see a win or draw for us. We lost to Brumm due to a Robertson **** up and a referee who needs his eyes testing
Also don't forget that Boro, Burnley and Brighton have to play each other so there are some possible dropped points there for those teams
I thought it was still in our hands We've still got to play Boro Boro and Burnley have to play each other so both can't win And we've got a game in hand on Burnley
Fair point. The fact that we have Boro to play means that it is still in our hands as, if we beat them, we would then be level on points with a slightly better GD. We would however have to match their results (and near enough match others beneath us) and maintain the slightly better GD (a growing concern?). Bruce is right when he says they'll be a few twists and turns to come. I hope ours is a turn in an upwards direction as when you look at February and March to date we've played 6, got 8 points and scored 3 goals. That's not going to be anywhere near enough.
Away Burnley 0-1 L Blackburn 1-0 W Ipswich 1-0 W Birmingham 1-0 L Six points out of four games- a very decent return given the opposition, works out at 1.5 per game which when extrapolated , works out at about 34 away points per season. Home Sheff Wed 0-0 D Not a great result against a team battling to get in the playoffs and parking the bus. So 4 aways and 1 home, all against decent teams. Only two goals conceded, one a massive fluke. Carry on Brucey.
