Calm down on the play-off predictions! Look at the season on groups of 5 games at a time. So far each group of 5 games had yielded 3, 7,6,8 and 6 points with 6 from the current group with the Notts Forest game to go. We can reasonably expect another 20 points from the 16 games remaining after that, without being sure which games will provide them. That is enough for survival, but we do not have the creativity of firepower to aspire to more. That is "job done" for Dyche, and his instructions for the next season will be the same. By the sale of Sordell, Bassini has ensured that he can meet the next installment of the bonds , and must hope to do the same next year by the sale of Marriapa. That will take us two more years into the "Bassini plan" of creating a debt free Championship club, which might be attractive to a new owner. Hopefully.
As things lie Coventry need five wins to catch us and Doncaster Rovers five wins and one draw. This does not count goal difference so we could be bottom of the league by match 36, this is never going to happen.
we are now closer to the playoffs than relegation, in terms of points surely we should start looking up
Indeed Yorkie, my feelings exactly. None of us expected much this season...last night confirmed..we have no reason to be looking behind us anymore...onwards and upwards is the way to go
I think that if we first of all look at the fixture list, we'll have a better idea! I really don't expect us to get more than 3 points out of the next 12 - which may see us drop down again from the giddy heights of 15th. For the 15 on offer after that, I'd be surprised if we get less than 10 - more likely to get 12. Beyond that, I really don't care - I doubt we'd have any chance of reaching the play-offs at all & would rather we steered clear of them anyway - we're simply nowhere near ready for that.
I'm with you Yorkie & H - we always knew this would be a very difficult season with a new manager, a new owner, players being sold and little of the money being made available to invest in new players. But what have we seen? A manager learning and growing with every game who clearly has the whole squad and club behind him. An owner who so far as delivered a few things and has not damaged the club (as a lot of us feared) - I saw him walking through the Legends Lounge after the game last night talking to the the staff and spend a few minutes with Don (Sticks) before walking across the pitch to spend time with the players. Yes we have sold players, but with the addition of another striker, I think we will be a competent Championship team. Are are unlikely to challenge consistently enough for a play-off place, but we can be a good mid-table club at the moment, and I for one will happily take that.
Play-offs would be some extra money. I think the premiership would be a dangerous place for us if we were lucky to get there. Will will not so no worry there.
I'm not saying we should be looking at the playoffs, I agree that we are not ready for that. However I feel that there is just as little chance of relegation and instead of worrying about how many points we need to avoid relegation. Instead we should be looking to finish strongly and of possible better our league standing from last year and with games against teams such as Palace, Derby and Leeds who are all not far above us still to come, we should be looking to take points off of these teams.
Derby and Leeds, yes - they are in that group of five games coming up from which I think we will win four (probably lose at Coventry!). Can't honestly see us getting anything at Palace, nor from the WHam and Saints games - should beat Burnley though. We also have a particularly tough April coming up - didn't want to dwell on that as I really don't expect much from those games either.
Wouldn't it be nice to get the money from a play-off final and lose, so we are not ravaged by the desire to stay in the greed is good league, but to beat Cardiff City in the semi-final. just seen Ak put something similar earlier.
Between now and the end of the season there are 18 matches involving Watford and all the clubs below them playing each other. Millwall are involved in six, and they are playing away in all of them. Best placed is Nottm Forest who have four games at home. Coventry have four home games and two away. Obvoiusly Watford to win, but are we best served by all the rest finishing as draws. I think I have all the games: 25-Feb Doncaster Rovers v Peterborough United 06-Mar Nottingham Forest v Doncaster Rovers 06-Mar Peterborough United v Millwall 10-Mar Nottingham Forest v Millwall 17-Mar Portsmouth v Bristol City 17-Mar Watford v Coventry City 20-Mar Bristol City v Watford 20-Mar Doncaster Rovers v Millwall 24-Mar Coventry City v Portsmouth 07-Apr Coventry City v Peterborough United 07-Apr Nottingham Forest v Bristol City 09-Apr Bristol City v Coventry City 10-Apr Portsmouth v Millwall 14-Apr Doncaster Povers v Millwall 17-Apr Coventry City v Millwall 21-Apr Coventry City v Doncaster Rovers 21-Apr Peterborough United v Watford 28-Apr Nottingham Forest v Portsmouth
We are back on the road for 56 points. Gaining one point against West Ham United makes up for losing the point I thought we would get playing against Southampton.
Apologies for the late response. I think you know how I meant it, but just to clarify, he was referring purely to the 'Orns - he doesn't like to make predictions about his own team.
I see we are 3 points ahead of your original posting Ak so on your predictions we would get to 59 points. Surely of the four defeats you've got us down for we could pick up 3 more points to make 62 points for the season and SD will have topped MM's 61 from last year. Come on you 'ORNS
Only 2 correct predictions so far since you started this thread - how is it you are doing so well in the predictions league?!! )
