The changes week to week can be dramatic. Who would have guessed that Bournemouth would come back from a 6:1 drubbing to take all three points from a team who were playing in the PL not that long ago. As to Wigan, they must have had a collective case of brain fever as they looked shockingly out of sorts. Bolton, topped by many to do well, effectively thrashed by a rampant Forrest led by our own (sorry, he will always be an R in my head) Jamie Mackie. Reading and Watford, neither surprisingly, showing their pedigree with a stunning opener from LeFondre which, had RVP scored it, would be the footballing headline of today. Watford in turn put down their own marker coming back from 3:1 to equalize in the 90th minute. Huddersfield demonstrate they are not in this division just to make up numbers as relegation fodder by beating The Lions in their very own den! Perhaps the only result that did not look odd or unexpected was Burnley 2: Yeovil 0. Even then Yeovil had some good chances. What's the point of this post? (No rude replies please!!) There are no easy games and we must not be like spoiled children expecting to win every game. Each time we draw when we think we might have won, there will be some other aberrant result that will, sometime, work in our favour. Other times, of course, it will not. Home consistency is the key but, as another thread suggests, being seen as a big scalp will mean we may need to work harder than ever to get those home wins. We will have more of an idea of whether the bookies making us favourites for promotion is justified or not once we have played the likes of Reading, Watford, Forrest, Bolton and Wigan. It was a great win yesterday. I would have preferred to win 4 nil (Austin's early strike from the cross in the first half and the two against the woodwork) but then maybe the less flamboyant win keeps us under the radar with less pressure? The transfer window is not yet shut and I hope we can see more fire power and defense of the same (or even better!) quality that what Harry has already brought in. Finally, you have to love Mick McCarthy. If you were ever looking to personify the word 'dour', he would surely be it!!
No one is under any illusions that it will be a seriously tough job to finish in the top two. A win, by any score, is so valuable and if we scrape lots of 1-0's I'll be more than happy. I think Bond mentioned we need creativity, so they'll address that shortcoming and, hopefully, we'll be on our way. U Rrrrrsssss...
Good post. This is an incredibly difficult league to get out of. The next few weeks are vital and we need to keep picking up points while we attempt to strengthen our team and squad. 46 league games plus hopefully a few cup ones will test our squad to the maximum. Everybody will raise their game against us with many teams coming to HQ and parking the proverbial bus. We will need to show great patience and understand that many of our games especially at HQ will be a slog. Austin's ability to hold up the ball for us will be very important.
Totally agree, take each game on its merits. If we nick a win great, if we pick up a point away from home then don't be dissapointed. We will loose games but as we have had a nice start we have put ourselves in a nice position ( points in the bank is key). Two hard away games coming up, 2 points no disaster, 3 points i'd be pleased, any more than that and i reckon we will be top after 5 games.
As much as I loved seeing all the youngsters on the bench yesterday, it means that we're bloody short for players!!! I really want them to have a chance but at the same time I don't think we'll go up if we don't get a few more layers.
Agree that we shouldn't panic if we taste defeat or dissapoint with a draw at home. Focus should be on our points average. As long as we keep it at 2 we will make it, win at home and draw away.
Great thread, and totally agree with the OP. No game is going to be easy, and loads of teams will set up to make life difficult for us at LR. Its going to be a long, tough season. Maybe even tougher at home rather than away.
What is amazing, in fact almost incredible, is the way is actually building a team. Well done Tony and Harry. Apart from our survival run at the end of the season before last, I have seen more entertaining football in the last two home games than I have done for the previous two years. Very well done and keep it up!!
Exactly!! (Except beating Arse, Spurs and Liverpool in the first season back). The only thing I would echo is that there has been a very positive atmosphere at both the home games so far. No matter what happens we've got to keep this up and everyone contribute!
