Depends if we do it regularly. Sometimes a win but a poor performance can be the beginning of a bad run of form, next they draw because of a last minute equaliser, then start losing. Not that I'm pessimistic or anything.
We could win the league , finish mid table or even get relegated ...lots of games to go , just enjoy the season ...
DESPiTE THE CONFUSION THAT SOME POSTERS HAVE ON THIS SUBJECT - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS IS CORRECT. NB will have millionS to spend in Jan, but the BIG question is how many ? with £80m+ on offer just by getting to the PL for sky and overseas tv rights then i expect Papa Allam to back NB in whatever he wants. Plus it would also be one in the eye against NP penny-pinching comments towards the Allams. Did anyone notice on TFL show that NP looked fed up ? news of another hull win as lesta struggle against peterboro maybe an irritant also. Lol
Barmby will have "millions" to spend in January, that's a genuine statement from Assem Allam. How much he will actually spend is unknown of course, therefore we won't actually know his budget because we won't know how much was left of it after January. Given our current form we'd be cemented into the play-off positions come January and looking ahead rather than backwards. There's always one team in the top 6 that ****s it up, as long as it isn't us (which with our young and inexperienced team and manager it could be) we should do ok and stay there. We need depth though, We've got backup for all positions but none of them are quite good enough to use unless needed, this will change hopefully with Garcia, Oli & Pusic coming back but still we're light in numbers. I honestly think our promotion push will depend quite heavily on good fortune with injuries. That or we'd need to strengthen most areas in the window which i don't think we will. We're more likely to see 2 or 3 quality additions rather than a larger scale bulking out of the squad. In short yes we can get automatic, it's within our capabilities. But i'm not willing to let myself get too confident until i see what happens after the transfer window.
disagree on needing players for all positions. we need some extra strikers and maybe a GK. the rest is there now with the injured players almost back. Great to see Garcia back @ Coventry for the last 20 mins or so.
I'm not saying we're short of players, but we're short of quality outside of the first eleven required to get automatic promotion. In defence we have McShane who is always capable of a blunder and Cooper who is a good player, but is he good enough for a team that want to challenge for promotion to the PL? Perhaps not. In midfield we have Cairney who blows hot and cold and has never been quite comfortable at this level (certainly not as good as when we were prem), Brady who's probably off in Januray anyway but again he's as likey to have a bad game as he is a great one. Pusic looks the part and i've rarely seen him play so i won't comment on. Oli hasn't played for us in **** knows how long so we don't know what he'll be like. Garcia's just come back from another long term injury but yes, he's great at this level assuming his injury hasn't affected him much. Up front we literally have Adebola as backup, without slating him considering he's not really put a foot wrong since signing, it isn't exactly ideal. And we all know the keeper situation. So i agree that we have a squad that's about the right size, but 2 or 3 injuries to the first team players and i think we'd notice a dip in quality. Which in answering the question of the OP, won't get us automatic promotion. I still think play-offs are well within our grasp without big investment, even with a few injuries.
am sure that NB knows what he needs. in midfield we are over loaded once Oli and Pusic asre fit. Cooper is good enough along with McShane as cover. Plus we also have Sonny Bradley who could do a job for a game or 2 subject to who we were playing at the time. Its deffo 2 new strikers needed to replace waghorn and simpson which is the top priority. lets hope the injuries are over with. we have had more than our fair share already. but there is also the emergency loan window in feb if the need arose any further.
The key for us is to make sure we don't sell anyone in January and for Barmby to become permanent manager. If we can then add a couple of quality, youngish, players then we could be in for a positive end to the season. We don't need to buy if we can get the quality players on loan (our feeder club might be useful again!). I'm hoping Brady stays to learn from Stewart. As people have said, promotion is worth so much to us that we shouldn't be looking to sell. Also if we did go up then we should be looking at keeping most of the team intact, offer new improved contracts (with relegation clauses) and be looking to plough most of the Prem cash into up and coming talent plus a better club infrastructure (which is what we should have spent the last lot of money on!)
It was a great win yesterday, but it was a crap game, we look poor against physical teams and that will probably prevent us getting in the top two.
As I have stated before when he was playing for Ipswich under Keane,Andros Townsend from Spurs would be an asset and if his petulance at training gets under Harry's skin then a purchase or loan in January would give us a further option to feed whatever strikers we field.I do see the need for another hit man though as Adebola and Simpson aren't good options now, or in the future.
Next week’s top six fixtures should give us a good chance to improve our position: City V Millwall – Won’t be easy but we have to be favourites. Porsmouth V Southampton - Possible south coast derby banana skin for Saints. West Ham V Barnsley – West Ham should be favourites, but both teams on the back of bad defeats. Cardiff V Middlesbrough – A draw would be good. Leeds V Reading – Tough one for Leeds with Reading on a high from their big win against West Ham.
I'm pretty sure we'll see Nicky looking for a new goalkeeper, striker and possibly a winger (if Brady leaves) in January. I agree with your recommendation of Townsend, from what I've heard and seen he's a decent young left winger with similar qualities to Stewart.
about spot on here. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this. With Waghorn gone-almost, Simpson and Harper going that also frees up some wages. Ok i know Waggy has been paid by the FA and Simpson is away on loan so have not been on the books of late,,, and when you add on Harpers wage that should add up to a tiday sum for someone. With the correct 2/3 additions top what we have already, IMO thats all that is needed. Every team suffers injuries and there is the emergency Loan window which opens up again in Feb. if needed.
Hands off our townsend !!, london boy and second spell with us surely, you can have simpson back . Got a good feeling about our chances against you.
Very good post and 100% agree. But i dont see anyone leaving apart from the ones already mentioned. Papa Allam has already told his secretary to accept NO calls from anyone @ Lesta. lol. its only the few minority fans who think quality players will leave. With £80m+ for promotion to the PL on offer Lets watch our rivals lose there key players. (ie. Middlesboro look like losing Matthew Bates and Emnes in Jan)
whilst i agree we need an Ashbee-esk type of player for the physical games Mckenna is not averse to leaving his foot there. i think citys performance was more down to tiredness as Barmby indicated in his post game interview to Burnsie. i am sure that NB knows what he needs more than anyone. but as for physical games ? nothing now-a-days compares to the 1971 battle of bramall lane.
I wasn't referring to Saturdays game, I was referring to us playing physical teams in general, we couldn't cope with Palace(despite them being the worse team I think we've played this season), we only just managed to pull off the wins against Watford and Coventry and we had no answer to the Hammers putting Cole on. We have plenty of skill with our young lads, but they look light weight and are easily bossed, I think that's why Dawson's back in for Dudgeon.
fair point but i also think Dudgeon can mix it when he wants to. McShane is also not averse to the physical side. but i think that the team grows as every week and game goes by and that teams that try and take liberties in future will be met by similar force. it just adds up to more excitement as the season moves along.
