I've not been online much over the weekend, in fact didn't even get to access the matchday thread during the game on Friday and haven't had a chance to trawl through what everyone was saying about it. I do know that I suffered my first defeat as matchday thread author, and have to say I feel terribly responsible for Friday's loss in such a massive game so I am really sorry if I let you all down. Does this now mean I've been relieved of my responsibilities, or do I get another chance to make it up to you? I'm happy either way, if someone else wants to take it on then I'll be more than happy for them to do so, inversely if nobody else does - or if people want me to carry on - then I'd be delighted to be given the role again to see if we can pick up the six points left to (hopefully) make it interesting at the top. For the record I'm not writing off our automatic promotion chances off just yet, absolutely no way and I think there are more twists and turns to come yet before this crazy season is done with us - heck, I still have belief that we can win the title from here! All that would take would be for us to win both of our games (eminently possible, particularly now the pressure is off to a certain extent) and then for each of our rivals to slip up and lose in just one of their remaining fixtures which are: Brighton v Watford Watford v Sheff Wed Bournemouth v Bolton Charlton v Bournemouth Fulham v Boro Boro v Brighton Ok, it is a long shot - the fact the bookies now have us out at 18/1 is testament to this - but it's certainly not impossible and stranger things will definitely have happened, particular as the pressure mounts on our rivals and has been released somewhat from our shoulders with nobody (apart from me at least) realistically giving us any hope from here on in. If we win both our games then we will finish above any of our rivals who lose any - and I wouldn't be surprised if Hootun's Seagulls nicked at least a point off Watford or Boro, Charlton will be tricky for the Cherries on the last day, Bolton have shown some improved form of last and Fulham will want to give their fans a decent send-off in their final home game. Ok, I may be clutching at straws a bit, but ever the optimist that I am I won't be giving up on us grabbing one of those two auto spots until the final whistle blows on May 2nd. Who's with me?
I'm with you. I think we could do it 'Boro win one draw one as well as one of the other either losing or drawing both. I actually think there's still a plausible chance, albeit quite slim, of autos, so 18-1 sounds very healthy odds for a return to me. Might have to look at that.
In a sense, given that at New Year we were 11 points off the top, it is remarkable that we even have a chance of winning it at all.
I think you should see the season out and take it from there. Maybe fresh blood for the play offs If you don't fluke us promotion ?.
Agreed, Tony I like your optimism and that's what we need in these match day threads. As they say, you have the "full support of the board"... I.e. In footy talk you've got one more game to turn this around
Probably being ridiculously optimistic, but I really believe we are not done yet... Bournemouth have looked weak the last few games in my opinion and I think Middlesbrough will drop points in the final two games. If we win both, we will go up with Watford. You read it here first!
I would think Watford are most likely to fill one of the 2 automatic slots. We might get a better of who the other team will be after this weekend's games.
Not quite "first", but I'm sure loving the positivity, and I honestly even think we still have a chance of winning the title!
Absolutely, but even I concede that with just two games left expecting all 3 teams above us to slip up without us doing so might just be stretching things a tad!
Winning more than three matches in a row is actually really quite unlikely - Watford have only just managed it for the first time this season, now on a streak of winning four. Only us and Bournemouth have managed six in a row. 'Boro managed five in a row back in January to February, but for the most part of this season they've not really put runs together. Now on three in a row. When you factor in the opposition these teams have - Sheff Wed, Charlton, even Fulham away are tough. So I would say there's several reasons why it's actually pretty likely that at least two of the teams above us drop points and much more likely that all will drop points than none will. The only question for me is whether it will be the right two teams and the right amount of dropped points (i.e. are we able to capitalise on it).
