.... 50 points from 23 games. That is just under 2.2 points per game which is promotion form. In the second half to date we have gained 32 from from 20 games. That is an average of 1.6 points per game which is not promotion form. We we were sussed in the middle of November and didn't learn from the experience. We still persist in playing in a way that every other team has learned to counteract and I think we blew our chances once we lost to Bristol City and failed to learn that we needed to be able to play in a different way. So 3 games left at an average of 1.6 points per game is is about 5 points. Will that get us promoted? Has Nigel's determination that we play this passing game put at risk any chance of our promotion? Do we need to play dirty and more direct like West Dam and Reading or do we persist with twenty passes that bring us back to where we started? Is nice football played by nice footballers the way to gain promotion or do we need to toughen up and start dishing it out?
We do mix it up look at watford away as just one example. For me its simple, things went for us early season they havent as much second half. Luckily we managed to get alot of points in that first period so that we should be alright.
West Ham will be bouncing. It's important to win on Tuesday to deflate them before Leicester as much as anything. They'll be looking for us to wobble once more. Any assertive result, any win in fact would perhaps dent the confidence somewhat. Win one of these away games, win vs Coventry and hopefully it is enough.
I have a sneaking feeling WH will draw with Bristol Cty....it's the kind of dumb-arsed thing they would do
In the first half of the season, our form was that of a runaway champion...we'd have finished on 100 points if we had maintained it. In the second half, our form has merely been that of solid playoff team. Neither of those things are cause for panic; we were otherworldly, and since we've merely been very good.
So the question I think was, having got this far, should we now revert to hoofball against teams in the last three games of the season. I say no.
Well do we actually play the passing game. You look at swansea. If they get a free kick near the half way line they will quickly get the ball stopped and pass. Where as we will send jos and jose up and hoof it up there. Another way in which we don't play this is when we play cross field balls to lambert for the knock ons and take downs. I think that we are slightly less passy than swansea and barca. If we want to do this then we need to do it all the time. On friday night we hit two cross field balls that got intercepted and cost us the game.
That would be ironic if you didn't get promoted and say you blew your chances against Bristol City, as for Portsmouth I think we blew our chances of staying up against Bristol City (maybe). Maybe the city of Bristol just doesn't like Hampshire.
I think the way we play is right for us as its Nigels way and i dont get the feeling he would budge to far from it in the same way that Fat Sam would not budge from his route one stuff. With a clear head on most people outside this club have admired what we have achieved this season and with 3 games to go we should go with what we do best and hope we see it through
The style of football we play was always part of the plan...Cortese wanted us to be a skilful passing side and Adkins feels the same. I'm sure Nigel can be as pragmatic as the next person and make minor adjustments to get a result, but no one can expect wholesale changes from the style the team is used to at this stage of the season. What message would that give the team and could they change completely now anyway. I expect the style to remain the same with occasional strategic long-passes
