Just looking at the 15 games we've got left this season. Amongst that lot we've got the three teams immediately above us between us and the playoffs Derby, Ipswich and Brum all at home. Now should by some chance we get a result tomorrow and maybe even a point with another own goal from George Friend at Boro on Tuesday, what chance does that give us of a realistic shot at 6th spot? I know all games are worth 3 points and it's no good beating the likes of Brighton and the rest above us if we're going to throw points away like we've done against bottom fodder like Charlton, Rotherham and MKD, but we've also got Preston, Leeds and Bolton at home - surely we can get our act together and take maximum points from those. Burnley and Sheff Wed away will be real tests, but I'm beginning to wonder as we go into this final third of the season, is destiny now really in our own hands? I'm trying not to sound too positive here after my stance all through this season with the Slade issue, but could the previously unthinkable under Slade actually happen? Sounds like a backtrack on my part, but for some reason I've suddenly found some positives about it all.
Been on the happy juice Sparks, or Aber's herbal remedies? I can't see us making the play offs. We have fallen over so many low hurdles this season that a sudden change in outcomes seems impossible to me.
Beware, beware - MOG about!!!!!!!......... I agree it would need a huge improvement from all concerned - but not that huge that it isn't possible.
The reason for your positivity imo is we're a *** paper away from being a good side. In a huge number of games this season we've turned being the better side into draws (all the 2-2's and the recent 0-0's). Very rarely have we dragged significant points from being out played this season. If we'd been clinical we'd be auto contenders, never mind playoffs. As you quite rightly point out, we have our future well and truly in our own hands. You can obviously say the same for all those other sides you list. I watched 30-40 minutes of Leeds v Boro. There's no reason to be scared of going to Boro. In all honesty there's no reason to be scared of anyone in this division. We've played Hull twice (who are the best outfit in the Championship). How it goes from here will be decided by how clinical we are, which really does suggest it's in our hands. The slightly more negative aspect is we've been clinical once this season, at Wolves. They're all really big games from here on in. I'm gutted I can't make tomorrow, but a bit of positivity from the home crowd for the rest of the season wouldn't do our chances of a good run in any harm.
Got to be honest.... I am a very optimistic person and I've never given up hope. And I never will. But Sparkey....you had an enema or something? Masky will give up sex next!!!
Don't get me wrong sausageman, but I've not changed my opinion about Slade at all pal. Just see the prospect of a top 6 spot as a possibility if the manager, staff and players can get their act together for the final third of the season. As Stevo has said, there is very little to be frightened of those above us we still have to play - it's just a question of not throwing away stupid points against sides below us. I'm not saying for one minute that Slade could push us past the post if we did get to the playoffs. Personally I don't think he can on ability, but once you're in that mix, anything can happen over those few games.
With the players in our squad we should be comfortably in the top six by now. Poor team selection and tactics are the reason we are failing and that is down to one man. But like Sparky I live in hope.
Correct hampshire on all accounts................ 1) We should be higher in the table 2) The main reason why we are not is down to inept management 3) Hope rather than expectation sums it up.
Managed to see the first half (Brighton game) and I don't know what you're talking about, all is well thus far. I hope the second half is as fruitful.
I am still very optimistic. I think we have it in us. I think Slade is slowly improving as well. I would bet on us finishing in the 6 at this point.
Best performance I've watched this season by a country mile. For some reason I had a gut feeling we we would do OK today but that was exceptional and no way expected a 4 goal haul against a side like Brighton. O'Keefe and Ralls ran the midfield just in front of a solid back 4 performance - apart from their goal I thought Manga and Connolly looked a quality pairing who can both play the game on the floor as well as in the air. Up front we virtually had 4 players interchanging places opening up what is usually a very good Brighton defence. Pilks was the pick - the guy was immense today. Immers was strong an added some bite in a way the likes of Macheda and Revell never could . The vision and quick passing of Whitts was back, and Lawrence was a real thorn in their side running at them like Burkey used to do. All in all a great start to the final third of the season run in. Anything at Boro will be a bonus but playing like that again could mean at least a point return. After that, who knows what could happen.
Agree with all the above. I think their two centre backs struggled because they had no one to mark for most of the game. The inter changing of positions and quality passing of six midfielders ran them ragged. They didn't know who to pick up. My worry is that Slade will bring Ameobl back against Borough.
Hats off to Sparkey for totally funded optimism. A great win in the worst of conditions. Moved back to Row S of the Ninian and still soaked through to my pants.
Getting Whits back to MOTM form is like signing a superstar at this level. Let's hope he can retain that form and confidence. His penalty was that of an incredibly confident player. Glad to here Immers and Lawrence played well too. Pilks moving upfront could be the major reason we end up in the playoffs. Now, Slade has been slated everywhere (forums/social media) all last season and this. It's his fault we signed **** players, it's his fault we don't score, it's his fault we're stuck 9th. I've agreed with some of it at times but surely reason has to say. If everything wrong playing wise is his fault then you must give him credit for days like yesterday. I don't buy the 'we lose because of him and win despite of him' line pedalled out by a large section of our support. He's slashed the budget/ squad and had all his goal scorers taken due to financial not football reasons. Our squad is currently better than it was when we got relegated despite being much cheaper. I know I was never as far down the Slade hating road as most of our support but I'm starting to think whether we make the playoffs or not he deserves another season.
It's never been all down to Slade - and that's the good nor the bad. It (that's Slade and the players) got it right yesterday whereas previously they have often got it collectively wrong. The architect of a teams performance on the pitch is always the manager. Yes, players can let you down on the day but you then need the vision as a manager of what to do about it. After Slade sent his starting 11 out onto the pitch yesterday he basically had to do nothing - it worked from the off. My concern is more aligned to what he can do when it doesn't go right. Ameobi's enforced absence yesterday was a blessing in disguise - I hope he doesn't feel it necessary to bring him back. It more or less forced the introduction of Immers to start and that made such a big big difference. Him, Pilks, Whitts and Lawrence scared the **** out of the Brighton defence time after time whilst O'Keefe and Ralls steadied the ship behind them. If that was Slade's plan then he should take all the credit for it - somehow I feel it just worked on the day. That said, there's no reason why it shouldn't again.
Let's not get carried away. Brighton were a shambles at the back. City could have been down to 10 men for 89 minutes. Our 2nd & 3rd goals on other days would not have happened. Poor keeping and a lucky rebound.( But we were so overdue some luck) Zamora missed a sitter. Slade lucked out because Ameobi fortuitously was suspended. What is frustrating is that (1) this is an average league (2) City have turned too many 3 points into only 1 or nil by carelessness and bad luck, refereeing etc (3) only recently did our stubborn outdated manager ditch the awful 4-4-2 and consequently City should be chasing top 2 not the 6th spot. The acid test now is not so much Boro where a rugged 0-0 would do but the home game against a flying Preston team. City have to build on yesterday, and keep on shooting!
On that performance how are Brighton challenging for the top. We played well but they were not a good side. I have said all season this is a poor league and we should be challenging for the top with the players we have. It is a disgrace that we can't string more than two wins together.
Agree they didn't look like contenders for the autos by a long chalk. Earlier in the season I thought they'd fall away from that top 6 slot and finish mid table - on yesterday's performance that could still happen but at least they've got 8 more points on the board than we have right now. It beggars the question as to whether we were that good on the day that we made them look a mid table outfit at best, or whether they've over-achieved and are being found out. The answer is probably a combination of the two and if it continues in that vein, we could easily swap places with them over the next dozen games or so. So much depends upon us getting it right from now on in and learn from our mistakes. That way we may not need to worry about those around us because I see the lot of them (Hull apart) as being distinctly average.
