Interesting that City have now moved above Ipswich into fourth favourite across the board in Oddschecker.
I dunno, it can't be that simple. Both Qpr and Leicester have wealthy backers yet they are struggling. Qpr have been woeful this time aswell as last. I think it's about the teams approach. Swansea are the best example in my opinion. They had a philosophy from top to bottom and everyone was pulling in the same direction. Now they're a comfortable Prem team.
This is a resume of an article by a Norwich City fan Ian Clarke about the 8 ‘runners and riders’ in the Championship promotion race. It shows how many points each team has gained from the other 7 teams in the ‘mini league’. Bournemouth Currently top with 51 points GD +29 Last 6 games - 4 wins and 2 defeats 10 points from teams in the mini league Positives: Top of the league, top scorers, best goal difference and most away wins Negatives: Not great in the mini league and may feel the pressure of being pacesetters Middlesbrough Second with 50 points GD +24 Last 6 games - 3 wins, 2 draws and a defeat 11 points from 7 games in the mini league Positives: Meanest defence home and away, currently in automatic promotion places and have conceded only 5 goals in 7 games against their top eight rivals Negatives: 7 games to come against their top 8 rivals and ‘big club’ could heap pressure on players Ipswich Third, with 50 points GD +19 Last 6 games - 4 wins and 2 defeats 14 points from eight games in the mini league Positives: Most home wins, joint top of the mini league and in Daryl Murphy, have the league's top scorer (17 goals) - very experienced manager Negatives: Least away wins and they may pay the price for having a small squad (they could only field 6 of the 7 substitutes allowed against Millwall on Saturday) Derby Fourth with 48 points GD +23 Last 6 games - 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats 14 points from eight games in the mini league Positives: Joint top of the mini league and Chris Martin is second top scorer (15 goals), second best goal difference, a big squad and strong support. Negatives: Worst current form among the top 8 and weight of expectation could put pressure on players Brentford Fifth with 46 points GD + 7. Last 6 games - 4 wins and 2 defeats 6 points from 8 games in the mini league Positives: Good current form and joint least home defeats Negatives: Poor mini league form, leakiest defence, small squad and weakest in the mini league Watford Sixth with 44 points GD + 20 Last 6 games - 4 wins and 2 defeats 5 points from 7 games in the mini league Positives: Good current form and second highest scorers Negatives: Poor mini league form and joint most defeats. Norwich Seventh with 43 points GD +17 Last 6 games - 4 wins, one draw and 1 defeat 14 points from 8 games in the mini league Positives: Top scorers at home, big squad and big support Negatives: Least home wins, inexperienced managerial team (especially after Phelan’s departure) and 8 points off the top Wolves Eighth with 43 points GD -2 Last 6 games - 5 wins and one draw Positives: Good current form and big support Negatives: 8 points off the top, worst goal difference and joint least away wins
Thanks JRFan. Seems a fair analysis. If we win on Saturday our negatives will change to: Negatives: Inexperienced managerial team (especially after Phelan’s departure) and 5 points off the top And we all are feeling quite confident with the managerial team!
Interesting JR. The mini-league results could certainly be a key factor and we only have one away game (Watford) in our remaining six games in the mini-league, having already played the leaders twice.
Yes Rob - that certainly seems to be the general consensus of opinion amongst the fans I've spoken to!!
Been waiting for something like this JR, thanks for this. Interesting reading. For example, Ipswich's 14 points equals Norwich's in the 'mini-league'. I didn't realise they had got that many considering they lost at home to Norwich and Derby.
Just checked the odds - we've come in to almost evens for promotion from 3-1 when AN first took charge!! http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/promotion And we're 5/2 to win the title!!!
Morning Guys, the more I hear Alex Neil speak the more he fills me with confidence, if he's having that effect on me it's obviously having an even greater effect on the players. http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic..._gauntlet_to_his_norwich_city_squad_1_3970994
Yes KIO - I had just read the article. Our form over the last 6 games must be worrying opposition managers - Mind you, Derby are also unbeaten in their last 6 games - we'll have to put that right 2 weeks Saturday!!!!!
I think that there is no doubt that we have the momentum. What is especially interesting is that positions 2-7 are covered by just five points. Although our posiition has not improved greatly in relation to the top six it has all concertina-ed up . It is definitely between the top eight I just can't see Forest gaining a point a game on the top six. If they did though they would be the dark horse candidate. Our home games with Derby and Boro are going to be hugely influential.
If only we hadn't ****ed up earlier in the season, I just hope those two results against bloody Reading don't come back to haunt us. Having said that, if we had won one of them Neyul may have stayed longer and perhaps we wouldn't be in the position we now find ourselves in. I don't know about you guys but atm I find myself going to bed thinking about football and all the permutations, waking up doing the same and sitting at my desk (like I am now), worrying that we might not make it. Why do we care so much? And doesn't it piss you off when someone says (normally the wife), "It's only a game"
The game I'd have back was the loss to Brentford. Had we at least drawn that, we wouldn't have Brentford breathing down our necks now. I'm feeling hopeful that we'll win that battle but it'd be good to have more of a cushion. Winning on Sunday is important for that as well. Yes it does piss me off when someone says (normally the wife), "It's only a game", except in my case it's always the wife!
