Just had a quick look at the table. We're only 3 points from 6th and 6 points off 9th. We're heading into a really vital period for the season when we face Millwall away, Cardiff at home, Hull away the huddersfield at home. All those teams are within 8 points of us. Says a lot that Cardiff are 8 points ahead of us (albeit with a game in hand) in first whereas Huddersfield are 8 points behind us in 16th. Say, godforbid, we pick up one or two points then we could easily find ourselves heading into the january transfer window out of the top 6 and in a less favourable position to pick up the players we'd need to strengthen. Today offers the chance to get some points when teams in and around us play each other. We could do with being 5/6 points away from 6th this afternoon. Cardiff and Palace are looking a bit too tough to catch at the moment, so we need to keep picking up points and keeping ourselves in the mix. The next month could see us top or chasing shadows. We need to make sure it's close to the former.
At this stage in the season, we just need to stay in touch with the top two. But I agree that we can't slip up in games like today's. If we don't win today and don't get promoted, this will always be the find of fixture you look back on. I always reflect on the season we went down to League One, when we were actually one of the favourites for promotion, and those two games against newly promoted Blackpool. If we'd won those two, we'd have finished midtable and they would have gone down. We lost both and the reverse happened. They went on to get promoted to the Prem two seasons later. Even in a league with 46 games, each one is so important. All that said, I'd rather take a draw today and beat Cardiff than the other way round. At least the points aren't going to a rival.
Offer me a playoff spot now and i'd rip your hand off. Already won away at Middlesborough, lost (with 10 men) to Watford away and smashed Hull. I would fancy our chances.
Ditto. This is crunch time. And unfortunately for us, Aluko is out injured for a little bit, probably most of December. Let's hope he's back for the Boxing Day fixture!
Doesn't work like that though! I think we are the third best team in this league, possibly second as I still expect Palace to drop off, so I still expect us to chase for automatic until the end. Today, quite simply, was down to silly errors - something we don't usually do. It's a one-off. You're going to get games like that in a run of 46 matches. The real test for me is when we play Cardiff. The league table doesn't lie. They are currently the best team. We beat them and everyone will be talking about automatic again. Get the double of them and Hull, then we'll be taking about the championship.
You should mate! Bruce is saying he's out 2-3 weeks (up to 21 days) so he's expected to miss yours, but they're saying it's not too serious and could be back sooner than expected.
Especially attacking options you lot seem a little light. You dont know how much you have missed Matty. You probably would have had at least 3 more points had he been fit Luckily for us we have alot of attacking options and back up for them so we can carry a few injuries. Were light for numbers defensively
