Prediction League The Promotion Race

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RiverEndRick

RiverEndRick

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2011
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Wadebridge, Cornwall
In the absence of other continuing threads related to our current season, I thought we might look at the promotion race on a game by game basis. Curiously many of the teams fancied to be competing have failed to show, leaving room for some smaller teams to elbow their way into the fight. Currently, the top 10 places are:

1 Huddersfield 10 5 22
2 Norwich 9 6 20
3 Brighton 10 6 18
4 Brentford 10 8 17
5 Sheff Wed 10 0 17
6 Reading 10 -2 17
7 Newcastle 9 10 16
8 Barnsley 10 6 16
9 Wolves 10 3 16
10 Birmingham 10 3 16

Would we have taken that at the start of the season?
 
RiverEndRick said:
In the absence of other continuing threads related to our current season, I thought we might look at the promotion race on a game by game basis. Curiously many of the teams fancied to be competing have failed to show, leaving room for some smaller teams to elbow their way into the fight. Currently, the top 10 places are:

1 Huddersfield 10 5 22
2 Norwich 9 6 20
3 Brighton 10 6 18
4 Brentford 10 8 17
5 Sheff Wed 10 0 17
6 Reading 10 -2 17
7 Newcastle 9 10 16
8 Barnsley 10 6 16
9 Wolves 10 3 16
10 Birmingham 10 3 16

Would we have taken that at the start of the season?
Click to expand...

Can I have some time to think about our position???
OK, I've thought and YESSS, too right I would.
I see Barnsley are plunging like a stone and I expect Huddersfield will still be up there or thereabouts by the time we play them on 17th Dec, but if we're both still in the top 6, I can see Sky/BT wanting to televise it.
 
I agree. Even if we lose tomorrow, I'd have taken being ahead of Newcastle after 10 games. Huddersfield have done well so far, but can they make that last a whole season? I doubt it. Of those top ten, only 5 would be considered likely contenders (Norwich, Brighton, Sheff Wed, Newcastle and Wolves). There's still a long way to go, but we've made a good start.

EDIT: The current table after tonight's final results, with Wolves dropping out after losing to Wigan:

1 Huddersfield 10 5 22
2 Norwich 9 6 20
3 Brighton 10 6 18
4 Brentford 10 9 17
5 Bristol City 10 6 17
6 Birmingham 10 4 17
7 Sheff Wed 10 0 17
8 Reading 10 -3 17
9 Newcastle 9 10 16
10 Barnsley 10 6 16

Brighton didn't manage a shot on target at Ipswich and also had a player sent off in the 82nd minute.
 
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Aston Villa aren't making a challenge for top 6 and their manager is under threat! Cant see them making the play-offs even though they have spent a large sum of money on players. Tonight's match is the biggest this season. We seemed to be overwhelmed at St Andrews last season so hopefully AN will get his tactics right this time
 
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I agree that tonight's game is the biggest and hardest we've had so far and probably that we will have all season. Last year it was a strange game. They had 6 shots on target and they all went in, with Wijnaldum getting 4 of those. He's gone and their team has changed considerably, but it'll be a real test for our players and a draw would be a good result, while a win would give us a great advantage for the rest of the season. I hope we don't turn up at St Andrews though, because Newcastle plays at St James Park.
 
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We didn't turn up at either St Andrews(this year) or St James(last year) but we will turn up to St James this time but whether we actually give the home team a game is yet to be seen. Will listen to the great Chris Goreham on RN or is there a streaming link?
 
RiverEndRick said:
I agree that tonight's game is the biggest and hardest we've had so far and probably that we will have all season. Last year it was a strange game. They had 6 shots on target and they all went in, with Wijnaldum getting 4 of those. He's gone and their team has changed considerably, but it'll be a real test for our players and a draw would be a good result, while a win would give us a great advantage for the rest of the season. I hope we don't turn up at St Andrews though, because Newcastle plays at St James Park.
Click to expand...

Very poor information Rick, I bet the hapless buggers will turn up at Exeter City's ground! ;)
 
CitySlicker2010 said:
We didn't turn up at either St Andrews(this year) or St James(last year) but we will turn up to St James this time but whether we actually give the home team a game is yet to be seen. Will listen to the great Chris Goreham on RN or is there a streaming link?
Click to expand...

I have a good feeling about this game, as from the evidence on Saturday, w are beginning to play like a team and there were a few passages of play, especially down the left wing where several players were involved in the build up and the final cross either just missed reaching one of our players, or was hacked away by the defence. Whatever the result at SJP, I'm expecting a very close game.
 
Just to update things after the Wolves result:

1 Huddersfield 11 6 25
2 Norwich 11 6 23
3 Newcastle 11 12 22
4 Brighton 11 7 21
5 Bristol City 11 7 20
6 Birmingham 11 5 20
7 Brentford 11 9 18
8 Reading 11 -3 18
9 Sheff Wed 11 -1 17
10 Barnsley 11 5 16

We play Rotherham at home and can reasonably hope for a decent result, but football is a funny game. Newcastle struggled to beat them 1-0 last time out so let's hope for better than that. At this point 23 points from 11 matches means that if we can maintain that, we'd finish with 92 points with 2 matches in hand. There will be ups and downs, but we are in a strong position.
 
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Some more food for thought. We've only seen glimpses of him so far, but Oliveira scored a 25 yarder against Barnett for the U23s and just as importantly he provided assists for goals by Josh and Canos. Yes, we have to consider the opposition but it seems that he is fitting into ANs system and that all 3 of those players could add further potential for the rest of the season. Pritchard also played and he's another who could play a larger role in things to come. Here's the Pinkun take on it:

http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/...takes_claim_for_first_team_call_up_1_4724149?
 
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RiverEndRick said:
Some more food for thought. We've only seen glimpses of him so far, but Oliveira scored a 25 yarder against Barnett for the U23s and just as importantly he provided assists for goals by Josh and Canos. Yes, we have to consider the opposition but it seems that he is fitting into ANs system and that all 3 of those players could add further potential for the rest of the season. Pritchard also played and he's another who could play a larger role in things to come. Here's the Pinkun take on it:

http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/...takes_claim_for_first_team_call_up_1_4724149?
Click to expand...

The fact we've got this quality in reserve makes me feel we can last the pace. It's a long Championship season and they'll have their chance regardless of current starting line ups. :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
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Hairy Mary Quite Canary said:
The fact we've got this quality in reserve makes me feel we can last the pace. It's a long Championship season and they'll have their chance regardless of current starting line ups. :emoticon-0148-yes:
Click to expand...

The depth of our squad is really encouraging. Not that I think any of us need convincing, but here are the statistics on Klose's contribution since his arrival:

"Norwich City have played 26 league games since Timm Klose made his debut in Feb 2016. With the defender in the side, City’s points-per-game ratio is 1.55. (P20 W9 L7 D4). Without the defender in the side, City’s points-per-game ratio is 0.5. (P6 W1 L5 D0)."

This just shows how much we need to concentrate on another quality CB and quality striker in January. We can't gamble on Klose, jerome or Oliveira not picking up a serious injury at some point.

The full article is here: http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/...for_norwich_city_s_upward_mobility_1_4733226?
 
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