Promotion Thread 2017/18

[M Dogg]

Son of a scab then, same difference.

My dad was born in India, keep trying dinosaur

 

[Liam_SWFC]

did you go Villa yesterday? We're playing you next just as you've hit a bit of form which is annoying, was always going to happen though.

Should be a good game, play like we did yesterday with the same team and I fancy us to beat you with home advantage, you probably feel the same way though.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

My dad was born in India, keep trying dinosaur

 

[blademan89]

Who are you?

I’ve not even said anything about Forest ffs, all I’ve done is say that the quality in this league is much worse than normal and there are no standout sides to worry about. Precious bastards.

How can it be much worse than normal with the amount of money teams spend. I agree there is no stand out teams but imo that's because there is more quality throughout the division.

 

[JJH]

Should be a good game, play like we did yesterday with the same team and I fancy us to beat you with home advantage, you probably feel the same way though.

I'm not sure really, if we had our defensive options available I'd fancy us to do you over with how we're currently playing but we don't and our back four is incredibly makeshift, could be on the end of a hiding.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

I'm not sure really, if we had our defensive options available I'd fancy us to do you over with how we're currently playing but we don't and our back four is incredibly makeshift, could be on the end of a hiding.

Ah great a team coming to Hillsborough with defensive issues, we'll be drawing a blank then.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Ah great a team coming to Hillsborough with defensive issues, we'll be drawing a blank then.

When was the last time we failed to score at Hillsborough?

 

[JJH]

When was the last time we failed to score at Hillsborough?

Fired blanks last season against Wolves Reading and Ipswich IIRC?

 

[JJH]

Joe Bryan has been the best English player in the league this season statistically

 

[JonBCFC]

Joe Bryan has been the best English player in the league this season statistically

Sammy ameobi was 3rd

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Fired blanks last season against Wolves Reading and Ipswich IIRC?

Nah, Leeds not Ipswich.

We've failed to score in just 7 of Carlos' 61 games at S6, 14 games since our last blank which was Reading when Al-Habsi was like Neuer/Shilton/Kahn/Schmeichel combined.

 

[TTOCS]

On one hand, the play off race looks very open and up to about 12 teams look to be in the mix. On the other hand, Im really not convinced who is good enough for automatics.

Wolves, yes. Sheff Utd are in a totally false position in my opinion due to 3 points for a win, as easy to beat as the team in 17th. Same with Forest by the way, lost the same amount as the bottom team! Cardiff looked pretty average yesterday, Villa functional rather than spectacular, Derby we spanked 4 something, Middlesbrough see Villa, etc, etc.
As for us, dont think we can keep it up but who knows?

 

[blademan89]

On one hand, the play off race looks very open and up to about 12 teams look to be in the mix. On the other hand, Im really not convinced who is good enough for automatics.

Wolves, yes. Sheff Utd are in a totally false position in my opinion due to 3 points for a win, as easy to beat as the team in 17th. Same with Forest by the way, lost the same amount as the bottom team! Cardiff looked pretty average yesterday, Villa functional rather than spectacular, Derby we spanked 4 something, Middlesbrough see Villa, etc, etc.
As for us, dont think we can keep it up but who knows?

Due to 3 points for a win I seriously hope you're taking the piss with that comment. Ask any teams fans who've played us and lost to us if we're in a false position.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

On one hand, the play off race looks very open and up to about 12 teams look to be in the mix. On the other hand, Im really not convinced who is good enough for automatics.

Wolves, yes. Sheff Utd are in a totally false position in my opinion due to 3 points for a win, as easy to beat as the team in 17th. Same with Forest by the way, lost the same amount as the bottom team! Cardiff looked pretty average yesterday, Villa functional rather than spectacular, Derby we spanked 4 something, Middlesbrough see Villa, etc, etc.
As for us, dont think we can keep it up but who knows?

Hold up United are there on merit, as much as it pains me to say, they've won 11 of their 16 games, they go for it which sees them either win or lose rather than draw, it is an admirable trait. The pig bastards.

 

[BCFC David]

Joe Bryan has been the best English player in the league this season statistically

He has been unbelievable so far. Was one of his biggest critics last season but he's shut me up. Doubt there is a better left back in the league at the moment.

 

[JJH]

On one hand, the play off race looks very open and up to about 12 teams look to be in the mix. On the other hand, Im really not convinced who is good enough for automatics.

Wolves, yes. Sheff Utd are in a totally false position in my opinion due to 3 points for a win, as easy to beat as the team in 17th. Same with Forest by the way, lost the same amount as the bottom team! Cardiff looked pretty average yesterday, Villa functional rather than spectacular, Derby we spanked 4 something, Middlesbrough see Villa, etc, etc.
As for us, dont think we can keep it up but who knows?

One of the strangest things I've ever read.

Here, listen to my theory. Sunderland are in a false position and are only where they are because it's 0 points for a defeat.

 

[CharlieAdamno1Fan]

He has been unbelievable so far. Was one of his biggest critics last season but he's shut me up. Doubt there is a better left back in the league at the moment.

Greg Cunningham

 

[JoshBCFC]

Greg Cunningham

Out injured isn't he?

 

[BCFC David]

Out injured isn't he?

Yep and I wouldn't swap him for Joe when fit.

 

[HertsWolf]

...this league is piss poor.... Anyone down to about 16th can realistically fancy their chances of the top 6 and rightly so, there is nothing but a small burst of form between them and finishing in the playoffs. Everyone is beatable too, even the big dogs like Villa, Wednesday, Norwich,Derby who you’d worry about are piss poor really. Will be a few unfancied teams battling for Wembley I reckon.

Don't agree the division is poor. Although I don't get to matches (it's three hours to a shop; bit like living in parts of Cardiff), I've been able to watch a lot of matches (not a lot else to do).
While 16th position is only 5 points off that last play-off position, you got to remember that the more clubs there are in that "gap" then the harder it is for any given club to rise up the table. If Villa were in 6th on 25 points and Barnsley in 7th on 19 points then yes, it's just two wins and two losses to get Barnsley into the play off position. But it's not. You have nine teams in between them, all of whom have to have to be dropping points fast for Barnsley to get into 6th.

This time last season 4 of the final top 6 were already in the top 6. Only Fulham and Wednesday made it in (at the expense of Norwich and Leeds). Effectively, Fulham made up a 3 point gap and Wednesday 2 points.

Two seasons ago, 5 of the top 6 were already there first week of November. Only Birmingham City dropped away, to be replaced by Sheffield Wednesday who made up an impressive 4 point gap.

Three seasons ago, again 4 of the top 6 were already there. Derby and Wolves dropped away and Norwich and Brentford making up a 1 and 2 point gap, respectively, over the rest of the season.

Four seasons ago, it's a little different and teams did make a bigger jump in position. After 16 matches, just three of the final 6 were already in the top 6, but 4th placed Blackpool had a meteoric fall (getting only 19 more points all season!). Wigan and Brighton replaced Forest and Reading, but again making up just a 4 point and 3 point gap.

So four seasons "history" suggests that a four point gap can be closed:, Ipswich/Forest (3 points) or Brentford/Norwich (4 points) could make it, but much more likely that the final top 6 would be one of the current top 11...down to Wednesday.

Interesting that in those seasons, the top two at this stage were also the top two at the end.....17: Newcastle Brighton, 16: Burnley (Middlesbrough were 4th then) 15: Bournemouth (Watford were 3rd after 16) 14: Leicester Burnley. So two automatics really highly likely to be from (in no particular order) Wolves, Blades, Cardiff and Bristol City. And 90% chance that all four of them will be in the final 6 (the "Blackpool phenomenon" being unusual).

As I said, sitting in a hut in Africa in the rainy season, you have a lot of time on your hands.

Edited: fwiw (I can't reach betting sites from here), IIRC there are still pretty good odds on Bristol City finishing in top 6.

 

[JoshBCFC]

So two automatics really highly likely to be from (in no particular order) Wolves, Blades, Cardiff and Bristol City. And 90% chance that all four of them will be in the final 6 (the "Blackpool phenomenon" being unusual).

 

[CharlieAdamno1Fan]

Yep and I wouldn't swap him for Joe when fit.

Then you are on crack Sanchez

 

[hodge]

Based on how Joe's performed this season I wouldn't either, the previous couple of years I definitely would have but not at the moment. Joe has added a lot to him game and is 3 years younger.

 

[Madejski]

We're 8 points off the play-offs and I still think we have a chance. Still a lot to play for. Way too earlier to write anyone off or cement anyone. A game in hand leads us possibly only needing to catch-up 5 points in 30 games. We've still yet to play most of the teams below us and as mentioned earlier, I've not been blown away by the quality of the teams above us. In fact if we win our game in hand we would have the same points after 16 games that we had in 2011 - we won the league that season.

Depends on if this week was just a lucky blip, or the start of a turn. Slightly changed tactics and playing players in the right positions and we have looked a completely different team. 7 goals in 2 games against two of the current in-form teams in the league.

When fit we definitely have a stronger team/squad than we had last season. Just depends on how strong the rest of the league is in comparison.

Crazy how we're 18th and as close to the top 6 as the bottom 3.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

We are only a point off what we had at the same stage the last two seasons, and we comfortably made the play offs both seasons. We generally start to pick up and get results around November onwards, which is highly annoying as it is pretty much ruins our chances of automatic every time.

 

[TTOCS]

One of the strangest things I've ever read.

Here, listen to my theory. Sunderland are in a false position and are only where they are because it's 0 points for a defeat.

Dont be a dick.
I didnt think I needed to explain that SU are benefitting from a system (whether good tactics of 'going for it' or just a random fluke) that rewards a win and a loss more than 2 draws to inflate their points tally. Before 1981 it was 2 points for a win just for your information.
I believe they will start to drop a little when the above average number of wins and above average number of defeats for their position start turning into some draws.
You may disagree, but 'one of the strangest things you've read' piss off.

 

[CharlieAdamno1Fan]

Dont be a dick.
I didnt think I needed to explain that SU are benefitting from a system (whether good tactics of 'going for it' or just a random fluke) that rewards a win and a loss more than 2 draws to inflate their points tally. Before 1981 it was 2 points for a win just for your information.
I believe they will start to drop a little when the above average number of wins and above average number of defeats for their position start turning into some draws.
You may disagree, but 'one of the strangest things you've read' piss off.

Draws are pointless, as looking at City v Leeds , Leeds had lost more games than City had but city drawn more and Leeds were above them as they went for it more, win or lose not draw

 

[hodge]

Draws are pointless

I believe they're worth one point :hesk:

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

Dont be a dick.
I didnt think I needed to explain that SU are benefitting from a system (whether good tactics of 'going for it' or just a random fluke) that rewards a win and a loss more than 2 draws to inflate their points tally. Before 1981 it was 2 points for a win just for your information.
I believe they will start to drop a little when the above average number of wins and above average number of defeats for their position start turning into some draws.
You may disagree, but 'one of the strangest things you've read' piss off.

They may be benefiting from it but deservedly so IMHO. Attacking football and going for the win as opposed to sitting back should be rewarded. Under the old system, you could draw 46 games 0-0 and finish mid table which was daft.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Dont be a dick.
I didnt think I needed to explain that SU are benefitting from a system (whether good tactics of 'going for it' or just a random fluke) that rewards a win and a loss more than 2 draws to inflate their points tally. Before 1981 it was 2 points for a win just for your information.
I believe they will start to drop a little when the above average number of wins and above average number of defeats for their position start turning into some draws.
You may disagree, but 'one of the strangest things you've read' piss off.

Most of us know football existed before the PL era started, and although I wasn't old enough to remember the 2 points for a win I was well aware.

I've done a table based on the old system, yourselves would benefit from and move to second, Forest and Ipswich would be the biggest losers dropping 4 and 3 places respectively, Brentford would be 4 places better off.

I think the current system is better, winning should be the be all for me so the points disparity we have works fairly IMHO.