The Promotion Chasing Thread

[ChelloRam]

You seem to have missed the bit where both TB and I said that we did expect to be in the top six.
I

I didn't miss it, but I'm shocked that you both thought you would be in the top six with the squad you have.
Each to their own though, I'm sure others expected to be in the top six who aren't too.

 

[D B Disco]

I know how it feels to lose to a Bobby Zamora goal. We had beaten them 3 times already that season. Fucking West Ham pricks.

Try 9 failures out of 9 in play-offs before you start moaning.

The way Swindon and MK are going you won't need to worry about the play-offs!

 

[markwwfc1992]

To be fair Ipswich do have a good team on paper. I would say their defence is probably one of the best in the league, they have the leagues top goalscorer and McGoldrick is more than good enough at this level. With a decent enough GK, the only position I think they're average in is midfield. It certainly doesn't surprise me to see them in the promotion race.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

I expected us to be in a play off place this year as well to be honest. Last season we dropped near on 30 points from winning positions which would have put us well in the top 6. I felt that if this was rectified, a top 6 was well within our reach.

We had another slow start this season but after the norwich defeat in August, MM changed to play 4-3-3 week in week out (think Wigan away was the first time). We went on to lose 1 game in 20. Since then, Southampton away being the first, we have been playing 4-4-2 and giving away sloppy goals like last season.

Having been 7 points ahead of 7th at times this season, we could be 4 points off of the play offs come Saturday evening. I think we can be rightfully frustrated. Something like 13 points in 11, losing half. That's near on relegation form.

We did not attempt to improve our lack lustre midfield in January which is harming us now.

I think this will be our best chance for a long time to get out the league and we're blowing it ourselves! And the club is desperate for the cash injection that the premiership brings.

Hopefully we can kick start the season tomorrow. MUST win

 

[markwwfc1992]

Derby

 

[mpmbee]

Derby

Wow talk about bottling it.

 

[SUTSS]

The top of this league is just insane.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Crackers, absolutely crazy.

 

[This Charming Mike]

Top 5 separated by just one point. Bonkers.

 

[Mr Elmo]

I'm not going to be here for a few days...

We were in control of the game and to be fair we played well, but our defending is utter pathetic. Talk about bottling it.

The good thing is we don't fall behind, and I'm in the hope this season will end like last season where we were almost unstoppable when Thorne was in the team.

Have to pick up and at least get 6/7 points from our next 4.

 

[mistermagic]

Fuck this is tight. Don't think Ipswich and Wolves will get in the top 6 but here's the H2H list for the last 10 games:

Bournemouth: Middlesbrough (h), Ipswich (a).
Derby: Norwich (a), Middlesbrough (h), Wolves (a), Watford (h), Brentford (h).
Watford: Ipswich (h), Derby (a), Middlesbrough (h).
Middlesbrough: Ipswich (h), Derby (a), Bournemouth (a), Watford (a), Wolves (h), Norwich (a).
Norwich: Derby (h), Middlesbrough (h).
Brentford: Derby (a).
Ipswich: Middlesbrough (a), Watford (a), Bournemouth (h), Wolves (a).
Wolves: Derby (h), Middlesbrough (a), Ipswich (h).

Derby start a run of 4 H2H games starting next Saturday.
From this set-up, I reckon Bournemouth and Norwich will go up directly. Derby, Boro, Brentford and Watford in the play-offs.

 

[RavenBish]

THAT WAS FUN. Some scandalous time-added-on stuff but Derby only have themselves to blame for conceding twice in 6 minutes.

 

[Munkiki]

1 Bournemouth.. 36 +35 66
2 Derby........ 36 +29 66
3 Watford...... 36 +28 66
4 Middlesbrough 36 +28 66
5 Norwich...... 36 +31 65

1 point separating the top five and not much difference in GD between them. I fucking love this league.

And you can't rule out any of...

6 Brentford.... 36 +12 62
7 Ipswich...... 36 +17 61
8 Wolves....... 36 + 6 58

Regarding the remaining fixtures, don't really think you can infer anything from them reliably. For us, we've struggled against average/poor sides this season so I'd probably be more confident if we had to play the top 8 again. 0 wins out of 9 games vs Sheff Wed, Leeds, Brum, Reading, Brighton, Rotherham & Fulham, then there are the home defeats to Charlton & Wigan. Anyone can beat anyone.

 

[SUTSS]

I would be much more confidence if we playing all of the top teams. We have had a tendency to play at whatever level our opponent is playing at and have struggled against teams that park the bus.

 

[MagpieBee]

Personally, I'm glad we only have to play one more game against the Top 8, Derby away. The only games we have against the Bottom 6 are at home as well, so hopefully they should be pretty straight forward wins.

Pretty confident after today, this was probably our hardest game of the season left!

 

[Rammy]

Iain Williamson is the worst and most biased referee I have ever seen. Some of his decisions throughout todays game were just baffling...including the so called Birmingham free kick that led to the corner that got them the equaliser.

Still, we should have defended better. We dominated that game, were comfortable then went mental in the final stages.

We're done here, playoffs for us.

 

[Luke_1884]

Nonsense!

Sucker punched today by a poor Birmingham team but the performance was good bar the defending from the corner for the equaliser.

We're no where near out of it, bring on the next 4 games. We'll be up for it!

 

[Munkiki]

Ignore him, he'll be crowning you champions again if you beat us next week. "We're done here" he says after his side goes joint-top with 10 games left...

 

[Mr Elmo]

To be fair putting your expectations low makes it all the more better when you actually do well

 

[AFCB_Mark]

No one is done or out of it, from 8th upwards.

 

[M Dogg]

Hi all

We are probably 5 games short of making an impact on the top 6, but the form we are in means we can definitely influence it

We have to play norwich Watford wolves Brentford Ipswich and Norwich


Unfortunately freedman seems to be ignoring my advice of bending over for Derbys opponents but maybe we will let norwich hump us, who knows.

ABD- anyone buy Derby

 

[Mr Elmo]

Forest and Leeds are helping us over the line more than we are ourselves

 

[Bobbin']

Ignore him, he'll be crowning you champions again if you beat us next week. "We're done here" he says after his side goes joint-top with 10 games left...

And to think he made a smarmy comment about me being 'hysterical' after we hadn't won a game for nearly four months. The level of hypocrisy is hilarious.

 

[Super_horns]

If we did go up our defence would have to be sorted out!

We'd never get away with letting so many in unless our strikers showed the same form as they do now.

 

[Rammy]

To be fair putting your expectations low makes it all the more better when you actually do well

Exactly. Once an element of doubt is there, I prepare myself for the worst. I find it works well.

 

[Rammy]

And to think he made a smarmy comment about me being 'hysterical' after we hadn't won a game for nearly four months. The level of hypocrisy is hilarious.

Bit of a difference between "never winning a game again all season" and "playoffs for us"

 

[Bobbin']

Bit of a difference between "never winning a game again all season" and "playoffs for us"

There is also a difference between not winning a game for near on 4 months and tumbling from the play-offs to two places above the relegation zone and drawing at home to go joint top of the league.

 

[Rammy]

Yeah, but you still had to play Blackpool

 

[Bobbin']

Yeah, but you still had to play Blackpool

Who we managed to only draw at home to during that period!

 

[Costello]

We are probably 5 games short of making an impact on the top 6, but the form we are in means we can definitely influence it

We have to play norwich Watford wolves Brentford Ipswich and Norwich

Not quite the same, but just noticed 4 of our last 5 home games are against Watford, Bournemouth, Norwich and Wolves - having already beaten Ipswich and Derby at home since Hughton came in. Could be quite fun trying to affect things from afar.