The Promotion Chasing Thread

[Mansfield_Ram]

A team is going to do to us what we did to Brighton in the play offs last season :-(

 

[SUTSS]

We are now relying on Chris Hughton & Fulham to get automatic promotion. This is disgusting.

 

[LondonOrn]

28 points dropped from winning positions this season. That is an eye-watering amount.

What, Bournemouth or Derby?

 

[Rammy]

What, Bournemouth or Derby?

19 points dropped for us.

 

[Rammy]

A team is going to do to us what we did to Brighton in the play offs last season :-(

It's going to be embarrassing, that's for sure.

 

[LondonOrn]

19 points dropped for us.

That's a very surprising statistic given that they've been top of the league for more of the season than anyone else and dished out more than their fair share of demolitions to teams.

I guess it's the fact they've had quite a few draws (12) that has been a contributing factor.

 

[Super_horns]

Have we had that many lost points?

One key thing for us is that we've beaten the teams at the bottom a fair bit which we failed to do in 2013 losing to POSH, Barnsley and Millwall near the end of the season.

I'd like to think we will win at Brighton as they don't get many (or give much away)

However as Sheffield Wednesday proved today they don't give in easily and must be up there with having the best defensive record in the league?

 

[PDS]

That's a very surprising statistic given that they've been top of the league for more of the season than anyone else and dished out more than their fair share of demolitions to teams.

I guess it's the fact they've had quite a few draws (12) that has been a contributing factor.

It's unbelievable really, and there have been a lot of late, late goals that we'll look back on if we just feel short

 

[Super_horns]

Well against us at the Vic you should've won for started but we got a fairly late goal...

Actually we've scored a fair few which is rare for us!

 

[TractorBoys]

Ridiculous again watching Derby highlights, would they genuinely be anywhere near the top 6 without Ince and Bent? Nothing to be feared in the playoffs that's for sure.

 

[Rammy]

Ridiculous again watching Derby highlights, would they genuinely be anywhere near the top 6 without Ince and Bent? Nothing to be feared in the playoffs that's for sure.

No, as we wouldn't have had a single striker or holding midfielder since February when we went 5 points clear at the top. McClaren really should have got a holding midfielder in on loan, while he could as defensively we're all over the place.

If we hadn't lost all three holding midfielders and Martin (and Bent for a few weeks too), then this season could have been so much different.

 

[Luke_1884]

Nope, singlehandly keeping us up there. Their overall play is poor and quite a hindrance IMO, between them they just win games/points though so nobodys going to complain.

I'd argue that if we didn't lose Chris Martin for 11 (and counting) games we'd still be on for the autos if our form up until his injury was anything to go by (33 games and 2nd). I don't think anyone in the top 8 have lost their best player for that amount of games this season bar us which is annoying.

You're right though, defensively we're all over the shop and we're certainly not getting much luck with some of the goals we're conceding either which is a bad mixture to have.

On the flip side we're now 5 unbeaten, have just scored 4 goals two games running and there's that slight bit of hope that Martin could return next week. Thats with rose tinted glasses on mind, drinking from a glass half full, there's plenty to worry about too...

 

[Luke_1884]

McClaren really should have got a holding midfielder in on loan, while he could as defensively we're all over the place.

How far do you take it though? With 2 CDM's at the club permanently, one on loan, all injured, at what point do you say enough is enough. Whilst we've got funds there's not an endless pit of money available, having 4 senior CDM's at the club would be crazy.

A lot of people said the same when both Martin and Bent were injured but the same theory applies.

 

[MagpieBee]

Nope, singlehandly keeping us up there. Their overall play is poor and quite a hindrance IMO, between them they just win games/points though so nobodys going to complain.

I'd argue that if we didn't lose Chris Martin for 11 (and counting) games we'd still be on for the autos if our form up until his injury was anything to go by (33 games and 2nd). I don't think anyone in the top 8 have lost their best player for that amount of games this season bar us which is annoying.

You're right though, defensively we're all over the shop and we're certainly not getting much luck with some of the goals we're conceding either which is a bad mixture to have.

On the flip side we're now 5 unbeaten, have just scored 4 goals two games running and there's that slight bit of hope that Martin could return next week. Thats with rose tinted glasses on mind, drinking from a glass half full, there's plenty to worry about too...

To be fair, Scott Hogan was meant to be our best and starting striker, and the reason you haven't heard of him is he got injured in both the games he's been able to play. Gray was only meant to be our substitute this season...

 

[Luke_1884]

To be fair, Scott Hogan was meant to be our best and starting striker, and the reason you haven't heard of him is he got injured in both the games he's been able to play. Gray was only meant to be our substitute this season...

Sounds a bit like us with Thorne, it's all if's, but's and maybe's mind in that case. Chris Martin has shown he is our best player and one of the divisions best strikers this season, he's proven it.

I was thinking more like; (Correct me if I'm wrong everybody, I don't watch enough of your teams to be spot on with this...)

Watford - Deeney
Boro - Leadbitter/Bamford
Bournemouth - Wilson/Ritchie
Norwich - Jerome/Hoolahan
Wolves - Sako
Brentford - Pritchard
Ipswich - Murphy

Those key players that are vital to their teams that have done the business this year.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Our key player is Leon Clarke, he got the winner against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Not going to argue with Murphy being our key player this season, but McGoldrick was our best attacking player last year and he's missed half the season.

 

[TomPNE94]

With regards to Howe and the penalty thing, it's obviously a ridiculous statement, but it was absolutely stonewall tbf.

 

[Rammy]

"Bournemouth players were reduced to tears"

They do realise they're still in the top two with two games still to go, don't they?

 

[mpmbee]

I wonder if that last minute goal wiped that seemingly permanent smug look off Eddie Howe's face. I am pleased to see Bournemouth doing well but not a great fan of his.

 

[Mr Elmo]

I quite liked Howe, but his recent comments have changed my opinion on him. Always blaming things on everything but Bornemouth.

 

[Munkiki]

Sounds a bit like us with Thorne, it's all if's, but's and maybe's mind in that case. Chris Martin has shown he is our best player and one of the divisions best strikers this season, he's proven it.

I was thinking more like; (Correct me if I'm wrong everybody, I don't watch enough of your teams to be spot on with this...)

Watford - Deeney
Boro - Leadbitter/Bamford
Bournemouth - Wilson/Ritchie
Norwich - Jerome/Hoolahan
Wolves - Sako
Brentford - Pritchard
Ipswich - Murphy

Those key players that are vital to their teams that have done the business this year.

Wes has only appeared in one game more and has played 600+ minutes less than Chris Martin this season...

Bassong has to be considered one of our key players. Our defence has looked so much better since he returned and the stats back it up - conceding half as many goals with him in the team (0.63pg with vs 1.25pg without). Such a shame that whatever happened between him and Neil Adams kept him out of the side for most of the season.

Although in hindsight, our biggest miss this season was probably Alex Neil. Done a fantastic job. That Norwich fans are disappointed at missing out on automatic promotion considering how far behind we were when he was appointed is testament to that.

 

[SUTSS]

Hoolahan has been a key player since Neil came in but wasn't really in the side that often before then. Jerome is the opposite, he was the key player under Adams but he doesn't fit into Neil's system as well and we have missed Grabban, who fits into the system much better, since his injury.

 

[LondonOrn]

Norwich - Jerome/Hoolahan

What about Bradley Johnson?

 

[Luke_1884]

What about Bradley Johnson?

I think Norwich could name 4/5 players who are of that sort of quality tbh. Their squad is unreal, the previous manager should have done better.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I quite liked Howe, but his recent comments have changed my opinion on him. Always blaming things on everything but Bornemouth.

Howe has changed a little. He's gone through his career until this season and developed a reputation for hardly ever blaming outside factors such as referees. This season has been rather different. Obviously it's been on another level in terms of media exposure, pressure, status for him and the club etc, even compared to his time at Burnley. So that's bound to have some affect. But also, we've had so many comments from other managers about us and referees. Howe is just trying to fight fire with fire and alter the narrative.

Him joining in the managerial moaning game is disappointing on one hand, but also somehow feels satisfying to hear your manager pickup on the same things the fans complain about, after years of him keeping quiet.

 

[TractorBoys]

Anyone feeling the nerves about the coming weekend games yet?

TB

 

[Munkiki]

Nope. Pressure is off now we're out of the battle for top two. Just got to prepare for the play-offs now. Might be sensible to rest Tettey on Saturday considering he played 3 games in 7 days last week - need him for the play-offs, not worth risking that knee of his.

 

[SUTSS]

I feel the same way as Munkiki. Whilst we can still go up automatically it requires others to muck up so we do need to win our next two games but if we miss out then it is what is expected from here so the pressure is off and the nerves aren't there.

 

[Rammy]

Anyone feeling the nerves about the coming weekend games yet?

TB

I really don't care what happens anymore. We should be fine for the playoffs, but we're not going to do anything so what's the point?