The Promotion Chasing Thread

[markwwfc1992]

WE HAVE + GOAL DIFFERENCE!

 

[SUTSS]

Massive win for us today. Doesn't get any easier with Blackburn away up next.

 

[MagpieBee]

Annoying about Derby's winner, but we were superb today, fantastic result, and most results have gone in our favour

The good times are back!

 

[Rammy]

TOP OF THE FUCKING LEAGUE!

 

[markwwfc1992]

Being top of the league seems to be a curse for whoever occupies it, you'd probably even lose to Blackpool if you played them next

 

[Rammy]

Charlton get the easy three points on Tuesday

 

[Super_horns]

Well good day for those just outside the play-offs.

On today's form Norwich should be strong enough to compete for the top 2.

 

[RavenBish]

Annoying about Derby's winner

Derby's winner was the most inevitable thing ever if it's any consolation. Even at 1-0 down and 2-1 down the game only looked like having one result. Sheff Wed basically scored the only 2 times they got within 20 yards of the Derby goal and Derby were just lacking composure in the final 3rd, which was only going to last so long with the quality of players like Bent, Ince, Hughes and Lingard.

 

[Modernist]

Everything seems to be pointing towards it being Derby's year.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

When will it be our year getting tired of this league

Will do well to hang onto play offs at this rate​

 

[Rammy]

Everything seems to be pointing towards it being Derby's year.

Still a long way to go!

 

[Mr Elmo]

We really need to use the next 4 games to pull away if we can, in order we have...

Charlton (H)
Fulham (A)
Brighton (A)
Birmingham (H)

Could do with 10 points from those, tough run of fixtures after with Norwich, Wolves, Boro and Watford all pretty close together.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Really is wide open at the moment!

 

[Munkiki]

Still think automatic promotion is out of reach for us but given not long ago we were 10 points adrift and now we're only 4 behind, maybe it's not as unlikely as I thought? As it stands, I'm more looking over our shoulders than ahead though. Brentford only a point behind, play-offs aren't guaranteed. Whatever happens, I just pray it doesn't end up a Norwich/Town play-off final. That'd be torture. Imagine losing that game. It'd be horrific.

 

[PDS]

Still think automatic promotion is out of reach for us but given not long ago we were 10 points adrift and now we're only 4 behind, maybe it's not as unlikely as I thought? As it stands, I'm more looking over our shoulders than ahead though. Brentford only a point behind, play-offs aren't guaranteed. Whatever happens, I just pray it doesn't end up a Norwich/Town play-off final. That'd be torture. Imagine losing that game. It'd be horrific.

I have you down to go up second behind Derby. I think a full season with an established manager and you could have pissed this league

 

[SUTSS]

I'm with Munkiki. I can't see us getting into the top two. We're bound to have a sticky spell at some point before the end of the season and I think we'll end up 4th or 5th. Also agree that a Norwich v Ipswich play off final would be horrific, even getting them in the semi finals would be bad enough.

Darren Bent is proving to be an amazing signing by Derby. I think they have to be the favourite to win the league from this point.

 

[Rammy]

There's supposedly an agreement in the loan deal, which says we sign him permanently if we go up (he's out of contract in the summer).

Can see us very much going for Ince too, despite Hull saying there's no chance of him going. Let's hope they get relegated.

 

[Mr Elmo]

West Brom said the exact same about Thorne though

There's supposedly an agreement in the loan deal, which says we sign him permanently if we go up (he's out of contract in the summer).

Can see us very much going for Ince too, despite Hull saying there's no chance of him going. Let's hope they get relegated.

 

[MagpieBee]

I'm with Munkiki. I can't see us getting into the top two. We're bound to have a sticky spell at some point before the end of the season and I think we'll end up 4th or 5th. Also agree that a Norwich v Ipswich play off final would be horrific, even getting them in the semi finals would be bad enough.

Darren Bent is proving to be an amazing signing by Derby. I think they have to be the favourite to win the league from this point.

Derby signed well to put them over the line I think. The rest of us all did very little in January, and I think that will prove to be the difference.

 

[SUTSS]

Our biggest bit of business was getting Seb Bassong back. Our defense looks transformed since he returned.

 

[Hooray]

I fancy us to break into the top two by the end now. The thing in our favour is now the Watford trip is out of the way, the teams around us who we still need to play are all coming to Carrow Road. Derby, Boro, Ipswich, as well as the likes of Forest and Sheff Wed. Our away games aren't too bad at all. Blackburn are the highest placed team we have left to play away and they're 10th (and we've got them on Tuesday and I'd back us to get 3 points).

 

[roversfan2001]

On our day we're as good as anyone on our own patch, don't underestimate us. I think we'll snatch a win on Tuesday, although we are a bit too far out now to be challenging, especially if what my league table suggests comes to fruition.

 

[Munkiki]

Yeah, I expect you to win. Can't remember the last time we won five in a row. A draw would be a decent result for us imo.

 

[Hooray]

Pfft. Negative. 3-0 again on Tuesday and on we march to hammer Ipswich by a similar scoreline on Sunday

 

[AFCB_Mark]

First chance to post properly since Saturday. When we were all in Brentford's away pub watching Leeds somehow eek a win at Boro - we thought it might be a turning point for improvement again - sadly that wasn't to be against Brentford for a variety of reasons. When you're flying, then every bounce of the ball goes your way and the referee can seem kind. When your heads drop a bit, nothing falls your way in the box and the referee won't give you a decision no matter how clear cut it seems. And then you get a bizarre goalkeeping fumble from Boruc at the worst time just to compound everything.

That's where we are at the moment - but it's something every promotion challenging side has to deal with at some point. We had one bad patch earlier in the season and came out of it, but this rut does seem a little deeper. Mostly I think because the pressure is all the more tense as games run out. And to that end, just dropping away slightly and becoming a hunter rather than the hunted will help us. That is of course, assuming we don't just become the hunted prey for sides just below us in the Playoff chasing pack!

We're crying out for a fresh idea, or a fresh set of legs. We look on envious of Derby's loaned muscle which looks certain to get them over the line, for example. Ipwich today sign Knockaert, a cracking player for this level.

If we don't have the resource or gravitas to do similar, then we need to better use the squad we have. Ryan Fraser has long been our impact sub and again on Saturday he came on and caused trouble. IMHO we need to trust him with some starts. Matt Ritchie has been our creative focus and played 90 minutes every week for 2 years solid - and it's showing at the moment. I see Ritchies now stated that he's carrying a knock - which explains a bit.

So change it up a bit! We do have a midfield mini injury/suspention crisis to add to our woes, but hopefully Arter and Gosling will be availible soon. Rantie is forever two weeks away, Ward is yet to play all season but again is always "set to return" any moment.

Forest away midweek, not a good time to play them and not an easy place to go when things seem against you. There was a time when they were poor and seemed like a side there for the taking, and indeed when they did start poor early in the season they still managed to grab the most unlikely win at Dean court! So we owe them a beating, but it'll take a heck of an effort I feel.

We've got some work to do, that's for sure.

 

[Rammy]

We have a selection headache coming up very soon, as Martin and Russell are due back for Saturday. Russell might even make the bench tomorrow.

Albentosa is back training too, so he may make his debut soon. Think we probably need him given the goals we've shipped recently.

 

[Munkiki]

Pfft. Negative. 3-0 again on Tuesday and on we march to hammer Ipswich by a similar scoreline on Sunday

I'd assume, given his own admission that his knee can't handle three games in a week, that Tettey won't play tomorrow which worries me because the only player we have available to play in that role is Johnson and we've been so much better this season when he's not in that role. Also, with him on 9 yellow cards and Brad on 8 - we could be missing one or both for a couple of games very soon.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

If this knockaert deal goes through it looks like it's with a view to a permanent as he's out of contract in the summer apparently. Good signing for us I think, better than Varney

 

[Madejski]

Would be a very good signing for Ipswich IMO. I look at their team, great solid defence, the best goalscorer in the league with a bit of able cover, but their midfield is non-existent. No wonder the defence bypass it for the hoofball. Adds a bit of variety to their attack which is definitely missing.

 

[Rammy]

If this knockaert deal goes through it looks like it's with a view to a permanent as he's out of contract in the summer apparently. Good signing for us I think, better than Varney

Anyone is better than Varney!