Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: john e on January 21, 2018, 05:06:57 PM
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well over half way now sitting 4th in the league at present so where do you think we will finish
anyone that’s read my posts will know that Bruce is not my sort of manager but leaving all that to one side I desperately want us to go up this season and think we will be in the mix at the end
I personally think we will make the play offs
I would love us to go up automatically and think we have as good a chance as the other 6 or seven sides around us but I’m still not confident of second spot just yet
only 7 points seperates 2nd down to 6th so it’s going to be tight and although I don’t think we are world beaters no one else is either in fact I think it’s a pretty poor standard in general
so for me play offs is virtually guaranteed with the extra quality we have in the squad with a chance of an auto spot if we can keep scoring and not letting them in t’other end
play offs is a bit of a lottery but someone has to go up so a 4-1 chance really maybe better because we are Aston Villa
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Anywhere between second and sixth. No idea where.
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2nd.
I think we've found a system that suits us and we have the majority of the spine back. The squad will pay dividends in the run in.
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I think play offs is a probability but I dearly hope we can avoid that lottery.
Hopefully Bruce & co will just focus on winning each game as it comes and ignore what other teams do.
Let’s hope our squad depth is the deciding factor.
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I agree with Ads.
Still 10 or so points off Wolves but I don't really care about that. You do amusingly get a trophy for finishing second.
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2nd.
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2nd no problem.
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We will go up as champions!
Dingles to implode.
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God, it's going to be close. We just need to keep on winning games and hope the others don't - stating the bleeding obvious I know! 2nd or 3rd is my bet.
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3rd -5th.
My concern is that even last season we seen that Bruce is capable of getting this side on winning runs, but then we are just as likely to go the best part of a month without winning.
Personnel-wise, we should be top 2. But we cannot afford a third bad run.
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Definitely in the the play-off places, but I have sneaking suspicion that we will make 2nd...and have Steve Agnew to thank for it.
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Definitely in the the play-off places, but I have sneaking suspicion that we will make 2nd...and have Steve Agnew to thank for it.
I think the same but that we will have Jack Grealish to thank for it.
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I think we might well finish second. Our squad is much stronger than the others in the pack and that might make all the difference.
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Play-offs.
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Playoffs.
But I would love to be 2nd.
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Poll needed!
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Playoffs, unfortunately. Still, we might get another day at Wembley.
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Second.
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Playoffs but may sneak second on last day of season
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Second, don't want the possibility of the lottery of playing Brentford or Fulham in the play offs.
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Rather feels like 88 all over again. Going into the last home game needing to beat a rival for promotion (Bradford then, Derby now), and get something from an away game at a mid-table team on the last day (Swindon then, Millwall now). And I can still remember that Platt header at Villa Park like it was yesterday.
Reckon we might repeat it this year.
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Wolves are there to be caught.
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Second. The juggernaut is now in motion.
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I'll go second, but we do need a striker in the window, can't just rely on Scott and Keinan.
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We will go up as champions!
Dingles to implode.
That would be rather splendid!
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
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Poll added.
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Wolves are there to be caught.
I agree, and I think we're the only team capable of doing it.
If we can get closer by the time we play them they might just feel the pressure.
It does mean we need to continue this winning run and have no major slip ups.
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As somebody else has pointed out bruceball gets us some good runs but equally a bad run is always around the corner, like last season when we lost 7/8! This is the risk you take playing percentage rather than possession football.
I'd say 50/50 chance of playoffs. Talk of catching Wolves because they lost at the weekend and we won is just silly.
I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
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I'm very wary of a vastly improving Middlesbrough and Fulham but winning at Wembley in a play off final gives the club maximum exposure. That said, it's a lottery and I'd rather go up automatically if at all possible. We are capable of every possible outcome, including champions, or missing out completely. Who the hell knows?
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
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I think our depth of squad and managerial experience will see us finish second. We seem to have settled on an effective formation and are hard to beat and even better, have a goalscoring striker who looks to have turned a corner.
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Absolutely no reason why the automatic places can't be in reach given the position we've got ourselves in. 54 points to play for with a target of 40 to get to the 90 point mark. Leaves a bit of wriggle room and I honestly don't think it'll take 90 this season for reasons shared elsewhere.
We've had 4 defeats in 25 so there should only really be a couple more from here on in. Can we turn those annoying draws into enough wins?
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
We've drawn 8. The same as Derby. Who are second...
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
If we come third, 1 or 2 or 3 points behind second, our earlier draws will have come back to haunt us. Simples.
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2nd place and within touching distance of Wolves. I believe we'll be mathematically up before the Derby game. Bruce has played an ace with the hiring of Agnew. Not only are we winning, we're looking a far better side that should continue to improve. We desperately needed a football brain that can work with the embarrassment of riches we have with this squad. They'll be no more playing players out of position but there will be tactics, a plan and every player will buy into it. For the first time in ages there's something to actually start believing in.
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
Just an opinion like !!! :)
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Playoffs, although if we get a good quality forward in 2nd is very possible.
If we end up in the play offs that cap toting anti football knob will beat us in the final to have the last laugh I just know it. Troare will probably set up Gestede for the winner.
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Playoffs and a great chance of promotion due to experience in the side
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Derby and Cardiff will both run out of steam/have a dodgy patch that will allow us to cruise into second place and hold on to it.
Automatic promotion is a must this season, but then so will be a massive change of personnel and investment to prepare for life back in the Premier league.
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2nd.
I think we've found a system that suits us and we have the majority of the spine back. The squad will pay dividends in the run in.
I agree with this.
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Playoffs, although if we get a good quality forward in 2nd is very possible.
If we end up in the play offs that cap toting anti football knob will beat us in the final to have the last laugh I just know it. Troare will probably set up Gestede for the winner.
Alternatively Adomah to clinch the win. Think we will go up automatically personally
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Absolutely no reason why the automatic places can't be in reach given the position we've got ourselves in. 54 points to play for with a target of 40 to get to the 90 point mark. Leaves a bit of wriggle room and I honestly don't think it'll take 90 this season for reasons shared elsewhere.
We've had 4 defeats in 25 so there should only really be a couple more from here on in. Can we turn those annoying draws into enough wins?
When you put it like that, we can afford to lose 2 and draw 4 and still make 90 points...actually that's still a pretty big ask.
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I was going to say that, Derby had a similar start to the season to what we had. Up to middle of October they only 3 of their first opening 10 games and drew 4 of them.
Two very similar teams in how they step up and I expect both to last the pace so yes it will be massive at end of April.
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Quote from: Nastylee on Today at 06:26:20 PM
Absolutely no reason why the automatic places can't be in reach given the position we've got ourselves in. 54 points to play for with a target of 40 to get to the 90 point mark. Leaves a bit of wriggle room and I honestly don't think it'll take 90 this season for reasons shared elsewhere.
We've had 4 defeats in 25 so there should only really be a couple more from here on in. Can we turn those annoying draws into enough wins?
Sexual Ealing said:
When you put it like that, we can afford to lose 2 and draw 4 and still make 90 points...actually that's still a pretty big ask.
But it's pretty much what you're asking Derby and Cardiff to do as well as neither are much better off. The clubs behind have an even larger task.
As I said, I think high 80s will do. Big point hauls occur when two teams run away with it like last season. Too tight this year and teams have taken points off each other which should lead to a lower total being required.
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I don't think you'll need 90 points to make second.
Derby will draw a few in the run in (so will we) so that will knock the final points total down as we're both dropping more points than Newcastle and Brighton did last season.
Wouldn't shock me if 85 points was enough.
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As somebody else has pointed out bruceball gets us some good runs but equally a bad run is always around the corner, like last season when we lost 7/8! This is the risk you take playing percentage rather than possession football.
I'd say 50/50 chance of playoffs. Talk of catching Wolves because they lost at the weekend and we won is just silly.
I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
It would be even sillier to give up the ghost.
It's not because they lost the weekend. Their last 4 matches have been 1 win, 2 draws and a loss, so they are dropping points.
If I'm honest, 2nd is, more than likely, the best we can hope for, but, while there is a chance we should never give up.
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I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
Why do you believe that?
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As somebody else has pointed out bruceball gets us some good runs but equally a bad run is always around the corner, like last season when we lost 7/8! This is the risk you take playing percentage rather than possession football.
I'd say 50/50 chance of playoffs. Talk of catching Wolves because they lost at the weekend and we won is just silly.
I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
We ?.
You need to worry more about the relegation battle your lot are in.
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I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
Why do you believe that?
Because it is the controversial, miserable and antagonistic position adopted by all trolls. It’s one of the first things taught at Troll Secondary School.
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Quote from: Nastylee on Today at 06:26:20 PM
Absolutely no reason why the automatic places can't be in reach given the position we've got ourselves in. 54 points to play for with a target of 40 to get to the 90 point mark. Leaves a bit of wriggle room and I honestly don't think it'll take 90 this season for reasons shared elsewhere.
We've had 4 defeats in 25 so there should only really be a couple more from here on in. Can we turn those annoying draws into enough wins?
Sexual Ealing said:
When you put it like that, we can afford to lose 2 and draw 4 and still make 90 points...actually that's still a pretty big ask.
But it's pretty much what you're asking Derby and Cardiff to do as well as neither are much better off. The clubs behind have an even larger task.
As I said, I think high 80s will do. Big point hauls occur when two teams run away with it like last season. Too tight this year and teams have taken points off each other which should lead to a lower total being required.
Also a good point. Fuck it, it's going to be us.
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We have the momentum now, and I’d wager that all of the other top 6 teams fear us the most. Watching The Derby/Cardiff games this weekend proved to me that they have nothing we should fear in the form we are currently in - as long as we remain consistent then I can’t see anyone stopping us...especially if we get the likes of Ulloa/Tuanzebe in.
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Villa can't do anything the easy way and I therefore don't think we will finish in the top 2 - sorry.
So far this season it's been like we are on crack, one moment on a high the next head in hands. We have yet to play the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United away, have Bloose at home and need to ride our luck in one or two other fixtures.
I still don't think we were that great yesterday, certainly not second half.
This leads onto the issue of what happens if we reach the play offs. On paper with the experience of Taylor, Chester, Hutton, Terry, Snodgrass, Elmo we should walk them, but you just know we won't. A lot of pressure on us and a good percentage of which we put on ourselves.
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Having a peek at our rivals boards shows the Fulham fans think automatic promotion is a viable target. If they can think that then we certainly should be confident.
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I think we need to worry about Boro. Pulls has got them going and even bloody Traore scored at the weekend.
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Villa can't do anything the easy way and I therefore don't think we will finish in the top 2 - sorry.
So far this season it's been like we are on crack, one moment on a high the next head in hands. We have yet to play the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United away, have Bloose at home and need to ride our luck in one or two other fixtures.
I still don't think we were that great yesterday, certainly not second half.
This leads onto the issue of what happens if we reach the play offs. On paper with the experience of Taylor, Chester, Hutton, Terry, Snodgrass, Elmo we should walk them, but you just know we won't. A lot of pressure on us and a good percentage of which we put on ourselves.
I do agree with a lot of this.
As excellent as the first 50 minutes were yesterday, most of the second half was poor.
I said to my mate that only Villa (Bruce) could make a 3-1 game feel a bit turgid.
Johnstone had to make far too many saves in the second half for my liking.
We should have pressed and pressed in the second half because they were poor at the back and one more goal and the floodgates would have opened and it could have done wonders for our goal difference. Attack is the best form of defence and we have enough to blow anyone away when we are on form. But when we sit back, we always look a bit vulnerable.
All that said though, I think wolves are due a massive wobble, and I really believe we could win finish top.
But, we have got to play to out strengths and believe in ourselves.
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3rd to 6th.
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
If we come third, 1 or 2 or 3 points behind second, our earlier draws will have come back to haunt us. Simples.
Nothing will come back and haunt us it’s how we play from now on. The position we are in means that we are in a very competitive place for second and we can only mess it up from here on.
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Hate to say this but a lot will depend on the form and continued fitness of Jack Grealish. He is the one who is unlocking defences at present.
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Villa can't do anything the easy way and I therefore don't think we will finish in the top 2 - sorry.
So far this season it's been like we are on crack, one moment on a high the next head in hands. We have yet to play the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United away, have Bloose at home and need to ride our luck in one or two other fixtures.
I still don't think we were that great yesterday, certainly not second half.
This leads onto the issue of what happens if we reach the play offs. On paper with the experience of Taylor, Chester, Hutton, Terry, Snodgrass, Elmo we should walk them, but you just know we won't. A lot of pressure on us and a good percentage of which we put on ourselves.
Hard to disagree with any of that.
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3-6th play off I am afraid - our earlier draws will.come back to haunt us
We're 3 points off 2nd with 18 games to go!! Not sure how you get to that conclusion!!
If we come third, 1 or 2 or 3 points behind second, our earlier draws will have come back to haunt us. Simples.
At the moment, we are 3 points behind Derby and have drawn the same amount of games as them. They are 3 points ahead of us because they beat us before Christmas.
I'd agree about the draws if we were talking about potentially catching Wolves.
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I have felt for most of the season that we would finish in a play off position so that is what I have gone for. However, we seem to be getting stronger as the season goes on and with recent results and momentum currently on our side I am starting to genuinely believe we can take second spot. None of the teams below us particularly worry me (I think both Bristol City and Sheffield United are starting to run out of steam) and I don't think Derby or Cardiff are better than us. I am quite happy to cheer Wolves on all the way to the title if they can beat Derby, Cardiff, Sheffield United, Fulham, and Boro on the way.
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Our current league form feels more like a groove than a spree to me, and I think we can carry this forward barring spectacular misfortune
2nd seems very possible now.
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2nd easy
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Barring important injuries, I'm confident we'll finish second with the slim chance of giving Wolves a run for their money even. I don't think catching the dogheads is out of the question but highly unlikely.
After the next loss, it'll be interesting to see how the team bounces back. It'll be this that defines us.
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Our current league form feels more like a groove than a spree to me, and I think we can carry this forward barring spectacular misfortune
2nd seems very possible now.
I agree. A big 'if' I accept, but if we can get a decent forward in this month to compete with Hogan and we remain largely injury free then I can't see why we can't go on and get automatic promotion.
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Play offs. A further review at the end of February
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Villa can't do anything the easy way and I therefore don't think we will finish in the top 2 - sorry.
So far this season it's been like we are on crack, one moment on a high the next head in hands. We have yet to play the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United away, have Bloose at home and need to ride our luck in one or two other fixtures.
I still don't think we were that great yesterday, certainly not second half.
This leads onto the issue of what happens if we reach the play offs. On paper with the experience of Taylor, Chester, Hutton, Terry, Snodgrass, Elmo we should walk them, but you just know we won't. A lot of pressure on us and a good percentage of which we put on ourselves.
Hard to disagree with any of that.
One of the big contributing factors of our gradual improvement has been the experience we have in closing games out and in game management. You would have to hope that with Terry being in god knows how many finals, Elmohamady winning Afcon and being a play off and FA cup finalist, Snodgrass winning a play off final and Terry/Taylor with their recent euro experience we would not be daunted. To this day, Grealish' biggest performance was at wembley as well. I just think that if we get there, we will take 40k fans, make a load of noise and we will go up comfortably
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Fuck it, we're gonna win the league! :D
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It's in our own hands. We have the deepest squad and I'm sure the other top 6 hopefuls will be very worried about us.
With Derby, Boro & Fulham all strong teams it will be very difficult, but we absolutely have as good a chance of second as anyone else.
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As somebody else remarked, mathematically it's in our hands now for the first time (a 2 goal swing needed hypothetically against Derby).
I feel the squad depth is the ultimate weapon and the more games that pass the more this feels like our level of performance or effectiveness rather than an upsurge.
Hogan suddenly coming to life and looking like a £12 million player is huge.
Perhaps the most comforting thing from Wyness was the comment about Agnew and Calderwood focusing on their specialisms. It seems to work. We look balanced, better at flooding forwards, better at moving off the ball and by and large very solid defensively.
We're a big beast and we cast a long shadow. Derby fans are worried and rightly so.
There's a raft of goals on midfield. If a forward can catch fire and bag 15, then we're on our way.
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Have Derby, Wolves or Cardiff had injuries on the scale that we've had to put up with so far?
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Wolves and Derby no. Wolves fans remark that their front man is looking shattered mind.
Cardiff have had a few.
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Dan bardell from the villa view is more optimistic than me thinks 2nd is achievable. I would be so happy but amazed if we did it
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If we sign another forward we can finish second. We still could do, even if we don't sign anyone, but it would be a gamble.
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Why would it be amazing for us to finish 2nd?
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It would be disappointing if we didn’t at least finish 2nd. If we beat Shef U Wolves will be looking over their shoulders.
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Voted for 2nd, glad so many think this is achievable, with our squad automatic place should be the aim
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If we sign another forward we can finish second. We still could do, even if we don't sign anyone, but it would be a gamble.
True. I certainly wouldn't right off Davis who only struggled with our poor tactics and a lack of decent service. Every striker would. As others have said, our squad depth and quality should be more than enough to get us up in 2nd. Most other teams don't have that luxury. Barnsley had a couple out and were punished. It's the rules of the jungle.
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Derby have something ridiculous like seven strikers on their books. Are they as well stocked in other areas? Wolves aside, I doubt any other team has the squad-depth we have.
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We have 5 right backs but until now (crosses fingers, touches wood, etc) we don't play them all at the same time.
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I have thought all season that with our squad, even with a huge injury list, play offs should be considered a failure. We are now falling into a settled and balanced side where we should (Please Bruce keep to this) only bring in returning players into their rightful positions within the team - not shoehorn them in for any other reason or play them out of position.
I thought a few weeks ago that 2nd was a distinct possibility - now after clawing back 5 points in 2 games I want to go for the dogheads as I think even they are now catchable.
I think we could be within 5/6 points by the time they come to us on 10th March and if that is the case they will be shitting it
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If we can avoid injuries and suspensions then automatic promotion is possible, but I’ve got a nagging feeling we will end up in the playoffs and I’ll have to spend each of our games anxiously eating my own hands.
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4th
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Wolves and Derby no. Wolves fans remark that their front man is looking shattered mind.
If thats the Italian fella then yes, my ST holding mate says you wouldn't think it was the same player as pre-Xmas.
Which is good news.
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Play offs. A further review at the end of February
Agree
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I think we need to worry about Boro. Pulls has got them going and even bloody Traore scored at the weekend.
Away. They've lost their two home games so far which isn't the usual for Pulisball.
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Why would it be amazing for us to finish 2nd?
I think you get automatically promoted if you finish second, and if that is the case, I for one would be very pleased.
It probably would be pleasantly surprising too considering where we finished last season and that we haven't been that high all season so far.
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If we don't finish second I think Fulham will.
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Fulham are better than wolves on their day. So pacey and they have a proper go. Can’t believe they’ve doubled their prices for us
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I paid £35. Can't believe it's normally £17.50?
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With the squad we have, and where we sit currently, I would actually be quite pissed off if we didn't make second. Worth keeping an eye on the Wolves over the next few weeks though. For the first time they are starting to miss players and Neves will imminently clock a 3 game ban for yellow cards. If we are within 7 or 8 and second by the time they come to Villa Park (and that could be far better) they will shit a brick. My Derby supporting in laws are terrified of us getting our shit together.
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I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
Why do you believe that?
Because it is the controversial, miserable and antagonistic position adopted by all trolls. It’s one of the first things taught at Troll Secondary School.
A "troll" because i don't believe we will finish top 2? I think you need a break from the CPU mate, especially with that post rate ! Go and tell your mummy there is a "troll" upsetting you.
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I think we will finish 2nd IF Hogan doesnt pick up another injury OR if we fail to sign an effective alternative striker to him. If he gets injured and our cover is Keinan then, nothing against the lad (but lad he is) I think we will draw too many and end up in the playoffs. I dont see Gabby as any cover either, fwiw.
Everywhere else I think we have good cover but thats our one squad weakness. Caused of course by the total waster currently down under.
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I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
Why do you believe that?
Because it is the controversial, miserable and antagonistic position adopted by all trolls. It’s one of the first things taught at Troll Secondary School.
A "troll" because i don't believe we will finish top 2? I think you need a break from the CPU mate, especially with that post rate ! Go and tell your mummy there is a "troll" upsetting you.
LOL ok. There's loads on here who have posted more than I have. It's indicative of nothing at all. And when's the last time you posted anything remotely positive? You even found fault in our 5-0 win vs Bristol City.
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after the unremitting shite of the past seven years or so, anyone finding fault in our 5-0 victory over Bristol City can't possibly be a Villa fan. And you can colour that anyway you like.
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after the unremitting shite of the past seven years or so, anyone finding fault in our 5-0 victory over Bristol City can't possibly be a Villa fan. And you can colour that anyway you like.
You can Color Me Badd.
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Champions.
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I can entertain talk of 2nd place but there is such a queue of teams on our tail I believe at least one of them will beat us to it.
Why do you believe that?
Because it is the controversial, miserable and antagonistic position adopted by all trolls. It’s one of the first things taught at Troll Secondary School.
A "troll" because i don't believe we will finish top 2? I think you need a break from the CPU mate, especially with that post rate ! Go and tell your mummy there is a "troll" upsetting you.
LOL ok. There's loads on here who have posted more than I have. It's indicative of nothing at all. And when's the last time you posted anything remotely positive? You even found fault in our 5-0 win vs Bristol City.
Bloody Hell thought this one had gone back to the Tilton
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I think our current form is up there. Fulham and Boro need to go at 2.5 points a game to get to what we're talking about as a probable target. That's some going! Amazing that some think that's possible yet despite a decent gap we're only going to make the play offs. Second is there for the taking especially with a couple of notable additions. It's in our grasp.
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after the unremitting shite of the past seven years or so, anyone finding fault in our 5-0 victory over Bristol City can't possibly be a Villa fan. And you can colour that anyway you like.
You can Color Me Badd.
Cheers for that, can't get "I Wanna Sex You Up" out of my mind now.
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Here's a bit of early morning amusement for you. If you extrapolate the points accumulated for the top 7 from the last 5 games, then we go up as champions and Fulham finish second.
The Wolves staying down would be hilarious, although unlikely.
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Here's a bit of early morning amusement for you. If you extrapolate the points accumulated for the top 7 from the last 5 games, then we go up as champions and Fulham finish second.
The Wolves staying down would be hilarious, although unlikely.
You have far too much time on your hands! Have you thought of taking up a hobby?
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I'm at Center Parcs and there is only one shower. Plus, I'm not the author of those stats. They're the product of a bit of Dingle fear.
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I'm at Center Parcs and there is only one shower. Plus, I'm not the author of those stats. They're the product of a bit of Dingle fear.
Ah I love Center Parcs, which one are you at?
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It would be hilarious if the Dingles imploded. But they won't. They've played some excellent stuff and I'd be amazed if they don't comfortably go up as Champions. Hope I'm wrong!
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Whinfell. Missed the snow unfortunately!
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Whinfell. Missed the snow unfortunately!
It's always snowed when I've been to that one.
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2nd spot is achievable. First is too, but highly unlikely. Wolves would have to fk up massively and us to win the majority of remaining matches. I really don’t care how we go up, but would prefer to avoid potential Wembley humiliation if at all possible.
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after the unremitting shite of the past seven years or so, anyone finding fault in our 5-0 victory over Bristol City can't possibly be a Villa fan. And you can colour that anyway you like.
You can Color Me Badd.
Color Him Father
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Here's a bit of early morning amusement for you. If you extrapolate the points accumulated for the top 7 from the last 5 games, then we go up as champions and Fulham finish second.
The Wolves staying down would be hilarious, although unlikely.
I am proposing top 8 in play offs at the end of the season.
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explain?
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Heart says 2nd, but this is Villa we're talking about and we don't do straightforward. 3rd place and a win in penalty shoot out at Wembley
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
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I'd say playoffs, then do a classic villa and lose in the playoff final via some comedy own goal.
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I'd say playoffs, then do a classic villa and lose in the playoff final via some comedy own goal.
You sure you’re not mixing up us with Small Heath?
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Second. We've got ourselves into a position where it's in our own hands. The way we're playing, we need fear no-one. This April will become the stuff of "were you there?" legend, heroes will be forged.
And we're one of a surprisingly short list of clubs that've never been involved in the play-offs, I'd like to stay on it. That, and I really don't think my nerves could stand it!
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Play-offs for me. I'm delighted with the run we've been on but I don't trust us to have the legs to keep it going, unless we bring in a solid striker and cover for our CBs in the window.
Chester at the weekend is a good example for me. He's played every (league) game and is wrecked, caught the flu and thankfully the rest of the defence put in strong performances to hold on to the lead. That's without mentioning Hogan & Jedinak who are both apparently made of glass and aren't going to play every game (in Mile's case, I honestly don't see him playing too many more as he keeps tearing muscles).
I think we'll finish 4th and it'll take some big pep talks from Bruce and Xia to get us through the play-offs as anything can happen there.
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At least Second all depends on wolves dropping points, I imagine they not really going to lose 4 games. But we will over take Derby as Rowett is Bruce but hasn't got Agnew. and Fulham to come up through the play offs.
then how much money do we throw at new squad members?
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Keep Jack Grealish fit and we will get automatic promotion.
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Beat Sheffield United and i will be confident of getting 2nd place ahead of Derby. Our last home game of the season against them, could be a cup final.
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We'll finish second.
And that's a Smirker guarantee.
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Second (unless Wolves have a melt down)
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I want to say 2nd but the clue is in the name.Aston villa. Whenever have we done things the simple stress free way.
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
Fulham are a big concern
They’d struggle to get second but it’s not impossible. And I really wouldn’t fancy facing them in the playoffs
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
Fulham are a big concern
They’d struggle to get second but it’s not impossible. And I really wouldn’t fancy facing them in the playoffs
By one of those weird quirks of fate I'm going to see Fulham twice - vs us on the 17th and vs Wolves the week after. Two big games for them one after the other - be interesting to see how they face up.
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I think we will finish third. So prove me wrong you wankers!
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Depends how long this purple patch lasts, if it lasts, and what everyone else does. Obviously i guess. We've won 4 out of 5 but that's not unusual in this league. Win the next 4 out of 5 and we'll probably be in 2nd by about 3 points. Then we'd have to do similar again to hold on to it. F**k knows is the short answer.
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A lot will depend on whether we’ve now become a side that can routinely beat top 8 sides
Bristol was great but it is the only time we’ve managed it this season
So far . . .
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Optimistic for 2nd and that would be bloody great. Not sure the old ticker could handle the play-offs.
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I get a bit nauseous when I think about playoffs.
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
Fulham are a big concern
They’d struggle to get second but it’s not impossible. And I really wouldn’t fancy facing them in the playoffs
Here's Fulham run of fixtures from Mid February:
Fulham- Aston Villa
Bristol City0 Fulham
Fulham-Wolves
Derby-Fulham
Fulham-Sheffield United
Preston-Fulham
Think the bookies would give you odds of 2,0000000,0000-1 they win all those games.
Would be nice if they took points off Derby though.
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second is ours, next three games Derby , Millwall A, Brentford H , Norwich h. after that run we will be above them.
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Bristol City couldl drop like a stone. The big games they have done well but suspect it will harm them come late Feb/early March
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
Fulham are a big concern
They’d struggle to get second but it’s not impossible. And I really wouldn’t fancy facing them in the playoffs
A month ago I wouldn't have fancied us against any half decent footballing side in the play offs. Today I think we'll be a match for anybody if we continue to improve as we have done these last few weeks. Still plenty of work to do but finally we look to have somebody that understands football and how to get the best out of the squad.
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If we were in Fulham or Boro’s place right now, 8 or 9 points back of second with 18 games left how confident would we be of getting promoted automatically? I get that Fulham especially have had a very good run and have put themselves back into contention. But will they sustain it? I’d much rather be where we are with points in the bag and our sails full of wind.
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Fulham will be targeting play offs more.
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The odds to gain promotion at the moment are....wolves 1/20...derby. ..evens....villa 7/4.....a lot of money lately has come in for Fulham who are now 11/2.
Fulham are a big concern
They’d struggle to get second but it’s not impossible. And I really wouldn’t fancy facing them in the playoffs
Here's Fulham run of fixtures from Mid February:
Fulham- Aston Villa
Bristol City0 Fulham
Fulham-Wolves
Derby-Fulham
Fulham-Sheffield United
Preston-Fulham
Think the bookies would give you odds of 2,0000000,0000-1 they win all those games.
Would be nice if they took points off Derby though.
Can see Fulham beating Wolves, too.
second is ours, next three games Derby , Millwall A, Brentford H , Norwich h. after that run we will be above them.
Derby should be pretty confident of 7 points from that run
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Those that predicted 2nd must be feeling even more confident now
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Derby at home last game, could be a final. Get your tickets early folks!!
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I think Derbyby then would be comfortably 4th. We need to see of Fulham by twatting them in a couple of weeks.
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I think Derbyby then would be comfortably 4th. We need to see of Fulham by twatting them in a couple of weeks.
I agree Fulham are on form at the moment, they are the ones to beat.
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Two seasons ago Burnley won the championship. Having spent most of the first half of the season around the play off places they lost for the last time on Boxing Day, remaining unbeaten for the rest of the season and going on to finish top.
Just saying.
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Second or third. But as we know there is a massive difference between the two.
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Second is the minimum expectation now.
I really thought wolves were there to be caught but they keep skanking these crappy 1 -0 wins that makes it impossible to close the gap.
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I think Derbyby then would be comfortably 4th. We need to see of Fulham by twatting them in a couple of weeks.
I agree Fulham are on form at the moment, they are the ones to beat.
Hmmmmm....I think they should be saying that about us.
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(http://i63.tinypic.com/i6l1j8.png)
Fill your boots with this one. Basically, we have a 17 game season against Derby and Cardiff. Whoever gets the most points gets second. For the record, Fulham need to do over 2 points per game for the remainder of the season to make an impression on second.
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I think Derbyby then would be comfortably 4th. We need to see of Fulham by twatting them in a couple of weeks.
I agree Fulham are on form at the moment, they are the ones to beat.
Hmmmmm....I think they should be saying that about us.
Bloody hell, you're right, still can't get used to us being the form team.
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We never win at Fulham
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A draw wouldn't be a bad thing. Avoid defeat and that leaves them a lot to do to overtake us.
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We never win at Fulham
If we do what we need to do winning the games we absolutely should heading into the Fulham game then we won’t need to. A draw would be a good result for us, not good for them if they are chasing 2nd. And if we do win our games vs Burton and Birmingham we could be a point or two further ahead.
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Champions.
Champions.
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Runners up. The only thing stopping us being champions is running out of games.
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Stopping Grealish from getting injured will be key, especially against a hate filled Warnock side. He will tell them to take it in turns to snap Jack in half.
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3rd
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3rd.
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Top.
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3rd
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Second no sweat.
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Third
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Second, but it may well be first.
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Come on this is cheating....January 21st.
Let's have the August 2017 predictions.....
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3nd
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Come on this is cheating....January 21st.
Let's have the August 2017 predictions.....
I thought 5th or 6th in early August and probably 12th late August! Now I think we will get 2nd.
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Come on this is cheating....January 21st.
Let's have the August 2017 predictions.....
Originally I thought around 8th, now I think playoffs but I hope you are all right with 2nd spot
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2nd
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2nd
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2nd but I'm more worried about Fulham than Cardiff
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Still think it will be the play-offs.
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Still think it will be the play-offs.
Strangely, Saturday has given me confidence that we can handle the play-offs should we end up there.
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Surprised to see that the sheep haven’t jumped on the Fulham bandwagon.
I voted Champions but think we will be second. I can’t stand the thought of all the knobheads trying to get tickets for the playoffs.
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2nd.
3rd? Who is going to stop us?
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2nd.
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Everyone still positive about grabbing 2nd?
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Gone from 3rd to 4th.
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4th for I think now after those 2 games - hard to believe the difference in a week
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I'm not bothered where we finish outside the top two, as long as we are in the playoffs.
We have a chance, a decent chance. We need luck.
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I am prepared to venture at this fairly late stage of the season that it will be below where we reasonably expected.
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When it comes tothe Playoffs I think we’ll be suited to the one off game.
I’m going for 4th place but a win in the Final.
Just a feeling. I fear we’ll struggle if we do go up but I think we will make it.
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I'm going 6th as I'm pissed off - and crossing everything we don't do a Leeds from last season.
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I think 6th and based on last season we would need 80 points to secure that.
Should be achievable but we need to shake off our current poor form.
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I thought prior to Wolves 3rd, post Wolves 2nd, post QPR 3rd again and now 4th.
Either way its play offs now.
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We need another three wins to guarantee a play off spot, I reckon. Avoid Fulham until the final. Hope, rather than expect. 4th.
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3rd. I think Cardiff will drop points but we won't capitalise and will finish agonisingly short. Playoffs I really don't know.
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You don't get this much fun in the Premier League. The only thing I am worried about should we not go up is being able to create a competitive squad for next season. I don't want years of being Ipswich Town. I can cope with being in the Championship if we are competitive.
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You don't get this much fun in the Premier League. The only thing I am worried about should we not go up is being able to create a competitive squad for next season. I don't want years of being Ipswich Town. I can cope with being in the Championship if we are competitive.
It's the way football has gone over the past 15 years. Sad isn't it. Bastard Sky.
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76 points would be enough for play offs. Not worried about that although we need to make sure we remain 3rd/4th so we get the second leg at home.
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5th then who knows
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I think we'll finish up as the 4th best club in the championship.
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We will finish 4th play and lose over 2 legs to Middlesborough in the play offs and Adama Traore will come back to haunt us.
I'm usually an optimist but have a bad feeling about this, it must be something in the water. I blame the Russians.
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We will finish 4th play and lose over 2 legs to Middlesborough in the play offs and Adama Traore will come back to haunt us.
I'm usually an optimist but have a bad feeling about this, it must be something in the water. I blame the Russians.
We will beat Boro at Wembley with Albert scoring the 94th minute winner😀
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We will finish 4th play and lose over 2 legs to Middlesborough in the play offs and Adama Traore will come back to haunt us.
I'm usually an optimist but have a bad feeling about this, it must be something in the water. I blame the Russians.
We will beat Boro at Wembley with Albert scoring the 94th minute winner😀
We can but hope, but of course it is the hope that kills you.
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Playoffs - third or fourth. I’m quietly confident that we will go up via the playoffs - seems Bruce’s usual route of promotion?
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Playoffs undoubtedly I think now. Would like to think we have the mentality, experience and leadership to win a final against any of the other 3 possibles.
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Playoffs - third or fourth. I’m quietly confident that we will go up via the playoffs - seems Bruce’s usual route of promotion?
Been promoted four times, twice automatic, twice via playoffs. I was under the impression he'did never lost a playoff tie but he was in charge of Wigan when they lost in the semis in 2001.
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Been promoted four times, twice automatic, twice via playoffs. I was under the impression he'd never lost a playoff tie but he was in charge of Wigan when they lost in the semis in 2001.
If he had never lost a playoff tie, you can be sure we'd add that line to his CV for him. :-(
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No doubt we'll make the play offs. Derby haven't won for about 7 games but still haven't dropped out of the places.
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Still think we’ll finish 3rd. Won’t catch Cardiff now unless they have a two game collapse and we win our games, but looking unlikely. I think after the break we’ll get back to winning ways. Fuck me we make it hard on ourselves though.
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Fulham will finish above us.
Two legged match v Boro.
I'd still back us to win that.
Less so with a final.
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I know a Boro fan and he is pretty excited about the form they are in. I'm always wary of a team coming into form like they have been.
With that said, I'd probably back us to beat anyone over two legs.
It's at Wembley they'll stick the knife in our guts.
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Wolves
Caerdydd
------------
Fulham
Villa
Boro
Milwall
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Imagine playing Millwall at Wembley in the play off final :(
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Imagine playing Millwall at Wembley in the play off final :(
I'd be happy with that right now.
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Imagine playing Millwall at Wembley in the play off final :(
Yes, Villa and Millwall fans marching arm in arm down Wembley Way, under the shadow of the glorious half bicycle wheel.
What's not to love.
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I think the issues would be more what happens after we've beaten them in the Play Off final and their factions have stopped fighting among themselves.
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Still think we’ll finish 3rd. Won’t catch Cardiff now unless they have a two game collapse and we win our games, but looking unlikely. I think after the break we’ll get back to winning ways. Fuck me we make it hard on ourselves though.
Slim hope - Cardiff have to play Wolves (H), us (A) and Derby (A). IF (and a big if) they lose those 3 and we win all our games we will finish above them. Then it may boil down to GD with Fulham who have the easiest run in IMO.
Now back to reality......
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Still think we’ll finish 3rd. Won’t catch Cardiff now unless they have a two game collapse and we win our games, but looking unlikely. I think after the break we’ll get back to winning ways. Fuck me we make it hard on ourselves though.
Slim hope - Cardiff have to play Wolves (H), us (A) and Derby (A). IF (and a big if) they lose those 3 and we win all our games we will finish above them. Then it may boil down to GD with Fulham who have the easiest run in IMO.
Now back to reality......
They would still need to drop points in another game. That’s how big a task it is now.
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4th and still in the second division come next season.
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Still think we’ll finish 3rd. Won’t catch Cardiff now unless they have a two game collapse and we win our games, but looking unlikely. I think after the break we’ll get back to winning ways. Fuck me we make it hard on ourselves though.
Slim hope - Cardiff have to play Wolves (H), us (A) and Derby (A). IF (and a big if) they lose those 3 and we win all our games we will finish above them. Then it may boil down to GD with Fulham who have the easiest run in IMO.
Now back to reality......
They would still need to drop points in another game. That’s how big a task it is now.
Well the burst my bubble of optimism and also confirmed maths was never my strong point!
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Colin Wanker is a very good manager and coach, but he has unresolved bats and his belfry, and you never know what he might do next.
There was a documentary where he took his players to Scarborough for a day out and took out these "chits" relating to players who who had transgressed Wanker Rules, and who were therefore compelled to run into a freezing North Sea. Jagielka or "Jag" was one such if memory serves.
If the fuckwit pulls a similar stunt at Berry Head, for example, several of his players may be carried out to sea, other things being unequal.
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4th and still in the second division come next season.
I'd love to call you miserable and tell you you're not a real fan because you're not backing the team, we'll win the play offs, blah, blah. But I actually think you're about right. Sadly, were running out of steam just when others are doing the reverse.
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4th
I was convinced 2nd after the dingles but after two poor performances against two very average teams , I can see Fulham overtaking us.
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Come on this is cheating....January 21st.
Let's have the August 2017 predictions.....
I thought 5th or 6th in early August and probably 12th late August! Now I think we will get 2nd.
Yep, got excited after Wolves. I think 3rd now.
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Play off winners
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I think probably fourth
But second is still a possibility for me
We just need to start winning games. And then around the time of the Cardiff game see how close we are. They’ve got a crazy spell of four games in twelve days from 2 April: Sheffield Utd (a) Wolves (h) villa (a) Norwich (a).
We’ve also got four games. But three are at home, including reading and Leeds which are not only over rated festivals but also two badly out of form sides (atm).
Obviously we’ll need to start winning again, Bruce will have to get better at using our undoubted squad strength and the fans will need to pull us through
But this is giving me hope
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To finish in the top 2, the bookies have us 5/2, I would say we're more like 4/1. Don't want the dreaded 3rd spot, so I'm going for fourth.
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To finish in the top 2, the bookies have us 5/2, I would say we're more like 4/1. Don't want the dreaded 3rd spot, so I'm going for fourth.
Sorry, that's not right I don't think. All the odds I've seen have us around 9/1 or 10/1 to finish top 2, the 5/2 is to get promoted I'd have thought, as that includes the possibility of the play offs.
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To finish in the top 2, the bookies have us 5/2, I would say we're more like 4/1. Don't want the dreaded 3rd spot, so I'm going for fourth.
Sorry, that's not right I don't think. All the odds I've seen have us around 9/1 or 10/1 to finish top 2, the 5/2 is to get promoted I'd have thought, as that includes the possibility of the play offs.
Correct.
Oddschecker (https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/promotion)
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Yep sorry giving duff information.
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I reckon we will be fourth.
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To finish in the top 2, the bookies have us 5/2, I would say we're more like 4/1. Don't want the dreaded 3rd spot, so I'm going for fourth.
I think it’s a myth that third is a dreaded position
In fact, 39.50% of the teams that have finished in the top play-off place across the three divisions have been promoted.
Only 21% of teams in the second play-off spot have been successful while those in the bottom two places go up 19.80% of the time.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11095/10275474/football-league-play-offs-is-third-place-a-curse-or-is-that-a-myth
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63% of me wouldn't mind getting the wife's pants off but she is 100% asleep! Let's see how the chips fall re the play offs. We aren't done yet!
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TMI - she obviously had a plan
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I'm still in the belief that we can do it it's a long shot but I'm still backing us for second spot until it's impossible to catch Cardiff.
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63% of me wouldn't mind getting the wife's pants off but she is 100% asleep! Let's see how the chips fall re the play offs. We aren't done yet!
Are they cutting into your thighs?
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Right now would take the play offs and brace ourselves for the lottery that it brings. My biggest fear would be to lose the play off final
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Right now would take the play offs and brace ourselves for the lottery that it brings. My biggest fear would be to lose the play off final
I'd be more worried about getting past the first two games than the final. I think we'd get us ourselves for a match at Wembley, but would need Bruce to outthink another top6 manager over 2 games to get there, something he isn't always especially adept at.
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I agree Risso, in a one off game I think he'd be ok, trying to get something from Craven Cottage and outthink to Fulham over two legs is a different matter.
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As I understand it, it is highly unlikely that we will face Fulham over 2 legs. I believe that it is:
3rd v 6th
4th v 5th
With the 3rd & 4th teams playing at home in the second leg. It is almost certainly the case that ourselves and Fulham will occupy 3rd & 4th places.
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I'd fancy us to be at Fulham at Villa Park. It's whether we can set up for the away leg right.
That said, having Kodjia, Adomah and Grealish available would give us a signifcant advantage over last time we went there. All 3 of those would walk into anymore in the league.
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I agree Risso, in a one off game I think he'd be ok, trying to get something from Craven Cottage and outthink to Fulham over two legs is a different matter.
It’s down to the players far more so than the managers in my view. If we are able to field our best players then I would fancy us against anyone in this division. I would also expect us to handle the pressure of the occasion better than most.
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The problem is that he has shown an ability to be poor at team selection and game management too many times.
This is why we are even contemplating the play offs.
There is no guarantee that he will have the best players available either.
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We've also shown we can put four or five past some decent teams.
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We've also shown we can put four or five past some decent teams.
We have, but in the same week that we smashed Wolves, we went and lost to Bolton. It's partly why the play offs are such a lottery. You could have a team like Millwall have a last minute dash into the play offs, draw 0-0 at Villa Park and then beat us 1-0 away. All of a sudden you've got another small team like Huddersfield or Bournemouth in the Premier League with a £100m revenue. On the other hand if the Villa team who beat Bristol City or Wolves turns up, we could smash everybody into oblivion.
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International breaks. Meh!
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I'm the opposite. I'd back us to beat a Boro or Preston over two legs as we've been really good at VP in the crucial games this season. Something like grinding out a 1-1 in the away leg first (providing we finish 3rd-4th and don't drop any lower) and then with the crowd in good voice and behind us like in the Wolves and Bristol games, could see us winning 2-0.
My issue would be the final. 10 day build up, 200m + game, media speculating on the consquences for us if we don't go up, story might break that SB would be axed if we lost, all things that can distract or heap more pressure on a team.
Dosen't help aswell we are usually awful in cup finals at Wembley. Play offs might not be an FA cup final but it's risen to become a huge game in its own right in last 15 years.
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The truth is we've been inconsistent all season so what happens in the play-offs is anybody's guess. Would I bet the house on us being promoted? Not a chance.
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I think we’ll go up via the playoffs. I can’t back it up with any statistics but just a feeling I have. UTV.
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I’m fully resigned to us being in the playoffs now.
So much so that I am now planning work activites around potential play off dates.
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When might we know the semi final dates? I can't understand why provisional dates aren't know by now as we know the dates of the last league games and the date of the final. Down to Sky TV maybe?
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When might we know the semi final dates? I can't understand why provisional dates aren't know by now as we know the dates of the last league games and the date of the final. Down to Sky TV maybe?
My guess would be the week after the last league game with one semi being played on Friday and Monday, with the other semi played Saturday and Tuesday.
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Cardiff play Boro on the Friday and the Monday and Derby play Fulham on the Saturday and the Tuesday. Our automatic promotion bus parade is on the Sunday.
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so if we don't make the top 2 it doesn't really matter where we finish in the 4 play off positions as the other teams positions could change around right up to the final week
i wonder if we get to a point where top 2 is gone we put out weakened sides and save the first team players for the play offs like we do it cup games
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After Hull and Reading then :'(
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With the experience we have in our side (older players/internationals) there would be no excuse for bottling it in the play offs.
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so if we don't make the top 2 it doesn't really matter where we finish in the 4 play off positions as the other teams positions could change around right up to the final week
i wonder if we get to a point where top 2 is gone we put out weakened sides and save the first team players for the play offs like we do it cup games
That's what Huddersfield did last season and effectively helped Small Heath stay up by resting 10 players for their game at the Sty.
You could argue that it would help finishing 3rd or 4th to gain the advantage of being at home in the 2nd leg.
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Finishing 3rd or 4th absoloute minimum requirement, the second leg at VP will give us a huge advantage.
We have the Players we have the support and we have er Steve Bruce.
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Two out three ain’t bad......
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don't you just hate football sometimes!
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4th place for us which gives us the 2nd leg at VP.
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I hope we finish 3rd ,2nd definitely out of the question ,this might give us a playoff against PNE. I’ve just looked at their remaining fixtures and they must feel confident of making 6th
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I really think we’ll win these play offs. No idea why, just do.
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The date of the play off final is a lucky omen, about the only positive thing I can digest after the past couple of weeks.
I am not blaming any single person/factor but we look burnt out right now. There again this daft league has turned out some strange results so perhaps there may be reason to smile. :)
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I think if we beat Cardiff next week we can take some comfort that we have the ability to win pressure games on the day and that should give us some confidence going into the playoffs. We've been really poor lately but hopefully we can spring back. There have been a few games this season where we've won well under pressure (VP games vs Bristol, Wolves, Blues) so hopefully that is an omen. The recent run has been baffling though - very very poor but better now than last few games of the season.
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It’s so painful to revise my prediction. I honestly thought despite Bruce we will make it to second but now it’s 4th.☹️
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Cardiff will only be a pressure game if we do ok against Reading and Hull.
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The only crumb of comfort I can hope for is that Bruce tends to go through these poor runs and then seems to pick up really well. Let's hope it happens once more.
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Cardiff will only be a pressure game if we do ok against Reading and Hull.
Reading and Norwich.
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
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if managers knew that they'd all be worldies
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Cardiff will only be a pressure game if we do ok against Reading and Hull.
Reading and Norwich.
Oh yes you are right but I am not paying you anything for this correction.🙂
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
Much like those perennial bottlers Derby, our players are following suit. Add a generous sprinkling of dreadful tactical decisions by SB to the diminishing confidence levels - and voila! Tomorrow's game will - I feel - be pivotal in whether we stand a good chance of getting through the play off's, or see a clear-out of epic proportions.
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
Much like those perennial bottlers Derby, our players are following suit. Add a generous sprinkling of dreadful tactical decisions by SB to the diminishing confidence levels - and voila! Tomorrow's game will - I feel - be pivotal in whether we stand a good chance of getting through the play off's, or see a clear-out of epic proportions.
Yep, tomorrow could well be a very sad evening for us, 'cos it may well signal the disintegration of the season's efforts.
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My view is after QPR, the players or management decided we couldn't go up automatically and we're now in "beach" mode. With that in mind i'm not expecting much of an improvement in results till that 8 point cushion between us and the team just out of the play-offs gets eaten into. If it was just a bottle job then we should see an improvement pretty quickly now we've totally blown automatic promotion.
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My view is after QPR, the players or management decided we couldn't go up automatically and we're now in "beach" mode. With that in mind i'm not expecting much of an improvement in results till that 8 point cushion between us and the team just out of the play-offs gets eaten into. If it was just a bottle job then we should see an improvement pretty quickly now we've totally blown automatic promotion.
I just don’t think this is remotely true
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My view is after QPR, the players or management decided we couldn't go up automatically and we're now in "beach" mode. With that in mind i'm not expecting much of an improvement in results till that 8 point cushion between us and the team just out of the play-offs gets eaten into. If it was just a bottle job then we should see an improvement pretty quickly now we've totally blown automatic promotion.
I just don’t think this is remotely true
As conspiracy theories go, this is not very exciting.
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Please just don't allow us to lose in the final of the playoffs. That is just unthinkable.
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
It's just how it is under Bruce, I posted this on another thread.
I know there's an element of pushing good/bad into the start/end of a group of results, but you can break down our league record under Bruce to the following, which sort of shows we are very streaky.
W7 D3 L2
W0 D2 L7
W7 D0 L1
W1 D2 L3 (to finish last season)
W1 D4 L2
W9 D1 L2
W0 D3 L2
W7 D0 L0
W3 D1 L4
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
Much like those perennial bottlers Derby, our players are following suit. Add a generous sprinkling of dreadful tactical decisions by SB to the diminishing confidence levels - and voila! Tomorrow's game will - I feel - be pivotal in whether we stand a good chance of getting through the play off's, or see a clear-out of epic proportions.
Yep, tomorrow could well be a very sad evening for us, 'cos it may well signal the disintegration of the season's efforts.
I’m looking forward to the game, we’ll be fine.
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The recent run has been baffling though
You're right. A long run of wins, a bit of a wobble, back to winning ways with a storming win against Wolves then a complete collapse, what on earth suddenly wrong?
It's just how it is under Bruce, I posted this on another thread.
I know there's an element of pushing good/bad into the start/end of a group of results, but you can break down our league record under Bruce to the following, which sort of shows we are very streaky.
W7 D3 L2
W0 D2 L7
W7 D0 L1
W1 D2 L3 (to finish last season)
W1 D4 L2
W9 D1 L2
W0 D3 L2
W7 D0 L0
W3 D1 L4
If you're last 4 rows are for the 39 games (up to Reading) this season we've lost 9 not 10?
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Last line should have been 3-2-3 . Which after Reading is now 4-2-3.
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Pretty good bad run then ;D
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Prediction
1Wolves 102 pts
2 Cardiff (ugh) 96
3 Fulham 90
4Villa (surprisingly) 78
5 Milwall 78 (GD)
6 Derby 76
7 Middlesboro 75
Based on anticipated results having analysed the fixtures of all teams.
Im not going to show my workings tonight as too pissed/ pissed off but may do tomorrow. It was a sort of pleasant surprise as I thought we were fcuked for even the playoffs after today's shambles , but it still seems a bit pointless as there's no way we would beat either Fulham or Milwall if and when we eventually qualify barring a miracle. Or Bruce going and an Agnew/ Terry partnership firing them up and getting the new manager bounce. Which maybe isn't such a mad idea after all.....
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7th.
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Honestly Ayup that's exactly what I thought until I looked at the fixtures. I think 7 th' s all we deserve but I reckon that we will limp in only to be stuffed in the playoffs.
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We will still be o.k for play offs, I don't see us missing out as we will get 4 points from Leeds-Ipswich as both have poorer form than Reading.
77 points will be enough.
We need to finish in top 4 though.
We have dropped off away from home again so wouldn't fancy us to do the job if second leg was away especially if we don't win the home leg which could easily happen.
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Honestly Ayup that's exactly what I thought until I looked at the fixtures. I think 7 th' s all we deserve but I reckon that we will limp in only to be stuffed in the playoffs.
Me too. Draw away and lose at home.
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I'd rather lose the play-offs than not be in them.
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The Championship