Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Drummond]

The only team to have scored more points than us in a form table of the past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 games is Wolves. So essentially the only part of the season where we weren't performing in the Top 2 was the opening two games.

If we carry that on for the rest of the season we'll be automatically promoted.

[Villa75]

The only team to have scored more points than us in a form table of the past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 games is Wolves. So essentially the only part of the season where we weren't performing in the Top 2 was the opening two games.

If we carry that on for the rest of the season we'll be automatically promoted.

That sounds nice and easy, providing we don't have a bad spell at any time.

All we know for certain is, if we are to gain automatic promotion, we have to do BETTER than two of the three teams above us and hope none of the teams behind us have a stormer.

Sounds a little more difficult when put like that.

[chrisw1]

The only team to have scored more points than us in a form table of the past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 games is Wolves. So essentially the only part of the season where we weren't performing in the Top 2 was the opening two games.

If we carry that on for the rest of the season we'll be automatically promoted.

That sounds nice and easy, providing we don't have a bad spell at any time.

All we know for certain is, if we are to gain automatic promotion, we have to do BETTER than two of the three teams above us and hope none of the teams behind us have a stormer.

Sounds a little more difficult when put like that.

Well, we've done it for the last 15 games.

[Villa75]

The only team to have scored more points than us in a form table of the past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 games is Wolves. So essentially the only part of the season where we weren't performing in the Top 2 was the opening two games.

If we carry that on for the rest of the season we'll be automatically promoted.

That sounds nice and easy, providing we don't have a bad spell at any time.

All we know for certain is, if we are to gain automatic promotion, we have to do BETTER than two of the three teams above us and hope none of the teams behind us have a stormer.

Sounds a little more difficult when put like that.

Well, we've done it for the last 15 games.

Our last 15 game form, v those teams currently above us, would still have us 4th;

Wolves 13 points ahead
Sheff UTD 2 points ahead
Cardiff 2 points ahead

Also, over the last 3,4,5,6,7,8, matches Cardiff are matching our results. They only need to do that to stay above us.

[Rigadon]

Can't see much point in nitpicking over 2 points here or there in November?  Our league place shows we have massively improved our ability to beat teams and not be beaten.  If anybody thinks changing our manager now would be a positive thing, I just don't get that at all.  If we were mid table, and struggling then yes.  But changing now, with the associated upheaval it would bring, when we're up and challenging would be mental.

[Clampy]

I think we just need to carry on as we are. We will get beat again and we will need to bounce back pretty quickly when we are although we have tended to do that this season.

[Villa75]

We're not talking about getting rid of Bruce, just yet.

We're talking about our form (when compared to those currently above us) over 19, 15, 10, 6, games not getting us automatic promotion.

[Ads]

The last 15 games;

Wolves - 35 points
Us - 31 points
Sheff Utd - 31 points
Cardiff - 28 points

Last 16 games

Wolves 35 points
Us 34 points
Cardiff 31 points
Sheff Utd 31 points

Last 17 games

Wolves - 38 points
Us - 34 points
Sheff Utd - 34 points
Cardiff - 34 points

More telling is how Sheffield United have started to stutter against the weaker sides. They be had a key injury and I think that will be telling for them. They play boom or bust football and have lost the most out of the top 4. Saturday was their first draw.

I think they're reliant on a player who is in rich form rather than of rich quality. The Wolves will testify to that.

Cardiff are up and at them, but seem to be coping ok with some key injuries. I find them the least impressive to be honest, but they'll make the Play Offs.

We have the biggest injuries and our big squad of quality, which is the difference, is seeing us ok. Three big fixtures out the next 4 games. 8-10 points would see us nicely along.

[Rigadon]

We're not talking about getting rid of Bruce, just yet.

We're talking about our form (when compared to those currently above us) over 19, 15, 10, 6, games not getting us automatic promotion.

On a thread called ‘Bruce Out?’ I assume there is a certain context!

[Ad@m]

We're not talking about getting rid of Bruce, just yet.

We're talking about our form (when compared to those currently above us) over 19, 15, 10, 6, games not getting us automatic promotion.

On a thread called ‘Bruce Out?’ I assume there is a certain context!

The thread got started months ago.

I bet those wanting him to be sacked are few and far between while we're winning but the only thing that will count as success this season is promotion so if he shows any sign of not achieving that expect plenty of people to want him gone sharpish.

[paul_e]

The last 15 games;

Wolves - 35 points
Us - 31 points
Sheff Utd - 31 points
Cardiff - 28 points

Last 16 games

Wolves 35 points
Us 34 points
Cardiff 31 points
Sheff Utd 31 points

Last 17 games

Wolves - 38 points
Us - 34 points
Sheff Utd - 34 points
Cardiff - 34 points

More telling is how Sheffield United have started to stutter against the weaker sides. They be had a key injury and I think that will be telling for them. They play boom or bust football and have lost the most out of the top 4. Saturday was their first draw.

I think they're reliant on a player who is in rich form rather than of rich quality. The Wolves will testify to that.

Cardiff are up and at them, but seem to be coping ok with some key injuries. I find them the least impressive to be honest, but they'll make the Play Offs.

We have the biggest injuries and our big squad of quality, which is the difference, is seeing us ok. Three big fixtures out the next 4 games. 8-10 points would see us nicely along.

This is only nitpicking but you're going to have to explain to me 9 goals (out of 12) in 4 games means a team is relaint on 1 player but 5 goals (out of 6) in 3 games is down to the overall quality of the squad.  That looks like you've made assumptions and are fitting the evidence to them rather than any sensible analysis.

On top of that do we have the most injuries?  I'm not sure if that's right, of the players who might actually be in the matchday squads We have Terry, Kodjia, Hogan and Green - Am I missing any?

[pauliewalnuts]

What is the point getting hung up over a couple of points here and there at this point of the season?

It's not even christmas yet, there's a shit load of football to still be played.

And that stands for both those making the case we'll go up and those suggesting we're not good enough. We just don't really know either way yet.

I'm just glad we're in the mix rather than mooking around the arse end of the table(s) as we have done for the last 7 years.

I am not a fan of Bruce's football particularly, either, but the table and the current form table both look pretty good to me at the moment.

[Ads]

I have looked at their results and their opposition. They have lost 2, drawn 1 and won 2 of their last five, but all sides in the bottom 6 or 7.

We took 4 more points from the same fixtures.

[paul_e]

I have looked at their results and their opposition. They have lost 2, drawn 1 and won 2 of their last five, but all sides in the bottom 6 or 7.

We took 4 more points from the same fixtures.

and what does any of that have to do with what I wrote?

I'll simplify it for you, if they're reliant on Clarke because he's been in great goalscoring form why are we not reliant on Adomah who's been in great goalscoring form?  If I thought you'd watched them then it'd be different but you've just said you've looked at their results and decided, from that, they're a one man team at the moment.  My argument is if you looked at Villa in the same way would we not also look like a one man team?

[Clampy]

What is the point getting hung up over a couple of points here and there at this point of the season?

It's not even christmas yet, there's a shit load of football to still be played.

I agree, which is why I've more or less forgotten about the start we made. There's such a long way to go and a lot of points left to play for. Just predicting the play off places is a tough ask at the moment.