Championship 2018-2019

[SoccerHQ]

11th place at the half way point in the season in a really poor league says it all for me -  unless Smith drastically improves the defence even a play off spot is being optimistic

We're down there because we didn't win any of Brentford, Reading, Sheff Weds, Blackburn, Preston (when they were bottom of the league with 5 points) and Millwall.

Reason Norwich are second is they beat all the relegation strugglers. We didn't under SB and in fairness Dean has had only one of those type of games so far, Bolton at home. Which we won very comfortably.

As disappointing as today is I honestly think people should hold fire a bit. We have very winnable games coming up so I expect us comfortably in top 6 by the start of February.

[Meanwood Villa]

Really depressed after that today, I've seen a few comments that it feels like Bruce's first season and that's been my fear. Stalling just outside the playoff places. We had that horrendous run post Christmas that year. I'm hoping that isn't the case now while Jack and Axel are out.

[Ads]

It's not like Bruce's season till we have a good 7 game shit streak where we draw once and then finish off with an equally garbage run.

[avfcpg]

We've had our "tough run" and won 3 drawn 3 and lost 1. I'll wait and see how we are after the next 6 "not so tough games" before panic sets in. Let's not forget, Leeds were the best side we have seen this season to be fair...Smith's still only had a handful of games and will soon have a new GK and hopefully, new defenders.

[SoccerHQ]

Just for confirmation our next 9 league games:

Swansea (a)- Been very inconsistant and doubt they'll finish play offs. That said will be tough with all the effort we put in today. Probably a draw.

Preston (a)- Was shaping up to be a very tough game but they had Ben Pearson sent off again yesterday and likes of Calum Robinson are injured so lacking a bit upfront. Amfy will probably tell more but that should be a win.

QPR (h)- Had them down as relegation candidates so McClaren's done an incredible job especially with how they started the season. Last opponent we should be complacent about after last season's fiasco. Draw.

Wigan (a)- Last seen losing 3-0 at home to SHA. One of those "if we can't beat them...." type of games.

Hull (h)- Win.

Ipswich (h)- Lambert's return. No doubt he'll describe them as the second coming of Brazil 1970 but again type of game we have to win if we want to do anything.

Reading (a)- Win, they are a poor poor team and criminal we didn't beat them at VP.

Sheffield United (h)- Always tough games against them. Feels like the type of draw after a winning run type of game.

Brentford (a)- Fancy us strongly in this one to break the hoodoo as Dean knows them inside out, we might sign 1 or 2 of their first 11 and they've been on a poor run since he left.

21 points from our next 27. Even with our scratch defence. A points haul like that will surely put us comfortably in the top 6.

[Steve67]

I reckon Albion, Stoke and Leeds are the three better sides.  Stoke have taken time to adjust but seem to be getting stronger and will do well in the second half of the season. The rest of them are much of a muchness and we can beat any of them, therefore, target the play off's and hope for the best.  We've lost one game in 8 and haven't suddenly become a crap side, although we do need to strengthen quickly.  I remain optimistic but hope that we can wheel and deal in January.

[SoccerHQ]

I reckon Albion, Stoke and Leeds are the three better sides.  Stoke have taken time to adjust but seem to be getting stronger and will do well in the second half of the season. The rest of them are much of a muchness and we can beat any of them, therefore, target the play off's and hope for the best.  We've lost one game in 8 and haven't suddenly become a crap side, although we do need to strengthen quickly.  I remain optimistic but hope that we cab wheel and deal in January.

Stoke have a very good squad but same as Boro, pragmatic manager that will mean they draw more than they should. We were same under SB.

My dream play off selection would be Boro as we match up very well against them, Norwich (would surely be on a downer by blowing top 2) and Derby (battered them away).

No guarentees but there's no Fulham type team in that selection.

Wouldn't want to get in the play offs and have to play any of WBA, Sheffield United or Forest tbh, for various reasons we don't match up as well against them.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I appreciate that we have endured a " tough streak " of fixtures and that we now embark on a run of " winnable" games and being pragmatic let's see where we are in 6 games time - my experience of the Villa over the years is that we don't always take advantage of such games - just maybe the end game is to prepare for an all out assault on the league next season with Smith's`team

[SoccerHQ]

I appreciate that we have endured a " tough streak " of fixtures and that we now embark on a run of " winnable" games and being pragmatic let's see where we are in 6 games time - my experience of the Villa over the years is that we don't always take advantage of such games - just maybe the end game is to prepare for an all out assault on the league next season with Smith's`team

Certainly the lack of Grealish and Axel injury makes the above fixtures much trickier but even an o.k points return should get us in top 6.

Without looking I'd imagine a fair few of the teams above us will be playing each other so potential to cancel each other out like Derby-Forest did on Monday.

Might not be the worst thing for Leeds to run away with the league now. Them taking points off Norwich, WBA, Derby etc is good news for us in the long run.

[Meanwood Villa]

We've had our "tough run" and won 3 drawn 3 and lost 1. I'll wait and see how we are after the next 6 "not so tough games" before panic sets in. Let's not forget, Leeds were the best side we have seen this season to be fair...Smith's still only had a handful of games and will soon have a new GK and hopefully, new defenders.

Realistically how soon before we see these new players? Business is never as quick as people talk it up to be. Three games until the window even opens. I hope we come storming back and string a run together but I'm feeling decidedly less confident given recent form and the key injuries we've got.

[mr underhill]

mid table is where we are and likely as not where we will finish. I said earlier on another thread how do sides like Albion make this league look easy? They were almost as shite as we were last season when we came down, but sit well above us tonight. Same with Derby, Sheffield United etc. Dean needs time, I agree, but it won't happen overnight or magically in January. A massive clearout in the summer with lots of players out of contract or going back to their parent clubs provides an ideal opportunity to sweep clean.

[SoccerHQ]

We've had our "tough run" and won 3 drawn 3 and lost 1. I'll wait and see how we are after the next 6 "not so tough games" before panic sets in. Let's not forget, Leeds were the best side we have seen this season to be fair...Smith's still only had a handful of games and will soon have a new GK and hopefully, new defenders.

Realistically how soon before we see these new players? Business is never as quick as people talk it up to be. Three games until the window even opens. I hope we come storming back and string a run together but I'm feeling decidedly less confident given recent form and the key injuries we've got.

Kalinic already signed so will be in for Swansea cup tie. I presume the bank holiday means he can't play against QPR but could be wrong.

Seems Elphick is being recalled. Don't rate him long term but I agree him coming back is a must with Axel's injury. Again I don't know if he can play v QPR.

Beyond that maybe a new face or two for Wigan but given the way January transfer windows go much of the business is done last day.

Can see that being the case if we go after Brentford players.

[SoccerHQ]

mid table is where we are and likely as not where we will finish. I said earlier on another thread how do sides like Albion make this league look easy? They were almost as shite as we were last season when we came down, but sit well above us tonight. Same with Derby, Sheffield United etc. Dean needs time, I agree, but it won't happen overnight or magically in January. A massive clearout in the summer with lots of players out of contract or going back to their parent clubs provides an ideal opportunity to sweep clean.

West Brom just have a good front four like we do and they're all fit currently (their results dipped when Dwight Gayle got injured). I wouldn't say they've been that much better as they've had shite results themselves but they didn't have the handicap of Steve Bruce for the first two months.

Dunno if they'll get top 2 as they're not great defensively either but would prefer to play Norwich in a play off situation tbh.

[Matt Collins]

I was a Bruce in man in the summer. I was wrong

The recent results are fine overall. Very good even

It was the failure to beat Reading, Ipswich, Wednesday, Preston etc that cost us. That's 9 points that we really should have extra. We'd be third.

[Steve67]

The margins are certainly finer than they seem.  We've lost once in 8 and we are totally out of the promotion race?  A few wins and we'll be back in the mix but we need to find that consistency.