| Could we go up. 20:45 - Dec 20 with 6174 views | Bobbi66 |
The most open Championship I can remember with no outstanding team,we could have a chance |  | | |  |
| Could we go up. on 08:58 - Dec 21 with 1127 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
For the defence:
1) We have a top 6 attack
2) This is the Championship. Anything could happen
For the prosecution:
1) Not the deepest of squads outside the attack. Another injury crisis will kill us
2) This is the Championship. Anything could happen |  | | |
| Could we go up. on 09:25 - Dec 21 with 1033 views | Rsole |
| Could we go up. on 08:58 - Dec 21 by BazzaInTheLoft |
For the defence:
1) We have a top 6 attack
2) This is the Championship. Anything could happen
For the prosecution:
1) Not the deepest of squads outside the attack. Another injury crisis will kill us
2) This is the Championship. Anything could happen |
3) we can beat anyone over 45 minutes
3) we can lose to anyone in 45 minutes |  |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Could we go up. on 09:26 - Dec 21 with 1029 views | Rsole |
| Could we go up. on 08:23 - Dec 21 by Dorse |
I think.it is unlikely, at the moment. The signs of improvement are there for all to see, however, we are only an injury away from having to rely on Frey as a starter (and we can expect to lose Kone for AFCON already).
Sure, we may end up challenging for the top 6 and this would represent our best season for a decade. We're making progress and I'm enjoying it for what it is.
Could we go up? Not as it stands but wouldn't it be good if we were challengers from now on? Every season having something to shoot for in the last 6 matches rather than desperately aiming for survival? Sign me up! |
I thought Kone was staying / not selected for AFCON, yet | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Could we go up. on 09:31 - Dec 21 with 958 views | stainrods_elbow |
| Could we go up. on 21:47 - Dec 20 by enfieldargh |
I was thinking when we played at derby, Norwich we were truly awful. Have we played anybody worse than when we played in those games?
This Leicester side is packed with multi million pound players and I think they were worse than anybody we’ve met so far. But no team as bad as we have been.
Had Leicester started that 16 year old then things may have been a bit diffferent. Reckon he’ll be sold in Jan but kept on loan with them for the season. |
Yet more evidence (if any is needed) that there is no necessary correlation between budgets and performances. On paper, Leicester should be wiping the floor with us, but if anything Stephan's pore-match comments suggest he over-estimated them. We should expect to compete with everyone in this ropey league. Now we need to go and do it. [Post edited 21 Dec 14:28]
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| Could we go up. on 09:35 - Dec 21 with 993 views | JamesB1979 |
| Could we go up. on 21:47 - Dec 20 by enfieldargh |
I was thinking when we played at derby, Norwich we were truly awful. Have we played anybody worse than when we played in those games?
This Leicester side is packed with multi million pound players and I think they were worse than anybody we’ve met so far. But no team as bad as we have been.
Had Leicester started that 16 year old then things may have been a bit diffferent. Reckon he’ll be sold in Jan but kept on loan with them for the season. |
I don’t think Hull, West Brom and Birmingham are bad sides. And we beat them. Leicester have some great individual players and are nowhere near the worst side we’ve played. I think Oxford are probably the worst side we’ve played. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 09:46 - Dec 21 with 951 views | FDC |
I mean, the thought of competing in the premiership is ludicrous... But football is where I come to park the grounded objectivity portion of my brain, so I'm all for dreaming of an unlikely promotion push tbh . To go from Coventry to challenging for playoffs would be a hell of a story - and fairly on brand tbh |  | | |
| Could we go up. on 09:49 - Dec 21 with 935 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Could we go up. on 09:46 - Dec 21 by FDC |
I mean, the thought of competing in the premiership is ludicrous... But football is where I come to park the grounded objectivity portion of my brain, so I'm all for dreaming of an unlikely promotion push tbh . To go from Coventry to challenging for playoffs would be a hell of a story - and fairly on brand tbh |
I missed yesterday sadly, but when my phone said we were 4 up after 45 minutes I instantly thought of Coventry and the possibility of getting 7.
What a turnaround promotion or not. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 09:54 - Dec 21 with 930 views | aston_hoop |
It won't happen but there is something kind of sad that if we did go up, we would have to replace our entire squad. No exceptions, the lot of them would need to be replaced for us to have any chance up there. Not something unique to us, tbe gap is too wide and whoever goes up will have to replace the lot. But that is sad. I miss plucky championship sides getting up and having a go. |  |
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| Could we go up. on 10:01 - Dec 21 with 912 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Could we go up. on 09:54 - Dec 21 by aston_hoop |
It won't happen but there is something kind of sad that if we did go up, we would have to replace our entire squad. No exceptions, the lot of them would need to be replaced for us to have any chance up there. Not something unique to us, tbe gap is too wide and whoever goes up will have to replace the lot. But that is sad. I miss plucky championship sides getting up and having a go. |
It would be risky, but we could take the money and then equip the relegated side with the an incredibly strong squad the season after like West Brom sort of did during the yo yo years. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:03 - Dec 21 with 898 views | francisbowles |
The Christmas period will be revealing. Are we improving when we have to play a three game week? This time it is a three + one but the last two games are at home.
On this occasion we only have to travel to Portsmouth and the Black Country. We have six days to rest and recover for Pompey. We'll be late back from West Bromwich but not as late as previous from Swansea, Blackburn and (Plymouth  ). So no ready made conscious or sub conscious excuses.
If the injury scenario is kind to us, if Julian is clever with squad rotation, if the players are professional and if Mad man Mbengue can delay his next two yellows.
That's still a lot of ifs but we could go into the new year with real purpose and an opportunity to add some sensible loans to strengthen the squad further.
It's nearly half done and we are in the mix. There is a ten point gap between 'Wallllll in 6th and the chicken farmers who are 20th and have a game in hand. It will be ultra competitive and every team is capable of beating any of the others.
We have to keep going and see where it takes us. As Julian says, like some of his predecessors, we have to stay humble and keep pushing. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:11 - Dec 21 with 880 views | JamesB1979 |
| Could we go up. on 09:54 - Dec 21 by aston_hoop |
It won't happen but there is something kind of sad that if we did go up, we would have to replace our entire squad. No exceptions, the lot of them would need to be replaced for us to have any chance up there. Not something unique to us, tbe gap is too wide and whoever goes up will have to replace the lot. But that is sad. I miss plucky championship sides getting up and having a go. |
I think we should go up and make few smart signings with players with potential. So effectively bank the money and make us more sustainable so we don’t have to rely on our owners to keep going. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:28 - Dec 21 with 850 views | Mark1 |
| Could we go up. on 10:03 - Dec 21 by francisbowles |
The Christmas period will be revealing. Are we improving when we have to play a three game week? This time it is a three + one but the last two games are at home.
On this occasion we only have to travel to Portsmouth and the Black Country. We have six days to rest and recover for Pompey. We'll be late back from West Bromwich but not as late as previous from Swansea, Blackburn and (Plymouth ). So no ready made conscious or sub conscious excuses.
If the injury scenario is kind to us, if Julian is clever with squad rotation, if the players are professional and if Mad man Mbengue can delay his next two yellows.
That's still a lot of ifs but we could go into the new year with real purpose and an opportunity to add some sensible loans to strengthen the squad further.
It's nearly half done and we are in the mix. There is a ten point gap between 'Wallllll in 6th and the chicken farmers who are 20th and have a game in hand. It will be ultra competitive and every team is capable of beating any of the others.
We have to keep going and see where it takes us. As Julian says, like some of his predecessors, we have to stay humble and keep pushing. |
Of course we could.
I lumped on at 40-1 a few months ago,as I felt with some consistency,and luck re injuries - for once,and with the wind blowing in the right direction,we could maybe make a play-off position and then it’s a coin toss - The Zamora goal at Wembley,totally against the run of play.
I’m 63 and I want us back competing in the top flight - go up,grab the wedge, don’t spend silly and if/when we come straight down,we’ve already planned for the next onslaught for a sustainable effort.
The question is,would the current owners want to hang around or would they have had enough ? | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:35 - Dec 21 with 825 views | kernowhoop |
Of course, we could make it into the play-offs and once in that little competition, anything could happen. If, somehow, we won the play-offs and got promoted (later in the calendar than the clubs promoted automatically, incidentally - a disadvantage for the play-off winner) we would find ourselves with a massive recruitment challenge and one that would be different from that of recent years. No longer would we be looking for young cast-offs, or, rough diamonds that could be polished for sale, but for players with experience of the demands of the Premier League, to blend with those who got us there. Staying up would be very tough indeed. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:42 - Dec 21 with 800 views | Dorse |
| Could we go up. on 09:26 - Dec 21 by Rsole |
I thought Kone was staying / not selected for AFCON, yet |
Good for us if so but you never know. |  |
| 'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!' |
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| Could we go up. on 10:48 - Dec 21 with 781 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Yes. One point off the playoffs. Of course we could.
I'm not sure that the squad is as good some think, though, and out fitness/injury record is also a concern. |  |
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| Could we go up. on 10:49 - Dec 21 with 779 views | FDC |
| Could we go up. on 09:49 - Dec 21 by BazzaInTheLoft |
I missed yesterday sadly, but when my phone said we were 4 up after 45 minutes I instantly thought of Coventry and the possibility of getting 7.
What a turnaround promotion or not. |
Yeah I was actually trying to compare the two games in terms of how dominant we / Coventry were, but hard to be objective. Felt like if we hadn't had to stop for half time we could have scored as many as we want, can't remember seeing an opposition team look so clearly checked out and rattled. Probably needed to score early second half to keep the momentum going, although Kone had a good chance to score which could have opened the flood gates further. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:54 - Dec 21 with 766 views | SydneyRs |
| Could we go up. on 09:54 - Dec 21 by aston_hoop |
It won't happen but there is something kind of sad that if we did go up, we would have to replace our entire squad. No exceptions, the lot of them would need to be replaced for us to have any chance up there. Not something unique to us, tbe gap is too wide and whoever goes up will have to replace the lot. But that is sad. I miss plucky championship sides getting up and having a go. |
Or we could just take the L and come back to the championship a whole lot richer to try and do it more sustainably. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:57 - Dec 21 with 754 views | ed_83 |
Anyone thinking it’s an evenly matched league this year should rewatch the “highlights” from Cov and Boro. We’re miles off the standard being set for the automatic promotion places.
Playoffs is a much more reasonable shout - Preston in third and parachute payment clubs hovering around the relegation zone does suggests that it’s a mixed bag this year, and that anyone putting a run of results together will have a decent chance.
At the same time: those parachute clubs are surely going to spend in January, well beyond what we can match, and we’ve got question marks across the squad. No team with a half-fit RND as their only senior left-back has any place talking about promotion I fear.
My hopes for this season are a top-half finish, consistently good football being played, and players developing to a point where we can start thinking about a big money sale or two in the summer, which so far we seem to be broadly on track with. Anything more would be lovely, but I think focusing on it too much would be a bad idea. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 10:59 - Dec 21 with 747 views | QPROslo |
| Could we go up. on 10:35 - Dec 21 by kernowhoop |
Of course, we could make it into the play-offs and once in that little competition, anything could happen. If, somehow, we won the play-offs and got promoted (later in the calendar than the clubs promoted automatically, incidentally - a disadvantage for the play-off winner) we would find ourselves with a massive recruitment challenge and one that would be different from that of recent years. No longer would we be looking for young cast-offs, or, rough diamonds that could be polished for sale, but for players with experience of the demands of the Premier League, to blend with those who got us there. Staying up would be very tough indeed. |
Sunderland look like they are making a decent fist of this, and we beat them up there at the end of the regular season last spring. [Post edited 21 Dec 11:02]
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| Could we go up. on 11:02 - Dec 21 with 739 views | hopekillsyou |
Absolutely agree. If we are in the play offs,it’s a lottery. We could go up.
Sunderland last year is a good precedent.
You’ve got to take your chance when it comes.
However, will we finish in the top 6? Head says no… | | | |
| Could we go up. on 11:11 - Dec 21 with 704 views | daveB |
don't worry about going up just enjoy us being good whilst it lasts
If we are around the playoffs in March then I think thats something to worry about then, even if we made them I think we'd come up short to the likes of Ipswich, Middlesbrough or Southampton. |  | | |
| Could we go up. on 11:13 - Dec 21 with 698 views | JamesB1979 |
| Could we go up. on 10:59 - Dec 21 by QPROslo |
Sunderland look like they are making a decent fist of this, and we beat them up there at the end of the regular season last spring. [Post edited 21 Dec 11:02]
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That’s true but they’ve basically bought an entirely new team. Not sure I’d want us to do that. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 11:18 - Dec 21 with 683 views | QPROslo |
| Could we go up. on 11:13 - Dec 21 by JamesB1979 |
That’s true but they’ve basically bought an entirely new team. Not sure I’d want us to do that. |
I don't follow them but thought they still have many of the same players as last season. Whatever I wouldn't want us to be buying an entirely new team, just a moderate strengthening, but doubt it will happen. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 11:20 - Dec 21 with 673 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Could we go up. on 11:11 - Dec 21 by daveB |
don't worry about going up just enjoy us being good whilst it lasts
If we are around the playoffs in March then I think thats something to worry about then, even if we made them I think we'd come up short to the likes of Ipswich, Middlesbrough or Southampton. |
I give our fitness guy a hard time, but if the delayed fitness strategy thing is actually a thing and not just guff then being the fittest team in the playoffs in May is a huge advantage and makes up for the gulf in overall quality.
These are the ravings of a dreamer mind. | | | |
| Could we go up. on 11:38 - Dec 21 with 627 views | EuroRanger |
| Could we go up. on 09:31 - Dec 21 by stainrods_elbow |
Yet more evidence (if any is needed) that there is no necessary correlation between budgets and performances. On paper, Leicester should be wiping the floor with us, but if anything Stephan's pore-match comments suggest he over-estimated them. We should expect to compete with everyone in this ropey league. Now we need to go and do it. [Post edited 21 Dec 14:28]
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Anecdotal evidence doesn't undermine a hypothesis supported by qualitative data. While it is possible to outperform your budget (something we are aiming to slowly do), there is a statistically significant correlation between budgets and performance.
As Clive has pointed out before, your own data and analysis shows this. | | | |
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