Having looked at the run in for Cardiff City , and the lead that they already have over us I just can't see any way that we can finish above them,
They have 3 tough consecutive fixtures in April but a really nice run up to those games then a comfortable run after,
I'm clutching at straws for suggestions and would really love us to avoid the play offs and go straight up but I just can't see it,
For me too much damage was done in the first half of the season, so the play offs it is.
So come on all you glass half full types sell me your ideas for a second place finish .
14 games left. If we win them all we finish on 97 points. Should end up as Champions.
We have lost 2 league matches since the middle of November... of course we can catch them.
Picked up points in 14 of our last 16... we got this! :yay:
With fourteen matches left to go other than Wolves I think any of the next top six teams are all in with a chance. With our squad now all (more or less) fit and with the recent additions joining in January, we have as much chance as any to finish second. Don't forget Cardiff still have to play us (so a six-pointer there) and they can still fall away, Derby County too.
I believe we are now very much back in the groove after a somewhat lackluster start to the Campaign with a team of very skillful and talented players that are obviously all playing for each-other, for the manager and for the club.
Nobody can predict a match result with any certainty, although I believe with the squad now peaking at the right time, if we played Sunderland at the Stadium of light now (what a crap name for a football ground) we'd thrash the shirts off their backs.
Only two defeats and two draws (all in away fixtures) in our last sixteen matches, carry anywhere near that form forward and we could be celebrating automatic promotion. If Mitrovic starts banging a few in to add to our already prolific scoring rate Derby, Cardiff, etc will all be crapping themselves when they play us.
Quote from: Kimbleman on February 19, 2018, 04:26:14 PM
Don't forget Cardiff still have to play us (so a six-pointer there) and they can still fall away, Derby County too.
We've already played Cardiff home and away. Villa, too. The only match remaining against the clubs we're chasing is at Derby.
It's not impossible, but we'll need to be incredible over the final 14 matches.
Quote from: Denver Fulham on February 19, 2018, 04:40:36 PM
Quote from: Kimbleman on February 19, 2018, 04:26:14 PM
Don't forget Cardiff still have to play us (so a six-pointer there) and they can still fall away, Derby County too.
We've already played Cardiff home and away. Villa, too. The only match remaining against the clubs we're chasing is at Derby.
It's not impossible, but we'll need to be incredible over the final 14 matches.
Exactly, if we still had to play them I would have been more confident.
I think the answer to that will be clearer after Wednesday.
The longer the season goes on, the worst it is to play teams lower in the table. Players are fighting to save their careers... Rather them than us.
I really do feel that if Jokanovic regrets one thing (under his control and influence) to get away from him last season it would have been the mental discipline of the whole squad and not just the ones selected on match days. In the play-off semis we really didn't do ourselves justice because poor refereeing shouldn't have mattered. We were better than those performances and a key factor was our coaches inability to look deeper than his preferred starters.
Thanks to the incoming players in January and those of the summer who have improved sufficiently to warrant consideration for selection we are stronger than we were and that is reflected in performances over the last few months. There seems to be, through my eyes at least, a greater team ethic with much more communication running through the players. They appear to be bonded to a common cause and that cause is not to make the same mistakes this season as we did last. Of course 'new' mistakes can appear but so far as I am concerned we should be looking to be better against City on Wednesday evening than we were against Villa on Saturday.
As long as we concentrate on improving and taking one game at a time then we can get to the highest position this team is capable of. It will not matter what other teams do or don't do if we consistently do better than them. Whether it gives us a top two slot or not remains to be seen but our target should be the highest points total we can achieve. All our games can be won without exception.
Any team can beat any team in this league. When you look at our results and look at who we struggled against. Recently Bolton. We lost to Sunderland earlier. Then we really can't predict anything. While we are on this great run anything is possible. We have a better squad now than we did have before January. We may beat the top teams and lose against the stragglers. Time will tell.
We still have to play SUnderland at home and gice Cookie another 3 soft points
Quote from: Lighthouse on February 19, 2018, 05:16:19 PM
Any team can beat any team in this league. When you look at our results and look at who we struggled against. Recently Bolton. We lost to Sunderland earlier. Then we really can't predict anything. While we are on this great run anything is possible. We have a better squad now than we did have before January. We may beat the top teams and lose against the stragglers. Time will tell.
You are, of course, likely correct but we now have a beef boy to put into a bunkering opponents box which gives us another option. We didn't have that previously and all the pretty dancing about with the ball doesn't get through the last 25 yards. I'm probably being way to optimistic but that's who I am.
Quote from: Lighthouse on February 19, 2018, 05:16:19 PM
Any team can beat any team in this league. When you look at our results and look at who we struggled against. Recently Bolton. We lost to Sunderland earlier. Then we really can't predict anything. While we are on this great run anything is possible. We have a better squad now than we did have before January. We may beat the top teams and lose against the stragglers. Time will tell.
That is about the size of it, every win makes the prize closer while every defeat seems to put promotion out of our grasp.
Pleased to say there have not been many defeats lately so we can be quietly confident just now.
In the previous 14 games we've gained 8 pts on 2nd. In the next 14 we just need to gain 6.
Quote from: toshes mate on February 19, 2018, 05:06:04 PM
I really do feel that if Jokanovic regrets one thing (under his control and influence) to get away from him last season it would have been the mental discipline of the whole squad and not just the ones selected on match days. In the play-off semis we really didn't do ourselves justice because poor refereeing shouldn't have mattered. We were better than those performances and a key factor was our coaches inability to look deeper than his preferred starters.
Thanks to the incoming players in January and those of the summer who have improved sufficiently to warrant consideration for selection we are stronger than we were and that is reflected in performances over the last few months. There seems to be, through my eyes at least, a greater team ethic with much more communication running through the players. They appear to be bonded to a common cause and that cause is not to make the same mistakes this season as we did last. Of course 'new' mistakes can appear but so far as I am concerned we should be looking to be better against City on Wednesday evening than we were against Villa on Saturday.
As long as we concentrate on improving and taking one game at a time then we can get to the highest position this team is capable of. It will not matter what other teams do or don't do if we consistently do better than them. Whether it gives us a top two slot or not remains to be seen but our target should be the highest points total we can achieve. All our games can be won without exception.
You make some good points. To some extent SJ's reluctance to look beyond his preferred starters may have stemmed from his lack of involvement in their recruitment and either lack of confidence or, as some have suggested, wish to make a point. I don't know for certain but I'm pretty sure that after January (recruitment and clear-out) he's now happier with the spread of players in the named squad and so shouldn't have that same reluctance.
Having the three additions we signed in January has helped change the dynamics of the team. We are far better balanced, and are more or less at full strength. Beating Villa at the weekend was a hell of a scalp mentally and physically and taking their unbeaten run off of them has made everyone else sit up and realise we are the real deal.
Games are coming thick and fast, not just for us but for everybody.
It's going to be a hell of a scrap, it's good to be playing both Bristol City and Wolves this week, because we win, they will be pointless, and we are gaining ground on second place, and securing our position in the play offs.
Nobody will want to play us, that is for sure.
So we have a fighting chance of second, and at the same time secure our play off position.
So my feelings are that we have a solid outfit of a minimum of 20 quality players plus, who can all play football, and have bought into the way Jok wishes us to play. No passengers, no obvious weak links to worry about unduly.
I haven't felt so confident in our squad for a long time.
So my answer to the question by the OP, yes we can catch second place, if anyone can, we can.
No. I want to enjoy a fantastic run until the end of the season but I cannot see us overhauling the points gap. MJG's stats show how hard the task is. We started the season too slow.
Top 6? Yes. Performing in the playoffs & winning at Wembley? Why not
We just have to keep going and get as many points as we can, there are 14 games with lots of twists and turns to come 049:gif
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 06:40:30 PM
If the remaining 14 games go like the last 14 then the final table will look like this
Wolves 103pts
Derby 87
Fulham 87
Villa 86
Cardiff 85
F*** me - if that's the outcome I'm not sure the old ticker will stand it
Quote from: SG on February 19, 2018, 06:56:50 PM
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 06:40:30 PM
If the remaining 14 games go like the last 14 then the final table will look like this
Wolves 103pts
Derby 87
Fulham 87
Villa 86
Cardiff 85
F*** me - if that's the outcome I'm not sure the old ticker will stand it
Just imagine in most of those games we would be hanging on by an odd goal in the last 10 minutes, finger nails are in for a hard time.
How long will those two key players for Villa remain out of their lineup?
Cardiff have just been very very lucky picking up points when they don't deserve them. They are not a good side. A couple of defeats and they will slide into the oblivion they fully deserve.
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
16 games ago (after 16 games) we were 14 points behind Sheffield united, 12 behind Cardiff & 11 behind Bristol City. Now we're +6, -6 and +2 against those same teams.
Cardiff aren't going to keep this up, they aren't good enough and will fall back.
Derby and Villa are the problems. If we lost on Sat I would have given us no chance of making up those 10 points - as it is, it is doable but will be very tough. Don't think we can afford to lose to Derby either.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on February 19, 2018, 06:04:18 PM
Having the three additions we signed in January has helped change the dynamics of the team. We are far better balanced, and are more or less at full strength. Beating Villa at the weekend was a hell of a scalp mentally and physically and taking their unbeaten run off of them has made everyone else sit up and realise we are the real deal.
Games are coming thick and fast, not just for us but for everybody.
It's going to be a hell of a scrap, it's good to be playing both Bristol City and Wolves this week, because we win, they will be pointless, and we are gaining ground on second place, and securing our position in the play offs.
Nobody will want to play us, that is for sure.
So we have a fighting chance of second, and at the same time secure our play off position.
So my feelings are that we have a solid outfit of a minimum of 20 quality players plus, who can all play football, and have bought into the way Jok wishes us to play. No passengers, no obvious weak links to worry about undualey.
I haven't felt so confident in our squad for a long time.
So my answer to the question by the OP, yes we can catch second place, if anyone can, we can.
We haven't seen the player who could be the best of the 3 signings (Christie), though if he is nearly as good as Targett, well exciting is the best word I can use, orgasmic might take a little longer!
Of course. We don't even put TC on the pitch until it means big business. We're only in 3rd gear.
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: Riversider on February 19, 2018, 08:44:08 PM
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
yes i bet all the teams around us are glad they don't have to face such obviously insurmountable challenges as millwall away and brentford at home
[sarcastic voice]
Another stupid snidey comment from Saddo, maybe you can tell us all our recent home record v Brentford,
If you knew anything at all about Fulham Football Club you would know its not very good and certainly not a game to be taken for granted.
Both the London Derbys v Millwall and Brentford will be tough and neither will be a picnic, due to the nature of the rivalry. That goes without saying, and there will no prisoners taken. Anyone thinking they will be pushovers need a check up from the neck up.
Quote from: grandad on February 19, 2018, 04:05:42 PM
14 games left. If we win them all we finish on 97 points. Should end up as Champions.
That would be my case too. Simple maths and we're champions 😄
Quote from: Holders on February 19, 2018, 05:58:02 PM
Quote from: toshes mate on February 19, 2018, 05:06:04 PM
I really do feel that if Jokanovic regrets one thing (under his control and influence) to get away from him last season it would have been the mental discipline of the whole squad and not just the ones selected on match days. In the play-off semis we really didn't do ourselves justice because poor refereeing shouldn't have mattered. We were better than those performances and a key factor was our coaches inability to look deeper than his preferred starters.
Thanks to the incoming players in January and those of the summer who have improved sufficiently to warrant consideration for selection we are stronger than we were and that is reflected in performances over the last few months. There seems to be, through my eyes at least, a greater team ethic with much more communication running through the players. They appear to be bonded to a common cause and that cause is not to make the same mistakes this season as we did last. Of course 'new' mistakes can appear but so far as I am concerned we should be looking to be better against City on Wednesday evening than we were against Villa on Saturday.
As long as we concentrate on improving and taking one game at a time then we can get to the highest position this team is capable of. It will not matter what other teams do or don't do if we consistently do better than them. Whether it gives us a top two slot or not remains to be seen but our target should be the highest points total we can achieve. All our games can be won without exception.
You make some good points. To some extent SJ's reluctance to look beyond his preferred starters may have stemmed from his lack of involvement in their recruitment and either lack of confidence or, as some have suggested, wish to make a point. I don't know for certain but I'm pretty sure that after January (recruitment and clear-out) he's now happier with the spread of players in the named squad and so shouldn't have that same reluctance.
I think there are two sides to the sword SJ used last season. IMO he is a coach who expects players to motivate themselves into contention (which successfully worked with Johansen for example) and I don't, for one moment, subscribe to those who claim he is stubborn about selection. I think he wants to have his hand forced into selection by the player reaching his expectation levels and some players he has had to deal with just haven't been up for it. I think he has high expectations, and why not, but I also get the impression he has sharp eyes for what he is looking for players to do on the pitch (hence the Fonte saga) and selecting those who deliver to the team ethic to a reasonable quality (as he did last season with Martin for example). But I think he may have underestimated the importance of mental toughness and squad unity last season especially at the sharp end of business in the play offs.
I think what Targett and Mitrovic have demonstrated is what SJ can do with quality that comes pre-packaged rather than having to be squeezed out of players who have not had the best of journeys getting to FFC. I think we will also see Cyrus Christie featuring to the same standard in the next few weeks depending upon results or if Fredericks tires.
What I see at the moment is a much tougher team ethic and personality suggesting the squad now sees failure as being anything less than a stab at automatic promotion rather than just play off security.
I can make a case for it:
If you look at the remaining fixtures between all the top 8 and have Fulham winning all these hard games and the other 'inter league' games going our way you can have a table like this
(https://image.ibb.co/hVXryH/end_2.png)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iWUFQx/end_1.png)
Meaning we would need about another 10 points from the other 9 games to get 2nd.
If only it was that easy.
2nd place is unlikely but not impossible. We would need all our key players to remain fit, incl Cairney, having just read he still has some pain I am doubtful of that. We will also need to a bit of luck to go our way and I am not sure that will happen as we are due some against us after a few breaks recently.
The main thing however is to maintain our form, especially not conceding many goals. We will always score so if we can keep clean sheets it's definately possible.
Quote from: FulhamStu on February 20, 2018, 08:08:35 AM
2nd place is unlikely but not impossible. We would need all our key players to remain fit, incl Cairney, having just read he still has some pain I am doubtful of that. We will also need to a bit of luck to go our way and I am not sure that will happen as we are due some against us after a few breaks recently.
The main thing however is to maintain our form, especially not conceding many goals. We will always score so if we can keep clean sheets it's definately possible.
I'm surprised so many spoke about Cairney as looking fit on Saturday as he looked cautious at times to me.
When he received the ball his inclination was to see if he had a player on him and then move with it slowly away. Almost as if he knows he hasn't got that burst of running to get away from a player. So he played within himself for me. But of course still did great.
Quote from: toshes mate on February 20, 2018, 07:33:16 AM
Quote from: Holders on February 19, 2018, 05:58:02 PM
Quote from: toshes mate on February 19, 2018, 05:06:04 PM
I really do feel that if Jokanovic regrets one thing (under his control and influence) to get away from him last season it would have been the mental discipline of the whole squad and not just the ones selected on match days. In the play-off semis we really didn't do ourselves justice because poor refereeing shouldn't have mattered. We were better than those performances and a key factor was our coaches inability to look deeper than his preferred starters.
Thanks to the incoming players in January and those of the summer who have improved sufficiently to warrant consideration for selection we are stronger than we were and that is reflected in performances over the last few months. There seems to be, through my eyes at least, a greater team ethic with much more communication running through the players. They appear to be bonded to a common cause and that cause is not to make the same mistakes this season as we did last. Of course 'new' mistakes can appear but so far as I am concerned we should be looking to be better against City on Wednesday evening than we were against Villa on Saturday.
As long as we concentrate on improving and taking one game at a time then we can get to the highest position this team is capable of. It will not matter what other teams do or don't do if we consistently do better than them. Whether it gives us a top two slot or not remains to be seen but our target should be the highest points total we can achieve. All our games can be won without exception.
You make some good points. To some extent SJ's reluctance to look beyond his preferred starters may have stemmed from his lack of involvement in their recruitment and either lack of confidence or, as some have suggested, wish to make a point. I don't know for certain but I'm pretty sure that after January (recruitment and clear-out) he's now happier with the spread of players in the named squad and so shouldn't have that same reluctance.
I think there are two sides to the sword SJ used last season. IMO he is a coach who expects players to motivate themselves into contention (which successfully worked with Johansen for example) and I don't, for one moment, subscribe to those who claim he is stubborn about selection. I think he wants to have his hand forced into selection by the player reaching his expectation levels and some players he has had to deal with just haven't been up for it. I think he has high expectations, and why not, but I also get the impression he has sharp eyes for what he is looking for players to do on the pitch (hence the Fonte saga) and selecting those who deliver to the team ethic to a reasonable quality (as he did last season with Martin for example). But I think he may have underestimated the importance of mental toughness and squad unity last season especially at the sharp end of business in the play offs.
I think what Targett and Mitrovic have demonstrated is what SJ can do with quality that comes pre-packaged rather than having to be squeezed out of players who have not had the best of journeys getting to FFC. I think we will also see Cyrus Christie featuring to the same standard in the next few weeks depending upon results or if Fredericks tires.
What I see at the moment is a much tougher team ethic and personality suggesting the squad now sees failure as being anything less than a stab at automatic promotion rather than just play off security.
Again, good points.
I wondered if our comparative loss of form in the early part of the season, compared to last year, was in some part due to some loss of team "togetherness" following personnel changes and that has now been recovered. Playing to the 95th minute bears it out that it's there.
That said, Targett and Mitro seem to have fitted like a glove.
Back in early January I thought we'd started looking good so stuck £25 on a Top 2 finish at 30-1.
Now 6.4-1 so I've laid off part of my bet and can't lose anything, but will win enough to pay for next year's season ticket if we do get Top 2.
I love the way we're playing - just dominate the whole match and the goals and wins will come. And with a Plan B from a much better bench we now can sort out some of the lower aggressive bus-parking teams that previously we'd struggle against.
Even better, we've got several players now who could do a job for us in the Prem, so fingers crossed we get there!
Quote from: Holders on February 20, 2018, 09:05:49 AM
Quote from: toshes mate on February 20, 2018, 07:33:16 AM
Quote from: Holders on February 19, 2018, 05:58:02 PM
Quote from: toshes mate on February 19, 2018, 05:06:04 PM
I really do feel that if Jokanovic regrets one thing (under his control and influence) to get away from him last season it would have been the mental discipline of the whole squad and not just the ones selected on match days. In the play-off semis we really didn't do ourselves justice because poor refereeing shouldn't have mattered. We were better than those performances and a key factor was our coaches inability to look deeper than his preferred starters.
Thanks to the incoming players in January and those of the summer who have improved sufficiently to warrant consideration for selection we are stronger than we were and that is reflected in performances over the last few months. There seems to be, through my eyes at least, a greater team ethic with much more communication running through the players. They appear to be bonded to a common cause and that cause is not to make the same mistakes this season as we did last. Of course 'new' mistakes can appear but so far as I am concerned we should be looking to be better against City on Wednesday evening than we were against Villa on Saturday.
As long as we concentrate on improving and taking one game at a time then we can get to the highest position this team is capable of. It will not matter what other teams do or don't do if we consistently do better than them. Whether it gives us a top two slot or not remains to be seen but our target should be the highest points total we can achieve. All our games can be won without exception.
You make some good points. To some extent SJ's reluctance to look beyond his preferred starters may have stemmed from his lack of involvement in their recruitment and either lack of confidence or, as some have suggested, wish to make a point. I don't know for certain but I'm pretty sure that after January (recruitment and clear-out) he's now happier with the spread of players in the named squad and so shouldn't have that same reluctance.
I think there are two sides to the sword SJ used last season. IMO he is a coach who expects players to motivate themselves into contention (which successfully worked with Johansen for example) and I don't, for one moment, subscribe to those who claim he is stubborn about selection. I think he wants to have his hand forced into selection by the player reaching his expectation levels and some players he has had to deal with just haven't been up for it. I think he has high expectations, and why not, but I also get the impression he has sharp eyes for what he is looking for players to do on the pitch (hence the Fonte saga) and selecting those who deliver to the team ethic to a reasonable quality (as he did last season with Martin for example). But I think he may have underestimated the importance of mental toughness and squad unity last season especially at the sharp end of business in the play offs.
I think what Targett and Mitrovic have demonstrated is what SJ can do with quality that comes pre-packaged rather than having to be squeezed out of players who have not had the best of journeys getting to FFC. I think we will also see Cyrus Christie featuring to the same standard in the next few weeks depending upon results or if Fredericks tires.
What I see at the moment is a much tougher team ethic and personality suggesting the squad now sees failure as being anything less than a stab at automatic promotion rather than just play off security.
Again, good points.
I wondered if our comparative loss of form in the early part of the season, compared to last year, was in some part due to some loss of team "togetherness" following personnel changes and that has now been recovered. Playing to the 95th minute bears it out that it's there.
That said, Targett and Mitro seem to have fitted like a glove.
I agree on both points. Last season's main starting team was largely settled except for injuries and suspensions and the midfield very settled. This season we have had all manner of disruptions through injury and the aforementioned pre-season fiasco and no settled core midfield without a pacey left wing back to allow RS to play further forward. Targett must have been like a gift to SJ the way he has made the position his own and has also asked questions of RS to adapt to probably even greater freedom and license to do his thing from midfield. Mitrovic has already done enough to convince me he is going to be much more dangerous as the team bonds together. I am also looking forward to seeing the options Christie brings to the table.
I was thinking the team ethic may have changed through greater psychological input on the training ground - demanding more because there is now real competition for starting places. There just seems to be greater belief running through the team.
These are the remaining fixtures of Cardiff,
Home- Bristol c, Barnsley, Birmingham, Burton, Wolves, Forest, Reading
Away- Ipswich, Brentford, Derby, Sheff U, Aston V, Norwich, Hull
Just as a rough guide to see what were up against, if we assume/hope they lose to Wolves, Derby,Sheff U and Villa,
And draw against Ipswich, Brentford, and Norwich,
And win the rest,
They would then be on 85 points with a better goal difference, this shows the size of our task and why my thoughts are currently with the play offs, incidentally I work with a few Brentford supporters who have all been ribbing me about Brentford playing us in the play offs ! Could it happen ? 😰
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: Riversider on February 19, 2018, 08:44:08 PM
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
yes i bet all the teams around us are glad they don't have to face such obviously insurmountable challenges as millwall away and brentford at home
[sarcastic voice]
I see Brentford did well last night .
Let's let the team continue to make a case for a top 6 place and worry about 2nd if it becomes possible
This time last season Leeds were 5th. We know what happened to them
Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Preston & Brentford all had good results last night and are closer to us than we are to Cardiff. Win tonight & we put space between us and the chasing pack. Lose and it's 2 from 6 for 5th & 6th
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: Riversider on February 19, 2018, 08:44:08 PM
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
yes i bet all the teams around us are glad they don't have to face such obviously insurmountable challenges as millwall away and brentford at home
[sarcastic voice]
As I said previously, it was always going to be a massive advantage to Cardiff the fact that they haven't had to play a single local derby this season while we've had to play 6 !
Quote from: Riversider on April 14, 2018, 10:54:41 PM
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: Riversider on February 19, 2018, 08:44:08 PM
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
yes i bet all the teams around us are glad they don't have to face such obviously insurmountable challenges as millwall away and brentford at home
[sarcastic voice]
As I said previously, it was always going to be a massive advantage to Cardiff the fact that they haven't had to play a single local derby this season while we've had to play 6 !
That is a very fair point and one I hadn't considered.
Nothing to do with local derby's, we just can't handle them!!
Quote from: SG on February 19, 2018, 06:56:50 PM
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 06:40:30 PM
If the remaining 14 games go like the last 14 then the final table will look like this
Wolves 103pts
Derby 87
Fulham 87
Villa 86
Cardiff 85
If someone predicted Derby for automatic promotion on 87 points, then we have a chance!!!
Quote from: Statto on April 15, 2018, 01:38:37 AM
Quote from: Riversider on April 14, 2018, 10:54:41 PM
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: Riversider on February 19, 2018, 08:44:08 PM
I meant to include in my original piece the fact that we've got to play 3 London derbies still, something that Cardiff don't have to deal with, two of which Millwall away and Brentford at home will be very testing games,
If we can't reach 2nd then it's important that we secure 3rd or 4th so that we have the home leg second.
yes i bet all the teams around us are glad they don't have to face such obviously insurmountable challenges as millwall away and brentford at home
[sarcastic voice]
As I said previously, it was always going to be a massive advantage to Cardiff the fact that they haven't had to play a single local derby this season while we've had to play 6 !
Nothing to do with it being a derby, the Game today was exactly the same as the reading game, we are just jaded
Absolute nonsense, sorry but you've either got no understanding as to the effect of a London derby and what a great leveller they are or you can't bring yourself to say I was wrong ?
So by your very logic there is no difference between Arsenal v Tottenham, Chelsea v West Ham and Arsenal v Stoke and Chelsea v West Brom !
As I say nonsense.
On the morning after the night before......
I can make a mathematical case for 2nd.
I am unable to make a realistic case for 2nd
I can make a realistic case for a trip to and a win at Wembley
Quote from: SG on February 19, 2018, 06:56:50 PM
Quote from: Statto on February 19, 2018, 06:40:30 PM
If the remaining 14 games go like the last 14 then the final table will look like this
Wolves 103pts
Derby 87
Fulham 87
Villa 86
Cardiff 85
F*** me - if that's the outcome I'm not sure the old ticker will stand it
if we alend up playoffs championship end result.positive is more games!
Nobody can forecast realistically where we are going to finish, and we all have our own opinions which should be respected, and not ridiculed because they may differ from others.
A lot of the frustration I feel is caused by the fact that their equaliser could have been avoidable, especially at that stage of presidings in the last minute.
But that's football, it can be heart breaking as well as being triumphant.
Sometimes it's hard to find a cure.
It's a funny old game, and as the Millwall match approaches, the damage and bruising and hurt caused by that cruel equaliser will I hope fade.
In the meantime there's a match to be won at the New Den on Friday, and we cannot do anything about the Brentford Result, and let's hope lessons have been learned, but we can certainly influence the Millwall result.
As Atilla the Hun once said. " War does not determine who is right, but only who is left ". ⚽️
I fully expect Cardiff to lose at Derby. So the question is can we pick up a point over Cardiff in the last 3. I remain positive
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on April 15, 2018, 07:54:52 PM
Nobody can forecast realistically where we are going to finish, and we all have our own opinions which should be respected, and not ridiculed because they may differ from others.
A lot of the frustration I feel is caused by the fact that their equaliser could have been avoidable, especially at that stage of presidings in the last minute.
But that's football, it can be heart breaking as well as being triumphant.
Sometimes it's hard to find a cure.
It's a funny old game, and as the Millwall match approaches, the damage and bruising and hurt caused by that cruel equaliser will I hope fade.
In the meantime there's a match to be won at the New Den on Friday, and we cannot do anything about the Brentford Result, and let's hope lessons have been learned, but we can certainly influence the Millwall result.
As Atilla the Hun once said. " War does not determine who is right, but only who is left ". ⚽️
Woolly I think you should be appointed as a moderator on here, you will get my vote!
Guys, you all post sensibly (and quite often) so please, please calm down. We didn't lose, the sky didn't fall in and we are unbeaten in 21, yes 21, matches. We may or may not chase down Cardiff but the fact that we are having a good go is testament to our players and our manager.
Quote from: davew on April 15, 2018, 08:43:28 PM
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on April 15, 2018, 07:54:52 PM
Nobody can forecast realistically where we are going to finish, and we all have our own opinions which should be respected, and not ridiculed because they may differ from others.
A lot of the frustration I feel is caused by the fact that their equaliser could have been avoidable, especially at that stage of presidings in the last minute.
But that's football, it can be heart breaking as well as being triumphant.
Sometimes it's hard to find a cure.
It's a funny old game, and as the Millwall match approaches, the damage and bruising and hurt caused by that cruel equaliser will I hope fade.
In the meantime there's a match to be won at the New Den on Friday, and we cannot do anything about the Brentford Result, and let's hope lessons have been learned, but we can certainly influence the Millwall result.
As Atilla the Hun once said. " War does not determine who is right, but only who is left ". ⚽️
Woolly I think you should be appointed as a moderator on here, you will get my vote!
davew, I agree with you, however, I think I may have blotted my copy book on more than one occasion to be considered for that prestigious position.
But generous of you to say so nonetheless.
There are more level headed pillars of the community on this forum that would do a splendid job if needed.
I cannot see us losing another match this season. We still have the flavour to keep it ticking over.
Whether it will be enough will depend on turning draws into wins, three to be precise. Then see where it leads us, but winning becomes a habit, you cannot switch it on and off.
At this stage of the season, you cannot ease off and risk losing the momentum, it doesn't work like that, or succeed like that. It's better to keep up the tempo our tempo.
Let's face it some players never get to play 90 mins any more, with three subs and game managed properly, that's six players who end up not playing a full game every match.
That's Holiday Camp material.
Ted Bovis from Maplins will confirm that.
Assume we beat Milwall on Friday we will again be in second position , two points and goal difference better off than Cardiff.If Cardiff then force a draw on Saturday and another against Derby we would still be in second position on goal difference with Sunderland and Birmingham left to play.
Close isn't it but we are still in the automatic promotion race.
One word that has massive relevance in all these posts
IF
i'll get ridiculed here, but its in our hands. i say that in the opinion of if we win our last three, which i believe we will. i really do see Cardiff dropping points in 2 draws with Derby and Hull (i actually think Hull will beat them but im erring on the side of caution and giving Cardiff a point). that means that they will finish on 91 with us. goal difference will be the key for us where we should really looking to be making head way in the last 2 games....Sunderland at home especially. anyone else think the same or am i flogging a dead horse to some?
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
We will 95% know for sure if we have a chance for automatic promotion by 21:30 on Saturday.
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
as i said just before, the onus is on Cardiff to WIN games, two draws coupled with us winning 3 sees us ahead of them on goal difference. i do see Hull winning and then we need them to drop one point elsewhere (obviously they cant drop just one point) and then lets see how their nerve holds. if they do it, hats off to them and they are where they deserve to be after 46 games
Quote from: corbs83 on April 17, 2018, 02:26:36 PM
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
as i said just before, the onus is on Cardiff to WIN games, two draws coupled with us winning 3 sees us ahead of them on goal difference. i do see Hull winning and then we need them to drop one point elsewhere (obviously they cant drop just one point) and then lets see how their nerve holds. if they do it, hats off to them and they are where they deserve to be after 46 games
I don't get why you are so confident Hull will beat or at least draw with them?
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
Is ìt not more likely that we will drop points against Millwall rather than Cardiff dropping points against a very poor Derby County ?
Quote from: JoelH5 on April 17, 2018, 02:30:02 PM
Quote from: corbs83 on April 17, 2018, 02:26:36 PM
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
as i said just before, the onus is on Cardiff to WIN games, two draws coupled with us winning 3 sees us ahead of them on goal difference. i do see Hull winning and then we need them to drop one point elsewhere (obviously they cant drop just one point) and then lets see how their nerve holds. if they do it, hats off to them and they are where they deserve to be after 46 games
I don't get why you are so confident Hull will beat or at least draw with them?
Hull have come into really good form recently. Abel Hernandez is back for them, and he's a dangerous striker. After going 21 games unbeaten, it's easy to forget that this is the Championship. There are no "easy games." Remember Blackburn/Wolves last year around this time of the season?
In terms of Cardiff's run-in:
Forest: Karanka is no slouch tactically (and is also very good mates with Slav)
Derby: Rowett will hopefully have rallied the troops now that Derby have hit rock bottom and are the hunter for the first time in months
Hull: already spoken about them
Reading: May need a draw to stay up
Still possible. We just need to win our games before we even think about Cardiff. Luckily our kick-off times (2 Friday games) mean that we have the oppo to really put Cardiff under pressure.
I
Quote from: Riversider on April 17, 2018, 02:58:26 PM
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
Is ìt not more likely that we will drop points against Millwall rather than Cardiff dropping points against a very poor Derby County ?
I firmly believe we will win at Millwall on Friday, bringing all three points home with a sublime performance, or I am not a Hairy Elephant.
You only need to browse through the evidence to understand and embrace this fact, that apart from unbelievable circumstances beyond our control, Fulham FC will beat them on their own patch to burst their bubble, and leave them pondering their next move to end up in the top six, which looking at the League Table is a Dogs breakfast with every team down to 11th position fighting over the spoils, no prisoners taken, survival of the fittest.
For Fulham FC. " It's Not One Step Back ".
Quote from: TXWhite on April 17, 2018, 03:56:28 PM
Quote from: JoelH5 on April 17, 2018, 02:30:02 PM
Quote from: corbs83 on April 17, 2018, 02:26:36 PM
Quote from: grandad on April 17, 2018, 02:13:25 PM
It all boils down to Derby beating Cardiff. We have no leeway but to win the last 3 games. We then need Cardiff to either lose 1 more game or at most draw 1. Auto would be us on GD.
I still believe.
as i said just before, the onus is on Cardiff to WIN games, two draws coupled with us winning 3 sees us ahead of them on goal difference. i do see Hull winning and then we need them to drop one point elsewhere (obviously they cant drop just one point) and then lets see how their nerve holds. if they do it, hats off to them and they are where they deserve to be after 46 games
I don't get why you are so confident Hull will beat or at least draw with them?
Hull have come into really good form recently. Abel Hernandez is back for them, and he's a dangerous striker. After going 21 games unbeaten, it's easy to forget that this is the Championship. There are no "easy games." Remember Blackburn/Wolves last year around this time of the season?
In terms of Cardiff's run-in:
Forest: Karanka is no slouch tactically (and is also very good mates with Slav)
Derby: Rowett will hopefully have rallied the troops now that Derby have hit rock bottom and are the hunter for the first time in months
Hull: already spoken about them
Reading: May need a draw to stay up
Still possible. We just need to win our games before we even think about Cardiff. Luckily our kick-off times (2 Friday games) mean that we have the oppo to really put Cardiff under pressure.
Of course we have to win our games. But Cardiff I am sure will drop points v Derby and Hull.
Cardiff have already got one flat tyre, dropping points in these two matches, will signify and be instrumental in Cardiff's wheels coming off, and leaving Warlock to walk home trying to thumb a lift, but nobody is going to offer him one.
If we can we get 9 points from the last three games ( not impossible) and Cardiff only get eight points from 4 games (two wins and two draws) then we are up.
The hard fact is that while the odds may be against us with three games left we are still in with a chance of automatic promotion, who would have thought that at Christmas.
Fail in the automatic promotion bid and we then enter the play offs with as good a chance as any of the other three teams, we would all have settled for that at Christmas.
