How many points have we lost this season, because we haven't closed games out?

[rebel]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

[Plodder]

Whatever the pros and cons of Parker as a manager, one indisputable fact is that his forte this season has been closing out games. Fulham has the best record in the division of going on to win once they have taken the lead, according to the Sky coverage last night.

[filham]

Nor quite sure what is meant by closing games out, if it is about not getting an extra goal or two then yes we seem to be missing front players capable of poaching an extra goal or two

On the other hand if it means hanging on to an odd goal lead then yes, we have become pretty good at that.

[FFC1987]

Parker has a great record of closing out games. I think our inability to take chances and start games quick enough is the main issue we've had this season.

[colinwhite]

wednesday away 2points WBA at home 2 points for starters .

[Statto]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Our problem is slow starts - there was a spate of games where went went 1-0 down early doors

[Twig]

Parker has improved us massively at closing games out. It's not a reason why we have missed out on automatic promotion. Let's talk; slow to build defensive solidity, failure to get the best out of our forwards, use of inverted wingers etc. But, closing games out - a clear strength.

[rebel]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point. 

[Sting of the North]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point.

What is your assumption here? What's the point of this thread? As has been pointed out by several posters already we are top of the league in closing games out. Is that not good enough?

[rebel]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point.

What is your assumption here? What's the point of this thread? As has been pointed out by several posters already we are top of the league in closing games out. Is that not good enough?

Well since your asking, the point of the thread is that we would have a few more points in the bank, we would be closer to the automatic promotion places had we closed out games  earlier in the season. That is the point of this thread. If your not interested, don't bother reading it. 

[Sting of the North]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point.

What is your assumption here? What's the point of this thread? As has been pointed out by several posters already we are top of the league in closing games out. Is that not good enough?

Well since your asking, the point of the thread is that we would have a few more points in the bank, we would be closer to the automatic promotion places had we closed out games  earlier in the season. That is the point of this thread. If your not interested, don't bother reading it.

Everybody understands that. But the thread seemingly implied that we had done bad in that regard, which we obviously haven't. Whatever the reason for us not being top two, our ability to close out games is at the bottom of the list of those reasons. I assume you thought otherwise, because why else start the thread? Hence my question. It was not meant as an insult. Of course I guess it is possible that you just wanted to dissect every possible reason there is, but surely it is not reasonable to go a full season without ever losing a lead?

And what's with the "don't bother reading" reply? Surely you have to expect people not agreeing with you Or questioning your points on a discussion forum?

[Whitestone]

We're doing ok when it comes to closing out tight games. If the point of this thread was to analyse where we've not done so well look no further than games against the bottom five, Barnsley, Luton, Stoke, Charlton, and Hull. Not one win double against any of these sides and six points dropped against Barnsley who are bottom. Ten games and only three wins.

[rebel]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point.

What is your assumption here? What's the point of this thread? As has been pointed out by several posters already we are top of the league in closing games out. Is that not good enough?

Well since your asking, the point of the thread is that we would have a few more points in the bank, we would be closer to the automatic promotion places had we closed out games  earlier in the season. That is the point of this thread. If your not interested, don't bother reading it.

Everybody understands that. But the thread seemingly implied that we had done bad in that regard, which we obviously haven't. Whatever the reason for us not being top two, our ability to close out games is at the bottom of the list of those reasons. I assume you thought otherwise, because why else start the thread? Hence my question. It was not meant as an insult. Of course I guess it is possible that you just wanted to dissect every possible reason there is, but surely it is not reasonable to go a full season without ever losing a lead?

And what's with the "don't bother reading" reply? Surely you have to expect people not agreeing with you Or questioning your points on a discussion forum?

I'm tempted to 'dissect' your post, but not going to. All I will say is during the season there was a period when we were poor at 'closing games out'. Clearly it has improved. Most of these points lost were self inflicted with needless substitutions being made. You ask why start the thread and finish with 'Surely you have to expect people not agreeing with you Or questioning your points on a discussion forum?'.

[rebel]

We're doing ok when it comes to closing out tight games. If the point of this thread was to analyse where we've not done so well look no further than games against the bottom five, Barnsley, Luton, Stoke, Charlton, and Hull. Not one win double against any of these sides and six points dropped against Barnsley who are bottom. Ten games and only three wins.

As I've said it's an average Championship. With the squad we have we should be winning these matches. But as my previous post points out, those points were almost won.   

[Andy S]

You cannot do anything about us not having more points than anyone else. You can only deal with the here and now. Facts 1 We are not likely to go up automatically.  2 we are in the end of season play offs  3 The play offs are a lottery as we know 4 Forget about knocking Parker. He is the manager support the team.

[Statto]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point. 

Clearly you cannot include Luton in any reasonable definition of failing to close a game out. That suggestion is the second most ridiculous thing I've ever read on this forum in 2020 (the most ridiculous being your OP).

If you want to broaden then definition of failing to close a game out to include not only games where we were winning and conceded a late equaliser, but also games like Brentford where we were drawing and the opposition scored late on to win, that would perhaps be reasonable.

However, Brentford was the only game where that happened, so we'd still only have dropped five points through failing to "close out" games, and I expect further analysis would show we'd still dropped less points than any other team that way. So we still couldn't be any further from being "poor at closing games out."

[rebel]

You cannot do anything about us not having more points than anyone else. You can only deal with the here and now. Facts 1 We are not likely to go up automatically.  2 we are in the end of season play offs  3 The play offs are a lottery as we know 4 Forget about knocking Parker. He is the manager support the team.

'1 We are not likely to go up automatically', that isn't a fact, mathematically it's still possible, but a lot of things need to go in our favour including Brentford, Leeds, WBA all losing / drawing matches. I could go into the rest of your post, but won't.

[rebel]

I'd say more then then the 5 points difference between us and the top two as of today.

If you define as having the lead with 20 mins or less remaining, the answer is 4 pts, from the Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom games

Parker has an impeccable record of seeing games out. I'd be surprised if our record isn't the best in the league. When we score first in a match, we're nigh on guaranteed to win.

[EDIT: Just noticed Plodder's post above which confirms the foregoing.]

It has improved, it hasn't always been the case, West Brom (2 points), Sheff Wed (2 points), Luton (2 points, might be a bit contentious for some) and Brentford 1 point. 

Clearly you cannot include Luton in any reasonable definition of failing to close a game out. That suggestion is the second most ridiculous thing I've ever read on this forum in 2020 (the most ridiculous being your OP).

If you want to broaden then definition of failing to close a game out to include not only games where we were winning and conceded a late equaliser, but also games like Brentford where we were drawing and the opposition scored late on to win, that would perhaps be reasonable.

However, Brentford was the only game where that happened, so we'd still only have dropped five points through failing to "close out" games, and I expect further analysis would show we'd still dropped less points than any other team that way. So we still couldn't be any further from being "poor at closing games out."

Well you can hardly call the thread or Luton ridiculous, especially as there is a 'caveat' next to Luton, 'that it might be a bit contentious for some'. That must be you then.   

[filham]

If we are looking for a single reason why we are not likely to achieve automatic promotion then quite simply it is because we have scored insufficient goals in spite of a magnificent 25 from Mitro. Only 5 goals from six games since the restart after Lockdown. This aspect of our game needs addressing before the start the play offs.

The main culprits are strikers Reid, Cav. and Knock. none of them have scored for a dozen games or so. Onomah and Arter are now chipping in with goals from midfield and the return of Kamara and Cairney may add to the scoring potential but really those three strikers have to start finding the net.