We're only 4 points clear

[PeteBlade]

It's great to be on a good run of form and top of the league.

But some seriously need to calm down.

There's 50% of the season left to go and all our rivals around us left to play.

Some seem to think we're already up, probably the same sort of people that told the pigs to "mind the gap" a few years ago and were left with egg on their faces.

We haven't had our sticky patch yet, our Sharp injury or Moore sending off or the other freak bits of bad luck that happen because we're Sheffield United.

When we're mathematically up, I'll crow with the best of them, but come on people, looooooooong way to go yet.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

It's great to be on a good run of form and top of the league.

But some seriously need to calm down.

There's 50% of the season left to go and all our rivals around us left to play.

Some seem to think we're already up, probably the same sort of people that told the pigs to "mind the gap" a few years ago and were left with egg on their faces.

We haven't had our sticky patch yet, our Sharp injury or Moore sending off or the other freak bits of bad luck that happen because we're Sheffield United.

When we're mathematically up, I'll crow with the best of them, but come on people, looooooooong way to go yet.

Will Woodwardfan read this?

 

[Snowman]

You are so so so so so so so so so so so and even more so and thrice so fucking right.^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[west_yorks_blade]

And it's three points.

 

[PeteBlade]

And it's three points.

I meant of 3rd place and promotion.

Winning the league would be awesome, but I just want to go up.

 

[gavtheblade]

Our sticky patch was the first four games and the strange game at home vs wallsall.

 

[PokerBlade]

The main thing we need to keep sight of is that we sort of saw this coming. We knew Scunthorpe had a very tough run of fixtures, and we knew we'd got our games vs. the top six or so out of the way. Not that it isn't still a surprise to actually see the Blades fully capitalise on that kind of advantage, but we've had the much easier run of late. We've got a tough game at the weekend, and In a month's time it's our turn to go through a run of games that could easily see us picking up draws and even defeats without doing a whole lot wrong.

The positive side of that is if we get through that tough run on top, it's very difficult to see what could shift us.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

here's 50% of the season left to go and all our rivals around us left to play.

...54.3% of the season has gone actually

 

[Houston_Blade]

We really do just need one of the players to come out and spout about "100 points and 100 goals". If they do I'm not looking at another result until the last game of the season.

 

[PeteBlade]

...54.3% of the season has gone actually

Even
Worse!!

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

Even
Worse!!

Surely that's better? Meaning there is only 45.7% of the season to go!

 

[PeteBlade]

Surely that's better? Meaning there is only 45.7% of the season to go!

Even worse than my ability to read a post properly...

 

[BushBlade]

Our sticky patch was the first four games and the strange game at home vs wallsall.

How can you possibly predict that? You may be right but think about our first season under Wilson. It's very possible to go on a bad run, however unlikely it seems now.

 

[gavtheblade]

How can you possibly predict that? You may be right but think about our first season under Wilson. It's very possible to go on a bad run, however unlikely it seems now.

I'm being optimistic that's all!!

 

[Sheffsteel]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches

Sheff Utd average possession 58% with 100 corners
Bolton average possession 52% with 45 corners
Scunthorpe average possession 50% with 66 corners

Sheff Utd shots at goal 183 with 76 on target
Bolton shots at goal 119 with 55 on target
Scunthorpe shots at goal 115 with 50 on target

Opposition stats over the last 10 matches
Teams against Sheff Utd have had 42% possession with 31 corners
Teams against Bolton have had 48% possession with 56 corners
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 50% possession with 51 corners

Teams against Sheff Utd have had 55 shots with 20 on target
Teams against Bolton have had 106 shots with 38 on target and
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 112 shots with 46 on target.

 

[Pierre's PC]

On the other hand we are 3 points clear and the pressure is on our rivals to better our results. See how well that worked for spurs last season?

Not saying we are home and dried but for the first time in quite a while my cup is half full.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches

Sheff Utd average possession 58% with 100 corners
Bolton average possession 52% with 45 corners
Scunthorpe average possession 50% with 66 corners

Sheff Utd shots at goal 183 with 76 on target
Bolton shots at goal 119 with 55 on target
Scunthorpe shots at goal 115 with 50 on target

Opposition stats over the last 10 matches
Teams against Sheff Utd have had 42% possession with 31 corners
Teams against Bolton have had 48% possession with 56 corners
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 50% possession with 51 corners

Teams against Sheff Utd have had 55 shots with 20 on target
Teams against Bolton have had 106 shots with 38 on target and
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 112 shots with 46 on target.

Good stats.

 

[Sean Thornton]

"Waiting for the joy of failure"

 

[coaxingstar71]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches

Sheff Utd average possession 58% with 100 corners
Bolton average possession 52% with 45 corners
Scunthorpe average possession 50% with 66 corners

Sheff Utd shots at goal 183 with 76 on target
Bolton shots at goal 119 with 55 on target
Scunthorpe shots at goal 115 with 50 on target

Opposition stats over the last 10 matches
Teams against Sheff Utd have had 42% possession with 31 corners
Teams against Bolton have had 48% possession with 56 corners
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 50% possession with 51 corners

Teams against Sheff Utd have had 55 shots with 20 on target
Teams against Bolton have had 106 shots with 38 on target and
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 112 shots with 46 on target.

I like what you're saying but I still agree with Pete. We're the Blades!
We can always find new and original ways to royally f**k it up!

 

[RammyBlade]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches

Sheff Utd average possession 58% with 100 corners
Bolton average possession 52% with 45 corners
Scunthorpe average possession 50% with 66 corners

Sheff Utd shots at goal 183 with 76 on target
Bolton shots at goal 119 with 55 on target
Scunthorpe shots at goal 115 with 50 on target

Opposition stats over the last 10 matches
Teams against Sheff Utd have had 42% possession with 31 corners
Teams against Bolton have had 48% possession with 56 corners
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 50% possession with 51 corners

Teams against Sheff Utd have had 55 shots with 20 on target
Teams against Bolton have had 106 shots with 38 on target and
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 112 shots with 46 on target.

Wow those stats are awesome ! It certainly gives me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season. However I suggest that it all depends on keeping our midfield trio fit and in form although the addition of Carruthers is a comfort.

 

[PeteBlade]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches

Sheff Utd average possession 58% with 100 corners
Bolton average possession 52% with 45 corners
Scunthorpe average possession 50% with 66 corners

Sheff Utd shots at goal 183 with 76 on target
Bolton shots at goal 119 with 55 on target
Scunthorpe shots at goal 115 with 50 on target

Opposition stats over the last 10 matches
Teams against Sheff Utd have had 42% possession with 31 corners
Teams against Bolton have had 48% possession with 56 corners
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 50% possession with 51 corners

Teams against Sheff Utd have had 55 shots with 20 on target
Teams against Bolton have had 106 shots with 38 on target and
Teams against Scunthorpe have had 112 shots with 46 on target.

Does that show that we're unlucky, or does it show that we're wasteful in posession and don't score enough from our shots?

And also the stats dont account for the fact that we're Sheffield United, and bad things happen to Sheffield United.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Good stats.

Bradford City fans tell you how they dominate all their matches, have loads of chances but struggle to score
Even their dominance stats over their last 10 matches are modest compared to ours

Bradford average possession 56% with 78 corners
Shots are goal 153 with 64 on target.

Oppostion teams playing Bradford average 44% possession and 50 corners
They have had 119 shots with 45 on target.

 

[PeteBlade]

"Waiting for the joy of failure"

"Joying for the fate of Wailure"

 

[Sheffsteel]

Does that show that we're unlucky, or does it show that we're wasteful in posession and don't score enough from our shots?

And also the stats dont account for the fact that we're Sheffield United, and bad things happen to Sheffield United.

Yeh I agree on that
And I have noticed we seem to have so many near misses, hitting the woodwork with shots cleared off the line.

I initially put it down to plain "bad luck" but it does seem to be happening most matches.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Totally agree about avoiding pig-like cockiness. But, on the other hand, we've got to enjoy these moments while they're here (let's face it - they're pretty bloody rare, to say the least!)

I mean, Bury was a seriously joyous occasion - with all the "We're Sheffield United, we're top of the league chants" and all. Exuberance & revelling in the moment I'd say, not arrogance.

Who knows, our time at the top might only last another 2 or 3 games?

Carpe diem & all that.

 

[bl4desman]

Winning the league would be awesome, but I just want to go up.

I want to see us win the league. In my time supporting I've never seen us win anything. I've seen 2nd places before, so I would love to see a 1st.

I know there is a long way to go but it's good to look behind and down the table, instead of looking upwards and chasing Scunthorpe and Bolton. Speaking of which, I can see Rochdale catching Scunny up soon. UTB

 

[Balham]

Pete,

Although normally I'd agree, the stats below show that we've been a little unlucky and points tally should widen over our rivals. If you read the reports Scunthorpe and especially Bolton don't dominate their matches like we do and the stats below back that up.

Here is some proof of dominance over the past 10 league matches
....

Without meaning to piss on your chips - we have had an easy run with our opponents in the last 10 games averaging 19th in the table. Bolton's run has also been relatively easy but Scunthorpe's dip in form has (as expected) coincided with a relatively brutal Christmas period.

"Pos" in the tables below is current league position.

 

[blade too long]

Strange isnt it
we kept getting told we would never catch Scunthorpe

but some think we can get caught dead easily I wonder why

 

[Sheffsteel]

Without meaning to piss on your chips - we have had an easy run with our opponents in the last 10 games averaging 19th in the table. Bolton's run has also been relatively easy but Scunthorpe's dip in form has (as expected) coincided with a relatively brutal Christmas period.

"Pos" in the tables below is current league position.

View attachment 21730

No it's fine Balham, good point.
It is weird how this season the fixture list seems to throw up 10 difficult fixtures, then 10 on paper easy fixtures.

Although I kind of agree with Wilder that the "easy fixtures" are banana skins and only become easy if the preperarion and focus is right, sometimes easier said than done.

 

[blade too long]

Without meaning to piss on your chips - we have had an easy run with our opponents in the last 10 games averaging 19th in the table. Bolton's run has also been relatively easy but Scunthorpe's dip in form has (as expected) coincided with a relatively brutal Christmas period.

"Pos" in the tables below is current league position.

View attachment 21730

but conversely weve played all the top contenders away
we were due a run of easier games
why dont you argue scunny were previously top because theyd already played their easier games

bolton have to go to scunny rochdale us and posh for eg
but apart from being top 4 points clear of 3rd , the stats that give us belief are every single games stats
shots on goal possession, we dominate home and away , only lost 2 away
weve all played each club once now so its a fair reflection
weve played bury twice , once when they were at the top once near the bottom it all levels out