Ok this is how we can make the play-offs:

[Slug]

4 teams to win the last two games of the season

Villa
Boro
Barnsley
Us

Sorted!

Add Hull in there so that Villa still have something to play for on the last day.
Oh and also because it would be hilarious to see Warnock fuck it up

 

[Keen Blade]

I can't believe we've fucked this up.

Then you're a Blade who doesn't know his own club very well.

 

[Champagneblade]

Call me weird but I'd rather finish 7th than 8th or 9th.

I think 7th would really help to prove a point for Wilder to those in the boardroom.

"You know in Jan when I told you I needed a little bit more..."

 

[super_pig]

i’ve predicted 7th all season

 

[finlaytheblade]

4 teams to win the last two games of the season

Villa
Boro
Barnsley
Us

Sorted!

I'm an eternal optimist but even if Derby lose at Villa ,can't see Barnsley winning at Derby that would be some. Performance in light of how they are playing,Barnsley will be relegated which makes our defeat there even harder to take

 

[grafikhaus]

This Skysports article (posted on 16th November, 2017 - the day before Coutts broke his leg) puts into stark focus how and where our season went wrong. Here's a taster:

The rule of 17: Can your club still get promoted from the Sky Bet Championship?
At this stage of every season, the usual cliches are trotted out: 'The Championship is the most unpredictable league in the world', 'you don't win it in November', 'there's always one side that puts a run together'.

But the statistics tell a different story: 32 out of the last 39 sides promoted to the Premier League from the Championship have been in the top six after 17 games - a landmark we reach this weekend.


Wolves currently lead the way, with Sheffield United just two points behind, and history provides cause for optimism for Nuno Espirito Santo and Chris Wilder's respective sides...

Read and weep...

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Yet one which still should’ve and could’ve been so much better

Of course we could and that leaves a feeling of disapointment but don't let that take away from the fact that we have come so far.

 

[chipsncake]

Of course we could and that leaves a feeling of disapointment but don't let that take away from the fact that we have come so far.

You are right we have come a long way and it is to be applauded, but we are now at the crossroads and this could go either way.

 

[oldblade]

I think you are probably right that Brentford will get four points leaving them with 72. Let's say they win their game by one goal, that leaves them with a goal difference of +13.

We are on +7 at the moment. They have scored more goals than us, so we would have to win 3-0 and 4-0 to overturn that deficit so not going to happen.

What I'm looking for is for Derby to lose tonight and us to win on Saturday and no matter what mathematically we'd be with a chance on the final day and who knows what would happen. Hull almost beat Bristol City last week of course so things are a bit crazy....

Unfortunately, Derby didn't read the script and have rediscovered how to win!

Even if we do win our two remaining games (which is quite a big ask) it still looks highly improbable that we will make it. Even an out of sorts Derby should be able to get at least a point at home to Barnsley. And there's still the Brentford problem.

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

A much as I'm gutted about ballsing up what really should have been a guaranteed play off spot I can't help but notice 90% of the criticism, for not making play offs, is levelled at the board? Wilder is the man who picks the side and the tactics. The players have been praised for good football but it has not been winning football often enough. Wilder was clearly given money to spend in January and it was perhaps the first window under Wilder where he bought badly and didn't strengthen the first 11. Only Evans has made any sort of impact. 7th 8th 9th is still a good season but you have to see the second half of the season as a failure considering the position we were in. I truly believe we are just two key signings away from challenging next season. Think quality not quantity this summer. UTB

 

[wizadry]

A much as I'm gutted about ballsing up what really should have been a guaranteed play off spot I can't help but notice 90% of the criticism, for not making play offs, is levelled at the board? Wilder is the man who picks the side and the tactics. The players have been praised for good football but it has not been winning football often enough. Wilder was clearly given money to spend in January and it was perhaps the first window under Wilder where he bought badly and didn't strengthen the first 11. Only Evans has made any sort of impact. 7th 8th 9th is still a good season but you have to see the second half of the season as a failure considering the position we were in. I truly believe we are just two key signings away from challenging next season. Think quality not quantity this summer. UTB

I agree that Wilder should take some of the criticism but he won’t really get any because he’s hugely in credit.

He’s done some baffling substitutions in the second half of the season, one being only the other week against Millwall when he brought Lafferty on for Stearman instead of Wright on for Stearman, leaving Stevens in the LCB position for their goal, dangling a leg after the ball leaving the bully, Morrison, to slot home.

This wouldn’t have happened with Wight or Stearman on the pitch leaving JOC in his normal position of LCB and Wilder never got asked about this key part of that game in his interview after the game, shite journalism.

 

[Roygbiv]

I agree that Wilder should take some of the criticism but he won’t really get any because he’s hugely in credit.

He’s done some baffling substitutions in the second half of the season, one being only the other week against Millwall when he brought Lafferty on for Stearman instead of Wright on for Stearman, leaving Stevens in the LCB position for their goal, dangling a leg after the ball leaving the bully, Morrison, to slot home.

This wouldn’t have happened with Wight or Stearman on the pitch leaving JOC in his normal position of LCB and Wilder never got asked about this key part of that game in his interview after the game, shite journalism.

He got asked about this in the middle of last week. He said Stearman wasn't injured and he brought on Lafferty for tactical reasons. Said he wanted to give Stevens more freedom to attack

 

[wizadry]

He got asked about this in the middle of last week. He said Stearman wasn't injured and he brought on Lafferty for tactical reasons. Said he wanted to give Stevens more freedom to attack

More freedom to attack from the LCB position? Hmmmm!

Cheers Roy anyway, I’d not heard or seen that.

If Stearman wasn’t injured it makes the decision even more baffling.

 

[Sean Thornton]

He got asked about this in the middle of last week. He said Stearman wasn't injured and he brought on Lafferty for tactical reasons. Said he wanted to give Stevens more freedom to attack

Stearman had just been booked as well.

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

If we win our next 2 7-0 and 6-0 and derby only draw one and loose one we can make it...

 

[Roygbiv]

More freedom to attack from the LCB position? Hmmmm!

Cheers Roy anyway, I’d not heard or seen that.

If Stearman wasn’t injured it makes the decision even more baffling.

I don't think Stevens did play left centre half. I could be wrong but I think we went 4-4-2 with Stevens and Lafferty down the left causing absolute carnage with their pace and trickery

 

[Darthblade]

Go for the easy pink or take on the tight brown?

Oh lord ...... here come the thread police and the pc brigade to brow-beat you for that one .......

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

A much as I'm gutted about ballsing up what really should have been a guaranteed play off spot I can't help but notice 90% of the criticism, for not making play offs, is levelled at the board? Wilder is the man who picks the side and the tactics. The players have been praised for good football but it has not been winning football often enough. Wilder was clearly given money to spend in January and it was perhaps the first window under Wilder where he bought badly and didn't strengthen the first 11. Only Evans has made any sort of impact. 7th 8th 9th is still a good season but you have to see the second half of the season as a failure considering the position we were in. I truly believe we are just two key signings away from challenging next season. Think quality not quantity this summer. UTB

To be fair to Tufty ...... with the funds he was given in January, he struggled to bring in any sort of quality ......

UTB & FTP

 

[blade too long]

the simple answer is early season we were losing games , but only winning the others
now we are drawing games we were winning
5 recent draws has meant 10 points less, and thats been whats took us down

 

[Davalon]

Only a blind optimist of the highest order still 'believes' sadly.

As disappointing as it is to see the season peter out like this after where we were even a couple of weeks ago, I hope the players get a rousing reception after Saturday's game.

 

[Darthblade]

Only a blind optimist of the highest order still 'believes' sadly.

As disappointing as it is to see the season peter out like this after where we were even a couple of weeks ago, I hope the players get a rousing reception after Saturday's game.

To be fair I agree mate ....... its disappointing that we lost momentum and quality when Couttsy was assaulted at Burton and we had our expectations of the season unfairly raised in the first 20 games. On reflection, with a squad which was not blessed with a depth of Championship quality, we have done well to have a top half finish; particularly when you consider the very modest budget that Tufty has had to work with this year.

I can recall clearly the shower of shit we were subjected to in the Adkins debacle ........ and the reception the players deservedly had thrown at them in the final game at home to Scunny. Fully and entirely deserved !!

So this year, I do hope that the reception will be a warm and supportive one after the Preston game, despite our disappointment.

COYRAWW

UTB & FTP

 

[ekke287]

Belief only exists because something is mathematical possible, ie - we can still finish in the play-offs.

For the record, I don't believe we will, and haven't for some time as our quality has been on the decline for a fair few games now.

It should be seen as a blessing in disguise, as this team is nowhere near ready for a play-off campaign, and definitely not for the PL.

 

[blackydog]

Without going into all possible outcomes. Derby need a point away to Villa or home to Barnsley. They have a 12 goal better GD. And that's if we do win both our last games. Brentford are my favourites for the 6th spot, but these things often have a twist in the tail...

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I look at the table as it stands and its funny how these things fall. There's no way we've been the 11th best side in this division and there's no way we've only been 4 places better than the the Pigs. Funny how these things temporarily fall.

 

[PervyBlade]

Go for the easy pink or take on the tight brown?

Mmmmmmm

 

[oldblade]

the simple answer is early season we were losing games , but only winning the others
now we are drawing games we were winning
5 recent draws has meant 10 points less, and thats been whats took us down

I think you are right.

To illustrate your point, after the first 17 games of the season we were top of the table. We lost 5 games in that run, but won all of the other 12, giving us 36 points.

In our last 17 games we have lost 6. Only one more than in our first 17 games. However, the big difference is that we have also won only 6 and drawn 5, giving us 23 points.

 

[mattbianco1]

Without going into all possible outcomes. Derby need a point away to Villa or home to Barnsley. They have a 12 goal better GD. And that's if we do win both our last games. Brentford are my favourites for the 6th spot, but these things often have a twist in the tail...

 

[blackydog]

View attachment 38886

I wouldn't call it a chance a such, more a glimmer of light that hasn't been blocked out yet.

 

[Dkc]

Without going into all possible outcomes. Derby need a point away to Villa or home to Barnsley. They have a 12 goal better GD. And that's if we do win both our last games. Brentford are my favourites for the 6th spot, but these things often have a twist in the tail...

Not inconceivable that Derby could lose both those games

 

[Dkc]

Basically, presuming we win tomorrow we need Derby lose to Villa and Brentford to fail to beat Barnsley in the other 3pm KO's. Then if Boro beat or draw with Millwall in the late kick off it all goes to the final day, where we'd need another three points and another set of improbable results elsewhere.