4 wins in a row for the 3rd time this season.

[derfblade.3]

Our first 2 runs of 4 successive wins were each followed by the international breaks resulting in losses the following game. Although this run of 4 was punctuated with the cup defeat , i can see us carrying on the winning streak after seeing off Rangers last week and with confidence sky high. Although the upcoming fixtures are tough i can see us getting another 2/3 wins on the bounce. The players will be up for it ,no doubt so we should share their confidence and be looking forward to extending the winning run. UTB.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I'm not quite sure how a winning run can be punctuated by a loss within it

Take your point though, the 'first' team have the winning run in the League. Winning runs of more than 4 are few and far between in any league at any time and this division is as unpredictable as any, let's hope you haven't put the mockers on this one

 

[grafikhaus]

It's further evidence of how we're 'growing into' the Championship. If we fail to go up this season, there's no need to panic. CW will continue to strengthen and refine our club while teams with a lot more money/parachute payments etc. continue to sack their managers because they think they've got a 'right' to win promotion.

 

[Sheff de party]

I don’t really mind if we don’t add 2-3 more wins. We have an extremely difficult run coming up and draws will do just fine at places like Norwich and West Brom. We have some very winnable games towards the end of the season, so it’s about staying there or there abouts for me at the moment.

Obviously want us to win, but I’d take a point at Swansea, Norwich and West Brom now.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It's further evidence of how we're 'growing into' the Championship. If we fail to go up this season, there's no need to panic. CW will continue to strengthen and refine our club while teams with a lot more money/parachute payments etc. continue to sack their managers because they think they've got a 'right' to win promotion.

Yep, as long as he hangs around

What is pleasing this season is that teams are still struggling to cope with our style. I thought maybe we'd been sussed a bit at the end of last season but that's not the case, we still seem to be one step ahead of a lot of teams.

 

[grafikhaus]

What is pleasing this season is that teams are still struggling to cope with our style. I thought maybe we'd been sussed a bit at the end of last season but that's not the case, we still seem to be one step ahead of a lot of teams.

It's easy to suss out the secret of Man. City's style. An incredible amount of their goals come from runs down the wing, a low hard cross and a 'tap-in' in the 6 yard box. Doing something about it is a different matter...

Obviously want us to win, but I’d take a point at Swansea, Norwich and West Brom now.

Never understood this. What if we're 2-0 up at Swansea after, say, an hour and draw 2-2? It's all about how we set up and perform on the day.

 

[Guesty]

I'm not quite sure how a winning run can be punctuated by a loss within it

A comma?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Disagree.

Logic suggests we’re unlikely to keep this run going.
We’ve already won 4 consecutive league, which has happened twice before this season.
Last season our best was also winning 4 consecutive league matches early season.

So winning 5 or 6 league matches is quite rare.
Also the fixtures, Swansea and Norwich away are (on paper) very difficult.
Would be very happy within a win at Swansea and a draw at Norwich.

 

[Grizzly blade]

We are capable of beating any side in this league, and all bar maybe one or two losses this season were perhaps undeserved based on chances created and missed and dominance in the game.
But that’s the point...it shows that no matter how good we are we still lose.
For me it’s down to a bit of luck and confidence. Keep confidence up, have the rub of the green and we will more often win.

IMHO you can’t really confidently predict any matches in this league. I want us to be averaging 2 points a game or as close as possible, so I look at groups of 5 games.
We are 2 games into the next group of 5 games...we need 4 points from the next three to hit the 2 point average for this 5 as a minimum. So we need a win from the next three....Swansea maybe being the better chance!

 

[Rob86]

Hoping for a win on Saturday to be honest (like every week of course) as I don’t really rank it as a very difficult fixture. Need to be at it every game of course.

Norwich, West Brom & Villa (although getting less worrying) away are the games you would probably accept a defeat.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Funny isn't it, not long ago we were a division one club looking to get into the championship , we have been here a season and a half and are already a well established club in the division, the old .division one days seem a lot longer ago than a couple of years, drawing away is not to be sniffed at ,at any ground let alone top end clubs but it shows how far we have come so quickly because we half expect us to go and win wether it is WBA or Norwich away, it really is enjoyable being a blade again.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I don’t really rank it as a very difficult fixture.

The pattern with Swansea is that they generally dominate posesssion, have more chances and more corners than the opposition almost every match.

They are very similiar to last seasons Brentford eg like the Bees they look like one of the best teams in the league but consistently struggle to put away their chances, hence why they are only mid table.

The stats suggest we’ll be doing a lot of defending away at Swansea.
Just hoping that Swansea continue to be wasteful in front of goal.

The thing that impresses me so much with our team under Wilder is that we won’t be going to Swansea with a defensive plan to frustrate. We will play an open attacking game AWAY from home, which is very rare for us. Still think of some of the defensive tactical master plans under Blackwell where we would play shit but frustrate the opposition picking up an ugly 1-0 win.

Wilder can’t do tactically defensive displays, even away from home he tries open attacking positive football.
If we gain promotion will be amazing to see if he chooses to play his open attacking game away at Man City or Liverpool.

 

[Houston_Blade]

As long as people can accept that having won 4 on the bounce it's not the end of the world if we lose a couple sometime soon, as long as then we go on and win a few as well. It's that concept that will cause the usual suspects to drop their bipolar routines.

 

[cahill]

I hope we win or at least draw. When we lose I go into a sort of mini depression, life looks black and hopeless, I avoid football related stuff on tv, radio and the printed press. I have a designated worker within the local Samaritans,

ring ring, " it's me Cahill"...Samaritan... " they've lost again eh Cahill !" Cue much weeping wailing and nashing of teeth

 

[grafikhaus]

Norwich, West Brom & Villa (although getting less worrying) away are the games you would probably accept a defeat.

No Leeds, then? . For me, they're the real threat. Four points clear, looking like spending big this JTW, lucky spying bastards who the media are practically willing to go up.

 

[Bladeaway]

The thing that impresses me so much with our team under Wilder is that we won’t be going to Swansea with a defensive plan to frustrate. We will play an open attacking game AWAY from home, which is very rare for us. Still think of some of the defensive tactical master plans under Blackwell where we would play shit but frustrate the opposition picking up an ugly 1-0 win.

Blackwell’s tactics - *shudder*
If we’d have gone up that season I was seriously worried how we would have fared in the PL.

Here’s one to ponder... would you prefer:
- a crack at the PL with Blackwell in charge
- watching championship football indefinitely under wilder

 

[Nick Jansky]

It's further evidence of how we're 'growing into' the Championship. If we fail to go up this season, there's no need to panic. CW will continue to strengthen and refine our club while teams with a lot more money/parachute payments etc. continue to sack their managers because they think they've got a 'right' to win promotion.

Absolutely agree with this, and there will be some shite coming down from the EPL next season. The main thing is to continue to progress, we have definitely done that this season and (despite the ownership shenanigans) provided CW & AK stay there is no reason to think that this won't continue next season.

 

[Ricky]

It's time to start believing and being fearless. We're not in this position due to luck, and at the moment every single fixture in the division would be winnable (well, expect Hull...). None of the contenders are looking convincing. We have to look at this and use it as motivation to maintain and increase standards. A great opportunity is appearing, and we're well placed to capitalise as we're probably the most stable of the lot of them, with the lowest expectations.

Fixtures like Swansea and Norwich away have to be approached confidently. We have to be aiming for 6 points.

It helps that we've got the buffer of 4 consecutive wins behind us. Losing now is no disaster. That should help us play with freedom.

But it really would be beneficial if we could take at least 7 points from the next 3 games, because the hardest away games start arriving after that. Being consolidated in the top 2 going into the Villa game would be perfect, and has to be the aim.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Blackwell’s tactics - *shudder*
If we’d have gone up that season I was seriously worried how we would have fared in the PL.

Here’s one to ponder... would you prefer:
- a crack at the PL with Blackwell in charge
- watching championship football indefinitely under wilder

A crack at the Prem with Blackwell in charge. Sack him after 1 game and replace with Wilder.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Blackwell’s tactics - *shudder*
If we’d have gone up that season I was seriously worried how we would have fared in the PL.

Here’s one to ponder... would you prefer:
- a crack at the PL with Blackwell in charge
- watching championship football indefinitely under wilder

Easy decision for me.
I’m now much older and love watching good quality football with players showing commitment for the shirt.
The result is just a bonus and thankfully under Wilder even when we lose.....we still generally play great football and show commitment. Hence why I’ve had a season ticket for the last 2 seasons, previously I attended about 75% of home games.

I’ve been supporting United since 1975 and I’ve never known it where entertainment is virtually guaranteed.
Although results are important I go to matches to be entertained.

 

[Rob86]

No Leeds, then? . For me, they're the real threat. Four points clear, looking like spending big this JTW, lucky spying bastards who the media are practically willing to go up.

I was just looking at the next few games up to the trip to the sty. Would love to go there and be clear 2nd or even top !

 

[Sheff de party]

It's easy to suss out the secret of Man. City's style. An incredible amount of their goals come from runs down the wing, a low hard cross and a 'tap-in' in the 6 yard box. Doing something about it is a different matter...



Never understood this. What if we're 2-0 up at Swansea after, say, an hour and draw 2-2? It's all about how we set up and perform on the day.

Of course, but since we’re looking forward.

It’s also aimed at the inevitable meltdown if we dare to lose one or two.

 

[Pinchy]

Yep, as long as he hangs around

What is pleasing this season is that teams are still struggling to cope with our style. I thought maybe we'd been sussed a bit at the end of last season but that's not the case, we still seem to be one step ahead of a lot of teams.

Front Foot Tufty.

 

[Pinchy]

Easy decision for me.
I’m now much older and love watching good quality football with players showing commitment for the shirt.
The result is just a bonus and thankfully under Wilder even when we lose.....we still generally play great football and show commitment. Hence why I’ve had a season ticket for the last 2 seasons, previously I attended about 75% of home games.

I’ve been supporting United since 1975 and I’ve never known it where entertainment is virtually guaranteed.
Although results are important I go to matches to be entertained.

Absolutely right. This should be force-read to the hoofers three times a day.

You win a first day print of my forthcoming autobiography ‘Noise and Nonsense’

 

[PokerBlade]

Never understood this. What if we're 2-0 up at Swansea after, say, an hour and draw 2-2? It's all about how we set up and perform on the day.

What's wrong with stating your ambitions or targets and then changing them based on future events?

For instance, you probably think that a 6-0 win would be a good result and a 6-0 loss would be a terrible result? After that it's just settling on middle ground. Otherwise it implies you don't have an idea what a good or bad result might be.

 

[PokerBlade]

Funny isn't it, not long ago we were a division one club looking to get into the championship , we have been here a season and a half and are already a well established club in the division, the old .division one days seem a lot longer ago than a couple of years, drawing away is not to be sniffed at ,at any ground let alone top end clubs but it shows how far we have come so quickly because we half expect us to go and win wether it is WBA or Norwich away, it really is enjoyable being a blade again.

I'm still finding our league standing a bit surreal, to be honest. Given some of the players they have, how recently they were in the Prem, it still feels like we have no right to go to Swansea and expect a result, but everything I've seen of us, combined with the table, says we ought to be considered favourites.

 

[RammyBlade]

I don’t really mind if we don’t add 2-3 more wins. We have an extremely difficult run coming up and draws will do just fine at places like Norwich and West Brom. We have some very winnable games towards the end of the season, so it’s about staying there or there abouts for me at the moment.

Obviously want us to win, but I’d take a point at Swansea, Norwich and West Brom now.

Yes me too - a point at each of these would be good although would love to put one over Norwich for their time wasting tactics . They have scored so many late goals this season that they have gained about 16 poin with it so it would be poetic justice if we scored a late winner there (did at BDTBL) maybe Madine ?

 

[guancheblade]

Yep, as long as he hangs around

What is pleasing this season is that teams are still struggling to cope with our style. I thought maybe we'd been sussed a bit at the end of last season but that's not the case, we still seem to be one step ahead of a lot of teams.

Probably because we now have players like Norwood and McGoldrick who can pull a rabbit out of a hat with a split second's notice.