3 Horse race

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It will be very tight right to the end I think. It will be two from the current top three I’m fairly sure of that. They’re clearly the three most effective and consistent sides.

I still fancy United to pinch one of those top two places. I don’t think they’re feeling any pressure where the other two are a little, especially Leeds. Granted they won 4-0 last night but they’ve been very up and down lately. West Brom were awful as well. Played far better against us last week.
 



Agree.....some people might look back to the stupid last minute dropped points away at Rotherham and Villa.
They might look back to the last second winners for Leeds and Norwich when they’ve not played well.

But think we should forget about past matches.....wipe the slate clean.

We should look at this as a mini league with 5 teams all starting on zero points with just 12 matches to play.
Luck can play a part in one-off games but over a 12 game period which ever team finishes top 2 amongst the 5 front runners will deserve it.

Another important point is I don’t feel the pressure (like normal) if we did finish in the play-offs.
I’ve full confidence that our team will turn up and perform well in the play-offs, we have very experienced players and managers who can all handle pressure really well.

So it’s all positive (great times to be a Blade) and we should enjoy the ride and not worry about the destination.

That’s exactly what it is now, a mini league between the top three, I don’t think that will change, it’s two from us three.

Henderson has saved us points also, WBA in last minute and Boro at home immediately spring to mind.

Strap yourself in lad, the Bladeacoaster is off again haha!
 
Bolton gave Leeds a harder game last week. So will everybody else they have to play at Elland Road.

I don't want to appear to discredit the Leeds performance too much, but WBA were embarrassingly inept and played right into their hands.

Trying to play out from the back with that midfield in front of them and no width? Gayle out wide again? It was all hopeless, they didn't put any passes together or turn that Leeds defence at any point.

I'm very tempted to say it is a 3 horse race now, with WBA out of the way - certainly if we win on Monday. But it's their manager, form and mindset I'm looking at more than their current points tally.

I'm reluctant to read too much into that Leeds performance. I'll be more worried if they win at Bristol next week.

One positive for them is that Bamford seems to be finding form. It will also be good for their confidence, and their fans will be right on their game until the end of the season.
 
Sorry to say if Leeds play with that intensity against us I can’t see us beating them. I hate Alioski but don’t see Freeman lasting that pace against him.


There's always a means of countering any problems that a team may face on a football field and Wilder will have his own plans when he gets around to thinking about it.
Whether it works or not is a different issue, but he will have plans

Leeds were very good, and perhaps even raised the bar in terms of Championship performances last night, but if we keep our run of results going and still have the current levels of confidence we won't be as slow, ponderous and half arsed as West Brom were
 
My concern here is that if it is indeed a three horse race (probably still too many games left to say that to be honest) whoever of the three doesn’t make it will be gutted going into the play offs and will find it hard to pick themselves up again, especially if it happens on last day of the season.
 
Effective nails it for me. It became obvious as long as you pressed and passed around them they weren't going to get a sniff, and that's what you did flawlessly pretty much.

Why do more than you need to when that worked so well.

WBA desperately need a new formation.
Its the early goal imo, we are the only side thats never dropped a point after scoring 1st.

Vs WBA at the Hawthorns they sat back and hit us on the break, because we scored 1st they couldn't do that so spaces opened up and we could exploit that with our movement and passing.

WBA need a new manager imo, that squad should be top.

Interesting you mention the formation, they played a different one last time we met.

Selection was weird to.

A young cb at lb vs Hernandez.

An ageing Gareth Barry in a midfield battle that needed energy.

Dwight Gayle playing on the wing.

Very odd.
 
I wouldn't write off anybody yet, West Brom's next game is at home to Ipswich.
I can't really see anything other than a win for them even though they may be a bit shell shocked

Middlesbrough are at Wigan today and at home to Brentford next week. I can't see anything but 6 points there
Leeds are away at Bristol City next week...…..who knows

Norwich have the perfect chance here to open up a big lead, they have four games coming up in the next fortnight against Millwall, Swansea, Hull and Rotherham.
9 or 10 points from that lot and they will be difficult to catch
 
The next four games will be vital to us:

Wednesday (A)
Rotherham (H)
Brentford (H)
Leeds (A)

2 derbies, Brentford have found their goalscoring form and of course Leeds. If we're within 3 points of 2nd after that I think we have a shot.

We have a lot of tricky games remaining after that though. Bristol City, Preston, Birmingham, Forest - who will all be going for the play-offs. Millwall and Ipswich will be fighting relegation (and if Ipswich are already down could play with freedom). The only side we play who probably won't have any skin in the game are Hull. But they could go on a run.
 
Norwich winning, :mad:
Sorry Norwich have won, cos Millwall won't get back into it
 
This afternoon Matthew, I'm going to be … a Millwall fan.
 
Tbf it took goals in the 92nd and 97th minute at Carrow Road for Norwich to beat Millwall.

The Den isnt an easy place to go.
 



Wigan holding Middlesbrough as well so far,
I'd be happy for the whistles to blow right now
 
Ehh its the time of year when you HAVE to win at Home and the minimum you have to do away is Draw to get a auto place , roll on Monday , we have to do it ourselves you can not rely on others !
 
well now we really need to win on monday to keep the pressure on the other 2
 
Didnt know where to put this or indeed how to get it to show on here, for anyone interested though.



Ranking system.
 
Didnt know where to put this or indeed how to get it to show on here, for anyone interested though.



Ranking system.


Broadly confirms what we already know. Leeds keep the ball for longer and play more passes. We tend to be a little quicker and more incisive in our build up and we create more clear cut chances. Middlesborough are strong defensively, create very little but what they do manage to create they often score from. Hence, they’re terrible to watch but quite high up the table.
 

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