Season defining 6 days

[HeCanDoMagic]

Starts today.

Come 2pm on Sunday we could be 8 points off the play-offs and in the semi-final of the FA Cup, or planning for next season.

Although usually when referring to season defining period it would be tinged with a certain amount of pressure, however I think that as weeks come this is one we can look forward to with relatively no pressure.

Anything other than a win tonight and I think our play-off chances go into the famous transitional period between 'slim' and 'none'. A point wouldn't be a disaster in regards to ensuring safety though, a 7 point cushion would mean we'd have to go on a run of results not seen since the Weir tenure, and even then that would have to be coupled with a winning run from one of the bottom 4.

I think there will be more disappointment if we fail to beat Charlton than if we don't reach the play-offs, think we're all wise enough to see that even having an outside chance of the POs is a minor miracle.

I personally think its an all or nothing week. A win tonight will be the catalyst for Sunday. I just have nagging doubts that if we lose tonight it might affect the momentum a bit too much going into Sunday.

Other peoples thoughts on these 6 days?

 

[Zanzibar]

Starts today.

Come 2pm on Sunday we could be 8 points off the play-offs and in the semi-final of the FA Cup, or planning for next season.

Although usually when referring to season defining period it would be tinged with a certain amount of pressure, however I think that as weeks come this is one we can look forward to with relatively no pressure.

Anything other than a win tonight and I think our play-off chances go into the famous transitional period between 'slim' and 'none'. A point wouldn't be a disaster in regards to ensuring safety though, a 7 point cushion would mean we'd have to go on a run of results not seen since the Weir tenure, and even then that would have to be coupled with a winning run from one of the bottom 4.

I think there will be more disappointment if we fail to beat Charlton than if we don't reach the play-offs, think we're all wise enough to see that even having an outside chance of the POs is a minor miracle.

I personally think its an all or nothing week. A win tonight will be the catalyst for Sunday. I just have nagging doubts that if we lose tonight it might affect the momentum a bit too much going into Sunday.

Other peoples thoughts on these 6 days?

Although we can get used to winning I'd probably take a draw tonight against a dangerous forward line and a win against Charlton which can do so much more for finances and image.
Wembley would raise our profile and maybe entrench us in players' minds who may find the club an attractive proposition.

 

[TonyAgana]

I feel like we've built a bit of a house of cards but it's something we haven't felt for a long time and it's reignited my passion for being a blade. In terms of recent-ish exciting times, we've had seasons where we've steam-rolled teams and always felt goals were only a couple of minutes away (2011-12) as well as various promotion / play-off / cup campaigns but not had anything like this in a long time. When Blackwell took over the resurgence was exciting but nothing like this where there's practically no room for error. 90 minutes from Wembley, 90 minutes from play-off dreams dying - call me a masochist but I love this shit and it's also why I wanted Wednesday in the QF. Who wants fingernails anyway?

 

[Darren]

Our play off chances are already something between "very slim" and "none". We would have to win 11 out of our last 14 games to even have a reasonable chance of getting 6th place. Extremely unlikely.

As for relegation, 50 points will probably be enough to stay up, so we need 3 wins from 14 - vey likely.

I would therefore say play off chances = 2%, relegation chances = 4%.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Our play off chances are already something between "very slim" and "none". We would have to win 11 out of our last 14 games to even have a reasonable chance of getting 6th place. Extremely unlikely.

As for relegation, 50 points will probably be enough to stay up, so we need 3 wins from 14 - vey likely.

I would therefore say play off chances = 2%, relegation chances = 4%.

Forget the maths, whats your gut feeling for this week?!

 

[mattbianco1]

Our play off chances are already something between "very slim" and "none". We would have to win 11 out of our last 14 games to even have a reasonable chance of getting 6th place. Extremely unlikely.

As for relegation, 50 points will probably be enough to stay up, so we need 3 wins from 14 - vey likely.

I would therefore say play off chances = 2%, relegation chances = 4%.

Why do we need to win 11 now? The other day you said the following (since then we have reduced the gap)...

72 points would have got you in the play offs last season. This season, it looks like more may be needed, but if we stick at 72, that means we need another 34 points from 15 games = W10 D4 L1.

 

[Rossb123]

Peterborough lost on saturday and we are in form, therefore we will probably lose (seems to be how it is). Even though its only 2 players from 11 I cant help but feel a bit down about the loss of Brayford and Murphy . Hopefully a win tonight without either of them will restore my faith!

If we had of held on to our 2 goal lead against Bradford we would have been 9 points behind playoffs, which would have made tonight an even bigger game to close the gap!

On a positive we could be 9 points clear of the drop with a win tonight, which we could of only dreamed of a few weeks ago.

 

[Darren]

Why do we need to win 11 now? The other day you said the following (since then we have reduced the gap)...

On relection I don't think 72 points will be enough this season. At the moment 6th place Peterborough are on course to get 75 points, hence we would need 76. 11 wins would get us 74 points, so we may actually need 12 or 11 wins and 2 draws from 14.

 

[Darren]

Forget the maths, whats your gut feeling for this week?!

My strange optimism says we will win both games. I reckon we will then lose in the semi and end up finishing 9th or 10th in the league.

 

[madeinsheffield]

Never lost the faith or the love, although it has been tested at times watching some of the rubbish served up earlier this season.

I feel tonight is one of the biggest matches and tests of just how far we have come in a few months, win and there's only a 8 points in it, not nice for them being chased by an in form side, they will be twitchy, I honestly feel we can capitalise on this.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

8 pts off the play offs? A win tonight and were 6 off. Plus by Sunday we'll have a game in hand on posh...

 

[mattbianco1]

8 pts off the play offs? A win tonight and were 6 off. Plus by Sunday we'll have a game in hand on posh...

We're 11 off with the possibility of 8 tonight

 

[grafikhaus]

Our play off chances are already something between "very slim" and "none". We would have to win 11 out of our last 14 games to even have a reasonable chance of getting 6th place. Extremely unlikely.

As for relegation, 50 points will probably be enough to stay up, so we need 3 wins from 14 - vey likely.

I would therefore say play off chances = 2%, relegation chances = 4%.

At the moment, Peterborough occupy the last play-off place (6th). Beat them tonight and we're 'only' 8 points behind them.
The team immediately above us - Bradford - are away to Brentford on Saturday so it's reasonable to think they'll lose. Swindon & MKD have currently played 2 more than us.

Too many ifs and buts to write us off just yet.

 

[Darren]

At the moment, Peterborough occupy the last play-off place (6th). Beat them tonight and we're 'only' 8 points behind them.
The team immediately above us - Bradford - are away to Brentford on Saturday so it's reasonable to think they'll lose. Swindon & MKD have currently played 2 more than us.

Too many ifs and buts to write us off just yet.

View attachment 7494

But what the teams below 6th do is irrelevant if we don't catch up Peterborough. As I say, we are likely to need at least 11 wins from 14 to catch them. Not impossible, but very unlikely.

 

[Rossb123]

My strange optimism says we will win both games. I reckon we will then lose in the semi and end up finishing 9th or 10th in the league.

I would be happy with that. I just want to celebrate a goal at Wembley! Even if It does see us lose to Man City 5-1.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Just keep believing - After Crewe who would have thought we would win seven on the bounce !
Anything is possible in football - dealt a bit of a blow on Saturday with the Brayford and Murphy injuries but we came through it - longer term that may be a defining factor - lets hope not !
UTB

 

[Darren]

I would be happy with that. I just want to celebrate a goal at Wembley! Even if It does see us lose to Man City 5-1.

So too young for Alan Cork in 93

That was a rather fab moment.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

So too young for Alan Cork in 93

That was a rather fab moment.

What is it with us, beards and cup runs?!

 

[SotonBlade]

As I said in another thread, all we have to keep doing is looking to win the next game throughout the rest of the season. Don't look at the next 4 or 5 games. Concentrate on what's next and what you can do to win that game.

 

[bladesadviser]

I have been so busy looking at the bottom of the league this season I hadn't realised that despite it only being early March there is really only one play off place up for grabs and that the top 5 have really pulled away from the pack.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Where would we be if Clough's points per game stats were projected back over Weir's games in charge?

 

[Selly]

But what the teams below 6th do is irrelevant if we don't catch up Peterborough. As I say, we are likely to need at least 11 wins from 14 to catch them. Not impossible, but very unlikely.

Yep.

If we win the next 5 I might start thinking that the PO are a possibility...

 

[Selly]

Where would we be if Clough's points per game stats were projected back over Weir's games in charge?

Clough has accumulatedpoints at 1.68 points per game, over 32 games this is somewhere between 53 and 54 points.

We'd be in or around the Playoffs, probably...

 

[stringjunior]

At the moment, Peterborough occupy the last play-off place (6th). Beat them tonight and we're 'only' 8 points behind them.
The team immediately above us - Bradford - are away to Brentford on Saturday so it's reasonable to think they'll lose. Swindon & MKD have currently played 2 more than us.

Too many ifs and buts to write us off just yet.

View attachment 7494

It seems very odd looking at the top half of the league table with the Blades in it.

I think my nose is bleeding

 

[Rossb123]

So too young for Alan Cork in 93

That was a rather fab moment.

Yes unfortunately! 23years old and only goalless Wembley heartaches so far.

 

[jezzablade]

Where would we be if Clough's points per game stats were projected back over Weir's games in charge?

We would be 6th and Peterborough 7th. But that is a bit simplistic if you don't mind me saying. Firstly there was a turn around of culture to undertake, 2nd he had to assess what players he had, thirdly he had to install new tactics (different from culture) to shore up the back. This took time. 4th he didn't have a pre season with the players which any manager will tell you is crucial. Its how you get to do the first three objectives and get the players fit before the season starts. Therefore you would have to take the first eight or so games out of the equation (maybe more). Which makes next season mouth watering if we can hang on to key personnel. Getting to the Semi (should we manage the very difficult task of beating Charlton since they play at a higher level every week, have seen us in the other rounds and are wary, and haven't got an important midweek game to contend with) would help with that in terms of revenue.

Wolves should be out of the division next season making our increased revenue count. We could even join the exclusive "won all divisions club" Wolves are already in, win the paint cup and then work our way up the league to win the (milk, rumbelows, or whatever its called now) to get the full set of every domestic possible competition. I.e. all four divisions FA Cup, League Cup and JP Trophy. How many clubs could say that?

 

[TonyAgana]

What is it with us, beards and cup runs?!

Erm... 2 in 21 years?

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

That's 1 every 10.5 years, the frequency that beards become fashionable.

 

[TonyAgana]

I reckon we will then lose in the semi and end up finishing 9th or 10th in the league.

Well 8 games ago you thought 12th to 15th so that puts us about on track for 5th or 6th! (maths notwithstanding)

 

[jezzablade]

That's 1 every 10.5 years, the frequency that beards become fashionable.

I didn't ever consider Corky to be fashionable since his nickname was "bin-man".