Auto promotion chances after the JTW and recent form.

[Frank the tank]

I think they'll maintain their incredible defensive record but their lack of a CF signing might be their undoing, along with Parker's astonishing negativity and obsessive commitment to not conceding at all costs

We'll keep staggering along, beating most of the poorer teams, but I'd feel much more confident without the minus 2 and with a convincing Souttar replacement

I think Sunderland could well sneak into the top 2. They will outscore both us and Burnley comfortably and in Isidor have the difference making striker we both lack

Isidor makes Rhian Brewster look like Gary Lineker

 

[Sheffsteel]

We’ve got to be honest with ourselves and admit we aren’t a good side really but we’ve ground results and won games horrible.
The football dished up is abismal and it’s only that the majority of the division is so poor that we are in this position.
There is only two players that are Premiership quality Cooper and Hamer so what’s the plan if we go up the mind boggles.

Couldn’t care less how poor the other sides are….agree the standard seems low but we say that about the Championship every season.

This season is all about promotion and logic suggests we’ll finish top 2.
Based on we’ve been severely under strength up to now and find ourselves 2nd.
Going forward we are so much stronger with strength in depth to cope with injuries and loss of form.
So (in theory) we should gain more points in the 2nd half compared to the 1st half.

We need to Premier League to continue growing the club….stay in the Championship for a number of years results in a slow death.
So we cross the lack of quality issue if and when we’re promoted.

 

[Irv]

Unless Burnley have addressed their issue of lack of goals then I'm not too worried about them, didn't realise until Saturday that Jay Rodriguez has gone to Wrexham.

Imo, Sunderland seem to be the opposite of us in a way, while our performances are inconsistent we're still winning games, whereas Sunderland seem to perform well in most games, but don't consistently get wins which is why they seem rooted to 4th spot.

I was hoping Meslier would be the thing that costs Leeds promotion, but they are so good in front of goal that they could probably beat someone 4-3 if Meslier let in 3 howlers, or at the very least, draw the game like they did against Sunderland and Hull.

VERY tough game for Leeds at bang in form Cov tomorrow night.

 

[Sheffsteel]

If we can keep the 2 points per game going we will be fine , my Leeds mate is expecting the wheels to fall off for them ( tbf most of them are as bad as us with the glass half empty ) he says their window has been uninspiring as in none !!! Like us he says they were desperate for 1/2 centre halves
I see Burnley have signed a young lad from ajax and Marcus Edwards to solve their lack of goals

Marcus Edwards is a tricky winger (similar to Benson) but doesn’t score that many goals.
He was in that Sporting Lisbon team and was brilliant against Spurs 2 year back in the Champions league, think he scored an hatrick and looked world class.
The irony of that match was he started his career in the Spurs Academy and is a Spurs fan, so you had Spurs fans wondering how and why such a fantastic player was allowed to leave.

He was quite a known talent 2 year back but no PL club took the gamble on him, which is telling.
He’s been totally out of favour this season in Portugal and hardly played any 1st team football at Sporting Lisbon, played just 6 matches.

 

[Stanthemanfan]

If I read the fixtures correctly, we only have 3 more weeks with midweek fixtures (Boro, Millwall, Bristol C, all at home) then Burnley away on Easter Monday after the Saturday game v Cardiff. Other than that we’re back to one a week with an international break as well in March, so our improved and bigger squad is arriving after the fixture peak, though rotation is still a good thing.

By the way, Hamer is more likely to be out for 3 games suspended when he gets to 15 yellows in about 5 games time

That's why I can't understand why we haven't gone for an attacking midfielder or some guile, without gus we're toothless we have 2 many strikers now

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Still have us down as finishing 4th out of that group, we will have to see if our new signings make us stronger, on paper they should but Wilder is going to have to look after a few egos in the squad now, they all can't play.
Also Wilder didn't address our pace issue or lack of it which is bit of a worry for me.
It's going to be like 4 heavyweight boxers all going at it,, were one slight slip up could be costly.
Can certainly see it going to the last game off the season.

 

[UddersBlade]

Still think we’ll be top 2. I reckon we’ll get another 32 pts from 16 games ( 9 home 7 away). That will get us to 93 pts. Honestly think that will just be enough.

 

[KOPPO]

we BLADES will be CHAMPIONS...utb...

 

[1066blade]

Top: Leeds
2nd: Burnley
3rd: Sunderland
4th: Blades
Sunderland beat SUFC in play offs final.
Sorry kids, can't see it going any other way.
Love to be proved wrong, obvs.

 

[UddersBlade]

Leeds -95pts
Blades - 93pts
Sunderland - 91pts
Burnley - 90 pts

And I’m going left field for Frank Lampard’s Cov C to sneak into the play offs & win it them.

 

[FTPE]

VERY tough game for Leeds at bang in form Cov tomorrow night.

A couple of loses and their mood will change. They aren't a huge fan of the manager and they aren't happy with their window.
Once/if they lose their fans, THATS when their "falling apart" might happen.
Sunderland worry me. They are so fast and fluid.
I'll have to see our new team before I can say if I'm confident or not

 

[Derek1889]

Just watched the Burnley game and wow that's boring. Only won by an og didn't really look like scoring. But on the same note didn't look like conceding I know it was only Oxford like. If the play like that for rest of season I wouldn't be worried about them more worried about Sunderland

 

[MBH]

As a Sunderland supporter I have no idea how the top 4 will pan out.

One thing I dont buy into is this "Leeds United are the reincarnation of the 1970 Brazilians". they are so unbelievably good that after 30 games they are a massive 2 points better off than you lads and Burnley - just how good is that eh?

Leeds could easily bottle it.

For me I'm just hoping that SAFC can keep winning games, there will be a set back or two as we get close to the finish line, and I'd be more than happy to be written off, stay in touch with the other 3 and then in the last 2 games, someone stumbles and we nick in and take first or second and then the cry goes up "how did that happen, I'd written them off".

16 games to go - not 3 or 4. One bad weekend for anyone of the top 4 is just that - one bad weekend.

 

[MBH]

Just watched the Burnley game and wow that's boring. Only won by an og didn't really look like scoring. But on the same note didn't look like conceding I know it was only Oxford like. If the play like that for rest of season I wouldn't be worried about them more worried about Sunderland

Their defence is clearly very good but it's at the expense of everything else. I'd hate to watch them every week. Very difficult to beat but I'm hoping that their achilles heel will be one too many "0 v 0's".

 

[Pedro's Winger]

The team that scores the most and the team that concedes the least will go up.
We haven't significantly strengthened in the transfer window, still lack pace in the team and will continue to concede more than with Souttar.
Our traditional happy place, the play-offs, beckons again.

 

[Derek1889]

Their defence is clearly very good but it's at the expense of everything else. I'd hate to watch them every week. Very difficult to beat but I'm hoping that their achilles heel will be one too many "0 v 0's".

Yeah be good if the kept with the normal scoreline 0-0. I also noticed parker doesn't seem to make subs till late hope that will be a factor aswel. I know they was 1 0 up but they just didn't seem to look like scoring again in my opinion

 

[MBH]

A couple of loses and their mood will change. They aren't a huge fan of the manager and they aren't happy with their window.
Once/if they lose their fans, THATS when their "falling apart" might happen.
Sunderland worry me. They are so fast and fluid.
I'll have to see our new team before I can say if I'm confident or not

Sunderland's achilles heel is that we are the championship equivalent of Tottenham - concede stupid goals at the wrong time eg 90 minutes. that could be our undoing.

Up front mind you Isidor and Le Fee must surely be in the top 3 striking partnerships/forwards in the division. Isidor is like shit off a stick and Le Fee is far too good for this level.

I could easily see us score or concede in the last minute of the last game to either get top 2 or bladder it. That's how tight it could get.

 

[Nagima]

The squad has been strengthened. The rest of the season is now on how best to use the players. Hamza and Vini look certain to play and getting Davies fit will bring another option. Holding will shore up the defence hopefully. Even if turns out that he doesn't reach Souttar levels he should be better than Robinson. Clarke takes over from Gilchrist due to his attacking ability.

The question marks are about the 3 plus 11 and who fits best. Hamer O'Hare JRS probably are best suited but are they the 3 to get the Best out of Cannon? I presume they will and will need to. Cannon can score but will he get on the ball enough? He doesn't appear to have enough physical presence to hold the ball up on his own. He wants the ball put in front of him close enough to the edge of the box. That will mean the 3 have to sync with him. Campbell while similar has strength and the brain to make chances for himself. Moore is the big man option and maybe introduced as a sub. BBD playing means O'Hare or JRS benched.

We now have plenty of options which is great when the manager picks the right team. Sometimes results come as we have no other option but to play xyz as no one else is fit. Wilder has to pick the right team and make adjustments during the game, including changing formation if needed.
Going 2 up top etc. Its going to be great watching how it all develops on the pitch.

 

[UddersBlade]

Sunderland's achilles heel is that we are the championship equivalent of Tottenham - conceded stupid goals right at the wrong time eg 90 minutes. that could be our undoing.

Up front mind you Isidor and Le Fee must surely be in the top 3 striking partnerships/forwards in the division. Isidor is like shit off a stick and Le Fee is far too good for this level.

Think you guys have been a breath of fresh air this season …… broken up the parachute teams as Ipswich did last year & Luton the year before and us in 2018/19. You are spot on as to it is too close to call. I also don’t think Leeds are quite as convincing as many ‘experts’ think - they are fantastic at home but have dropped a lot of daft points away….so who knows how they will react as the pressure builds in a couple of months time.

I can honestly see it all going to the last day of the season. Scary stuff!

 

[Champagneblade]

As a Sunderland supporter I have no idea how the top 4 will pan out.

One thing I dont buy into is this "Leeds United are the reincarnation of the 1970 Brazilians". they are so unbelievably good that after 30 games they are a massive 2 points better off than you lads and Burnley - just how good is that eh?

Leeds could easily bottle it.

For me I'm just hoping that SAFC can keep winning games, there will be a set back or two as we get close to the finish line, and I'd be more than happy to be written off, stay in touch with the other 3 and then in the last 2 games, someone stumbles and we nick in and take first or second and then the cry goes up "how did that happen, I'd written them off".

16 games to go - not 3 or 4. One bad weekend for anyone of the top 4 is just that - one bad weekend.

You can say we’re bad lads and we’re late on payments so we deserve it, but Leeds only have more points than us due to the * against us, as we were a bit potless 2 years back so the EFL decided to punish us now.

That with having a thin squad than ran out of options in November with 9 injured and youths hitting the bench that should have been nowhere near.

With 5 realistic first teamers signed - Clarke, Holding, Choudhury, Brereton-Diaz and Cannon, it would be hugely disappointing to run into similar squad issues in the remaining matches.

Some of this may come down to the head to heads. Sunderland and Blades have swapped points.

We faced Leeds and Burnley a little depleted and it showed in the results.

We’d hope to do better next time around.

You’ve already played us and Burnley twice so just have Leeds to play of the top four then you have a relatively reasonable run in.

I suppose in our favour we have 9/16 remaining matches at home, as do you.

In contrast Burnley has 8 left at home and Leeds also 8. So they have got a bit of a march on but home advantage has aided them.

 

[MobileBlade]

If I read the fixtures correctly, we only have 3 more weeks with midweek fixtures (Boro, Millwall, Bristol C, all at home) then Burnley away on Easter Monday after the Saturday game v Cardiff. Other than that we’re back to one a week with an international break as well in March, so our improved and bigger squad is arriving after the fixture peak, though rotation is still a good thing.

By the way, Hamer is more likely to be out for 3 games suspended when he gets to 15 yellows in about 5 games time

Cardiff is on Good Friday

 

[dexter101]

I asked chatgpt yesterday for a pun involving ducks and Leeds United (don't ask why, it was a work thing)

It's response along with some other text was:

though unlike Leeds, our duck never bottles it under pressure!


There you have it, AI is giving us signings and predicting the end of the season!

 

[Charlieblade]

Such a difficult question because all 4 clubs can put forward a realistic argument why they’ll finish top 2.

My view is that Leeds will finish top
And I feel we have a 66% chance of finishing 2nd, so I do expect us to be auto promoted but I’m not confident.

Leeds, Sunderland and even Middlesboro are the most expansive open attacking teams in this league.
When these teams click they are capable of beating anybody but when they don’t click and have an off day…they can drop points against anybody.

Leeds are probably the best team in the league with the best squad so I expect them to finish top
But they do have a recent history of bottling it, they only need a couple of defeats towards the end of the season and their fanbase will panic going into meltdown.
Sunderland are an exciting attacking team that prefer to play games like a game of basketball
This means the opposition will always have chances ensuring they’ll drop unlikely points.

Burnley and Sheff Utd are more of the strangling, chess match teams who know how to gain points even when having off days.
You sense that towards the end of season when the pressure is on, players become nervous so matches become more of a fight
This favours the Burnley and Sheff Utd more pragmatic style.

Burnley must have a great chance of top 2 becuase they don’t concede.
They’ve had so many 0-0 draws and you would expect it shouldn’t be too difficult to change these to 1-0 wins.
I do wonder if the Burnley manager can break out of his natural pragmatism and negativity or will the 0-0’s continue?

Regards United we’ve had a bit of a disaster in the 1st half of the season, loads of players out injured
Losing our 2 most important players (Souttar and Arblaster) for the whole season and being forced to rely on untested Academy players.
Don’t know how we did it but incredibly with a severely weakened team we’ve still found ourselves in 2nd place.
Logic suggests that with a much stronger squad both in numbers and quality, then our 2nd half of the season results must be better than the 1st half
And if this happens, we’ll finish on at least 95 points and will be promoted.

Think our promotion chances revolve heavily around the Rob Holding signing….the defence is no longer calm and solid without Souttar.
Holding comes with an impressive pedigree (far better than any of our other defenders and better than Souttar) but hardly played football at a decent level for 2 years.
Hopefully he might have Souttar effect, took him 3 games to fit in and make the defence look imperious.

A useful and thoughtful summary. My only words of caution would be the number of players needing a settling in period after a busy JTW. If you remember the early season games, some players in the partial early rebuild needed time to settle?

 

[CrookesBlade]

We’ve got to be honest with ourselves and admit we aren’t a good side really but we’ve ground results and won games horrible.
The football dished up is abismal and it’s only that the majority of the division is so poor that we are in this position.
There is only two players that are Premiership quality Cooper and Hamer so what’s the plan if we go up the mind boggles.

The old “it’s a poor league” rears its head again.

The league is broadly the same standard as it is every year, albeit there are 4 very strong sides in it this year as opposed to just the 2 the last time we went up.

…..and if we go up we buy new players and strengthen the side. Surely that’s obvious? It’s not going to be the same car crash of a pre season it was last time.

I never understand this trope that gets trotted out every time we are in with a shout of promotion. What’s the alternative? Start losing games on purpose? Refuse promotion until everyone can agree we are “worthy”?

I think we’ve got an incredibly strong side for this level. We’ve done well to weather an injury crisis which we are now coming out the other side of. It’s worth remembering we’d be joint top if it wasn’t for the deduction.

 

[BalticBlade]

The extra depth and quality we have brought in during the JTW should hopefully mean rather than spending the last 15 or 20 minutes trying to see out a one goal win, we'll have quality and experienced players to bring on to put games to bed.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

…….
I think Sunderland could well sneak into the top 2. They will outscore both us and Burnley comfortably and in Isidor have the difference making striker we both lack

Aye
That’ll be the Wilson Isidor that’s scored less goals this season than Cannon, (in the same amount of games), for a team with a worse goal difference to us?