Autos gone after today

[bladesince64]

Don't think we willwil in contention for automatic promotion after Leeds got a very late winner at Villa today. Was praying for a Villa win or a draw and the gap would have then been possible.

Nine points is a big ask now though and when you look at the squads on show today I think we've given another very good account of ourselves on a much smaller budget.

Leeds and Norwich somehow keep getting wins and some are very very late in games.

Watched a bit of today's encounter and both sides showed good pace, passing and movement and hate to say it but Leeds were still going forward right to the very end when many teams would have sat back and protected what they'd already got.

Unless we can go on another incredible run (and get a couple of quality loans in) I can see us maybe just scraping into the playoffs.

Personally I would be very happy with that as we stand and I think that CW AK and the squad have made progress in 2018.

Merry Christmas Blades one and all.

 

[Roygbiv]

Automatic was never realistically on. The lack of squad depth was always going to rule us out of that. Be absolutely delighted with the play offs. Another top 10 finish is probably more realistic and perfectly acceptable.

Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[Ricky]

Anyone still thinking about automatic was in Blade cuckoo land.

 

[Kenilworth]

Our form of late is mid table.
Can't take the half way mark and double it because our first quarter form was better than our most recent run of 11-12 games.

If we don't make additions to the squad in the JTW of any quality then we will finish outside the play offs. The depth is better than last year but still not top 6 when you consider the opposition.

 

[Guesty]

Anyone still thinking about automatic was in Blade cuckoo land.

Based on form and squad depth, I'd say play-offs are a bit of a pipe dream too.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Anything less than finishing top is a complete failure.

 

[wavy-blade]

What fookin annoying is we are dominated vast amounts of the games with out scoring , its so frustrating watch us at the moment , I really don't know what the answer is ?

 

[robbiez666]

Mid table again, which is still over-achieving.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Very impressive from Leeds who I didn't think looked all that at the Lane.
The number of young players they're bringing through and to be top with little spending is remarkable.

 

[South Bucks]

Automatic was never realistically on. The lack of squad depth was always going to rule us out of that. Be absolutely delighted with the play offs. Another top 10 finish is probably more realistic and perfectly acceptable.

Merry Christmas to you too!

With respect, we have 142 playing and coaching staff on the books according to the latest BL accounts.
IMO we need better quality and less quantity, can only have 11 on the pitch.

 

[Roygbiv]

[

Wrong thread

 

[Roygbiv]

With respect, we have 142 playing and coaching staff on the books according to the latest BL accounts.
IMO we need better quality and less quantity, can only have 11 on the pitch.

Yeah it's not about numbers but lack of quality cover.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Autos are still very much on.
You doom and gloom merchants should cheer up a bit!

 

[nopigfansintown]

It was always a pipe dream to be top two now. This season was about getting to January still in contention, and then hopefully bringing in two or three bits of quality. Hopefully permanently - so we don't need major surgery on the squad next summer (not a big issue if we gain promotion).

 

[bornablade]

Let's all continue to trust Wilder. Nothing is impossible.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Automatic was never realistically on. The lack of squad depth was always going to rule us out of that. Be absolutely delighted with the play offs. Another top 10 finish is probably more realistic and perfectly acceptable.

Merry Christmas to you too!

Leeds finished 13th last season with materially the same squad. If they can be top of the league, there's no reason why we shouldn't aspire to it.

If it's not players or budget it must be something else? Better manager?

 

[Guesty]

Leeds finished 13th last season with materially the same squad. If they can be top of the league, there's no reason why we shouldn't aspire to it.

If it's not players or budget it must be something else? Better manager?

Leeds had a few bad results and collapsed last year. They should have done better.

We collapsed too, but because we lost Paul Coutts, who alas isn't back to the player he was. Leeds clearly also have more in reserve than we do.

 

[Topplayersleave]

We never were in contention for automatic promotion, not really.

It's gonna take money from now, and of course we haven't got any, just for a change

 

[Toronto Blade]

That is a tough late winner.
The better teams seem to manage to get those late wins as they wear down the weaker teams with skill and fitness.
Still half a season to go though.

 

[SwissBlade]

We’re now a long way off the top two. They’ve both got a knack of scoring late, late winners.

In three weeks since we played Leeds when I think we could’ve gone top 2, were now 10 points behind Leeds! Quite a gap they’ve opened along with Norwich.

But with so many teams coming into form, that top two will probably change.

It also shows that in a matter of a month, you can be right in amongst it or out of it.

Plenty more to come at the top, whether we’re there will depend on how fresh we can keep our squad.

 

[Rob86]

Leeds finished 13th last season with materially the same squad. If they can be top of the league, there's no reason why we shouldn't aspire to it.

If it's not players or budget it must be something else? Better manager?

In Leeds case it is a better manager. They had a better squad than us last year and this year, with a decent manager, it is proving to be the case. They looked very toothless last year, but are much more phaysical and fitter this year. So many good young players. I’d be surprised if they dropped off this year

 

[Isar]

I wouldn't rule anything out, there is a long way to go and a lot of points available. The top six is very achievable, top two very unlikely.

 

[Booker4]

I've not given up yet of the top two because we've shown we can go on a run of winning games and we've played some tough fixtures of late. However, whether we do well or not is entirely dependant on January's transfer business. If we get Kieran Dowell in and two other similar standard players I wouldn't rule it out, but I am an optimist! I'd be more than happy with a play off spot, that's a remarkable achievement.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

What fookin annoying is we are dominated vast amounts of the games with out scoring , its so frustrating watch us at the moment , I really don't know what the answer is ?

Big nasty goal scoring centre forward.

 

[Inter_blade83]

If we can stop pissing about with the ball 20 yards out and gerritin box instead, we'll win more and score more

 

[Silent Blade]

Only L**ds , Norwich and WBA are the candidates for the automatics. Been fearing that Villa would be climbing up fast so I wanted them to lose today.

 

[Davalon]

I keep hearing the word luck when talking about late goals for the likes of Norwich.

Don't agree with that. The better teams never give in and often find ways of winning games late. Man Utd did it regularly under AF and we went through spells under Bassett and Warnock doing it.

Our current side often have too many players looking tired or resigned late in games imo.

 

[Ricky]

West Brom and Leeds for the top 2 now IMO.

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

Luck or not Leeds and Norwich have the Midas touch with late goals.

 

[Booker4]

I still think the top two is possible if we bring in three very good players come January. If Dowell is one of them I would say he's the type of calibre we need. I don't rate Norwich as highly as their current position but you've got to take your hat off to them - they've done brilliantly. They over rely on Pukki but they must have other decent players nevertheless.

Villa are still a dangerous side I think. If they keep hold of Abraham and get a couple of defenders I can see them pushing. Leeds look like lasting the course this season but they are notorious for cracking near the end. If we can win the next two games we'll feel very differently about our season and there's no reason why we can't win 5 on the bounce. Right now we're feeling a little sorry for ourselves but we know this team can compete with the best. Having very little options off the bench is killing us though.