Chasing Peterborough

[SwissBlade]

Big, big win last night. I'd say that's a real indication of character. We could've gone down to Crawley and snatched a draw, which would've been a reasonable result. Instead we went there kept a clean sheet and produced a very good win.

Coady is doing well and coming up with some important goals

The chase is back on, but 3-4 sides above will also think the same!

 

[super_pig]

i think they will be terrified of us.. my mate over here is a Preston lad and he is absolutely terrified of getting us in the playoffs

 

[IOM Blade]

Swindon is indeed a massive 6 pointer, but is it our game in hand, or is it Oldham on Tuesday 29th?View attachment 7768

No chance of us gaining 5 points over Peterborough from that lot. I wouldn't be surprised if they won their last 6. They tend to do that when they have a soft run of games.

 

[Selly]

Well now this is interesting...

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/runin.html

For those that cant click:

Team Current Points Matches to Play Maximum Possible Points Highest Possible Finish Lowest Possible Finish Projected Points
Season Form Recent Form
1 Wolverhampton Wndrs 83 8 107 1 5 99.8 101.4
2 Brentford 79 9 106 1 7 97.9 97.0
3 Leyton Orient 76 7 97 1 9 89.3 88.6
4 Rotherham United 72 8 96 1 12 86.4 89.6
5 Preston North End 72 7 93 1 12 84.6 84.6
6 Peterborough United 58 8 82 2 24 70.0 66.8
7 Milton Keynes Dons 55 7 76 3 24 64.8 65.5
8 Swindon Town 54 7 75 4 24 63.1 61.7
9 Sheffield United 51 9 78 3 24 62.7 71.7
10 Walsall 53 7 74 4 24 62.1 57.9
11 Port Vale 50 8 74 4 24 60.4 56.4
12 Crawley Town 46 11 79 2 24 60.3 60.3
13 Gillingham 48 7 69 6 24 56.4 56.4
14 Bradford City 45 8 69 6 24 53.8 54.6
15 Bristol City 46 7 67 6 24 53.7 58.6
16 Coventry City 42 9 69 6 24 51.9 47.4
17 Colchester United 43 8 67 6 24 51.8 51.0
18 Oldham Athletic 43 7 64 6 24 50.7 50.7
19 Tranmere Rovers 39 8 63 6 24 47.0 47.0
20 Carlisle United 39 8 63 6 24 47.0 44.6
21 Crewe Alexandra 40 7 61 6 24 47.0 47.7
22 Stevenage 37 9 64 6 24 46.0 50.5
23 Shrewsbury Town 38 7 59 6 24 44.3 46.4
24 Notts County 37 7 58 6 24 43.3 42.6

 

[Worksop_Blade]

From the remaining fixtures I've got us down to Win 5, Draw 3 and Lose 1 giving us 69 points. Problem is I've got Posh to Win 3, Draw 2, and Lose 3 giving a total of 69 points.

Squeaky bum time is definitely here!!

 

[IOM Blade]

Let's just hope we score first in all remaining games!

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/oppscfst.html

Record when Opposition Scores First
TeamPldWDLFAGDGFAGAAPpGPts
1Leyton Orient (3)15645222111.461.40 1.4622
2Brentford (2)93151018-81.112.00 1.1110
3Rotherham United (4)143652428-41.712.00 1.0715
4Coventry City (18)183692842-141.552.33 0.8315
5Peterborough United (6)1641112130-91.311.87 0.8113
6Crawley Town (14)2037101831-130.901.55 0.8016
7Preston North End (5)101451018-81.001.80 0.707
8Wolverhampton Wndrs (1)611437-40.501.16 0.664
9Swindon Town (8)1732121632-160.941.88 0.6411
10Port Vale (11)2242162149-280.952.22 0.6314
11Bristol City (13)2127122540-151.191.90 0.6113
12Milton Keynes Dons (7)2033142138-171.051.90 0.6012
13Shrewsbury Town (22)2234151837-190.811.68 0.5913
14Bradford City (15)1817101731-140.941.72 0.5510
15Oldham Athletic (17)2434172444-201.001.83 0.5413
16Carlisle United (21)2132161848-300.852.28 0.5211
17Walsall (9)2017121332-190.651.60 0.5010
18Stevenage (24)2022161341-280.652.05 0.408
19Tranmere Rovers (20)2616192762-351.032.38 0.349
20Gillingham (12)2013161642-260.802.10 0.306
21Colchester United (16)1805131436-220.772.00 0.275
22Crewe Alexandra (19)181215844-360.442.44 0.275
23Notts County (23)2212191147-360.502.13 0.225
24Sheffield United (10)140311725-180.501.78 0.213

 

[SESKU Blade]

Hopefully we'll be that team that came from nowhere to snatch 6th spot, but got a feeling we may just miss out.
Whatever happens given the state we were in earlier in the season, it's a massive success.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Hopefully we'll be that team that came from nowhere to snatch 6th spot, but got a feeling we may just miss out.
Whatever happens given the state we were in earlier in the season, it's a massive success.

I agree SESKU Blade, all things considered, we've gone from being serious relegation candidates to having the comfort of knowing we're at least safe. Whatever happens next, Clough has done a great job. He never over-promises, always grounded, and he strikes me as someone who, unlike some of the managers we've had, knows a good player when he see's one

 

[S5Blade]

We are as low as 10/1 now to get promoted...... Madness. on the 19th of Feb you could get 300/1 on SUFC getting promoted.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Swindon is indeed a massive 6 pointer, but is it our game in hand, or is it Oldham on Tuesday 29th?View attachment 7768

Don't forget that 'boro play in the JT this Sunday and we play Sat and Tues so 'boro will have a game in hand at that point which they play on the Wed.

A much clearer picture will be seen on 5th April when everything is level - both played 39 with 7 left.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Cloughs remit was to avoid relegation this season, I think we can now safely tick that box.......
Anything else will be a bonus.....

 

[Pinchy]

I agree SESKU Blade, all things considered, we've gone from being serious relegation candidates to having the comfort of knowing we're at least safe. Whatever happens next, Clough has done a great job. He never over-promises, always grounded, and he strikes me as someone who, unlike some of the managers we've had, knows a good player when he see's one

You Nigel, don't you? Go on, admit it.......

 

[itsinyerblood]

You Nigel, don't you? Go on, admit it.......

Pinchers, I have great admiration for the man, as for sharing my lipstick...?

 

[kozluk]

i think they will be terrified of us.. my mate over here is a Preston lad and he is absolutely terrified of getting us in the playoffs

feeling is mutual, even during our dark days with DW2, I haven't seen a team dominate so much against us like they did at Deepdale! At half time I was a nervous wreck, I would have hid behind the sofa for the second half, but my legs were to wobbly to move.

We had a bit of luck, but should have been frashed. I don't wish to relive that. I'd take Rotherham in the final and LO in the Semi's. Not to be disrespectful towards them, but I think they're our best options. If indeed we do get in the play offs, which is unlikely.

But here's to hoping.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

feeling is mutual, even during our dark days with DW2, I haven't seen a team dominate so much against us like they did at Deepdale! At half time I was a nervous wreck, I would have hid behind the sofa for the second half, but my legs were to wobbly to move.

We had a bit of luck, but should have been frashed. I don't wish to relive that. I'd take Rotherham in the final and LO in the Semi's. Not to be disrespectful towards them, but I think they're our best options. If indeed we do get in the play offs, which is unlikely.

But here's to hoping.

UTB

It's quite ironic. That's exactly how I used to feel every time the ball came near your eponymous former player!

 

[kozluk]

It's quite ironic. That's exactly how I used to feel every time the ball came near your eponymous former player!

haha kozzie aint my fav player, it was a nickname given to me at school....I think it was their way of saying I was SH*T.

 

[JOEYDEE]

Posh are so unpredictable..no one can forecast their results,so we just have to do the best we can ,keep getting points cos its still out of hands .thats when its squeaky bum time..when its down to us and the pressures on !

 

[Dkc]

Rotherham would be a decent call for the semis in my opinion. It would be a massive occasion at the Lame with 30k fans and they'd be outnumbered by us at their stadium too. The play offs are a lottery, but the fact that there would be two local derbies with Blades fans outnumbering their lot in both legs could tip it for us

 

[kozluk]

Your right, the crowds may faze them. But Evans has gone on record saying he fancies any team over 2 legs ( a manager has too I know)

But considering how Rotherham are playing I'm inclined to believe him.

 

[kozluk]

Posh are so unpredictable..no one can forecast their results,so we just have to do the best we can ,keep getting points cos its still out of hands .thats when its squeaky bum time..when its down to us and the pressures on !

I can actually see us getting very close, and then messing it up at home to Coventry.

As a few people say on this forum..... Its the Blades Way

 

[Sirius]

Of course we'll win one or more of those games. Our team need fear no-one at the moment. The last dire prediction about our fate at the hands of these footballing titans lasted just one match, our comfortable win over the mighty Peterborough.

I'm sure DP would have said we won't beat Villa, Fulham, Forest etc.

I've got news - we did. We will do just fine against the teams mentioned. Why? Our present team is at least as good and probably better than all of them.

And why? ----- We are out footballing teams in a way that Weir could not get across to the players.. Perhaps that is a little unfair; put another way, Nigel has a number of plans up his sleeve, whereas Weir, who ,I thought would be the one, had but a single plan and IMO he was too stubborn to change it.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

And why? ----- We are out footballing teams in a way that Weir could not get across to the players.. Perhaps that is a little unfair; put another way, Nigel has a number of plans up his sleeve, whereas Weir, who ,I thought would be the one, had but a single plan and IMO he was too stubborn to change it.

The irony is that Weir played 451 and got slated for it, Clough plays 451 and we love it.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Rotherham would be a decent call for the semis in my opinion. It would be a massive occasion at the Lame with 30k fans and they'd be outnumbered by us at their stadium too. The play offs are a lottery, but the fact that there would be two local derbies with Blades fans outnumbering their lot in both legs could tip it for us

That's a bit arrogant, Dkc. You don't think they'll fill a 12,000 seater stadium largely with Toytown fans?

 

[Balham]

The irony is that Weir played 451 and got slated for it, Clough plays 451 and we love it.

There's no irony - Weir knew what he wanted to do but couldn't get that across to the players whereas Clough has managed to do that and it shows.

4-5-1 isn't necessarily defensive (just ask Bergen Blade !) but it's taken the appointment of Clough for that to translate onto the pitch. I said this back when we were debating Weir's tactics at the start of the season - full backs are absolutely critical and Clough saw that straight away, hence bringing in Brayford, Harris and Freeman to replace McMahon and Hill.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

There's no irony - Weir knew what he wanted to do but couldn't get that across to the players whereas Clough has managed to do that and it shows.

4-5-1 isn't necessarily defensive (just ask Bergen Blade !) but it's taken the appointment of Clough for that to translate onto the pitch. I said this back when we were debating Weir's tactics at the start of the season - full backs are absolutely critical and Clough saw that straight away, hence bringing in Brayford, Harris and Freeman to replace McMahon and Hill.

Agree but Clough has a version of it that is new to me and is so refreshing to watch that I've got my love of the Blades back.

I'm still fuming with Warnock for playing a defensive 451 against Bolton at home.

Fucking Bolton.

 

[jezzablade]

There's no irony - Weir knew what he wanted to do but couldn't get that across to the players whereas Clough has managed to do that and it shows.

4-5-1 isn't necessarily defensive (just ask Bergen Blade !) but it's taken the appointment of Clough for that to translate onto the pitch. I said this back when we were debating Weir's tactics at the start of the season - full backs are absolutely critical and Clough saw that straight away, hence bringing in Brayford, Harris and Freeman to replace McMahon and Hill.

The good thing about the way Clough plays the 4-5-1 is that it can be defensive for long periods if necessary and then the pacy four break quickly. And they are still protected by Doyle.

 

[blade too long]

COME ON LADS , ALL THIS OPTIMISM , its upsetting, well it will be for some like those that said wed blown it after drawing at Preston, to be realistic if we had won our 2 games in hand on those around but played a game more than posh still and the table looked like this , would you still be optimistic , come on be honest

6th Peterborough Utd p 38 pts 58
7th Sheffield UTD p 39 pts 57
8th Milton Keynes p 39 pts 55
9th Swindon p39 pts 54

 

[Dkc]

That's a bit arrogant, Dkc. You don't think they'll fill a 12,000 seater stadium largely with Toytown fans?

They probably could fill the NYS completely with their fans.

But after selling tickets to their 4 or 5,000-odd season ticket holders (my guess) and the away allocation to Blades fans, how would they distinguish their fair weather and occasional fans from the many thousands of Blades fans who speak in very similar accents and i(n many cases at least) live in the same catchment area? With both teams wearing red and white, it would be impossible for the club to ensure segregation.

 

[Dkc]

COME ON LADS , ALL THIS OPTIMISM , its upsetting, well it will be for some like those that said wed blown it after drawing at Preston, to be realistic if we had won our 2 games in hand on those around but played a game more than posh still and the table looked like this , would you still be optimistic , come on be honest

6th Peterborough Utd p 38 pts 58
7th Sheffield UTD p 39 pts 57
8th Milton Keynes p 39 pts 55
9th Swindon p39 pts 54

There's be still plenty who'd say we've got no chance.

 

[blade too long]

There's be still plenty who'd say we've got no chance.

yes and as soon as we lose 1 game theyll be sprouting out like daffodils