Definition of 'a good run of form'

[Blade for Sale]

As the good ship SUFC chugs slowly into a play-off berth, the usual feelings of paranoia start to surface. Received wisdom has it that a team which goes into the play-offs on a good run of form and without the disappointment of having narrowly missed out on automatic, stands a good chance of being successful.

Automatic promotion was written off weeks ago for us, so my thoughts now turn to form. Naturally 'a good run of form' has a beginning and an end, peaking somewhere in between, so you want to be hitting that peak for the 3 play off matches.

Question is, do we want Barnsley to be the start of 'a good run of form' given that it would need to run to 10 matches if we are still to be on said run in the play off final?

Am I being weird if I hope for a few more hit and miss appearances before exploding into life somewhere round Bradford and hitting Wembley at match 6 of a winning run? I know we have had some blinding purple patches in the past of 15 match unbeaten runs (last season being a good example) but my gut feeling is around 7-8 is the norm.

Or am I thinking far too deeply about this and being a typical pessimistic Blade!!??

By the way I don't think I'm tempting fate here, if we don't get a play off place from this position we want shooting.

 

[Esablade]

One game at a time...lose/draw tonight and it'll be 'sack negative Nigel'...

 

[itsinyerblood]

As the good ship SUFC chugs slowly into a play-off berth, the usual feelings of paranoia start to surface. Received wisdom has it that a team which goes into the play-offs on a good run of form and without the disappointment of having narrowly missed out on automatic, stands a good chance of being successful.

Automatic promotion was written off weeks ago for us, so my thoughts now turn to form. Naturally 'a good run of form' has a beginning and an end, peaking somewhere in between, so you want to be hitting that peak for the 3 play off matches.

Question is, do we want Barnsley to be the start of 'a good run of form' given that it would need to run to 10 matches if we are still to be on said run in the play off final?

Am I being weird if I hope for a few more hit and miss appearances before exploding into life somewhere round Bradford and hitting Wembley at match 6 of a winning run? I know we have had some blinding purple patches in the past of 15 match unbeaten runs (last season being a good example) but my gut feeling is around 7-8 is the norm.

Or am I thinking far too deeply about this and being a typical pessimistic Blade!!??

By the way I don't think I'm tempting fate here, if we don't get a play off place from this position we want shooting.

I think your questions are probably a bit analytical mate. Trying to stage manage how we play has been proven not to work. I'm sure it's the intention of Clough and co, to make sure that we approach each game with exactly the right attitude. By this point in the season the players will know what's at stake, what they have to do to achieve success, and that each game will demand maximum effort if we're to achieve promotion. A touch of inspiration here, a deft drop of a shoulder there, a thundering challenge that prompts the cry "G'wan son!", it's these moments that stir the blood and bring all of us, team and supporters, together.

All that matters is how we play, that's the only thing we can control. As supporters we can do our part by getting behind the team and let them know that we're behind them.....as for Barnsley, Chesterfield, and whoever else might be tugging on our shirt-tails, I'm far too busy focussing on the Blades and how we play to worry about anyone else.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

All that matters is how we play, that's the only thing we can control. As supporters we can do our part by getting behind the team and let them know that we're behind them.....as for Barnsley, Chesterfield, and whoever else might be tugging on our shirt-tails, I'm far too busy focussing on the Blades and how we play to worry about anyone else.

always good to look at who the opposition have to play, but yes, lets concentrate on the Blades.

Wonder what the bookies odds are on 9 straight wins in a row - starting tonight!

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I think your questions are probably a bit analytical mate. Trying to stage manage how we play has been proven not to work. I'm sure it's the intention of Clough and co, to make sure that we approach each game with exactly the right attitude. By this point in the season the players will know what's at stake, what they have to do to achieve success, and that each game will demand maximum effort if we're to achieve promotion. A touch of inspiration here, a deft drop of a shoulder there, a thundering challenge that prompts the cry "G'wan son!", it's these moments that stir the blood and bring all of us, team and supporters, together.

All that matters is how we play, that's the only thing we can control. As supporters we can do our part by getting behind the team and let them know that we're behind them.....as for Barnsley, Chesterfield, and whoever else might be tugging on our shirt-tails, I'm far too busy focussing on the Blades and how we play to worry about anyone else.

Agreed.

Basically it's one game at a time. No matter that it's a cliche, it's the best advice. I would modify it a bit in that if, say, you've got three games in a week, then you might manage the squad over that period of time.

I don't think it's really about form, more about personnel. We've got almost a full strength team out at the moment, and now Coutts is coming into form - so it is about form

My take on this is a lot hinges on Terry Kennedy's fitness. With him in the team Bashambauer moves into midfield - and there are various other positive knock on effects.

The team just have to focus on doing the best they can for each game, learning from any mistakes, and move forward.

And don't worry about things you can't control - like other teams' results.

 

[stringjunior]

always good to look at who the opposition have to play, but yes, lets concentrate on the Blades.

Wonder what the bookies odds are on 9 straight wins in a row - starting tonight!

UTB

Bloody Hell Fulwood Blade. Hit 9 in a row and the automatics are still on........

 

[Dkc]

I still feel that the good ship SUFC could have some difficulty manoveuring itself into a play-off berth, especially berth number three, It could find itself shunted aside by HMS Chesterfield, and adrift in open water, having to skirmish with Captain Hill and HMS Rochdale for the right to occupy berth number four.

 

[wizadry]

3 wins out of 4 isn't a bad run of form results wise, we still have a bit to go performance wise although Barnsley was a huge step in the right direction and if we can get that consistency, keep the tempo up and get a settled side then we'll have a far better chance of gaining promotion through the playoffs than i thought a month or two ago.

 

[Blade56]

For the Blades its a good run if we won the last match

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Bloody Hell Fulwood Blade. Hit 9 in a row and the automatics are still on........

nah - 6 league games, 2 PO semis and the final itself.

I know we are Sheff United and we do things the difficult way - but it is not beyond our crazy season to finish that way.
Our last 6 games are straight forward - Swindon in the semis - Fleetwood in the final............why not?

UTB

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I still feel that the good ship SUFC could have some difficulty manoveuring itself into a play-off berth, especially berth number three, It could find itself shunted aside by HMS Chesterfield, and adrift in open water, having to skirmish with Captain Hill and HMS Rochdale for the right to occupy berth number four.

so does this make Barnsley the Belgrano,.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

always good to look at who the opposition have to play, but yes, lets concentrate on the Blades.

Wonder what the bookies odds are on 9 straight wins in a row - starting tonight!

UTB

If we have 9 wins in a row starting tonight, I think they will more commonly be remembered as 10 wins in a row starting last Saturday.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

One game at a time...lose/draw tonight and it'll be 'sack negative Nigel'...

What time will that one emerge?

 

[Jonboy60]

Cement a place in the play offs soon as, the rest of the games will take care of themselves. It's the last three that count.

 

[blade too long]

Form means nothing going into play offs .weve gone into them hot and cold and made no difference and of all play off winners some have been on fire some been written off before they start .All thats needed is to start a winning streak the day before the final. QPR winning it with 10 men with a 88th minute goal after being pommelled for 85 minutes shows you just need to win .by any means.and then claim it was a brilliant plan

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

As the good ship SUFC chugs slowly into a play-off berth, the usual feelings of paranoia start to surface. Received wisdom has it that a team which goes into the play-offs on a good run of form and without the disappointment of having narrowly missed out on automatic, stands a good chance of being successful.

Automatic promotion was written off weeks ago for us, so my thoughts now turn to form. Naturally 'a good run of form' has a beginning and an end, peaking somewhere in between, so you want to be hitting that peak for the 3 play off matches.

Question is, do we want Barnsley to be the start of 'a good run of form' given that it would need to run to 10 matches if we are still to be on said run in the play off final?

Am I being weird if I hope for a few more hit and miss appearances before exploding into life somewhere round Bradford and hitting Wembley at match 6 of a winning run? I know we have had some blinding purple patches in the past of 15 match unbeaten runs (last season being a good example) but my gut feeling is around 7-8 is the norm.

Or am I thinking far too deeply about this and being a typical pessimistic Blade!!??

By the way I don't think I'm tempting fate here, if we don't get a play off place from this position we want shooting.

You thinking far too deeply about it, it's a bit of a misnomer that you have to be in good form going into the play off's. Look what happened to us in 2002-2003 and 2008-2009. Also, the team finishing 3rd have actually won the play offs on more occasions that any other team (unless your us of course!)

The key is having your best players fit and a player in "goal scoring form". Often when we've got to the final we've been missing both: 1997 we had load of injuries / 2003 Windass went awol and McCall couldn't start the game / 2009 we didn't have a decent striker - had to play Craig Beattie! / 2011 we had McDonald out injured and Ched in prison!!

Its 3 games where anything can happen. We could not score a goal and still win them! Or lose one, win one, draw one and win on pens.