Don't get carried away !

[wavy-blade]

This is the league this time last year , fascinating really when you look at the bottom 2 , its a great start yes , but its a long old season through cold wet winter months to come !

League Championship table after close of play on 30 August 2021​

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Fulham	5	4	1	0	13	3	10	13
2	West Bromwich Albion	5	4	1	0	12	5	7	13
3	Queens Park Rangers	5	3	2	0	11	5	6	11
4	Huddersfield Town	5	3	1	1	9	7	2	10
5	Stoke City	5	3	1	1	7	6	1	10
6	AFC Bournemouth	5	2	3	0	8	5	3	9
7	Coventry City	5	3	0	2	5	5	0	9
8	Birmingham City	5	2	2	1	7	3	4	8
9	Cardiff City	5	2	2	1	9	6	3	8
10	Blackburn Rovers	5	2	2	1	7	6	1	8
11	Bristol City	5	2	1	2	7	7	0	7
12	Luton Town	5	2	1	2	6	8	-2	7
13	Middlesbrough	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
14	Barnsley	5	1	3	1	5	5	0	6
15	Derby County	5	1	3	1	4	4	0	6
16	Preston North End	5	2	0	3	6	8	-2	6
17	Millwall	5	1	2	2	6	8	-2	5
18	Hull City	5	1	1	3	4	7	-3	4
19	Peterborough United	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
20	Swansea City	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
21	Reading	5	1	0	4	7	13	-6	3
22	Blackpool	5	0	2	3	4	8	-4	2
23	Sheffield United	5	0	2	3	1	7	-6	2
24	Nottingham Forest	5	0	1	4	4	8	-4	1

 

[Frank the tank]

Not personally getting carried away but I.did think going into this seasons n.we had enough for top 6

Based on what I've seen so far and if we have a bit of luck with injuries and the new guys bed in I think the Sky's the limit

 

[Overthehills]

Forget the points total, I’m majorly impressed that me are currently leading on the goals scored total at the minute.

As always, without proper strikers… you worry where the goals are going to come from. But it seems our youngsters are stepping up and it seems we have developed the ability to score goals from all over the pitch as well….. this excites me most right now!…..Happy days

 

[ZoneManWilf]

So you're saying whoever is top after 5 games goes on to win the league?

Back of the net

 

[s6Blades]

I’m not getting carried away but Iv just booked a week in Blackpool on 28/12 for when we get promoted.

Do you think I should cancel the drugs, strippers and party poppers?

 

[GodricBlade]

I’m not getting carried away but Iv just booked a week in Blackpool on 28/12 for when we get promoted.

Do you think I should cancel the drugs, strippers and party poppers?

Can’t help but think the party poppers were an afterthought.

 

[mattbianco1]

This is the league this time last year , fascinating really when you look at the bottom 2 , its a great start yes , but its a long old season through cold wet winter months to come !

League Championship table after close of play on 30 August 2021​

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Fulham	5	4	1	0	13	3	10	13
2	West Bromwich Albion	5	4	1	0	12	5	7	13
3	Queens Park Rangers	5	3	2	0	11	5	6	11
4	Huddersfield Town	5	3	1	1	9	7	2	10
5	Stoke City	5	3	1	1	7	6	1	10
6	AFC Bournemouth	5	2	3	0	8	5	3	9
7	Coventry City	5	3	0	2	5	5	0	9
8	Birmingham City	5	2	2	1	7	3	4	8
9	Cardiff City	5	2	2	1	9	6	3	8
10	Blackburn Rovers	5	2	2	1	7	6	1	8
11	Bristol City	5	2	1	2	7	7	0	7
12	Luton Town	5	2	1	2	6	8	-2	7
13	Middlesbrough	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
14	Barnsley	5	1	3	1	5	5	0	6
15	Derby County	5	1	3	1	4	4	0	6
16	Preston North End	5	2	0	3	6	8	-2	6
17	Millwall	5	1	2	2	6	8	-2	5
18	Hull City	5	1	1	3	4	7	-3	4
19	Peterborough United	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
20	Swansea City	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
21	Reading	5	1	0	4	7	13	-6	3
22	Blackpool	5	0	2	3	4	8	-4	2
23	Sheffield United	5	0	2	3	1	7	-6	2
24	Nottingham Forest	5	0	1	4	4	8	-4	1

50% of that top 6, finished in the top 6.

 

[HarryHaslam]

Too late, I’m officially carried away.. promotion is ours

 

[ChrisBlade]

Also interesting to note that several teams we already played in the small sample - despite playing us and in several cases losing - are nevertheless high in the table, too. Watford, Blackburn, Millwall and Sunderland all currently look like top-half teams.

Bodes well… fingers crossed.

 

[Aston max]

41 games yet boys ,bladey bladeness

 

[Ricardo Mantelban]

Things will change after the window closes. Watford will be totally different up front. Let’s pray we won’t or ….maybe a cheeky 20 goal striker.

 

[Sheffsteel]

This is the league this time last year , fascinating really when you look at the bottom 2 , its a great start yes , but its a long old season through cold wet winter months to come !

League Championship table after close of play on 30 August 2021​

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Fulham	5	4	1	0	13	3	10	13
2	West Bromwich Albion	5	4	1	0	12	5	7	13
3	Queens Park Rangers	5	3	2	0	11	5	6	11
4	Huddersfield Town	5	3	1	1	9	7	2	10
5	Stoke City	5	3	1	1	7	6	1	10
6	AFC Bournemouth	5	2	3	0	8	5	3	9
7	Coventry City	5	3	0	2	5	5	0	9
8	Birmingham City	5	2	2	1	7	3	4	8
9	Cardiff City	5	2	2	1	9	6	3	8
10	Blackburn Rovers	5	2	2	1	7	6	1	8
11	Bristol City	5	2	1	2	7	7	0	7
12	Luton Town	5	2	1	2	6	8	-2	7
13	Middlesbrough	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
14	Barnsley	5	1	3	1	5	5	0	6
15	Derby County	5	1	3	1	4	4	0	6
16	Preston North End	5	2	0	3	6	8	-2	6
17	Millwall	5	1	2	2	6	8	-2	5
18	Hull City	5	1	1	3	4	7	-3	4
19	Peterborough United	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
20	Swansea City	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4
21	Reading	5	1	0	4	7	13	-6	3
22	Blackpool	5	0	2	3	4	8	-4	2
23	Sheffield United	5	0	2	3	1	7	-6	2
24	Nottingham Forest	5	0	1	4	4	8	-4	1

Wavy, results over 5 games mean nothing, there's luck involved so it's not an indicator of what will happen for the rest of the season.


The more accurate indicators are

1: Level of general performance over those 5 games
2: The depth of squad + possible player purchase or sales
3: The injury situation and how we can deal with injuries

Regards performances we look a better team than at any point last season.
We were heavily reliant on MGW last season but I never though as a team we were the real deal, it never felt like the Wilder promotion push.
However this season we've already looked hard and shoulders above some opposition teams.

Don't think people realise we had such a terrible injury list last season.
So even if we made no signings we would still be decent this season.
The only issue was creativity and our over reliance on MGW.
Seems we've rolled the dice and bought several players who could do a MGW and Ahmedhodzic looks class already.
Don't think there's any doubt our squad looks much stronger than last year, suppose the only negative is we might lose Berge but we still have good quality cover.

We've already got loads of injuries but we seem to be coping with ease.
We've plenty of players due to return, so if anything we should improve as the season progresses.

Another point that I'd already mentioned is that the new 5 substitutions allowed from 7 player rule gives a massive advantage to this with the best squads.
Due to us being an ex PL club (on paper) we have easily one of the most talented squads) in the league.

Also as we know Bramall Lane is becoming a fortress, in the past you'd have Steve Bruce type teams parking the bus and constantly going down for fouls to relief pressure. This part of gamesmanship won't be allowed this season because referees have been told that slight contact and normal challenges are no longer considered fouls. So teams can't come to BL any more to turn it into a start/ stop frustrating game.

Ignore where we are at the minute
However based on the above I expect us to improve and be better than our first 5 performances.

The shirt sponsors on the back of our shirts are "ultimate Champions", hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

I’m not getting carried away but Iv just booked a week in Blackpool on 28/12 for when we get promoted.

Do you think I should cancel the drugs, strippers and party poppers?

Bin the party poppers but just go with the other bits and bobs.

 

[Inter_blade83]

Things will change after the window closes. Watford will be totally different up front. Let’s pray we won’t or ….maybe a cheeky 20 goal striker.

I'd take Ogbene. Apparently there's bids in for him

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Depends on who's carrying me and where to.

 

[N20 Blade]

Wavy, results over 5 games mean nothing, there's luck involved so it's not an indicator of what will happen for the rest of the season.


The more accurate indicators are

1: Level of general performance over those 5 games
2: The depth of squad + possible player purchase or sales
3: The injury situation and how we can deal with injuries

Regards performances we look a better team than at any point last season.
We were heavily reliant on MGW last season but I never though as a team we were the real deal, it never felt like the Wilder promotion push.
However this season we've already looked hard and shoulders above some opposition teams.

Don't think people realise we had such a terrible injury list last season.
So even if we made no signings we would still be decent this season.
The only issue was creativity and our over reliance on MGW.
Seems we've rolled the dice and bought several players who could do a MGW and Ahmedhodzic looks class already.
Don't think there's any doubt our squad looks much stronger than last year, suppose the only negative is we might lose Berge but we still have good quality cover.

We've already got loads of injuries but we seem to be coping with ease.
We've plenty of players due to return, so if anything we should improve as the season progresses.

Another point that I'd already mentioned is that the new 5 substitutions allowed from 7 player rule gives a massive advantage to this with the best squads.
Due to us being an ex PL club (on paper) we have easily one of the most talented squads) in the league.

Also as we know Bramall Lane is becoming a fortress, in the past you'd have Steve Bruce type teams parking the bus and constantly going down for fouls to relief pressure. This part of gamesmanship won't be allowed this season because referees have been told that slight contact and normal challenges are no longer considered fouls. So teams can't come to BL any more to turn it into a start/ stop frustrating game.

Ignore where we are at the minute
However based on the above I expect us to improve and be better than our first 5 performances.

The shirt sponsors on the back of our shirts are "ultimate Champions", hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

Liverpool the latest to be considering an offer although I doubt that will transpire.

However, worse case, he goes, how would this affect us?

Personally it would sacrifice any top two aspirations but top six still possible.

Either way these next few days before the window could determine the season more than games during the same period.

Nervous but hopeful that we’ll keep him.

If we do then we must be top two in January to avoid poaching from PL strugglers for him and others.

This could be an interesting season!!

 

[Snowflake]

I’m not getting carried away but Iv just booked a week in Blackpool on 28/12 for when we get promoted.

Do you think I should cancel the drugs, strippers and party poppers?

Just the party poppers : with the other two together you will not need them.

 

[JJBlade]

50% of that top 6, finished in the top 6.

100% of the bottom two did as well

And 100% of the bottom club ended up in the Prem

 

[Nagima]

It's early in the season but there are alot of positives about the results and performances.
Anel looks quality. Khedra and McAtee are skillful players who will contribute alot. Norwood is playing well. We are scoring from set pieces and from outside the box. McBurnie and Brewster are fit so will get opportunities to see if the cam cut it at this level.
The squad depth gives room to vary formation and tactics.

There are some good teams in the division that I would be expecting to challenge for top 6. Watford, Norwich, WBA, Burnley. Then you will have one or two surprise packets possibly Sunderland and Bristol City.
Then you have the average enough but solid Preston and Millwall. Middlesbrough could be good or bad.

What was really obvious from last season was the inconsistency of some teams. Blackpool and Luton looked very poor at the lane but picked up lots of points at home. This could be a pattern again this season for some teams.

Our home form tends to be good so that means we are halfway there. A lot will depend on our away form and getting points against Watford WBA etc. Like all teams we will hit a bad patch and it will depend on how we bounce back from it.
We have had a decent start and momentum is important when you have it, to get points on the board and building a winning mentality.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Christ I'm still getting a buzz about last Saturday, why can't we just enjoy it while it's good because if it goes the other way, well, let's just enjoy it, eh?

 

[Scarebus]

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Too late said it “ last “ season
Up in 2
This is season 2

 

[Bladeloyal]

We can do magic utb

 

[bertieblade]

We can do magic utb

Memories of TC

 

[frechyblade]

One of the other positives of having so many attacking options is that teams don’t know how to set up defensively against us. We can set up with a number of permutations all will need a different defensive set up I would suspect.

UTB

 

[blade67]

50% of that top 6, finished in the top 6.

That was my takeaway too. Which is just as surprising as the bottom 2 making the top 6.

 

[brownblade]

I'm not getting carried away, but just been looking at our upcoming fixtures and I think we're going to win every single match... possibly for the rest of the season.

COYB!

 

[mattbianco1]

Pos	Team	Finishing Position
1	Fulham	=
2	West Bromwich Albion	-8
3	Queens Park Rangers	-8
4	Huddersfield Town	+1
5	Stoke City	-9
6	AFC Bournemouth	+4
7	Coventry City	-5
8	Birmingham City	-12
9	Cardiff City	-9
10	Blackburn Rovers	+2
11	Bristol City	-6
12	Luton Town	+6
13	Middlesbrough	+6
14	Barnsley	-10
15	Derby County	Are we sure this is right?
16	Preston North End	+3
17	Millwall	+8
18	Hull City	-1
19	Peterborough United	-3
20	Swansea City	+5
21	Reading	=
22	Blackpool	+6
23	Sheffield United	+18
24	Nottingham Forest	+20

Amended the table to show how far each club moved

 

[Davalon]

We'll win the play offs this season. Relax.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Wavy, results over 5 games mean nothing, there's luck involved so it's not an indicator of what will happen for the rest of the season.


The more accurate indicators are

1: Level of general performance over those 5 games
2: The depth of squad + possible player purchase or sales
3: The injury situation and how we can deal with injuries

Regards performances we look a better team than at any point last season.
We were heavily reliant on MGW last season but I never though as a team we were the real deal, it never felt like the Wilder promotion push.
However this season we've already looked hard and shoulders above some opposition teams.

Don't think people realise we had such a terrible injury list last season.
So even if we made no signings we would still be decent this season.
The only issue was creativity and our over reliance on MGW.
Seems we've rolled the dice and bought several players who could do a MGW and Ahmedhodzic looks class already.
Don't think there's any doubt our squad looks much stronger than last year, suppose the only negative is we might lose Berge but we still have good quality cover.

We've already got loads of injuries but we seem to be coping with ease.
We've plenty of players due to return, so if anything we should improve as the season progresses.

Another point that I'd already mentioned is that the new 5 substitutions allowed from 7 player rule gives a massive advantage to this with the best squads.
Due to us being an ex PL club (on paper) we have easily one of the most talented squads) in the league.

Also as we know Bramall Lane is becoming a fortress, in the past you'd have Steve Bruce type teams parking the bus and constantly going down for fouls to relief pressure. This part of gamesmanship won't be allowed this season because referees have been told that slight contact and normal challenges are no longer considered fouls. So teams can't come to BL any more to turn it into a start/ stop frustrating game.

Ignore where we are at the minute
However based on the above I expect us to improve and be better than our first 5 performances.

The shirt sponsors on the back of our shirts are "ultimate Champions", hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

“However this season we've already looked hard”

We’ve certainly stiffened up in my opinion..