Exactly half way through the season…

[Dkc]

…played 23 games out of 46 and we have a total of 36 points. Over the course of the season that would give us 72 points, which would be enough to scrape into the play offs at best.

However, there are still 69 points to play for. If we put e.g. 86 points as our target (which might not even be good enough for second place) then we need another 50 of those 69 points on offer.

So out of 23 games we’d need 15 wins, five draws and three defeats. Or 14 wins, eight draws and three defeats.

Possible yes, even if we draw or lose our next game. If anyone is capable of a late run for an automatic spot it’s the Blades under Clough. I still think we’re too prone to leaking goals to do it but you never know.

 

[blade too long]

last season from match 23 to match 46 we went from 25 points after 23 to 67 after 46 42 points which would added to 36 would give us 78 which I think we can better as january had defeats at walsall another loss at notts cxounty and a home draw with brad city and a defeat at crewe on feb 1st in matches 23 to 27

 

[boo radley]

Let me know which combination we end up with.

 

[Dkc]

So our winning run last season only started with 19 games to go. I can't see us winning so many in a row again, that winning run was a once-in-a-lifetime. But if we can pick up three points against MKD I might start believing

 

[JohnDenver]

The pork did it. Bournemouth did it.

I doubt we can with this squad as it stands but stranger things have happened...

 

[MobileBlade]

…played 23 games out of 46 and we have a total of 36 points. Over the course of the season that would give us 72 points, which would be enough to scrape into the play offs at best.

However, there are still 69 points to play for. If we put e.g. 86 points as our target (which might not even be good enough for second place) then we need another 50 of those 69 points on offer.

So out of 23 games we’d need 15 wins, five draws and three defeats. Or 14 wins, eight draws and three defeats.

Possible yes, even if we draw or lose our next game. If anyone is capable of a late run for an automatic spot it’s the Blades under Clough. I still think we’re too prone to leaking goals to do it but you never know.

I don't think your maffs is very good. Unless we have a couple of extra matches we don't know about.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

The pork did it. Bournemouth did it.

I doubt we can with this squad as it stands but stranger things have happened...

On this date 2 years ago, Bournemouth were 8 points off second place with a game in hand.

On this date 3 years ago, Wednesday were 1 point off second place, with a game in hand.

We are 12 points off second place, with a game in hand.

I don't know when the last time was that anyone came through from as far back as this to win automatic promotion from the third division, but I suspect it was a long time ago!

Assuming MK Dons and Preston take 2 of the play-off places, there are probably 10 teams who still have a realistic chance of getting the other too. At least 2 of those ten will have a good second half of the season - so we need good results just to reach the play-offs.

Having said that - I think we'll do enough to reach the play-offs, and I'm more optimistic than most about our chances of winning them. We have a bigger squad of decent players than most in the division, which will start to benefit us in the second half of the season, we perform better against stronger teams, and our cup form bodes well for the similar format of the play-offs.

 

[Bladesman]

On this date 2 years ago, Bournemouth were 8 points off second place with a game in hand.

On this date 3 years ago, Wednesday were 1 point off second place, with a game in hand.

We are 12 points off second place, with a game in hand.

I don't know when the last time was that anyone came through from as far back as this to win automatic promotion from the third division, but I suspect it was a long time ago!

Assuming MK Dons and Preston take 2 of the play-off places, there are probably 10 teams who still have a realistic chance of getting the other too. At least 2 of those ten will have a good second half of the season - so we need good results just to reach the play-offs.

Having said that - I think we'll do enough to reach the play-offs, and I'm more optimistic than most about our chances of winning them. We have a bigger squad of decent players than most in the division, which will start to benefit us in the second half of the season, we perform better against stronger teams, and our cup form bodes well for the similar format of the play-offs.

If Clough got us to win the playoffs he would go down as a club legend.

 

[WhiteHawk]

There's absolutely no way the second half of this season can be as good as the second half of last season, it would be a miracle if it was.

Play offs at best I think, and given our record, I don't fancy our chances at all.

 

[Dkc]

The most generous odds I can find on us getting promotion, via the play-offs or otherwise, is 5-1. Most bookies have us at around 3's

 

[Dkc]

Play offs at best I think, and given our record, I don't fancy our chances at all.

But if we didn't have the most dismal play-off record in the world, you would fancy us, given our performances in one-off cup games

 

[WhiteHawk]

But if we didn't have the most dismal play-off record in the world, you would fancy us, given our performances in one-off cup games

We've had plenty of one off cup games on the big stage (FA Cup semi final, League Cup semi final, Play Off final) and we haven't won a single one of them, but our performance against Hull at Wembley does give me a little bit of confidence, although we'd have to get to the final first.

 

[JohnDenver]

We've had plenty of one off cup games on the big stage (FA Cup semi final, League Cup semi final, Play Off final) and we haven't won a single one of them, but our performance against Hull at Wembley does give me a little bit of confidence, although we'd have to get to the final first.

One day we'll go into a win or bust game and absolutely tear the place up. Law of averages.

 

[WhiteHawk]

One day we'll go into a win or bust game and absolutely tear the place up. Law of averages.

We live in hope.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

If Clough got us to win the playoffs he would go down as a club legend.

I am very pro Mr Clough but if he got us to win the playoffs , they would be massive of relief , that he has done ,what he is being paid to do. Get us out of shit league 1.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

i think we'd win a POF with clough in charge

 

[Kenilworth]

If Clough got us to win the playoffs he would go down as a club legend.

Legendary status for getting us through a third division play off final?
Wow! You don't aim very high, do you?

Now if we got to the final of the League Cup and overcame the odds to win it, I'll grant you that would be very, very special indeed - given our lowly league position - but to say that winning a POF, eventually after all our attempts, (and the third tier POF to boot) grants legendary status? Well that's, frankly, horse shit.

I would be very pleased to get promotion but probably more relieved than anything else if we actually won one of the bastards.

 

[judge]

With this squad I can't see us putting toget her a good enough run or a play off win
with a few positions significantly strengthened I think we would. it's a much weaker division than the last few years and it doesn't take a lot of quality to win tight games but it takes more mental toughness experience and know how than we've currently got

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

It will take 90 points to make automatic this year, even if one or two start to slow up. It's a big ask to reach that in the next 23 games. I would settle for an improved second half of the season and playoff place.

 

[judge]

We are where I always said we would be and where we will finish

If we strengthen we might do better if not our form will fluctuates as it has all season ,as we have inconsistent players and we will finish top six

I will however. Hang my prediction on a play off final I would fancy us to win it
as we have such a good record in one off big games that we might finally Bury our hoodoo
even the one we lost v hull we went for it and I think that is what we will need to do

 

[Bladesman]

Legendary status for getting us through a third division play off final?
Wow! You don't aim very high, do you?

Now if we got to the final of the League Cup and overcame the odds to win it, I'll grant you that would be very, very special indeed - given our lowly league position - but to say that winning a POF, eventually after all our attempts, (and the third tier POF to boot) grants legendary status? Well that's, frankly, horse shit.

I would be very pleased to get promotion but probably more relieved than anything else if we actually won one of the bastards.

Seeing us win a playoff final would special especially with our recent record.

 

[blade too long]

Our impressive and deserved win over southampton looks even better after their win at old trafford takes them to 3rd

 

[Newbury Blade]

Given that we are halfway through the season, and McNulty is into double figures, isn't it time our club's official site stopped calling him a "midfielder"?

http://www.sufc.co.uk/stats/player-stats/index.aspx

 

[blade too long]

If , sorry , when we get to the league cup final on march 1st it means the away game v Crawley on feb 28th will need re arranging and theres a tuesday night home game that may have to be moved as we will still be celebrating

be a really nice problem to have

 

[Damski]

Making up 12 points (at the very least) to catch 2 sides with better overall form than us in half a season is a big ask, but it is doable. Even if we do have a better 2nd half of the season, which I think we will, it won't be enough to close the gap, unless we have a magic run like last season. I think 4th is probably likely, and as others have said, Clough will almost certainly win that play-off final. Which would be fucking superb, in spite of what others have said in this thread.

 

[Echo Blade]

Our impressive and deserved win over southampton looks even better after their win at old trafford takes them to 3rd

And they've beaten Arsenal and drawn with Chelsea since then too. I am starting to think that we have a chance against Spurs - In the last 18 months in all our games against higher opposition I can only remember being overrun by Hull in the first twenty mins of the second half at Wembley, For the rest we've more than held our own. If we can come back to the lane no more than two goals behind then you never know - I mentioned this to someone at the match yesterday and they said they thought we'd get hammered, I replied that I just want to see us win a cup before I die!!

 

[Damski]

And they've beaten Arsenal and drawn with Chelsea since then too. I am starting to think that we have a chance against Spurs - In the last 18 months in all our games against higher opposition I can only remember being overrun by Hull in the first twenty mins of the second half at Wembley, For the rest we've more than held our own. If we can come back to the lane no more than two goals behind then you never know - I mentioned this to someone at the match yesterday and they said they thought we'd get hammered, I replied that I just want to see us win a cup before I die!!

We've got a decent chance, especially as the home leg is the 2nd game. I think we might end up losing just because it's a 2-legged tie. We can trick upper league teams once, but they'll adapt and learn to use their quality against us. It'll be tough, but we've beaten better sides.

 

[Dkc]

Yep, a two goal defeat would still give us a chance. Imagine the atmosphere if we got one back at the Lane. They could be lethal on the counter though. And they hae a good defense

 

[WhiteHawk]

If we can come away from The Other Lane with a draw then it will be absolutely rocking at The Proper Lane for the second leg. I just hope we don't get a spanking and we've got something to play for.

 

[Damski]

I think a 1-0 loss to them at WHL is realistic, and of course gives us everything to play for at The Lane. Do away goals count?