Keep the faith we still can do it !

[wizadry]

Given that we are into the last 6 games of the season, it is quite remarkable just how many fixtures between sides in the top 10 remain to be played.

Derby v Middlesbrough
Derby v Cardiff
Wolves v Derby
Villa v Derby
Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Millwall
United v Middlesbrough
United v Millwall
Millwall v Bristol City
Millwall v Fulham
Millwall v Villa
United v PNE
Bristol City v United

On the face of it, Millwall have a really tough run-in with 5 games against contenders albeit they are the form team according to recent results. Middlesbrough's fixtures and particularly Derby's fixtures, meanwhile, are barely any less challenging. The breathing space that Derby gained at PNE and the game in hand they hold, might just prove enough to see them over the line.

Bristol City's fixtures are only marginally less testing and, frankly, I regard them as the weakest side in the top 10. Their results since January are no accident.

PNE appear to have the most favourable run-in and may fancy themselves to come through on the rails. Their recent form has been patchy, though.

I believe it's there for us to grab. Our 3 remaining away games should all be viewed as very winnable, and whilst the home games are all crunch fixtures, we have one of the strongest home records in the division. Even in our few home defeats, we have invariably, the madness of the Fulham match aside, controlled the games. And Boro, Millwall and PNE aren't going to turn up and replicate how Fulham played. All 3 will turn up and play a version of what Cardiff do, albeit, as the table shows, a less effective version. We should be ready to cope with that.

With all the teams at the top taking points off each other, I fancy that 12 points from 18 would see us in the top 6. Indeed, it might only require another 10 points.

I have a feeling there could be another loyalty points thread popping up when the Bristol City game comes around.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

There's a distinct difference between striving to maintain contact with the top six of the Championship and remaining in the Premier League.

You do remember what happened twelve years ago, yeah?

pommpey

I think you've fallen for the myth of the 'Big Scary Premier League'.

In recent years more promoted teams are staying up than ever before.

I doubt the likes of Baldock, Stearman and Basham would be losing any sleep over the prospect of facing Swansea, Brighton and Huddersfield.

 

[chesblade]

Wouldn't it be great if Fulham pip Cardiff to 2nd place. We get to playoffs and beat Cardiff . I know it's a dream but can you imagine warnock reaction and wilders delight (after last night)

 

[wavy-blade]

Wouldn't it be great if Fulham pip Cardiff to 2nd place. We get to playoffs and beat Cardiff . I know it's a dream but can you imagine warnock reaction and wilders delight (after last night)

This is a possibility and personally I wouldn't be worried about meeting them again .

 

[CrookesBlade]

I really don’t understand all this talk of “not backing” or “not believing” in Wilder.

The money wasn’t there to do anything more than buy/retain the players that the club did in January.

It’s not a reflection of the club’s opinion on Wilder’s abilities as a manager.

 

[bornablade]

Given that we are into the last 6 games of the season, it is quite remarkable just how many fixtures between sides in the top 10 remain to be played.

Derby v Middlesbrough
Derby v Cardiff
Wolves v Derby
Villa v Derby
Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Millwall
United v Middlesbrough
United v Millwall
Millwall v Bristol City
Millwall v Fulham
Millwall v Villa
United v PNE
Bristol City v United

On the face of it, Millwall have a really tough run-in with 5 games against contenders albeit they are the form team according to recent results. Middlesbrough's fixtures and particularly Derby's fixtures, meanwhile, are barely any less challenging. The breathing space that Derby gained at PNE and the game in hand they hold, might just prove enough to see them over the line.

Bristol City's fixtures are only marginally less testing and, frankly, I regard them as the weakest side in the top 10. Their results since January are no accident.

PNE appear to have the most favourable run-in and may fancy themselves to come through on the rails. Their recent form has been patchy, though.

I believe it's there for us to grab. Our 3 remaining away games should all be viewed as very winnable, and whilst the home games are all crunch fixtures, we have one of the strongest home records in the division. Even in our few home defeats, we have invariably, the madness of the Fulham match aside, controlled the games. And Boro, Millwall and PNE aren't going to turn up and replicate how Fulham played. All 3 will turn up and play a version of what Cardiff do, albeit, as the table shows, a less effective version. We should be ready to cope with that.

With all the teams at the top taking points off each other, I fancy that 12 points from 18 would see us in the top 6. Indeed, it might only require another 10 points.

If Villa, by the last game of the season have secured a play off place and have no chance of an automatic place I can see Bruce playing an under strength side against Millwall.

Derby's game in hand (if you can call it like that) is against Cardiff.

 

[SB_90]

Im sure we can still make the play offs. as the international break has done wonders for utd because Creative spark seems to be back created more v cardiff than we did previous 5 games before easter fixtures Because teams 5th - 10th seems to be no more worse & inconsistent as we have been.

Just look at easter fixtures
Derby - lost 4-1 to sunderland, battled to 1-0 v pne
Middlesboro - lost to Wolves & rescued a pt v burton
Bristol city - rescued a pt v barnsley, lost to Brentford
Millwall - beat forest & drew v ipswich
Preston - lost 4-1 to wednesday & 1-0 to derby

 

[pommpey]

I think you've fallen for the myth of the 'Big Scary Premier League'.

In recent years more promoted teams are staying up than ever before.

I doubt the likes of Baldock, Stearman and Basham would be losing any sleep over the prospect of facing Swansea, Brighton and Huddersfield.

It kinda is a big scary PL when you are shipping four or five goals home and away and scraping a draw against your fellow basement clubs on a ratio of 4:1.

Watching even the meagre quality of the clubs you mention I'd say we'd be pushed to get a point off any of them.

We need better players to survive upstairs.

pommpey

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The Prem is crap, let's stay where we are

 

[pommpey]

The Prem is crap, let's stay where we are

Hmmm. In some ways.

Personally, I'd like to see us have a team like (for example) Liverpool at BDTBL and put them to bed with a convincing 2-0 win.

But we aren't currently in a footballing position to even dream we'd deal with Salah, Origi, Mane, match even the ageing but experienced Milner and the workrate and cleverness of Oxlade Chamberlain, Lallana and Henderson. This is just one of many teams we'd be matched against with our current setup who, even though they have put in credible performances in the past few games, would be simply chasing placky bags in the wind as the opposition out-pass and out-football us. Leicester took the bindippers to bits at their place two years ago with one goal from Vardy which was one of the best goals I have seen this decade, played in with a ball from Mahrez which you'd want to think the likes of Fleck or Lundstram could play for Billy to run on to but in reality, you know it would end up in John Street. Not the stand ... but actually 'John Street' itself. That kind of quality and consistency sustains the status but costs money and resource and not just to buy and contract, but to maintain for seasons and not be vulnerable to poaching transfer offers.

We just don't have anywhere near that - at the moment.

We are not ready to go up.

pommpey

 

[Champagneblade]

I’m surprised at the list.

I don’t see how Baldock isn’t the very least a maybe, he’s been excellent this season.

And why is Wright a maybe yet Stearman, who keeps him out of the team is a nope?

It’s not Man City we would need to better, it would be West Ham, Southampton, Swansea, Stoke, West Brom and their like, who stay up.

Of the back 6, I’d personally be fine with Blackman, Baldock and O’Connell.

I’d be fine with Fleck and Coutts.

I’d be fine with Brooks too.

That’s not to say some of the others like Basham and Duffy couldn’t be useful squad players.

Long way off having this as a serious conversation though.

 

[I should coco]

And why is Wright a maybe yet Stearman, who keeps him out of the team is a nope?

I think it was time of the month for pommpey. Stearman played 77 games in the Premier in a poor Wolves side and didn't look out of place at that level.

To have only Fleck as a definite 'yes' is miserable defeatist shite of the highest order. I think the good ship HMS Pommpey is currently in dry dock for a refit, rather than embodying the spirit of Drake, Frobisher, and Nelson to rule the waves.

 

[pommpey]

I think it was time of the month for pommpey. Stearman played 77 games in the Premier in a poor Wolves side and didn't look out of place at that level.

To have only Fleck as a definite 'yes' is miserable defeatist shite of the highest order. I think the good ship HMS Pommpey is currently in dry dock for a refit, rather than embodying the spirit of Drake, Frobisher, and Nelson to rule the waves.

Here we go. Try to personalise the argument or discussion, once again.

Aside from weak 'jokes' about the Royal Navy, and back on topic, which players do you think would put in a consistent 6+/10 for 30+ games in the PL, then? I don't mean 'he ran his shirt off, but unfortunately Shakiri was inside it' 6+/10 I mean 'Basham stopped Mane from getting near the ball/Lundstram ran the game in the middle of the park and made Hazard look stupid/Clarke was first to it every time the ball came into the box/Baldock had the whole wing covered and pinned their attack down that flank back'.

Because that to me is where success in the next level is pitched.

pommpey

 

[I should coco]

Here we go. Try to personalise the argument or discussion, once again.

It was a 'joke' mate and I'm genuinely sorry if you couldn't see that.

I'll leave you to wallow in your thread of misery, as I don't want to reply and start another dog with a bone thread.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Hmmm. In some ways.

Personally, I'd like to see us have a team like (for example) Liverpool at BDTBL and put them to bed with a convincing 2-0 win.

But we aren't currently in a footballing position to even dream we'd deal with Salah, Origi, Mane, match even the ageing but experienced Milner and the workrate and cleverness of Oxlade Chamberlain, Lallana and Henderson. This is just one of many teams we'd be matched against with our current setup who, even though they have put in credible performances in the past few games, would be simply chasing placky bags in the wind as the opposition out-pass and out-football us. Leicester took the bindippers to bits at their place two years ago with one goal from Vardy which was one of the best goals I have seen this decade, played in with a ball from Mahrez which you'd want to think the likes of Fleck or Lundstram could play for Billy to run on to but in reality, you know it would end up in John Street. Not the stand ... but actually 'John Street' itself. That kind of quality and consistency sustains the status but costs money and resource and not just to buy and contract, but to maintain for seasons and not be vulnerable to poaching transfer offers.

We just don't have anywhere near that - at the moment.

We are not ready to go up.

pommpey

Yep, I'd rather we were closer to being ready when we go up, this season is too soon.

OK, the likes of Huddersfield and Brighton are looking like they might survive but I'd rather we went up and kept as much of the squad as possible because we thought they might step up and I don't think that would be the case if we somehow broke the hoodoo and cracked the play-offs (which I'm pretty sure we wouldn't).

I'm not writing this season off, you never know with this group but two or three big signings in the Summer added to the core quality we have and give it a go next season.

 

[pommpey]

It was a 'joke' mate and I'm genuinely sorry if you couldn't see that.

I'll leave you to wallow in your thread of misery, as I don't want to reply and start another dog with a bone thread.

It gets a bit wearisome.

This is a Blades forum. There's plenty of scope for that stuff on Rum Ration, if you want it. What I do for a living isn't really the topic.

As I don't know (nor care) what you do for a living, there's no balance as such, and I'd be pushed to 'make a joke' of it even if I did know (or care)

pommpey

 

[botoble]

Here we go. Try to personalise the argument or discussion, once again.

Aside from weak 'jokes' about the Royal Navy, and back on topic, which players do you think would put in a consistent 6+/10 for 30+ games in the PL, then? I don't mean 'he ran his shirt off, but unfortunately Shakiri was inside it' 6+/10 I mean 'Basham stopped Mane from getting near the ball/Lundstram ran the game in the middle of the park and made Hazard look stupid/Clarke was first to it every time the ball came into the box/Baldock had the whole wing covered and pinned their attack down that flank back'.

Because that to me is where success in the next level is pitched.

pommpey

Being a Blade living in Huddersfield I am seeing first hand that it doesn't take a multi billion pound team to compete and potentially remain in the premier league. If they stay up when they only spent half of the amount of money they received for going up in the 1st year to achieve it then it shows you don't need the most skillful team just a decent manager.

They beat Manchester United at home and are enjoying the tour of the clubs in the best league in the world. If we go up and do come straight back down with the current team we would be in for a minimum club changing amount of £184m over 5 seasons which substantially changes our circumstances.

On top of that the year we were relegated we were royally shafted by a Man U team rolling over and losing to a shite West Ham team, an illegally registered player twisting the knife in and a very odd hand ball by Jags. We were very very unlucky not to stay up and the club made a catalogue of errors once we were relegated.

Surely all blades fans would love to see us do a Huddersfield town this season by avoiding Fulham in the play off semis and sneaking through on penalties against a Villa or Boro type team at Wembley.

 

[Silent Blade]

Given that we are into the last 6 games of the season, it is quite remarkable just how many fixtures between sides in the top 10 remain to be played.

Derby v Middlesbrough
Derby v Cardiff
Wolves v Derby
Villa v Derby
Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Millwall
United v Middlesbrough
United v Millwall
Millwall v Bristol City
Millwall v Fulham
Millwall v Villa
United v PNE
Bristol City v United

On the face of it, Millwall have a really tough run-in with 5 games against contenders albeit they are the form team according to recent results. Middlesbrough's fixtures and particularly Derby's fixtures, meanwhile, are barely any less challenging. The breathing space that Derby gained at PNE and the game in hand they hold, might just prove enough to see them over the line.

Bristol City's fixtures are only marginally less testing and, frankly, I regard them as the weakest side in the top 10. Their results since January are no accident.

PNE appear to have the most favourable run-in and may fancy themselves to come through on the rails. Their recent form has been patchy, though.

I believe it's there for us to grab. Our 3 remaining away games should all be viewed as very winnable, and whilst the home games are all crunch fixtures, we have one of the strongest home records in the division. Even in our few home defeats, we have invariably, the madness of the Fulham match aside, controlled the games. And Boro, Millwall and PNE aren't going to turn up and replicate how Fulham played. All 3 will turn up and play a version of what Cardiff do, albeit, as the table shows, a less effective version. We should be ready to cope with that.

With all the teams at the top taking points off each other, I fancy that 12 points from 18 would see us in the top 6. Indeed, it might only require another 10 points.

So the "magic number" is deffo less than 80 points