Next 7 games

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

.... is the time to seal it

Between now and 11th Feb we have:

Blackpool (A)
QPR (A)
Stoke (H)
Hull (H)
Reading (A)
Rotherham (A)
Swansea (H)

At least 5 favourable games there, and at a time when more of the squad are becoming available again

Norwich and Watford both look to have less favourable games in this period

So a good return for us, say 16 points, would put us on 63 from 31 games and probably out of sight

Obviously its easy to play the 'on paper' game like this but this really is a period we need to capitalise on. A good transfer window should be part of that as well

 

[nopigfansintown]

We have to be very careful in the next two. Sad to say but the cup is basically irrelevant this season. We need to emerge from these next two league games without a shit ton of injuries. 3-4 points is fine. Then we have a clean run until the crazy April/May schedule. A loan striker is a must imo. We can't go into April/May praying that Oli is fit. Maybe a midfielder too.

Watford still have to come to the Lane. Blackburn, Norwich and Burnley away. A lot of football to be played yet.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

We're capable of f*cking up the next 2. Taking 4 points would be great. Beating Blackpool would take the pressure off the tricky QPR game nicely

It does get harder after these 7. That's why we need to build a cushion. But then the last 5 look more favourable and I'd expect at least 3 wins from them to get over the line

 

[A Storm of Blades]

We have a lovely cushion, even if we lose the next 3 we’d still be 2nd. I don’t really see much of a threat yet in the chasing pack, but one of them could have an excellent window and things can change. 2pts a game from here gets us over 90 points but I think less than that will be enough. I just hope we don’t do anything stupid in January. Let’s assess the squad after the window closes.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

85 will easily be enough

 

[Deleted member 23679]

It’s pointless looking too far ahead. Keep taking each game as it comes and looking after our own business and let others worry about us rather than us worrying about them.

At the minute we look solid defensively and have got enough firepower to make the big moments count and that is what is seperating us from the chasing pack.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Everything depends on not selling Ndiaye

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

True. Don't think we will though. Possibly having to sell him for less in the summer is a total no brainer of a gamble, especially now this gap has opened up

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

.... is the time to seal it

Between now and 11th Feb we have:

Blackpool (A)
QPR (A)
Stoke (H)
Hull (H)
Reading (A)
Rotherham (A)
Swansea (H)

At least 5 favourable games there, and at a time when more of the squad are becoming available again

Norwich and Watford both look to have less favourable games in this period

So a good return for us, say 16 points, would put us on 63 from 31 games and probably out of sight

Obviously its easy to play the 'on paper' game like this but this really is a period we need to capitalise on. A good transfer window should be part of that as well

Never works like that. Ups and downs aplenty.

 

[reedy63]

To be on 50 points by 2nd Jan,that will be great.

 

[Stevo]

We have to be very careful in the next two. Sad to say but the cup is basically irrelevant this season. We need to emerge from these next two league games without a shit ton of injuries. 3-4 points is fine. Then we have a clean run until the crazy April/May schedule. A loan striker is a must imo. We can't go into April/May praying that Oli is fit. Maybe a midfielder too.

Watford still have to come to the Lane. Blackburn, Norwich and Burnley away. A lot of football to be played yet.

If we keep a healthy lead then draws against any of the chasing pack favours us, also the teams chasing us will hopefully come at us which imo plays into our hands

 

[Yewsman]

This seasons Championship is totally unpredictable. Look at us losing at home to Rovrum, losing at stoke and Coventry and scraping home draw v Blackpool. Each game as it comes. We have no Egan for Blackpool game.

 

[Nightsweats]

We have to be very careful in the next two. Sad to say but the cup is basically irrelevant this season. We need to emerge from these next two league games without a shit ton of injuries. 3-4 points is fine. Then we have a clean run until the crazy April/May schedule. A loan striker is a must imo. We can't go into April/May praying that Oli is fit. Maybe a midfielder too.

Watford still have to come to the Lane. Blackburn, Norwich and Burnley away. A lot of football to be played yet.

I'd play Davies, Enda, Khadra if eligible and Jebbison against Millwall. Play under 16s in every other role for me. Certainly not a single first team squad member.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Everything depends on not selling Ndiaye

We will only sell N'Diaye if 2 things happen
We receive a crazy offer AND we have a replacement lined up who is better.

 

[Carlton Blade]

We will only sell N'Diaye if 2 things happen
We receive a crazy offer AND we have a replacement lined up who is better.

Hopefully. But I'm not ruling anything out when finances are obviously an issue

 

[JayGreen17]

For Watford to get to even 85, they need to get another 48 points over 22 games, that’s 2.18 per game, that’s gonna be some effort, similar for Norwich, Blackburn 46 points 2.09 again I can’t see them doing that.

for us it’s 38 points, it’s 1.72.

 

[andy m]

Hopefully. But I'm not ruling anything out when finances are obviously an issue

What has changed since the summer to make finances an issue?

 

[Blade58]

Only one important game to think about and that’s the next one

 

[JJ Sefton]

.... is the time to seal it

Between now and 11th Feb we have:

Blackpool (A)
QPR (A)
Stoke (H)
Hull (H)
Reading (A)
Rotherham (A)
Swansea (H)

At least 5 favourable games there, and at a time when more of the squad are becoming available again

Norwich and Watford both look to have less favourable games in this period

So a good return for us, say 16 points, would put us on 63 from 31 games and probably out of sight

Obviously its easy to play the 'on paper' game like this but this really is a period we need to capitalise on. A good transfer window should be part of that as well

Owt less than 25 points and I’ll have my shoes off in the car park.

 

[Carlton Blade]

What has changed since the summer to make finances an issue?

More money has gone out, still not sold anyone

 

[andy m]

More money has gone out, still not sold anyone

Sorry I wasn't aware of that many variable costs when working out the season budget for a football club. What are they? Haven't we also sold Will Lankshear?

 

[Carlton Blade]

Sorry I wasn't aware of that many variable costs when working out the season budget for a football club. What are they? Haven't we also sold Will Lankshear?

You don't sound very sorry

 

[andy m]

You don't sound very sorry

Genuinely, you seemed so certain that our cost base had changed, I thought I was asking a stupid question.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Genuinely, you seemed so certain that our cost base had changed, I thought I was asking a stupid question.

I don’t think it’s changed I do think we’re still ‘behind’ in terms of recovering from the huge drop in income after relegation

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

We will only sell N'Diaye if 2 things happen
We receive a crazy offer AND we have a replacement lined up who is better.

There’s a third. He could do a Ramsdale.

 

[andy m]

I don’t think it’s changed I do think we’re still ‘behind’ in terms of recovering from the huge drop in income after relegation

Oh I see. I agree we are probably losing a lot of money this year, but can't see the budget changing when we are in such a good position. If we were outside the playoffs I'd be inclined to agree.

 

[Blade58]

Sorry I wasn't aware of that many variable costs when working out the season budget for a football club. What are they? Haven't we also sold Will Lankshear?

I think two lads have departed both rumoured to be £2m fees. One to Man City and the the other to Spurs

 

[Carlton Blade]

Oh I see. I agree we are probably losing a lot of money this year, but can't see the budget changing when we are in such a good position. If we were outside the playoffs I'd be inclined to agree.

I do agree. There’s just been a lot in the press from journalists the board use regarding the hole in the finances

 

[alcoblade]

What has changed since the summer to make finances an issue?

They were an issue then, and they are now. If we don’t go up there will be a major clear out (attempt).

Of course, the best way of sorting them is getting promoted, and selling Ndiaye will likely derail that.

 

[robbiez666]

Blackpool (A)
QPR (A)
Stoke (H)
Hull (H)
Reading (A)
Rotherham (A)
Swansea (H)

That's a difficult run. Lots of except Hill.