Pivotal Game of the Season

[CG Blade]

Does anyone else think tonight is the pivotal game off the season, I just get the feeling that if we don't win tonight, then we are gojng to go back to the pre Adams days off the fans on the players backs from minute 1. The last 2/3 home games the fans have generaly been very supportive, but with what many fans see as the disappointment off the transfer window, I just beleive that if we lose tonight then the tide could turn back, and we go back to the posionous atmosphere we have seen this season.
Every game until the end of the seaon as a must win game, but this one seems more important. Lose tonight and again at Ipswich on Saturday, then we begin to lose more ground, then the next home match becomes more important,and the pressure builds. The fans get impatient, and we go into more of a downwards spiral. To me this is a must win game, and by God I hope we pull it off.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I don't think tonight is vital, I think the fans will still recognise what he's had to do in the last month or so and also that Leicester are a decent team. Provided we put in the effort and show signs of spirit etc, he will probably get away with not winning tonight.

It's a pivotal month certainly. Ipswich away, two home games then Palace and Scunny away, Derby at home. If we're not sat on close to 40 points by the end of Feb then we will be in danger.

 

[norfolkblade]

Tonight isn't pivotal IMO, I think Jim is more on the money with it being a pivotal month in terms of us having to play 3 teams that are very close to us, 2 of which are below us and will be fighting to the end.

 

[SwissBlade]

No its not pivotal tonight, but of course, any game from now until the end of the season is important, but more important to not lose than a win.

The mood on here would suggest that there is a lot of sympathy for Adams and as long as we continue to put in the performances, whilst minimising the mistakes then he'll continue to get support from the majority.

Calling every game a must win is a little bit dramatic at this stage and puts unnecessary pressure on ourselves, when we need a calm head or two.

The key for me is for everyone, for every game, in its entireity, to just get behind the team, regardless.

We can, should and shall get out of the dog fight, but we need to just work at our game.

I think many teams who end up at the bottom end of the table towards the end of the season, look below them, lets look above us, set mini milestones eg get to 16th place, then 14th etc. Sounds simple, but I think it works. Get back to basics, do the simple things right, cut out the complexities and just start hurting teams by being, sharper, fitter and in control of the game.

 

[Guesty]

It's not pivotal in the sense that Leicester are a far better team than us and we shouldn't expect a victory. It won't be down as a three points if Adams is making a list of games we need points from (as an aside, please can we have no twats doing a BBC predictor or the like and pronouncing with grand self-satisfaction that we are SAFE six games before the end of the season? Because that didn't end well last time and you all looked a little silly). Our defence is cobbled together with spit and bits of old duct tape, and we still have the square root of fuck all in the way of creativity.

That said, it's the first night match in ages tonight, matches which traditionally have better atmospheres. We all seeme to need a lift after a transfer window that was at best underwhelming, and Adams is still looking for his first win, having already dropping five points at home (and what a scramble it was for that one). So in that sense it could be pretty important.

 

[sheffielder]

Tonight is pivotal in my opinion. The transfer window is done and unless we get a freakin loan in this is the squad that needs to keep us up. Micky has been wheeling and dealing and if we get battered tonight those heads are going to drop. We need a result and performance tonight because as people have rightly said we are playing teams we need to beat in the next month. Confidence doesn't grow on trees. personally I think you are mad if you don't think we need a result tonight.

I am looking forward to tonight, hopefully we will get at them early and we will be fitter to keep it going tonight.

 

[super_pig]

tonight is the biggest game of the season so far.. mickey has made his bed and we will all have to lie in it.. if we get a pasting all of that 'ooh he's a blade' goodwill will soon evaporate

 

[broomhillblade]

Who's the ref tonight?

Most of them seem to like that nice, polite, Sven.

I feel a dodgy penalty decision coming on....

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Who's the ref tonight?

Most of them seem to like that nice, polite, Sven.

I feel a dodgy penalty decision coming on....

Maybe we need a few balloons on the pitch like last time he visited

 

[Dog Blade]

tonight is the biggest game of the season so far.. mickey has made his bed and we will all have to lie in it.. if we get a pasting all of that 'ooh he's a blade' goodwill will soon evaporate

I don't think thats the case. I'm with the majority that see the more 'winnable' games as far more pivotal.

I think he's just puffed up the pillows slightly and had a bit of a straighten around - a proper man's bed tidy, in fact I bet he's only done his own pillow and not their lass's. He'll only be able to make the bed like a true woman once he's done the spring cleaning and pre-season follows.

I don't think we'll get much tonight, but am more hopeful come Millwall, Reading, Derby etc

 

[Grecian2000]

Who's the ref tonight?

Most of them seem to like that nice, polite, Sven.

I feel a dodgy penalty decision coming on....

We need Trevor Kettle. If ever there's a bloke who could even out the most unlevel playing field it's the Kettler. No decision too bizarre.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Tonight is pivotal in my opinion. The transfer window is done and unless we get a freakin loan in this is the squad that needs to keep us up. Micky has been wheeling and dealing and if we get battered tonight those heads are going to drop. We need a result and performance tonight because as people have rightly said we are playing teams we need to beat in the next month. Confidence doesn't grow on trees. personally I think you are mad if you don't think we need a result tonight.

I am looking forward to tonight, hopefully we will get at them early and we will be fitter to keep it going tonight.

Loan window starts soon and runs thru' Feb, not sure of the dates but we haven't even started on the loan signings yet.

 

[Worksop II]

I feel a dodgy penalty decision coming on....

I wonder if I can get a bet on their New Keeper scoring more than Ched, a dodgy pen would be just up his street ......

---------- Post added at 02:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------

but we haven't even started on the loan signings yet.

Hrrruummmpppphhhhhhhh - I beg to differ

 

[ListerBlade]

we need a good performance tonight, something to take some real heart from. weather this results in a win or a draw or a loss, but we need to have some encouraging performances. Leicester are a tough team now, a good performance tonight regardless of the result would leave me more spirited for the other fixtures this month, a bad performance will leave me very very worried.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Not at all.

Games away at Palace and Scunny will settle our destiny far more than tonight.

We need to pick up a couple of wins against Millwall, Reading and Derby because March looks difficult. We need to take losses in March on the chin and be prepared to scrap for points in April against Middlesbrough and Preston. I hope we don’t need to beat Barnsley and Swansea to stay up.

Have you thought about going to the match tonight and enjoying it? Then you won’t want to get on the players backs if it goes wrong. I’m going [for once] and I’m looking forward to it win or lose cus I know we will bust a gut to try and win it – Micky will see to that.

If we are not as good as Leicester then I will know the league table does not lie but then again I know that already so I’ll not beat myself up if we lose, only if we don’t try.

 

[Ollessendro]

Does anyone else think tonight is the pivotal game off the season, I just get the feeling that if we don't win tonight, then we are gojng to go back to the pre Adams days off the fans on the players backs from minute 1. The last 2/3 home games the fans have generaly been very supportive, but with what many fans see as the disappointment off the transfer window, I just beleive that if we lose tonight then the tide could turn back, and we go back to the posionous atmosphere we have seen this season.
Every game until the end of the seaon as a must win game, but this one seems more important. Lose tonight and again at Ipswich on Saturday, then we begin to lose more ground, then the next home match becomes more important,and the pressure builds. The fans get impatient, and we go into more of a downwards spiral. To me this is a must win game, and by God I hope we pull it off.

Didn't we have this post the other day? Or maybe I am having deja vu!?

Similar to Bob's post I agree with the sentiment, but think it is over the top. We could really do with a win, but it is not pivitol. The games against Ipswich, Milwall, Palace and Scunny are more important and (arguably more winnable). Yes Adams needs a win, yes the players need to pull their fingers out and yes we need some luck. However it would not be the end of the world if we don't win. A point against a better, in form side would not be a bad result.

 

[grafikhaus]

Not do-or-die tonight, but a stuffing will make the rest of the season look very ominous.

I can't blame MA so far - he had no idea of the squad he inherited. In any other industry, a senior manager switching companies would have a period of 'getting his feet under the desk'. No such luxuries in football, though.

Yes, Leicester look to be good at the moment, but we beat Swansea (who were 2nd) and they looked piss-poor.

At 'em from the off to the 90th, Blades.

 

[oldblade]

Tonight isn't pivotal IMO, I think Jim is more on the money with it being a pivotal month in terms of us having to play 3 teams that are very close to us, 2 of which are below us and will be fighting to the end.

Pivotal. Don't know. But it is very very important. As has been said already, a failure to win will increase the pressure on the other fixtures that have been mentioned as being more important. And for most of the season this side has not shown any great ability to cope with pressure.

 

[Selly]

TBF it can only be pivotal if it can take us in one of 2 directions, neither of which we are currently heading in.

this is not teh case as we are currently heading downwards and I fail to see how a loss would make that any worse.

A win could be the start of a kick on up the table, so it could certainly be a turning point...

The fact is that in these situations (relegation battles) your home form generally makes or breaks you. With 3 home games out of the next 4 we need to be taking 6 points from the 4 games at the least. Chances are they won`t come at Ipswich so...

 

[oldblade]

TBF it can only be pivotal if it can take us in one of 2 directions, neither of which we are currently heading in.

this is not teh case as we are currently heading downwards and I fail to see how a loss would make that any worse.

A win could be the start of a kick on up the table, so it could certainly be a turning point...

The fact is that in these situations (relegation battles) your home form generally makes or breaks you. With 3 home games out of the next 4 we need to be taking 6 points from the 4 games at the least. Chances are they won`t come at Ipswich so...

A loss does make matters worse because it increases the pressure on the remaining games. As you probably quite rightly say, it is home form that is generally most important and our's is not good. Another defeat leaves one less home game from which to accumulate our points. And most of our remaining home matches are against teams higher in the league than Leicester.

 

[Jehovah]

We need a bloody win. I dont care if we play shite tonight as long as we win. I fear othewise the immediate manager impact factor will go and our players will think "god we really are going down"

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

For once we need a couple of early goals. Seems like years since we had a two goal lead (well last season anyway).

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Maybe this should be in the selly-o-meter thread but the way we've been this season doesn't suggest we'll go on a winning streak but neither do I think we'll go on a losing streak under Adams hereon in. An average run of win, lose, draw every three games, say 6 wins, 6 draws and 7 defeats gives us 51 points which should be enough. Whether tonight is one of those pencilled in wins is up for debate.

 

[Worksop II]

At the moment we arn't on a winning or losing streak, though we are on a not winning streak

 

[Selly]

Maybe this should be in the selly-o-meter thread but the way we've been this season doesn't suggest we'll go on a winning streak but neither do I think we'll go on a losing streak under Adams hereon in. An average run of win, lose, draw every three games, say 6 wins, 6 draws and 7 defeats gives us 51 points which should be enough. Whether tonight is one of those pencilled in wins is up for debate.

TBF I'm not sure ANYTHING should be in the Selly-o-meter thread...

 

[super_pig]

>I fear othewise the immediate manager impact factor will go and our players will think "god we really are going down"
and that is why i wrote what i did.. we need to win a game.. just to show that we 'can'