The bookies reflect our league performance, but is this an opportunity?

[Woodwardfan]

We are 4/1 against promotion this season after starting the season as favourites for finishing Champions. We are now 5th favourites to go up.

That reflects our performance to date and we are fighting to qualify for the Play-Offs.

If you do believe that we will be in the Play-Offs then the current odds are very good as no doubt we will be the favourites to win and as such will be around 2/1 or 5/2 at best.

We are pursuing four new players ( nobody expects all four of course) but say we should add a couple to the current squad and there is always the back-up situation of loan signings.

Surely Clough's main priorities will be to recruit at least a number one striker and some "beef" into the squad. We already have a strong squad and if we add some "muscle" and a goalscorer or preferably two, we can end the season in good order, maybe even go to Wembley with a striker or two in form for a change.

Our system is proven in "knock-out" competition. If you believe in our manager and that he can take us to the Play-Offs then these are good odds. In knock-out games we have no need to fear such as Preston, MKD, Rochdale and Bradford.

No need to rush, it's maybe better to judge the signings as they arrive as the odds won't change much before the month end and might even improve a little as we drop a few places down the table.

 

[Deleted member 875]

I think this season will be the season that if we get in to the play-offs, we will crack them.

This is purely on the basis on that although we are underperforming in the League, we seem to be an entirely different team when it comes to a one off competitve game where there is something at stake.

 

[raul]

I think this season will be the season that if we get in to the play-offs, we will crack them.

This is purely on the basis on that although we are underperforming in the League, we seem to be an entirely different team when it comes to a one off competitve game where there is something at stake.

Unconvinced. This mantra seems to be the latest comfort blanket now judge us after ten games/ now we're bedded in as a team we'll be ok had been blown away.

What do we struggle badly against ? Motivated, physical hard working teams of limited technical ability overcome by organisation and application. What will we be facing in the play-offs ? See above.

We have two weeks left to give ourselves another dimension or we will continue to see the one we have systematically dismantled as per the last couple of months.

 

[Vassilis]

I think this season will be the season that if we get in to the play-offs, we will crack them.

This is purely on the basis on that although we are underperforming in the League, we seem to be an entirely different team when it comes to a one off competitve game where there is something at stake.

I can't agree. The biggest thing we've had going in the cups this season and last was that we had nothing to lose. Everyone loves a good cup run, but nobody (the players, the fans, the media) expects us to get to the latter stages of the cups. There is very little pressure when we play in the cups. This won't be the case in the play-offs.

That said, we have to taste play-off success at some point.

 

[Revolution]

That said, we have to taste play-off success at some point .

No, we don't. There is no law of averages here. If we keep going into playoff tournaments off form, or bereft of goalscorers, we will keep losing them.

 

[Silent Blade]

Unconvinced. This mantra seems to be the latest comfort blanket now judge us after ten games/ now we're bedded in as a team we'll be ok had been blown away.

What do we struggle badly against ? Motivated, physical hard working teams of limited technical ability overcome by organisation and application. What will we be facing in the play-offs ? See above.

We have two weeks left to give ourselves another dimension or we will continue to see the one we have systematically dismantled as per the last couple of months.

The play offs will be played on hard and dry pitches which will suit our players

 

[Grecian2000]

no doubt we will be the favourites to win and as such will be around 2/1 or 5/2 at best.

What would you base that on?

If we scrape in 6th (and at this stage we have no idea where we'll finish) then why would we be favourites? If I were pricing up then I'm pretty sure I'd be taking final finishing position into account.
You could be right but with only one winner of a four horse race, then I would expect more than 4/1 if we finish 6th (even 5th if we end up circa 10 points behind the team in third).

Not tempted by 4/1 at the moment.

 

[judge]

Do you stay up all night trying to break your longest thread title record ?

 

[Woodwardfan]

What would you base that on?

If we scrape in 6th (and at this stage we have no idea where we'll finish) then why would we be favourites? If I were pricing up then I'm pretty sure I'd be taking final finishing position into account.
You could be right but with only one winner of a four horse race, then I would expect more than 4/1 if we finish 6th (even 5th if we end up circa 10 points behind the team in third).

Not tempted by 4/1 at the moment.

It's bookies who'll be pricing the odds, not you or me, and they won't give 4/1 on a big club like us. Thing is I expect us to be on a roll by then. It has to come through before long.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Do you stay up all night trying to break your longest thread title record ?

It clearly bothers the you my lord. I'll try to be more concise just for you. Only a judge would feel the need to be so pedantic on procedure rather than quality of submissions.

 

[Bladepicker]

The play offs will be played on hard and dry pitches which will suit our players

We're Sheffield United Silent, not India.