We could / should have been 5th tonight!

[super_pig]

You've noticed As a natural pessimist, I'm rarely disappointed. I used to stand on the corner of John St & Bramall Lane with a 'The End is Nigh' sign in the days of Heath.

you weren’t wrong that time

 

[snootyfenooty]

Fulham aren't play off challengers though. They are certs unless they get automatic.

So were we in 2009. Trouble is, someone forgot to tell Burnley. It's a one-off, owt can happen.

 

[Roygbiv]

So were we in 2009. Trouble is, someone forgot to tell Burnley. It's a one-off, owt can happen.

Sorry I meant certs to get into the play offs not win them. As you say anything can happen

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Really? Play like they did yesterday and I can’t see anyone who they’ll lose to before the end of the season!

O, ye of too much faith! We'll need to score at least twice to get a point on Monday. If ever a game was made for Warnock and Madine.

 

[JohnDenver]

if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the playoffs over the years it is this.. points, positions, reputations mean absolutely nothing..

Well, that and the fact we’ll lose.

 

[super_pig]

Well, that and the fact we’ll lose.

gotta win one sometime

 

[Beans]

Let me say this about the playoffs in words of one syllable : We are ONE point off them. Yes, just ONE. We have all to play for. Keep the faith!

I do find it strange how teams below us, including Ipswich - Ipswich! - were saying things like “two wins and we’re right back in the playoff mix” when we played them, yet it sometimes feels like loads of our fans have thrown in the towel.

All to play for as you say. Even if we miss out I think we’ll be hanging around right to the last game or two.

 

[Pinchy]

Have you seen Fulham this season? I’d be a damn sight more concerned about them than Villa!



Really? Play like they did yesterday and I can’t see anyone who they’ll lose to before the end of the season!

You clearly have yet to succumb to Bladey Inferiority Complex.



Tugyerforelockifyerrablade.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

'Tis factually true what you say & I love your optimism, but unfortunately, in our current form/scoring, and who we've got to play, we'll be finishing the season sub 70 points, possibly around 66. Where we are now is where we'll end up. I'm not 100% confident we'll win again this season.

Sorry, I find this just bizarre, even with your confession to being a pessimist. You think we could play with relegation form for the rest of the season?

 

[derfblade.3]

Sorry, I find this just bizarre, even with your confession to being a pessimist. You think we could play with relegation form for the rest of the season?

People who have no confidence say things extreme to protect themselves in the scenario that things don't turn out well . That and fear of what the future holds.
What will be will be so try to enjoy the next four weeks, don't fear it.

 

[Liverpool blade]

People who have no confidence say things extreme to protect themselves in the scenario that things don't turn out well . That and fear of what the future holds.
What will be will be so try to enjoy the next four weeks, don't fear it.

I don't fear the next 4 weeks. The whole playoff saga is a lotttery as we already know. We just need to go full tilt over the next 4 weeks and see where it takes us?. COYRAWW. UTB

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Sorry, I find this just bizarre, even with your confession to being a pessimist. You think we could play with relegation form for the rest of the season?

It's not meant to be a bizarre/extreme comment. We're dropping to an average of a point a game at the moment, and we're now playing form teams. Over the last 5 games, we've got 6 points, scored 3 conceded 4. Over the same period Cardiff are 1st team (15/15 & 12:5), Millwall 3rd (13/15 & 8:2), Boro 5th (10/15 & 9:4), Preston 7th (9/15 & 9:8) and Bristol 8th (8/15 & 8:4). Barnsley and Birmingham are bang out of form, but will be fighting for their lives. I think we'll do the following:

Cardiff L
Barnsley D
Boro L
Millwall D
Birmingham D
Preston D
Bristol L

That would give us 65 points, a draw against Boro' 66. You could argue for a W thrown into the mix against Barnsley or Birmingham, getting us to 69, but that's my honest opinion. I'd add that we've already lost to 5 of that 7, and picked up a draw against Brum.

 

[Bellypork]

Have you seen Fulham this season? I’d be a damn sight more concerned about them than Villa!



Really? Play like they did yesterday and I can’t see anyone who they’ll lose to before the end of the season!

Aye, and I saw them last season too.

Fulham have an Achilles heel, namely that they can be stifled.

Reading did it last season, Wednesday did earlier this season, and Brucie'd do it in the play-offs no problems.

I saw Villa this season at the Lane and at Hillsborough too, and they're no great shakes in terms of the way they play.

Neither were Hull two seasons ago.

But, like that Hull side, they've got that individual quality, and PL nous, which the non-parachute clubs don't have.

 

[blade too long]

Don't see why there's all the pessimism
It's the fact we have to play the top 8 at home that's in our favour . We can't go in thinking it's easy. Better to be playing cardiff millwall preston and boro . Its given us the opportunity of not only us getting 3 points but ensuring they get 0

We are capable of beating anyone if we play as we can

Let's have 4 cup finals and give them the backing to assist then

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Don't see why there's all the pessimism
It's the fact we have to play the top 8 at home that's in our favour . We can't go in thinking it's easy. Better to be playing cardiff millwall preston and boro . Its given us the opportunity of not only us getting 3 points but ensuring they get 0

We are capable of beating anyone if we play as we can

Let's have 4 cup finals and give them the backing to assist then

Agree. Should not fall foul of complacency playing the teams around us. Could do with some goals from Leon though.

 

[stringer]

Aye, and I saw them last season too.

Fulham have an Achilles heel, namely that they can be stifled.

Reading did it last season, Wednesday did earlier this season, and Brucie'd do it in the play-offs no problems.

I saw Villa this season at the Lane and at Hillsborough too, and they're no great shakes in terms of the way they play.

Neither were Hull two seasons ago.

But, like that Hull side, they've got that individual quality, and PL nous, which the non-parachute clubs don't have.

Last season’s Fulham won’t be in the play-offs and they might be stifleable but not by United - who have shipped eight goals to them this season. Aggregate v Villa is 2-3 and the teams were pretty even for much of the 180 minutes.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Leon really needs a goal!

And a win yesterday could have been huge. It does feel like an opportunity missed. It would have been a massive boost.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

It's not meant to be a bizarre/extreme comment. We're dropping to an average of a point a game at the moment, and we're now playing form teams. Over the last 5 games, we've got 6 points, scored 3 conceded 4. Over the same period Cardiff are 1st team (15/15 & 12:5), Millwall 3rd (13/15 & 8:2), Boro 5th (10/15 & 9:4), Preston 7th (9/15 & 9:8) and Bristol 8th (8/15 & 8:4). Barnsley and Birmingham are bang out of form, but will be fighting for their lives. I think we'll do the following:

Cardiff L
Barnsley D
Boro L
Millwall D
Birmingham D
Preston D
Bristol L

That would give us 65 points, a draw against Boro' 66. You could argue for a W thrown into the mix against Barnsley or Birmingham, getting us to 69, but that's my honest opinion. I'd add that we've already lost to 5 of that 7, and picked up a draw against Brum.

Blimey, never mind all that, Nostradamus, just send me next week's winning lottery numbers.

 

[Roygbiv]

7 games to go and it's in our hands to get a play off place. I'm a huge pessimist and had us down for 18th before the season started so maybe I am easily pleased but I think it's great we are going into the end off the season fighting for a place in the Premiership. I don't think we will do it but my best hope at this point in July was that we wouldn't be worried about going down

 

[IMABLADE]

Whoever finishes 6th, will be promoted, as they'll be the most in form team. For me it'll be Millwall. I hope it's not

 

[diplomat]

Our lack of goals is my issue. We still get the opportunities but for one reason or another we can’t stick it away. We’re tight enough at the back but need to be able to bag more than one against the teams we’ve got to play.

After an hour on Friday we were fifth. I’m gutted we couldn’t hold on. However, I do know that this team will keep going to the bitter end and in my opinion have over achieved this year. For that I am grateful.

 

[blade too long]

Our lack of goals is my issue. We still get the opportunities but for one reason or another we can’t stick it away. We’re tight enough at the back but need to be able to bag more than one against the teams we’ve got to play.

After an hour on Friday we were fifth. I’m gutted we couldn’t hold on. However, I do know that this team will keep going to the bitter end and in my opinion have over achieved this year. For that I am grateful.

Pre@ures on for all the teams .Preston were profligate at Hillsboro middlesboro couldn't get past 9 men . Villa never looked like scoring at Hull . Derby were woeful v sunderland so stop making out we are the only team looking a bit wound up

 

[Bellypork]

Last season’s Fulham won’t be in the play-offs and they might be stifleable but not by United - who have shipped eight goals to them this season. Aggregate v Villa is 2-3 and the teams were pretty even for much of the 180 minutes.

No, I agree with you on that re' United and Fulham specifically.

I saw the game at the Lane against Fulham with my brother-in-law, and, great game that it was, Tufty's approach in that match played into their hands, as everybody said at the time. I don't think that United possess the sort of players needed to strangle them .

But I was talking more about the overall picture, looking at who may be there at the end of the season. For me it's about experience, nous, match winners etc. I wouldn't be confident to bet against Brucie, especially when he's in charge of a parachute club, which he usually is.

 

[diplomat]

Pre@ures on for all the teams .Preston were profligate at Hillsboro middlesboro couldn't get past 9 men . Villa never looked like scoring at Hull . Derby were woeful v sunderland so stop making out we are the only team looking a bit wound up

I don’t think we necessarily do look wound up. I just read the stats that we’d scored something like four and let three in over the last few games (can’t remember the stat).

Apart from Hull I think our standards have remained pleasingly high.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It's not meant to be a bizarre/extreme comment. We're dropping to an average of a point a game at the moment, and we're now playing form teams. Over the last 5 games, we've got 6 points, scored 3 conceded 4. Over the same period Cardiff are 1st team (15/15 & 12:5), Millwall 3rd (13/15 & 8:2), Boro 5th (10/15 & 9:4), Preston 7th (9/15 & 9:8) and Bristol 8th (8/15 & 8:4). Barnsley and Birmingham are bang out of form, but will be fighting for their lives. I think we'll do the following:

Cardiff L
Barnsley D
Boro L
Millwall D
Birmingham D
Preston D
Bristol L

That would give us 65 points, a draw against Boro' 66. You could argue for a W thrown into the mix against Barnsley or Birmingham, getting us to 69, but that's my honest opinion. I'd add that we've already lost to 5 of that 7, and picked up a draw against Brum.

You’re right but you’re also wrong.

There is no predicting the outcome of these games. Look no further than Sunderland’s 4-1 win at Derby.

Over the course of 20+ games, yes, it is possible to look at form and other things and predict who’s likely to do what. But on a handful of remaining games? Anything is possible.

I thought we were poor to average at Brentford, but on another day that same performance could have been a 5-1 win.

It’s as much about attitude now as ability and form.

We’ve defied all odds to get this far. One last thrust and we’ll be in the play offs.