We're only 4 points clear

[PeteBlade]

Because we're unlucky?

Because everyone hates us but we don't care.

 

[blade67]

Agreed. there is a long, long way to go yet.

Realistically we need another 40 points to certain of top 2 out of 21 games. It might not need that many but that should be the target. That's bloody good form and we need to keep winning nearly every week to ensure this season stays on track. It starts with the performance on Saturday against a team on a great run.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Will Woodwardfan read this?

LS26, your comment shows that you don't quite take when you read what I post.

Of course promotion is nowhere near guaranteed and I would be the last to ever say so.

Fact is we have a Blade and a talented and experienced manager at the helm. The fans, the Board and the press respect him.

The club is United again. Promotion is of secondary importance to that which has to be the foundation of any resurgence of the club.

The foundations are laid, that's all it can be at this stage and it has to be said that Clough took us this far in his first few months.

As with Clough, I wish Wilder every success, boy do we need and deserve it as a set of fans.

 

[Selly]

I'll check my working tomorrow. Worth noting that the average if you still have to play every one else once would be

(300-current position)/23

Which for the team in first would be 13, and for the team in last 12.

As such I'd expect our overall average to be

(300-(1+20+23))/21=12.19.

Slightly over 12th, but lower (in value, higher on position in table) than the average if we had everyone to play...

My working is right. At home we have to play the teams in:



10 games, 109 total, 10.9 average

Away its the teams in:



11 games, 147 total, 13.36 average

Have added the overall average to the below table, unsurprisingly the range of numbers is very very small...

 

[sheffielder]

We're only 4 points clear? We were 2 points behind at Christmas weren't we?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Ive already posted if you dont want to enjoy it knock yourselves out but let us who can see how strong we are just now enjoy it.I dont ram Im right down anyone .I just agree with Kevin Pages much more convincing argument .
Why do you always descend into abuse re glue sniffing and drinking jibes.It s a tactic of the unintelligent .cant find a proper argument so call names. It just demeans your outburst

Is that the love child of Kevin Gage and Rob Page?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Is that the love child of Kevin Gage and Rob Page?

 

[S64 Blade]

I think a win tomorrow would really set us up, especially if Scunny drop points.

Even though Bolton will have a game in hand, the pyschological advantage of being 6 points clear will be advantageous.

 

[blade too long]

We're only 4 points clear

but its nice to be here
having a lovely time

 

[Dkc]

How many times have we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Remember, a couple of injuries and a couple of demoralising defeats and we could be back int he play offs. Some people on here seem to think we're already promoted. Remember when were all singing the praises of Danny Wilson, and promotion was a near-certainty?

 

[blade too long]

How many times have we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Remember, a couple of injuries and a couple of demoralising defeats and we could be back int he play offs. Some people on here seem to think we're already promoted. Remember when were all singing the praises of Danny Wilson, and promotion was a near-certainty?

dont remember being 4 points clear and dominating every game and being unbeatable away from home

big difference

 

[Dkc]

We may be dominating games, but we aren't unbeatable, home or away. We were dominating games in the "Ched season", but so were Charlton. When we started to lose a few there was a team able to take advantage and snatch 2nd.

 

[raul]

dont remember being 4 points clear and dominating every game and being unbeatable away from home

big difference

And you were equally scathing of the team at the time I rem......oh

 

[Selly]

In case anyone is even vaguely interested, updated table showing the relative strength of the run in's Home, Away and Overall

 

[1970Blade]

Thanks Selly Oak Blade, if you're willing to do the hard work to identify these stats, I'm happy to read them. Of course, they're not massively relevant, there's not a big difference in Lg 1 between teams in 8th and 18th, but for those who can't devour enough in between games (like me) its interesting stuff.

Relevance of form and injuries as season goes on (sides in bottom 4 playing out of their skins etc) always mix things up as this league gets towards closing stages.

My take is we should be confident but not complacent.

Unlike some, I DO actually think it matters what fans think. Over-confidence can lead to us being impatient, which will make a difference when we're having games where we are struggling (this isn't the same as blaming the fans for us losing, just recognising that we go to games not watch on telly, because we feel involved.

Inevitably there will be a time when we hit a slightly rocky spell, even if its no more than a spell of 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses. Helping the team get through that IS our job as I see it.

Also totally agree that we've had enough disappointment to be allowed to enjoy the best Manager and best team we've had since Warnock days. The Blades are putting a spring in our step again, thanks Chris!

 

[Selly]

Thanks Selly Oak Blade, if you're willing to do the hard work to identify these stats, I'm happy to read them. Of course, they're not massively relevant, there's not a big difference in Lg 1 between teams in 8th and 18th, but for those who can't devour enough in between games (like me) its interesting stuff.

Relevance of form and injuries as season goes on (sides in bottom 4 playing out of their skins etc) always mix things up as this league gets towards closing stages.

My take is we should be confident but not complacent.

Unlike some, I DO actually think it matters what fans think. Over-confidence can lead to us being impatient, which will make a difference when we're having games where we are struggling (this isn't the same as blaming the fans for us losing, just recognising that we go to games not watch on telly, because we feel involved.

Inevitably there will be a time when we hit a slightly rocky spell, even if its no more than a spell of 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses. Helping the team get through that IS our job as I see it.

Also totally agree that we've had enough disappointment to be allowed to enjoy the best Manager and best team we've had since Warnock days. The Blades are putting a spring in our step again, thanks Chris!

I think the really interesting thing for me is how it paints the different liklihoods of the reast of the season panning out. If you look at Chessie and Oldham, only 3 points separate them, but when you are down the bottom every win means that much more, and most of the time you would look to your home form to get you those wins.

Oldham are, by that measure, absolutely screwed, whereas Chessie have a significantly easier (on paper) run in at home, and therefore may be able to pick up the points they need. I don`t think 50 points will be needed this season.

Up at the top, our numbers reflect that we have Scunny, Bolton and Bradford all to play at the Lane. And we know feb looks a tough month on paper, but if we are still leading those teams when they come to the lane then the onus will much more be on them to get a win.

Updated table with averaghe position of teams to face in Jan-Apr. Uns = Unscheduled matches



Currently unscheduled matches (or if they have been scheduled I don`t know when for) - does not include games to be re-arranged due to FA Cup 4th Round

Coventry City v Port Vale
Oxford Utd v Bolton
Peterborough v Southend Utd
Rochdale v Charlton

 

[PeteBlade]

It's great to be on a good run of form and top of the league.

But some seriously need to calm down.

There's 50% of the season left to go and all our rivals around us left to play.

Some seem to think we're already up, probably the same sort of people that told the pigs to "mind the gap" a few years ago and were left with egg on their faces.

We haven't had our sticky patch yet, our Sharp injury or Moore sending off or the other freak bits of bad luck that happen because we're Sheffield United.

When we're mathematically up, I'll crow with the best of them, but come on people, looooooooong way to go yet.

Ahem, bump.