Who still thinks we can go up?

[blade too long]

Should we? Why?

because we have players capable of doing that
since brayfords return we have lost one league game
very unluckily, could just as easily have won it

 

[blade too long]

http://thefishy.co.uk/formtable.php?table=3

joint 5th in current form, couple of good aquisitions see us move forward
win on saturday could put us second in form table

 

[pommpey]

because we have players capable of doing that
since brayfords return we have lost one league game
very unluckily, could just as easily have won it

Thing is B2L, we can't base our optimism on the playing ability of just one person Just look at last night's squad:

Long - hit and more miss between the sticks, albeit he did pull off a couple of decent stops last night
Brayford - undoubtedly talented and talismanic, but still recovering from a serious injury
Collins - still a liability more than an asset. Put him against a decent front two and he's fucked
Edgar - hasn't set the world alight and certainly no direct replacement for Maguire in the gaping hole we had for too long
McEveley - he grafts, wears his heart on his shirt but seriously, his performances haven't been game changing and he again is error prone
Flynn - just returning to the team and not a real fast-attack option down the flank with any real consistency
Basham - is a midfielder and can turn it on and the suddenly switch off for long periods
Hammond - the great midfield hope who in truth you can see he knows the game, but is surrounded largely by numpties
Baxter - beyond doubt gifted ... but inconsistent
Sharp - another pasionate player who loves the shirt, but he (to me) only has one mode of operation and even then only conditional
Done - still think this player has unlocked potential and not 'out wide' or 'dropping off'

Substitutes
Howard - not anyones consistent choice if you want a low goal diff
Woolford - another one of those players who is proving the doubters when he was signed
Sammon - disappointinly shit
Campbell-Ryce - tricky winger with the ability to create, but create what, exactly?
Reed - another player I think has unlocked ability, but he plays with a midfield that remains without any real direction or plan
Adams - seemingly biding his time for a transfer offer to me
McGahey - is he still with us?

All of the above spells out why we were 3-0 down at one stage last night. No idea what suddenly fired up the revival or if it truthfully was a capitulation by Wigan. A bit of both by the look of it although I credit the goalscorers but don't credit the defence or the myriad ofc hances we fucked up. It seemed Wigan weren't really 'that good' and any better, cleverer and more footballing aroit team wouyld have exploited their weaknesses, shown clinical finishing and shut the game down so their fans would do the rest. To be 3-0 down afetr a decent performance against one of the best built clubs in Europe is indiocative of what is out there on the park and it down't make me think we have anything comeing come May but disappointment in missing out o the playoffs or another disappointment in the playoffs.

pommpey

 

[blade too long]

Thing is B2L, we can't base our optimism on the playing ability of just one person Just look at last night's squad:

Long - hit and more miss between the sticks, albeit he did pull off a couple of decent stops last night
Brayford - undoubtedly talented and talismanic, but still recovering from a serious injury
Collins - still a liability more than an asset. Put him against a decent front two and he's fucked
Edgar - hasn't set the world alight and certainly no direct replacement for Maguire in the gaping hole we had for too long
McEveley - he grafts, wears his heart on his shirt but seriously, his performances haven't been game changing and he again is error prone
Flynn - just returning to the team and not a real fast-attack option down the flank with any real consistency
Basham - is a midfielder and can turn it on and the suddenly switch off for long periods
Hammond - the great midfield hope who in truth you can see he knows the game, but is surrounded largely by numpties
Baxter - beyond doubt gifted ... but inconsistent
Sharp - another pasionate player who loves the shirt, but he (to me) only has one mode of operation and even then only conditional
Done - still think this player has unlocked potential and not 'out wide' or 'dropping off'

Substitutes
Howard - not anyones consistent choice if you want a low goal diff
Woolford - another one of those players who is proving the doubters when he was signed
Sammon - disappointinly shit
Campbell-Ryce - tricky winger with the ability to create, but create what, exactly?
Reed - another player I think has unlocked ability, but he plays with a midfield that remains without any real direction or plan
Adams - seemingly biding his time for a transfer offer to me
McGahey - is he still with us?

All of the above spells out why we were 3-0 down at one stage last night. No idea what suddenly fired up the revival or if it truthfully was a capitulation by Wigan. A bit of both by the look of it although I credit the goalscorers but don't credit the defence or the myriad ofc hances we fucked up. It seemed Wigan weren't really 'that good' and any better, cleverer and more footballing aroit team wouyld have exploited their weaknesses, shown clinical finishing and shut the game down so their fans would do the rest. To be 3-0 down afetr a decent performance against one of the best built clubs in Europe is indiocative of what is out there on the park and it down't make me think we have anything comeing come May but disappointment in missing out o the playoffs or another disappointment in the playoffs.

pommpey

I have always added the caveat
we still need 2 or 3 players,thats why we are shipping quite a few out now
but we have improved immensely as players , thats been out for a while have slowly got something like match fit
Done being another prime example last night
any team needs ll its better players fit and fully functional
sammon is a weak link just now , hes not so much off the boil as simmering

 

[blade too long]

Even after lat night's first sixty minutes?

We shipped three avoidable goals. That aint 'quality' to me.

pommpey

first one was a tad offside, about 4 yards

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Nigel Adkins, the Sheffield United manager, insisted his team can still win automatic promotion following its dramatic comeback against Wigan Athletic.

Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...n-make-top-two-adkins-1-7671710#ixzz3x7Ln9knK

Adkins, glass half full? Glass half empty? Nope glass brimming over with froth and sparklers!! UTB

He's not wrong though, theoretically every glass is full to the brim, its just the percentage of liquid to gas that alters.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

It's mid January it's quite obvious Nigel Adkins still doesn't know his best 11 or the way he want his team to play. The team seem to be playing with shackles on. Either the players don't seem to understand what NA wants them to do or they simply don't want to play for him. Surely Adkins can see this and as we meander on to the end of the transfer window every lost point is driving a nail into our promotion coffin. While NA still deludes himself that we are somehow going to march up the table in a blaze of glory he is seriously neglecting his duty to strengthen the team.

Why not, stranger things have happened.

Dependent on two things though [1] We raise our game and maintain it for the rest of the season; [2] Those above us have a few slip ups.

Auto's no. Would call for Burton and co. to have a real mare and I can't see that really.

 

[Treeton Blade]

first one was a tad offside, about 4 yards

Think the rule is WHEN THE BALL IS PLAYED, not when it arrives at its destination.
4 yards ON, would be about right

 

[derryblade]

We all hope we can still achieve promotion, but there is no concrete evidence to support that hope. The players have shown grit determination since the Shrewsbury game and flashes of quality but that's all there is flashes there is no consistency, we are again leaking goals in the league and having to play catch up in games is never a good recipe for winning games. Stats are great but having just played two of our top 6 sides we have gained a point and seen 5 disappear.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Well if we can keep it out one end and stick it in the other, move forward united together, continue to be resilient with a great set of lads whilst playing saturday, tuesday, saturday, tuesday, and keep just trying to win a game of football then we have every chance.

For this to happen, I think we need to persevere with a 1-4-4-2 system and need to continue to be honest, hardworking professionals. Long may it continue.


In all seriousness though, we certainly can go up. We’re 3 points off the playoffs in January. We could easily make the top 6 and then we have a 1 in 4 chance. Whether we will do it remains to be seen and seems more unlikely than likely if we’re being honest. That doesn’t mean it definitely won’t happen though. Let’s hope Nigel can keep up his track record of strong finishes to the season to see us enter the playoffs in some form. If that comes around and Billy is fit and firing (and who knows, maybe Done or Adams in form too?) then we have a reasonable chance. I think the chances of automatic are almost non-existent now though. It would take an incredible run from us coupled with mediocre form for a few teams above us.

 

[Jon Bon]

Nigel Adkins, the Sheffield United manager, insisted his team can still win automatic promotion following its dramatic comeback against Wigan Athletic.

Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...n-make-top-two-adkins-1-7671710#ixzz3x7Ln9knK

Adkins, glass half full? Glass half empty? Nope glass brimming over with froth and sparklers!! UTB

Bumble must be on drugs. Has Baxter slipped him a mickey?

 

[Bladesman]

The table doesn't looks that shit when you consider how inconsistent we have been so far. 13 points off second with a game in hand and new players to be signed.

Not many other teams are really running away with this. The division is about as poor as it was the season when Donny went up.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Think the rule is WHEN THE BALL IS PLAYED, not when it arrives at its destination.
4 yards ON, would be about right

God knows how anyone can claim he was offside, especially four yards. That's with the benefit of replays as well presumably. It didn't even look offside at the game.

 

[blade too long]

We all hope we can still achieve promotion, but there is no concrete evidence to support that hope.

THE SAME AS NO ONE AS ABOVE IS ASSURED OF PROMOTION EITHER

 

[derryblade]

THE SAME AS NO ONE AS ABOVE IS ASSURED OF PROMOTION EITHER

I assume putting it in capitals has some significance, not sure what it is.

The fact remains and it's all about opinion, the performances over the season and recently have not convinced me we have the wherewithal to gain promotion, therefore it remains as a hope nothing more.

 

[blade too long]

Form changes for all clubs during a season

at random
jan 13th 2013
after 27 games
Tranmere were top with 53 points
after 46 finished 11th with 68 points just 15 more points last 19 games
Bournemouth were 7th with 43 points went up as second with 83 points
so 40 points from last 19 games
yeovil 8th on42 points came out of ther blue to snatch 5th with 77 points
35 points from 19 games


but no one could forecast that
same again now
no one can say with concrete certainty who will get points and who wont
some will go up some will fall away

 

[Bladesman]

Form changes for all clubs during a season

at random
jan 13th 2013
after 27 games
Tranmere were top with 53 points
after 46 finished 11th with 68 points just 15 more points last 19 games
Bournemouth were 7th with 43 points went up as second with 83 points
so 40 points from last 19 games
yeovil 8th on42 points came out of ther blue to snatch 5th with 77 points
35 points from 19 games


but no one could forecast that
same again now
no one can say with concrete certainty who will get points and who wont
some will go up some will fall away

Exactly.

Anytime a club goes on any sort of winning run this season it usually comes to a halt fairly quickly.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Really interested to see what team turns up at second from bottom Colchester. I don't think it's unfair to say that at certain times this season the Blades have underestimated lowly opposition.

 

[Darthblade]

Nigel Adkins, the Sheffield United manager, insisted his team can still win automatic promotion following its dramatic comeback against Wigan Athletic.

Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...n-make-top-two-adkins-1-7671710#ixzz3x7Ln9knK

Adkins, glass half full? Glass half empty? Nope glass brimming over with froth and sparklers!! UTB

To be honest ..... I would say snorting a bloody great line like Robbie Fowler !!

There's more chance of me getting a steamy threesome with Kelly Brook and Scarlet Johannsen than there is of us getting in the top two !!

UTB & FTP

 

[Tyler Durden]

No, promotion will not be achieved this season. I was there yesterday and witnessed the comeback first-hand. It's all well and good praising the character on display in the second half. But it was utterly non-existent in the first half and opening 20 mins of the 2nd actually, hence the 3-0 deficit. It summed up everything wrong with us this past two seasons.

This team is too slow on the uptake, incapable of reading the game and basically too unwilling to grab the situation by the bollocks from the outset.

The vast majority of the playing squad and the entire philosophy endemic in the club needs a complete overhaul before United are fit for the purpose of getting out of this division and being credible in a higher one.

 

[mosbolad]

There's more chance of me getting a steamy threesome with Kelly Brook and Scarlet Johannsen than there is of us getting in the top two !!

A steamy threesome eh! Even so I expect you would be more than pleased though to get a chance at the number two slot.....

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Form changes for all clubs during a season

at random
jan 13th 2013
after 27 games
Tranmere were top with 53 points
after 46 finished 11th with 68 points just 15 more points last 19 games
Bournemouth were 7th with 43 points went up as second with 83 points
so 40 points from last 19 games
yeovil 8th on42 points came out of ther blue to snatch 5th with 77 points
35 points from 19 games


but no one could forecast that
same again now
no one can say with concrete certainty who will get points and who wont
some will go up some will fall away

I don't for one minute believe you that that is "at random" as you say and is very selective to prove your point. ps. Yeovil finished 4th, we finished 5th.

 

[Jehovah]

I don't think we can go up now. Even signing 3 new defenders will take time to develop an understanding. Sadly I think we'll continue to ship at least two goals a game on average giving us a constant mountain to climb.

 

[blade too long]

If Chjesterfield fans think they can make it into the top 6 , I fail to see why our fans have such little faith about our chances
of the 6 teams above us we only have to go to Coventry , having played the other 5 away

 

[pommpey]

The vast majority of the playing squad and the entire philosophy endemic in the club needs a complete overhaul before United are fit for the purpose of getting out of this division and being credible in a higher one.

Key point there TD and well put. A lot of people talk of augmenting the squad to get promotion. I slightly disagree. To get out of a division you have to have a squad that you are confident will remain in that division above. Otherwise, you have wasted two seasons just to end up back at square one. Case in question was our promotion to the PL under Warnock. When we went up (and it was far more hit and miss than the triple assualt season), did anyone really think our squad had any chance at all in a division that had some pretty outstanding sides with internationals a-go-go, ranged against a squad that largely resembled the cloggers Warnock had build in the past seven years? We didn't invest. Yes, our team shaved promotion, but if you take Swansea for example, the board then swept out a lot of luggage on the run up, and built brilliantly when there. We, at the moment don't resemble a Championship side in both playing style, will-to-win and talent. We are here because we deserve to be here because our players are well ... Div 1 players. We have no one - not even Brayford, Done and Sharp who tell me we are ready to be promoted - and stay there. We need players who will make those three look like 'options', rather than 'picks themselves'.

pommpey

 

[Pollingtonblade]

If Chjesterfield fans think they can make it into the top 6 , I fail to see why our fans have such little faith about our chances
of the 6 teams above us we only have to go to Coventry , having played the other 5 away

Yes but we still have to play some of them at home and should our defensive frailties not be addressed we will need 3 or 4 goals to win.

 

[blade too long]

I don't for one minute believe you that that is "at random" as you say and is very selective to prove your point. ps. Yeovil finished 4th, we finished 5th.

its one chosen where blades mad final table hasnt got 72 clubs in it
theres gliches in the system

but take any season at this time I guarentee 1st to 6th is not the same 6 clubs between jan 13th and game 46

 

[Tyler Durden]

Key point there TD and well put. A lot of people talk of augmenting the squad to get promotion. I slightly disagree. To get out of a division you have to have a squad that you are confident will remain in that division above. Otherwise, you have wasted two seasons just to end up back at square one. Case in question was our promotion to the PL under Warnock. When we went up (and it was far more hit and miss than the triple assualt season), did anyone really think our squad had any chance at all in a division that had some pretty outstanding sides with internationals a-go-go, ranged against a squad that largely resembled the cloggers Warnock had build in the past seven years? We didn't invest. Yes, our team shaved promotion, but if you take Swansea for example, the board then swept out a lot of luggage on the run up, and built brilliantly when there. We, at the moment don't resemble a Championship side in both playing style, will-to-win and talent. We are here because we deserve to be here because our players are well ... Div 1 players. We have no one - not even Brayford, Done and Sharp who tell me we are ready to be promoted - and stay there. We need players who will make those three look like 'options', rather than 'picks themselves'.

pommpey

Exactly, and that's where the problem lies. Every team who has gone from our current position to the top-flight or higher end of the second tier has constantly evolved. Historically, United have had a serious problem with moving forward.
If, by some chance we did achieve promotion this season, I would almost put money on it that the playing squad in August '16 would contain at least 5 players who were barely competent enough to get us out of this division and we'd be at the wrong end of a dogfight for the whole of next season (probably with Collins or McEvely still manning the 'defence').

You have to look like you're a cut above the rest to get promoted and survive, and we certainly don't.

 

[blade too long]

2009 10 then another I can research as the tables are readable on mad , brentford mad

table jan 2009 played 26
1 leeds 57 pts
2 norwich 54
3 charlton51
4 colchester45
5 htfc 41
6 swindon 41
7 mkdons 37
8 millwall 37

after 46

1 norwich 95
2 leeds 86
3 Millwall 85
4 charlton 84
5 Swindon82
6 hudders 80
7 Southampton 73
8 Colchester 72

so Millwall finished 1 point off automatic after being 8th
colchester fell out the play offs from 4th

 

[1danewhitehouse]

its one chosen where blades mad final table hasnt got 72 clubs in it
theres gliches in the system

but take any season at this time I guarentee 1st to 6th is not the same 6 clubs between jan 13th and game 46

True and I've not said it's impossible. But take any season from the last god knows how many years and no team with 37 points from the first 25 games has gone up automatically (to my knowledge) and I suspect most have finished outside the top 6.