Who thinks we will reach the playoffs?

[Pinchy]

I do. Until it is mathematically impossible for us to finish in the top 6, I keep believing we can do it.
I do rate the probability around 30% at the moment though.

The away form, tight match schedule and unsettled back four does not give many reasons to be optimistic, but it is still there to be won or lost, lets not give up.

It might help if we were to replace Bunn with a more reliable keeper. Do you have any ideas?

 

[tomtheblade]

Part of me is clinging onto the bizarre idea that because we are crap and don't deserve to go up, we will.

The 2 times we finished third and deserved to get promoted we didn't, so maybe the footballing gods have some sort of twisted plan. I still doubt it though.

 

[Silent Blade]

We might, just might scrape into 6th place. If by some miracle we manage to get to the final, and that would be a miracle along the lines of turning water into wine or getting my wife off the phone before the half hour mark has elapsed, then we can look forward to another insipid Wembley performance. If by some hugely fortuitous circumstances we do manage to get promoted, and this is proper fantasy bollocks talk now, we could either attract some decent players and stay up because we'd have very few to start with, or we'd get thrashed by all and sundry every week because we'd have a squad that was piss-poor by Championship standards.

Then again I've got more chance of winning the lottery every week for the rest of the year.

I remember Bolton had a strong team in 1999-2000 season and were unlucky not to go up. They had a weaker team in the following season (I remember a Bolton fan at my work agreeing with me) but were lucky to reach the play offs. They won the play offs and then got stronger over the next few years in the Premiership. We had a stronger team last season but ,who knows, we might will have the same luck as Bolton did?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Posted in another thread...

Currently averaging 1.45 points per game over the season. Form over our last 8 is even worse -- 1.25ppg.

Starting with the next game we will have to up our game to 2.2 points per game to hit 75 points ( which is what i reckon the target will need to be.)


Who realistically thinks that will happen?

Not me.

 

[Paulus]

Posted in another thread...

Currently averaging 1.45 points per game over the season. Form over our last 8 is even worse -- 1.25ppg.

Starting with the next game we will have to up our game to 2.2 points per game to hit 75 points ( which is what i reckon the target will need to be.)


Who realistically thinks that will happen?

Not me.

I think you are right, it will need us to put together our best run of results of the season but as I suggested above, if Cardiff do struggle or even end up with a points deduction then we can only fail if a team currently below us finishes with a better run in than us. The statistics you have given about our chances are even more unpromising for any chasing club as they have more points to make up. I think there are some pretty good reasons to thinking we can improve and I'm not sure how many of the clubs chasing us are in a better position to improve than we are.

 

[happyhippy]

Part of me is clinging onto the bizarre idea that because we are crap and don't deserve to go up, we will.

The 2 times we finished third and deserved to get promoted we didn't, so maybe the footballing gods have some sort of twisted plan. I still doubt it though.

Spoken like a true Blade! Unfortunately we finished sixth in 1997/8, and buggered that up as well. Our fate with play offs was sealed by the fact that we won the first ever one against Accrington.

 

[grafikhaus]

I think we'll be having this conversation after every game from now on.

Yes, we almost blew it v. Plymouth, but we didn't and got 3 points and are 'back in the mix'. Unfortunately, we'll probably lose at Palace and it's back to square one.

Plenty more football to be played yet and the standard in this division is shocking so around ten teams could, if they pulled their finger out, look at getting into the play offs.

Makes you wonder if some teams actually want to go up, given the possibility of weekly humiliation in the PL. Only Stoke seem to be giving it a go but surely the PL coaches will finally discover a way to overcome their 'one trick pony' act i.e. Delap.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I genuinely think a playoff place is unlikely now. Does anyone think we will make it? I'm hoping someone can inspire some optimism in me......

I don't think its unlikely. I still think we've got a good chance. Ignoring the barcodes and WBA who would all be unlucky not to get in the top six from here, the next nine teams (down to the dingles) all have the capacity to go unbeaten for eight games, or go eight games without a win. A bit of form like that could give you a six to ten point swing, and at this stage that is plenty to get you solidly in the play-offs or solidly out of them.

The simple fact is that in the last eight games we have amassed the spectacular total of ten points. We started them in 6th place only by goals scored over Leicester, and after this poor run of form we have slipped all the way back to seventh and a point off sixth. If we can get it going a bit and take say 14 points or more from the next 8 games, we will be in the play-off positions for sure.

Palace (A)
Peterborough (A)
QPR (H)
Blackpool (H)
Doncaster (A)
Cardiff (A)
Scunthorpe (H)
Dingles (H)

4 wins and a couple of draws..? Impossible..?

Keep the faith...UTB...