Can we catch Sheff Utd?

The article says we were 3 points off the playoffs at that time.

Tbf could you really imagine Wilder saying "I think Boro will get in there?" That would be tantamount to him saying "And I was $hit."
Exactly.

It was highlighted at the time. We were flying, we'd got to within 3 points of the playoffs after a shocking start and "at the time" of Wilder's prediction we were looking as strong contenders suddenly. Think we were actually into the play-off spots a week later!

Nothing wrong with him not tipping us of course, he could've tipped half the league and they'd all be reasonable shouts. And of course if he had tipped us, as you say he'd have been admitting failure to an extent, particularly given how publicly he'd moaned about recruitment.

But then he comes out this week trying to take some credit for our form because he left such a strong team behind. But evidently not such a strong one that he considered them likely to finish in the play-offs even after Carrick started getting a tune out of them.

Which is quite amusing and he's been called on it.
 
I think they are unbeaten in their last ten, and as stated averaging 2 points a game. It would take a big drop off from them and for us to keep up our good form. Happy for us to keep pushing and secure at least third place by a decent margin. Would hopefully stand us in good stead for the playoff, which is still currently quite tight.
 
We can only run our race..

If they lose it doesn’t mean that we win. They are averaging 2 points per game and are set for a 92 point finish.. if we win all our remaining games we finish on 96 points

That would be done turn around! Record breaking, film worthy!!

Most points earned in a season (3 for a win)– 94 in 46 matches, Third Division, 1986-1987

Longest sequence of League wins – 9
in the Second Division, 1973–74

20 wins in a row gets us to 96 points!!

We’re currently averaging 2.4 points per game (from the last 10) 86 point finish would be phenomenal and normally enough for automatic promotion.. without the 16 game handicap our previous manager bestowed upon us.. we would be top 2.

The playofffs were an impossible dream.. let’s just run our own race.
I agree it's very unlikely. Which is why I started my post by saying it's very unlikely 😉

Was merely hypothesising how it might happen if the stars somehow aligned. And it would require Sheff United to lose form badly. Of course it would. I don't think anyone thinks we can catch them without that happening.

My point was just pressure can do funny things to players and that is maybe how Sheff United might lose that form in a perfect (albeit yes, very unlikely, world).

I agree, for us it's one game at a time. From his interviews that's very much how Carrick is approaching it. I don't think he has any targets other than play well in the next match.

I think it's ok for us to hypothesise and speculate on a fans forum though. I doubt any of us will be doing the team talk at any point this season.
 
It would take a big drop off from them and for us to keep up our good form.
They’ve got a horrific run of games coming up, that will very likely see that point return drop.

10 unbeaten, yes. Impressive, but needs more context. Beaten Cardiff, Huddersfield, Blackpool, Wigan and hull by 1 goal. Drew with an off form qpr and rotherham. Beat Coventry and Stoke, by two goals, two faltering teams. In the cup drew with a national league side and beat millwall reserves. Next 10 games will be far harder
 
We can only run our race..

If they lose it doesn’t mean that we win. They are averaging 2 points per game and are set for a 92 point finish.. if we win all our remaining games we finish on 96 points

That would be done turn around! Record breaking, film worthy!!

Most points earned in a season (3 for a win)– 94 in 46 matches, Third Division, 1986-1987

Longest sequence of League wins – 9
in the Second Division, 1973–74

20 wins in a row gets us to 96 points!!

We’re currently averaging 2.4 points per game (from the last 10) 86 point finish would be phenomenal and normally enough for automatic promotion.. without the 16 game handicap our previous manager bestowed upon us.. we would be top 2.

The playofffs were an impossible dream.. let’s just run our own race.
1675582483140.png
 
But then he comes out this week trying to take some credit for our form because he left such a strong team behind. But evidently not such a strong one that he considered them likely to finish in the play-offs even after Carrick started getting a tune out of them.

Which is quite amusing and he's been called on it.


Exactly this. He’s a shyster
 
However it ends I'm massively proud of what we've achieved following our start to the season

Shoot for the stars and we might hit the moon is my philosophy
 
I think Coventry may come again TBH. They have a top quality striker and if they get it right they could quite easily string 3 or 4 wins together. Much like us with Chuba I suppose.

I wasn’t having a dog at anyone by the way, I just thought people having a sly one at Wilder for not tipping us for the playoffs when asked in December was a little OTT. Not many of us would’ve had us down for the top six, let’s be honest.
A top quality striker who ain’t scored since Boxing Day. He’s got nothing on Chuba who isn’t even playing as an out and out striker
 
Exactly.

It was highlighted at the time. We were flying, we'd got to within 3 points of the playoffs after a shocking start and "at the time" of Wilder's prediction we were looking as strong contenders suddenly. Think we were actually into the play-off spots a week later!

Nothing wrong with him not tipping us of course, he could've tipped half the league and they'd all be reasonable shouts. And of course if he had tipped us, as you say he'd have been admitting failure to an extent, particularly given how publicly he'd moaned about recruitment.

But then he comes out this week trying to take some credit for our form because he left such a strong team behind. But evidently not such a strong one that he considered them likely to finish in the play-offs even after Carrick started getting a tune out of them.

Which is quite amusing and he's been called on it.
I’ve decided I now hate the big Doyle. That interview this week was so bad
 
I agree it's very unlikely. Which is why I started my post by saying it's very unlikely 😉

Was merely hypothesising how it might happen if the stars somehow aligned. And it would require Sheff United to lose form badly. Of course it would. I don't think anyone thinks we can catch them without that happening.

My point was just pressure can do funny things to players and that is maybe how Sheff United might lose that form in a perfect (albeit yes, very unlikely, world).

I agree, for us it's one game at a time. From his interviews that's very much how Carrick is approaching it. I don't think he has any targets other than play well in the next match.

I think it's ok for us to hypothesise and speculate on a fans forum though. I doubt any of us will be doing the team talk at any point this season.
Distraction of the cup, playing us, tough away games.. quite a few players out of contract in the summer. Sander Berge will be playing premier league football one way or another.

Ten points ahead.. if we beat them that becomes seven points.. last game pressure away puts 3 points at risk..

then you look at Burnley, Norwich & Sunderland who could take them to task.. chiselling away that lead.. IF we can maintain our supernatural form!

Ten becomes, seven, becomes four.. becomes very hard to keep hold of.

I wish them the very best of luck in the cup!
Sporting Glory!!
 
View attachment 52205

Burnley finished 4 points above us.

It could happen, it's just unlikely, if we can manage to beat them, the doubt may set in.

We have fewer games in which to reel them in I suppose, but I agree it's doable.

A win at BL will change it from outside chance to genuine possibility.

A draw isn't the end of the line; Burnley didn't beat us that season after all, but I think a win is needed for us to really believe this is on.
 
We can only run our race..

If they lose it doesn’t mean that we win. They are averaging 2 points per game and are set for a 92 point finish.. if we win all our remaining games we finish on 96 points

That would be done turn around! Record breaking, film worthy!!

Most points earned in a season (3 for a win)– 94 in 46 matches, Third Division, 1986-1987

Longest sequence of League wins – 9
in the Second Division, 1973–74

20 wins in a row gets us to 96 points!!

We’re currently averaging 2.4 points per game (from the last 10) 86 point finish would be phenomenal and normally enough for automatic promotion.. without the 16 game handicap our previous manager bestowed upon us.. we would be top 2.

The playofffs were an impossible dream.. let’s just run our own race.
It really comes to something when @newyddion is the voice of reason.........
 
It's obviously very unlikely but IF we win at their place and can close the gap to something like 6 or 7 points fairly quickly, then pressure might just start to tell.

As said above, it's sometimes easier to chase than be chased. We have nothing to lose on that front. Whereas on some level it's probably fair to say a few of their players are pretty much already planning what to spend their promotion bonus on.

They're not expecting a battle for automatic, so if you can draw them into one it's going to be a hell of a mindset change for them. Suddenly every game becomes a bit more of a nervy affair for them.
Pressure can do strange things to people, look at how Nobby's notebook has started to have the odd typo and grammatical error creep in since more people started reading it.🙃

Turn the screw and mistakes could happen. We just need to hang around and keep the pressure on. Unlikely they'll slip up, but still possible.
 
What's the next sanction for failing to pay football creditors/debts after a transfer embargo has been issued?

If they miss another months payment can it get into points deduction territory?

I assume the league will be all over it and will swoop in to act, four years later obviously when it is largely meaningless.
 
Ahead of the ShU fixture. Recall they consider us a grudge match, last season was a physical game which they dominated and we need not feed their fire on here, best to keep eyes on road. Don't talk it up too much. Our game resilience is climbing along with the application, massively in fact. #wonderful place to be (down by the Riverside).
 
View attachment 52205

Burnley finished 4 points above us.

It could happen, it's just unlikely, if we can manage to beat them, the doubt may set in.
But at the same stage of the season after 29/30 games we were only 2 points ahead. The managed to turn around just 6 points in the remaining games, and that was despite us dropping 17 points in that period. Screenshot_20230205-110929_Chrome.jpg:
 
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