Can we catch Sheff Utd?

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.
Looking at his potential employers.. the prem won’t touch him. Championship.. he took a top two squad and drive them into relegation territory. So that’s the Championship off the table.. League one awaits?

I think Portsmouth was a decent level. I’m guessing a top six league one team in the summer might change their arm.. or maybe not!
 
They’ve got a pretty tough run now, so you never know. But it’s pretty unlikely. Wembley play off final win it is then!
 
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.
are we going to get payback for THE THREE POINTS?!?!

What a way to go up!!
 
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. View attachment 52213:
In that case Burnley bettered our points total by 16 points in 20 games, despite us having a game in hand. A remarkable feat when you consider it.

But it would be roughly the equivalent of us bettering Sheff Utd's points total by around 13 points in 16 games...which would have us level with them on the final table, GD likely tight with that improvement...that does of course assume that they win their game in hand. And to draw another parallel, that we DRAW with them at Bramall Lane as Burnley did with us on the run in.

So yes, it's still less likely. But as Burnley showed that year, possible.😮
 
On Friday the gap was 12 pts

Now it’s 10

If they draw again and drop 2 pts this week at home to Swansea who can score goals and we beat Cardiff

It will be 8

Then we play shef u then it could be down to 5

If that happens then anything is possible as that barely 2 games. .

So it’s not out of the picture yet.
 
On Friday the gap was 12 pts

Now it’s 10

If they draw again and drop 2 pts this week at home to Swansea who can score goals and we beat Cardiff

It will be 8

Then we play shef u then it could be down to 5

If that happens then anything is possible as that barely 2 games. .

So it’s not out of the picture yet.
They also have a game in hand.

It is possible we can catch them and I believe we will claw back their lead, but just fall short and finish third.
Momentum is key, yet far from automatic. Sheff U could stall, suffer a jolt in defeat and then find inertia hard to break again.
Winning is everything at the top. If they draw 3 of their next 4 and lost to us in that same run, while we won the 4, then suddenly they are just a point above us, albeit with a game in hand. Their long run would still look fabulous, but momentum would have crashed and be all with us.
 
They also have a game in hand.

It is possible we can catch them and I believe we will claw back their lead, but just fall short and finish third.
Momentum is key, yet far from automatic. Sheff U could stall, suffer a jolt in defeat and then find inertia hard to break again.
Winning is everything at the top. If they draw 3 of their next 4 and lost to us in that same run, while we won the 4, then suddenly they are just a point above us, albeit with a game in hand. Their long run would still look fabulous, but momentum would have crashed and be all with us.
Pressure builds though and if we do beat them then doubts will creep in.

As it will be a race to draws v wins.

As I say I’m not saying we will but yes we could.
 
Here's Sheff U's remaining fixtures.

They have a really tough run of games from playing us through to Norwich away on 1st April, not to mention potential cup games. So you never know - it could be a lot tighter than you would think and they might be clinging on for final six games.

Screenshot 2023-02-05 at 17.56.58.png
 
That's a tough run to be fair, then Wigan and Burnley afterwards....having said that we have some tough game's ahead...
 
It's a bit of a paradox.
If Chris Wilder wasn't so poor a manager we would have had more points when Michael Carrick took charge and we would be competing for automatic promotion now.
If Chris Wilder wasn't so poor a manager we would have never sacked him and we would be nowhere near the playoffs now.
Either way I'm just grateful for what we have now.
 
Here's Sheff U's remaining fixtures.

They have a really tough run of games from playing us through to Norwich away on 1st April, not to mention potential cup games. So you never know - it could be a lot tighter than you would think and they might be clinging on for final six games.

View attachment 52237
Yup tough run for them, their form has also been exaggerated by a 10 game unbeaten run largely made up of playing the bottom 8 teams
 
Looking at his potential employers.. the prem won’t touch him. Championship.. he took a top two squad and drive them into relegation territory. So that’s the Championship off the table.. League one awaits?

I think Portsmouth was a decent level. I’m guessing a top six league one team in the summer might change their arm.. or maybe not!
The Portsmouth job was perfect for him.

If his fragile ego won't let him get involved with something like that, I wonder if he'll end up at a minor national team like Kuwait, Vietnam, Germany, someone like that.
 
The Portsmouth job was perfect for him.

If his fragile ego won't let him get involved with something like that, I wonder if he'll end up at a minor national team like Kuwait, Vietnam, Germany, someone like that.
He doesn’t like it darn sarf or abroad
Derby, Bolton or Barnsley might tempt him.. if he can claim the work of a previous manager and claim glory.
Huddersfield, Blackpool & Wigan might be too big for him.
 
Back
Top