Glover_elbow
Well-known member
Its quite simple with the strikers they have been overplayed and played when carrying knocks out of necessity
Have we got enough to get in the playoffs?
- Thread starter sambaDTR
- Start date
Merlin
Well-known member
Yes, yes we have - but a lot will depend on how quickly we can get everyone fit, and whether we can hit good form. Our poor start and not having a fully fit squad available for most of the season has cost us quite a lot of points so far. It’s achievable as we’re only two points behind at where we were this stage last season, but it’s going to be very difficult.We probably need another 10 or 11 wins to get there from the remaining games.
r00fie1
Well-known member
If you look at the tables above, we are only two points worse off than we were this time last year.
Glover_elbow
Well-known member
Thats true but if you look at the firepower we had last year we are miles awayIf you look at the tables above, we are only two points worse off than we were this time last year.
TeaCider
Well-known member
This was last season:
This is this season:
We might be only 2 points off what we had last season, but the teams above us are doing significantly better this time around.
3rd and 4th are almost out of reach, 5th is going to take a strong run to overturn.
We're fighting for 2 spots instead of 4, and we're in the chasing pack this time around.
This is this season:
We might be only 2 points off what we had last season, but the teams above us are doing significantly better this time around.
3rd and 4th are almost out of reach, 5th is going to take a strong run to overturn.
We're fighting for 2 spots instead of 4, and we're in the chasing pack this time around.
There is a chance if we can avoid more injuries and get some key players back. The signing of the fullbacks and return of O' Brien makes us a stronger outfit. Get McGree back in the mix and then all of a sudden we may find the consistency that has been missing recently.
Alwaysaborolad
Well-known member
Agree with this, also last season in February, we had Ramsay Archer added to our ranks, and Akpom smashing goals in for fun.. our team last season was stronger in the final third, which makes a massive difference.
Boro_Interlinked
Well-known member
No need to presume anything right now. 18 games left 5 of them this month. A key point though is Cov are flying, not lost in 10 6 wins 4 draws and their next 5 games are unlikely to trouble / derail them . So I see them jumping WBrom for 5th by end of Feb. That leaves us and what 7 others chasing WBrom for now. We are 5 points behind on same games so really just need to deffo match them for points but hopefully close it by 2 or 3.
parmoboy
Well-known member
I think we'll just miss out. l think having McGree back will be massive, and slowly but surely players are returning to fitness, but I don't feel confident either Lath or Coburn will score enough goals to fire us into the play-offs. To be honest, keeping them both fit is challenging enough.
I just don't think we'll score enough goals as a team, and we need to, as we do concede goals under Carrick.
I just don't think we'll score enough goals as a team, and we need to, as we do concede goals under Carrick.
Last season's league was weaker than this season. I think goal difference is a better indicator of a team's quality than points and last season the top 2 were clearly better than everyone else and the playoff chasers were all mediocre. The GD (and the low points) reflect that. This season there are clearly better teams and we have to play them all and mostly away from home. We have a weaker squad than last season and other teams have strengthened as well. The problem with saying "2 points behind" is that it lacks context. We could win our next 2 games and we'd still be 2 points behind where we were last season and we could still be 3 points behind 6th. We don't just have to be 3 points, plus 12 GD, better than Coventry to get 6th but we have to be 3 points better than at least 5 teams (assuming nobody below us is even better than us). Last season's points total needed for the playoffs was very low at 69. It's usually more than that and while I could see us getting to 69 I can't see us getting to 75 which might be needed (and is what we got last season with a better team).
The key to climbing the table is winning consistently and other than a single period of 6 games in Sept/Oct we have been unable to put any sort of run together. If you don't keep piling up the wins then you can't get away from the other teams that are also on average only winning 1, drawing 1 and losing 1 every 3 games.
We will have a run at some point but we'll also have a run of losses. I don't see us improving beyond where we have been so far this season which is good at times and bad at others. We're about where I expect us to be. We probably are one of the 6 best teams in the league but we started the season with 2 points from 21 and we aren't good enough to make it up.
Next season we need a good summer to make sure we're not starting August with half a squad again and a solid start to give us a chance of competing. Giving the rest of the league a 15 point head start every year is ridiculous and needs to stop.
The key to climbing the table is winning consistently and other than a single period of 6 games in Sept/Oct we have been unable to put any sort of run together. If you don't keep piling up the wins then you can't get away from the other teams that are also on average only winning 1, drawing 1 and losing 1 every 3 games.
We will have a run at some point but we'll also have a run of losses. I don't see us improving beyond where we have been so far this season which is good at times and bad at others. We're about where I expect us to be. We probably are one of the 6 best teams in the league but we started the season with 2 points from 21 and we aren't good enough to make it up.
Next season we need a good summer to make sure we're not starting August with half a squad again and a solid start to give us a chance of competing. Giving the rest of the league a 15 point head start every year is ridiculous and needs to stop.
Fattyfoggon
Well-known member
maybe just a bit pessimistic at the moment but every season feels like a rebuild season now, and you know if we get anyone good that you begin to love you know we will just end selling them ..... lol need to cheer myself up!
Dybuk
Well-known member
I get what you are saying but my view is this -
We used to be all boom and bust - spend loads one season and regret it for several years as we had no head room.
Now I think we are selling assets high and gambling small amounts meaning no more boom and bust but every season is a 'you never know'. At some point we'll have a good start to the season and I fully expect at that point the old 'war chest' will come out and we'll go hell for leather getting promotion that year.
We just need the good start.
newyddion
Well-known member
Aww shyt..
We’ve still got enough
Glover/Dieng
Ayling/Dijksteel
Fry/RVDB
Clarke/McNair
Engel/Thomas
Howson/Barlaser
Hackney/O’Brien
Jones/Forss/Silvera
Crooks/Azaz
Greenwood/McGree/Gilbert
Coburn/Latte Lath
them forwards can play a number of positions
Totally concur with this summary.
There's little doubt that this summer is another squad build, given Hackney and McGree will almost certainly leave, together with McNair and most likely Howson.
Jones needs to have his contract extended or we'll lose him too.
These really slow starts to the season need addressing, maybe our pre-season needs a re-think?
newyddion
Well-known member
Look at the firepower we had..
I honestly think there is a bit of mythology surrounding players from last season.
From January:
Giles 4 Assists.. 2 in 2 games.. big wins
Akpom 17 goal contributions
Archer 11 goals in 20 games
Ramsey 6 goal contributions
So.. ‘the dream’ is 38 goal contributions.
Azaz 12 goal contributions
Latte 7 goals
Silvera 7 goal contributions
Greenwood 8 goal contributions
34 goal contributions.. we’re not that far off
I would go so far as to say Silvera has been underused, Latte has missed games, Azaz did it in a struggling side and Greenwoid has been with us all season..
4 goal difference there.. Giles was great first half of the season.. but he was weak defensively. No word of a lie here.. we have a much stronger squad that is low key capable of promotion.
Far too many fans are blinded by a 4-4-2.. deadline day 30 goal a season striker fix all
Forss is properly good and will contribute more this season.. as will McGree and Hackney. O’Brien coming back is an absolute gift.. genuine new signing changes coming.
We are consistent despite the ever changing landscape of injuries and cups.
Stone cold legitimate class window. We ARE the dark horses, we are the underdogs.
If Jones has a long term injury.. that might screw us up lol
TeaCider
Well-known member
I hadn't actually realised we've only won consecutive games at one point this season, outside of that 6 game winning run.
6 consecutive wins.
1 win followed by a win, then a loss.
1 win followed by a draw.
3 wins followed by a loss.
That lack of consistency is killing us.
Especially when Rotherham have been the run ender on two of those occasions.
6 consecutive wins.
1 win followed by a win, then a loss.
1 win followed by a draw.
3 wins followed by a loss.
That lack of consistency is killing us.
Especially when Rotherham have been the run ender on two of those occasions.
Not just consecutive wins but because we draw so few games we haven't gone 3 games without a loss outside of that 6 game period. Not getting beat by Sunderland will be the 1st time we've gone 3 games unbeaten since beating Norwich on the 24th October.