Have we got enough to get in the playoffs?

[newyddion]

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.

I still think it’s these teams in the mix for 5th & 6th place.. Hull and Boro were my picks and they remain so. 3 points from our next game would be perfect. That gap closes and we’re in the 4 team drop for 5th and 6th

Sunderland have caused themselves some bother.. ripe for a bounce back.. don’t think it will last tho. West Brom are always strong and Coventry have a knack of being there when it counts.. they are probably a little undervalued and similar to us in terms of big players leaving. We’ve done it better imo

 

[Frozen Horse]

Fair enough and I hope I'm proved wrong. I just can't get my head round how Villa could possibly value them so differently if Azaz can contribute more.

They've seen more of Azaz than we have; we've seen more of Rogers.

I it so hard to believe that we might be right and Villa might be wrong? If so, consider this:

Man City didn't think Rogers was all that, or they wouldn't have let him go so cheap.

 

[indeedido]

They've seen more of Azaz than we have; we've seen more of Rogers.

I it so hard to believe that we might be right and Villa might be wrong? If so, consider this:

Man City didn't think Rogers was all that, or they wouldn't have let him go so cheap.

Deluded. That will be the Villa chasing Champions League place?
City still ended up getting more for Rogers than Villa got for Azaz.
City let Rogers go because they clearly didn't think he was going to be good enough for them.
Sames as Villa have let Azaz go because they didnt think he was going to be good enough for them.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Deluded. That will be the Villa chasing Champions League place?
City still ended up getting more for Rogers than Villa got for Azaz.
City let Rogers go because they clearly didn't think he was going to be good enough for them.
Sames as Villa have let Azaz go because they didnt think he was going to be good enough for them.

And we still don't know if either Azaz or Rogers are good enough in the long run.

There's plenty of Champions League chasing teams that have taken a gamble on young players which haven't come off

 

[Laughing]

Thats true but if you look at the firepower we had last year we are miles away

Once again, we have scored more goals this season than last. We have plenty of firepower, even with the injuries and 2 international tournaments.

 

[indeedido]

And we still don't know if either Azaz or Rogers are good enough in the long run.

There's plenty of Champions League chasing teams that have taken a gamble on young players which haven't come off

We know Rogers was good enough for us, we saw him play and got a large fee for him and big profit.
We don't know whether Azaz will be.
Villa clearly dont think Azaz was good enough for them, yet think Rogers is.

Once again, we have scored more goals this season than last. We have plenty of firepower, even with the injuries and 2 international tournaments.

Not true at all.
After 28 league matches last season we had scored 42 conceded 35.
After 28 league matches this season we have scored 42 and conceded 41.

In the last 18 matches of last season we scored 42 goals and conceded 21.
You'd have to be insane to think our team will score 42 more league goals this season, or concede only 21.

This time a year ago we had just signed Archer and Ramsey. We had Akpom who was already scoring goals for fun.
Our quality in the final third was vastly superior last season.

 

[Aztec chimera]

Yes we have, with the injured and players on international duty coming back I think we have every chance of making the play offs. Winning them is another question. I can't see that but I'm always hopeful

 

[Nano]

Yes we have, with the injured and players on international duty coming back I think we have every chance of making the play offs. Winning them is another question. I can't see that but I'm always hopeful

We don't have Haaland and Mbappe coming back from injury. It's McGree, McNair and Coburn. Nobody coming back from injury is a massive improvement on what we have. We have had lots of injuries but they haven't made the team massively worse. We're not going to have a vast increase in quality to be anywhere near as good as we were last season. Most of them weren't even good enough to be first choice last season.

It will definitely help having more fit options but it seems to be the typical case of people overinflating the ability of the players that are unavailable. I expect a moderate improvement in results but we lack the star power to make the difference in individual games so the inconsistent results are likely to continue.

 

[Blf]

I don't think so. We are not consistent enough and our record against teams at the bottom is poor for a team hoping for a playoff spot, but fingers crossed.

 

[Oooo]

no chance

 

[Laughing]

We know Rogers was good enough for us, we saw him play and got a large fee for him and big profit.
We don't know whether Azaz will be.
Villa clearly dont think Azaz was good enough for them, yet think Rogers is.

Not true at all.
After 28 league matches last season we had scored 42 conceded 35.
After 28 league matches this season we have scored 42 and conceded 41.

In the last 18 matches of last season we scored 42 goals and conceded 21.
You'd have to be insane to think our team will score 42 more league goals this season, or concede only 21.

This time a year ago we had just signed Archer and Ramsey. We had Akpom who was already scoring goals for fun.
Our quality in the final third was vastly superior last season.

Indeedio we have only scored 40 goals this season.

You have been saying the same all season that we won't go on a run of scoring goals. So far this season our scoring is on par with last season, and for parts of the season we have had no recognized strikers, and for others playing injured strikers. I see no reason why we won't match last season goal tally, none at all.

 

[Aztec chimera]

We don't have Haaland and Mbappe coming back from injury. It's McGree, McNair and Coburn. Nobody coming back from injury is a massive improvement on what we have. We have had lots of injuries but they haven't made the team massively worse. We're not going to have a vast increase in quality to be anywhere near as good as we were last season. Most of them weren't even good enough to be first choice last season.

It will definitely help having more fit options but it seems to be the typical case of people overinflating the ability of the players that are unavailable. I expect a moderate improvement in results but we lack the star power to make the difference in individual games so the inconsistent results are likely to continue.

Wow, does your sweat smell of such negativity? Very rarely this season have we had a full squad to chose from. Carrick made some mistakes earlier in the season blooding the young recruits too early but he's learned that lesson the tough way.. we went on a run of 6 wins out of 6 when we were almost ar full strength. Getting the likes of McGree, Lath, O'brien back with the additions we've made during the January transfer window I have every confidence in a play off finish. Unfortunately I can't see us winning them. But... you never know

 

[indeedido]

Indeedio we have only scored 40 goals this season.

You have been saying the same all season that we won't go on a run of scoring goals. So far this season our scoring is on par with last season, and for parts of the season we have had no recognized strikers, and for others playing injured strikers. I see no reason why we won't match last season goal tally, none at all.

Seriously mate, check the league table, we have exactly what I posted and we had exactly what I posted after 28 matches last season.
The 18 remaining matches is exactly as I posted in post 86.

 

[Nano]

Indeedio we have only scored 40 goals this season.

You have been saying the same all season that we won't go on a run of scoring goals. So far this season our scoring is on par with last season, and for parts of the season we have had no recognized strikers, and for others playing injured strikers. I see no reason why we won't match last season goal tally, none at all.

Because matching the 1st half of last season was easy. We were ****. The 2nd half were miles better. We would need to average 2.33 goals per game. Score the same amount in the final 18 as we have done in the first 28. This season we don't have Akpom or Archer. We don't have the quality that we did last season to score 84 goals.

Last year was a pretty remarkable scoring season. We've not got anyway near that amount in any other championship season. I think 68 is the 2nd best we've done in the last 13 years.

I don't think it's realistic to expect us to score 84 goals. Current rate will see us hit 69 which would be better than any other season except last year and it still won't be good enough because we concede as many as we score anyway.

Wow, does your sweat smell of such negativity?

It's just being realistic. There's nothing special about this year's squad too suggest we're about to turn the corner and go on another 6 match winning streak.

 

[r00fie1]

As Michael Carrick has explained on many occasions: if winning, consistency and putting good runs together was as easy said as done, there wouldn't be a problem.
He knows, he's been there.
He's “happy” with the current squad and believes there are goals in there. I trust him and his staff's judgement implicitly.

Read his full Media Conference Transcript from today here

* Its about "who gets out of bed early enough..." Michael Carrick v Sunderland Media Conference Transcript *

Carrick v Sunderland Feb 2024 Hows the break been? Its been good actually. The boys had a couple of days off over the weekend. It was probably a good time to take a bit of a rest and deep breath, freshen up a little bit, minds and bodies and, come back really well actually. Trained really...

fmttmboro.com

 

[Laughing]

Seriously mate, check the league table, we have exactly what I posted and we had exactly what I posted after 28 matches last season.
The 18 remaining matches is exactly as I posted in post 86.

You are quite right apparently I was looking at points doh. Apologies.

Not arguing about the rest of your post other than I don't agree with you.

We have matched last seasons goal tallie all season and I suspect we will continue to do so.

 

[motownjunk]

Bookies have us 3 to 1 to finish 6th, we are 8th favourites. I reckon this is about right. As other posters have pointed out we had a hell of a run from this time last year, I think we will struggle to match that with the current squad. We have a chance of course, I think teams will need a few less points for 6th this year.

 

[indeedido]

You are quite right apparently I was looking at points doh. Apologies.

Not arguing about the rest of your post other than I don't agree with you.

We have matched last seasons goal tallie all season and I suspect we will continue to do so.

No need whatsoever to apologise and disagreeing is fine and makes the board work anyway.
I'll have one of your bets about your final line No chance of you winning it.

 

[TeaCider]

You are quite right apparently I was looking at points doh. Apologies.

Not arguing about the rest of your post other than I don't agree with you.

We have matched last seasons goal tallie all season and I suspect we will continue to do so.

I don't think there's any chance whatsoever of us scoring 42 goals in the last 18 games of this season.

Both of our strikers are injured, Jones is injured, we've sold one of our main creators and we've brought in one attacking player as a replacement for a side that was already misfiring.

We might well still score enough to get us in the play-offs, if we sort out our defending, but we've got no chance of matching last season's goal tally.

 

[newyddion]

We know Rogers was good enough for us, we saw him play and got a large fee for him and big profit.
We don't know whether Azaz will be.
Villa clearly dont think Azaz was good enough for them, yet think Rogers is.

Not true at all.
After 28 league matches last season we had scored 42 conceded 35.
After 28 league matches this season we have scored 42 and conceded 41.

In the last 18 matches of last season we scored 42 goals and conceded 21.
You'd have to be insane to think our team will score 42 more league goals this season, or concede only 21.

This time a year ago we had just signed Archer and Ramsey. We had Akpom who was already scoring goals for fun.
Our quality in the final third was vastly superior last season.

‘vastly superior’

I would say our back line is stronger and more robust than last season.
Our midfield has improved, Barlaser is better and the return of O’Brien is a huge boost.

Now.. our frontline.. Ramsey dipped out.. so we’re looking at Akpom & Archer. Azaz, Silvera, Latte Lath & Greenwood are capable of those numbers.. with them we have greater depth.

Coburn is an improvement over Muniz

Giles has been deitfied his 4 assists in 2 games the 2nd half of the season certainly painted over the cracks.. including being at fault for the goal that knocked us out of the playoffs!

Akpom our record goalscorer and Archer with 11 goals in 20 games (Akpom managed 16 in the last 20 games) 26 goal between them. 8.6 goals 0.43gpg for 3 players 225mpg


Coburn is under valued, Latte Lath needs to play more games, Forss should be tried as our striker. Azaz will make a big impact.. as will McGree. We are better as a team.

*Azaz is 264 mpg
Rogers had 263 mpg