Cracking achievement to get 4th, from where we were and we could have been a bit higher if we hadn't been robbed so much at the beginning of the season. Although if he had got what we deserved we probably wouldn't have had the managerial change, which has worked wonders for the squad, especially in regard to how happy and positive they seem to be under Carrick. Overall it's panned out very well for us.
It's interesting with regard to the Coventry game, they've got Birmingham at home next, and you would assume they beat them, so they end up on like 69 points before they play us, and that might be enough for them to make it into the playoffs, just off that (although 69 probably doesn't guarantee it pre last game).
We could end up in a situation where If we beat cov, it may mean we get Sunderland over two legs, and is that a good idea? Or is it best to try and get Sunderland out of the way?
If we rest a couple of players against cov, and we get a draw or even lose, it might mean we might get to play them over two legs, and could then aim to turn them over fully rested. But that obviously has the downside of spurring them on. They will 100% be playing to beat us as they won't be guaranteed play offs, and if they did beat us it would spur them on before they play us twice.
Blackburn are on a bad run, and have three very hard games, one of them is at Milwall and they won't win that last day, so they're out of it. Milwall's other game is at Blackpool, who are fighting for their lives. I just don't see Milwall or Blackburn getting two wins in a row, which likely secures the playoffs for Sunderland and Coventry.
All of the above is of course hypothetical mind, and I expect Carrick will play his best side (with the odd rotation) every game, and play to win, but it's going to be interesting to see how it pans out.
To be honest, if we've got a fully fit squad I see us as comfortably better than all the other teams who are in or who could make the play-offs mind, so we've nothing to fear and should just try and batter everyone.
