Is automatic promotion out of the question ?

[Ernest]

Reading came from nowhere last season to mow down Southampton last season so could we do it ? We did the same in 87/88 with a winning run from this stage of the season to get up.

Where were Reading in the table after 30 games last season ?

 

[Wilko]

Reading were on 51 points on valentines day last year

English League Championship 2011-2012 Table - statto.com

 

[Perkino]

2nd, 3rd and 4th all have 53 points 4th has 52 and 6th 47. We are just behind with 45 points, clearly with a good run we will make the play offs and closing up a difference of 8 points over 16 games is clearly manageable.

If any of the teams above us put on a decent run then we need a miracle to overtake them but an average of 0.5 points per game is a gap that is catchable

 

[sparkie]

We need to beat Middlesbrough ( A ), Palace ( H ) and Leicester ( H ) to have even a fools hope of automatic promotion.

 

[Napper]

Possible . 8 Pts isn't a lot considering we have to play those teams,

 

[e77]

Possible but unlikely

 

[leigull]

Give it a 1% chance, if that.

 

[Stat Brother]

Reading were on 51 points on valentines day last year

English League Championship 2011-2012 Table - statto.com

Looking at that league table, I have more confidence in this years top 6 capitulating, than last years.

 

[kevtherev]

It's not out of the question, although it is highly unlikely. When you get down to the last half a dozen games, a lot can depend on not who you are playing, but what they have left to play for. Our last six games are,,Leicester, Blackpool and Wolves at home and Boro, Posh and Leeds away. Leicester will still be going for automatic, Boro may still have play offs hopes, if their form improves. Posh will be down, Blackpool and hopefully Leeds will have nothing to play for and then the last game at home against Wolves, could decide both teams fate, either way. I don't think that's a bad run in on paper, as three maybe even four of them sides, season's could well be over by then.

 

[Surf's Up]

No, everyone's beating everyone, the only nailed on certainties at this point are Cardiff, Watford/Udinese will be up there too (whether they should be is another matter) as will Leicester, Hull, us, Palarse, Blackburn and possibly Borough. There are a lot of twists and turns to come yet.

 

[kevtherev]

Next two home games are big games, Blackburn and Burnley both 2pts behind us. If we can get a little gap between us and 8th and below, life becomes a lot more comfortable. I've always said, the amount of teams chasing a position is more important than the amount of points, as there are so many different equations.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Very unlikely, but Sunderland came from a similar position to win the league in 2006/2007. Encouraging to see where Wolves come from to get in the play offs as well.

1 Derby County 30 18 5 7 39 28 9 3 3 18 11 9 2 4 21 17 +11 59
2 Birmingham City 28 16 5 7 47 29 8 4 2 25 15 8 1 5 22 14 +18 53
3 Preston North End 30 15 8 7 44 31 10 4 1 27 10 5 4 6 17 21 +13 53
4 West Bromwich Albion 30 15 7 8 56 36 12 2 1 37 13 3 5 7 19 23 +20 52
5 Southampton 30 14 10 6 48 33 9 5 1 21 10 5 5 5 27 23 +15 52
6 Cardiff City 31 14 10 7 43 32 8 6 2 25 12 6 4 5 18 20 +11 52
7 Stoke City 30 13 9 8 39 25 8 5 2 22 8 5 4 6 17 17 +14 48
8 Colchester United 30 14 5 11 49 34 12 1 2 36 12 2 4 9 13 22 +15 47
9 Sunderland 30 14 5 11 41 34 8 3 4 19 11 6 2 7 22 23 +7 47
10 Wolverhampton Wndrs 30 13 7 10 31 32 7 4 4 20 15 6 3 6 11 17 -1 46


Final Table:

1 Sunderland 46 27 7 12 76 47 15 4 4 38 18 12 3 8 38 29 +29 88
2 Birmingham City 46 26 8 12 67 42 15 5 3 37 18 11 3 9 30 24 +25 86
3 Derby County 46 25 9 12 62 46 13 6 4 33 19 12 3 8 29 27 +16 84
4 West Bromwich Albion 46 22 10 14 81 55 14 4 5 51 24 8 6 9 30 31 +26 76
5 Wolverhampton Wndrs 46 22 10 14 59 56 12 5 6 33 28 10 5 8 26 28 +3 76
6 Southampton 46 21 12 13 77 53 13 6 4 36 20 8 6 9 41 33 +24 75

 

[bravohotelalpha]

No it's not out of the question so let's make sure we all play our part really well too !

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Lets just keep focused on winning each game and see where it takes us.

 

[finlaych]

Highly unlikely but very possible

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Automatic yes. Too many teams above us would need to do badly. It's not the points difference but the number of teams who'd have to turn from good to dire

 

[Beach Hut]

Highly unlikely in my view

 

[The Modfather]

Not impossible but really cannot see so many teams capitulating

 

[TheMajor]

We need to beat Middlesbrough ( A ), Palace ( H ) and Leicester ( H ) to have even a fools hope of automatic promotion.

We could lose all three of the fixtures you mention and still make automatic spot. Lots of twists and turns to come yet - just look at this weekends results.

 

[Willy Dangle]

It is not a mathematical question, for me it is about consistency. We have the players but they are not consistent enough. For me they need to gel a bit more.