Is Murray missing chances away, or are we just creating fewer chances? I suspect it's the latter. He doesn't have a history of only performing at home does he?
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Now, who's our biggest threat?
- Thread starter jimmygull
- Start date
We took 3 points from 7 games. With our current injuries, I suggest it's virtually impossible to repeat that form as players will get dropped if they don't perform.
None of this lot started vs Leeds; they'll all be desperate to get back in the team.
Hemed, March, LuaLua, Bong, Rosenior, Mäenpää, Sidwell, Kayal, Goldson, Skalak & Hünemeier.
I suggest this 11 would beat at least half the teams in the Championship.
There is nowhere to hide if you don't perform (unlike the festive period last season).
Colossal Squid
Returning video tapes
I think the teams with the squads that pose the biggest threat are probably Norwich, Derby and Villa. However Norwich seem to be in freefall with too much ground to make up now whilst Villa would need to go on a tremendous run with us simultaneously losing it completely if they were to catch us up.
What concerns me most however is that Reading are lurking ominously below us. I don't think they're as good as we are but nor were the Palace squad that beat us in the playoffs. And more than anything else, that noddy little nothing outfit are precisely the sort of team who'd flukily do us over because of the hurt it would cause us. There is no team in this division it would sting more to lose to. And that's exactly why I fear them the most. History has seen us so cruelly hurt in promotion races past. It would be as painful as possible were we to this season lose out to Reading.
I'd hoped their thrashing last week may have been the start of a slide but sadly this appears not to have been the case. I'll stop considering them a concern once we have a ten point gap over them, but for now they're easily the team I fear most
What concerns me most however is that Reading are lurking ominously below us. I don't think they're as good as we are but nor were the Palace squad that beat us in the playoffs. And more than anything else, that noddy little nothing outfit are precisely the sort of team who'd flukily do us over because of the hurt it would cause us. There is no team in this division it would sting more to lose to. And that's exactly why I fear them the most. History has seen us so cruelly hurt in promotion races past. It would be as painful as possible were we to this season lose out to Reading.
I'd hoped their thrashing last week may have been the start of a slide but sadly this appears not to have been the case. I'll stop considering them a concern once we have a ten point gap over them, but for now they're easily the team I fear most
Nixonator
Well-known member
I maintain what I said on the other thread, Villa and Derby.
Derby entered the playoff spots today, Villa will be there by the end of December.
Very hard to predict Reading and Norwich, the former could easily plummet and a new manager at Norwich could easily facilitate a Villa/Derby like run.
Fulham score goals for fun and Shef Wed always contenders but I don't think they will be automatic threats.
I like Hudds but their recent form implies a downward trend for them, still sticking around based on their early points tally.
Derby entered the playoff spots today, Villa will be there by the end of December.
Very hard to predict Reading and Norwich, the former could easily plummet and a new manager at Norwich could easily facilitate a Villa/Derby like run.
Fulham score goals for fun and Shef Wed always contenders but I don't think they will be automatic threats.
I like Hudds but their recent form implies a downward trend for them, still sticking around based on their early points tally.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Villa will spend even more money in January, meant to want Rhodes but will erode team spirit if they are not careful with big wage earners there. Derby are on a roll but depends whether they will strengthen in January to take a punt at the top 2
kingcole
Well-known member
It's gotta be Derby.
And Villa if it goes wrong and we meet them in the Play Offs. Mentioned before, my nightmare is final game of season, Villa have to win to make the play offs. We need a draw to cement automatic.
3 game on the bounce with them. No ta!
And Villa if it goes wrong and we meet them in the Play Offs. Mentioned before, my nightmare is final game of season, Villa have to win to make the play offs. We need a draw to cement automatic.
3 game on the bounce with them. No ta!
Hopefully I'm not tempting fate - but I doubt we could do worse than that if we tried.
And I'm really pleased that Newcastle thrashed Brum yesterday, A nice dent in one of our promotion rivals hopes. (I don't consider Newcastle a rival, they're as near to a guaranteed cert as anything ever is in football)
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Last December we had 7 first team players out injured.
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
We just have to sort automatic promotion before we go to Villa Park. My poor old ticker just couldn't cope with another nightmare scenario like last season.
In fact I'm only just out of counselling for it.
symyjym
Banned
Reading, but Derby have really turned it around so I wouldn't rule them out either.
Got one point from the first of those seven games.
We got three from the equivalent game (game 20) on Friday.
So we can't do worse - we can equal it (if we lose the next six) or better it with a single draw.
Blackadder
Brighton Bhuna Boy
I went for Derby on a poll on a separate thread recently. Nothing has changed my mind.
I hope Fulham thrash them.
I hope Fulham thrash them.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Good night of football tomorrow :
Blackburn v Albion
Leeds v Reading
Norwich v Villa
and of course
MKDons v Charlton FACup replay.
Nothing too exciting about the other league fixtures on Tuesday, and on Wednesday there is regulation 'easy' wins for Newcastle and Derby.
Blackburn v Albion
Leeds v Reading
Norwich v Villa
and of course
MKDons v Charlton FACup replay.
Nothing too exciting about the other league fixtures on Tuesday, and on Wednesday there is regulation 'easy' wins for Newcastle and Derby.
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,274
By a long way the greatest threat to our promotion is an injury to Glenn Murray.
Losing 3 in 4 killed us in the middle of last season and that was primarily down to injuries. However, we've already showed this season we can cope with injuries in every position apart - that is - from one.
The difference going into this transfer window compared to last season is that we're comfortably top two at least 10 points above all of the other big boys. I suspect the pool of striker talent that we can attract will be significantly larger than a year ago, and that will include quality loan strikers.
Losing 3 in 4 killed us in the middle of last season and that was primarily down to injuries. However, we've already showed this season we can cope with injuries in every position apart - that is - from one.
The difference going into this transfer window compared to last season is that we're comfortably top two at least 10 points above all of the other big boys. I suspect the pool of striker talent that we can attract will be significantly larger than a year ago, and that will include quality loan strikers.
worthingseagull123
Well-known member
- May 5, 2012
- 2,688
Any of the top 10 could catch us.
Just needs a good run from them, decent signings in January and a few bad results from ourselves
Just needs a good run from them, decent signings in January and a few bad results from ourselves
Machiavelli
Well-known member
And we had a far smaller squad then too.
Machiavelli
Well-known member
Their next four games are: Leeds and Blackburn away; Norwich and Fulham at home. I'd be surprised if they got more than six points from those, but we'll see soon enough.
warmleyseagull
Well-known member
Indeed. That is bound to be true. Might just as well say we could be relegated, The point of the thread is to try an identify teams who look more dangerous than others, and Derby are stand out for me. Don't concede, McLaren working magic. They do have a lot to make up, though, and cannot afford another bad run. TBH, cannot see anyone else LIKELY to catch us unless we do a Hull last season or Derby previous season after Xmas.
Kalimantan Gull
Well-known member
Everyone banging on about Villa and their amazing run up the table and why we should be scared of them:
Current form tables http://www.soccerstats.com/formtable.asp?league=england2
Last 6 matches
1. Derby 18
2. Reading 15
3. Brighton 14
4= Newcastle 12
4= Leeds 12
6= Fulham 11
6= Villa 11
Last 10 matches
1= Newcastle 24
1= Brighton 24
3. Derby 23
4, Reading 20
5. Leeds 19
6= Preston 18
6= Villa 18
We are pulling away from Villa. Stop worrying about them.
Current form tables http://www.soccerstats.com/formtable.asp?league=england2
Last 6 matches
1. Derby 18
2. Reading 15
3. Brighton 14
4= Newcastle 12
4= Leeds 12
6= Fulham 11
6= Villa 11
Last 10 matches
1= Newcastle 24
1= Brighton 24
3. Derby 23
4, Reading 20
5. Leeds 19
6= Preston 18
6= Villa 18
We are pulling away from Villa. Stop worrying about them.
warmleyseagull
Well-known member
THIS!! Really don't understand the bigging up of Villa. They will need to win 18+ games out of 26 to get top two and that is challenging for any team. They lose three players in January to African Nations Cup, so signings will short-term simply cover those