[Albion] Season-defining week (and a bit)?

[LamieRobertson]

…but then

[Albion] - A big season-defining 4 games coming up

Stoke WEST HAM Leeds CRYSTAL PALACE Fulham was a massive missed opportunity and a huge disappointment, but these things happen. We've got a free weekend next week, which is a shame as it would've been a great time to play Newcastle away. But let's be honest, the next 4 games could make or...

www.northstandchat.com

Or this

[Albion] - Next five games might make or "break" the season

West Ham, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Bournemouth coming up* in the league. Five games that on paper looks "easy" - maybe with the exception of Brentford - before some more difficult fixtures against the big six. First one of those is against Chelsea and could perhaps be included in the...

www.northstandchat.com

 

[Rdodge30]

One of the most depressing things I’ve seen on NSC is that reference to “one of the biggest clubs in world football”

Genuinely the first thought in my head was I thought we were away to Leeds this week

Close to flouncing.

 

[Bozza]

One of the most depressing things I’ve seen on NSC is that reference to “one of the biggest clubs in world football”

Genuinely the first thought in my head was I thought we were away to Leeds this week

Close to flouncing.

To save you from a pile-on, my tongue was more than a little bit in my cheek there, and largely referencing how Leeds fans tend to see themselves.

 

[Austrian Gull]

The loss to Fulham has already pricked our bubble pretty badly, IMHO - if this week doesn't go really well I think, as you suggest, we'll just drift through the rest of the season to another top ten finish.

My bubble is not pricked - it's positively bouncing and glowing.

 

[Rdodge30]

To save you from a pile-on, my tongue was more than a little bit in my cheek there, and largely referencing how Leeds fans tend to see themselves.

Oh well that’s ok then! Just my stupidity

I threw my phone on the desk and started ranting to myself (got as far as Dicky Guy saving Peter Lorimer’s penalty)

No harm done

Do I just come back as if nothing happened ?

 

[Bozza]

Oh well that’s ok then! Just my stupidity

I threw my phone on the desk and started ranting to myself (got as far as Dicky Guy saving Peter Lorimer’s penalty)

No harm done

Do I just come back as if nothing happened ?

Yep - we can all pretend it didn't happen. You're amongst friends here.

 

[Official Old Man]

- Away to one of the biggest clubs in world football.

- Home against them lot, and rarely has it felt like we are so well-equipped to give them the absolute thrashing they clearly deserve.

- An FA Cup quarter-final, only the fifth in our history, with an incredible chance to progress to a Wembley semi.

What could possibly go wrong?

SNOW!!!! It's grim up north and the last thing we need is another postponement.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Blimey we got a few newbies on here today.

 

[Hugo Rune]

You look where we were 20 years ago or so and you have to pinch yourself when we play teams like supermassive Leeds Utd. It’s such an honour for a club like ours to play them, especially considering the majority of the time, we expect a win.

 

[oldboyroy]

Leeds game will be very tough, it always is up there and will settle for a point. Palace is bleeding Palace and anything can happen but feel we'll beat Grimsby quite comfortably. But, with Roberto we can batter Leeds and Palace as well as Grimsby. I wouldn't mind betting that he'll still use the word 'Charlton' before the Grimsby game as he still hurts from that loss!

 

[Simster]

I certainly get that our league situation is recoverable if we limited/no success against Leeds and Palace, but I think the whole vibe around the club can be significantly influenced by this coming week. If it feels like a poor one, particularly if a few other PL results go against us, it could set us on a path to just drift along towards the end of the season.

I've felt the same since the Fulham defeat. This is basically your version of my "4 massive season defining games" thread that I started pre-Stoke. Since then, we've won two out of two.

This is the way its going to be all the while we're in with a shout in both competitions. Every single game is going to seem massive.

 

[nicko31]

Win these 3 and our season goes to a new level, dare to dream. I'll take 1-0 scrap against Palace I'm not greedy, just get the 3 pts and put them deeper into the mire

 

[Hornblower]

- Away to one of the biggest clubs in world football.

- Home against them lot, and rarely has it felt like we are so well-equipped to give them the absolute thrashing they clearly deserve.

- An FA Cup quarter-final, only the fifth in our history, with an incredible chance to progress to a Wembley semi.

What could possibly go wrong?

Zaha

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I am conscious I need to re-calibrate my longstanding Albion expectations ....... and this could be a brilliant week, and why not ? I mean. We're good!

 

[Simster]

The loss to Fulham has already pricked our bubble pretty badly, IMHO - if this week doesn't go really well I think, as you suggest, we'll just drift through the rest of the season to another top ten finish.

That simply isn't true.

Since then, we won well at Stoke and got a plum cup draw, then slaughtered West Ham. Meanwhile, Fulham Spurs and Newcastle have all lost league games. Liverpool are the only competitor that have kicked on since two weeks ago.

 

[Swansman]

More to lose than to win. Winning the games would be good but might not do a whole lot in the end. Losing any would feel pretty bad.

 

[Simster]

In truth, the season defining games all happen in April. I say that, because that also applies to our opponents: we've got Brentford and Man City at home, plus Chelsea and Spurs away.

 

[Brok]

I've felt the same since the Fulham defeat. This is basically your version of my "4 massive season defining games" thread that I started pre-Stoke. Since then, we've won two out of two.

This is the way its going to be all the while we're in with a shout in both competitions. Every single game is going to seem massive.

Yup. Brilliant times indeed...

 

[Gabbiano]

SNOW!!!! It's grim up north and the last thing we need is another postponement.

Light snow not settling this morning in Manchester, but I don't know if its heavier (or going to continue to be heavier at the weekend) on the other side of the Pennines.

 

[happypig]

MacAllister and Caicedo sent off against Leeds who win in the last minute, Zaha scores a hat trick whilst we have 3 goals disallowed due to VAR and Grimsby score off both posts and Steele's backside whilst a last minute equaliser is thwarted by an inflatable haddock on the goal line. Our FA Cup and European ambitions are over and relegation becomes a near certainty.
And that's as optimistic as I will allow myself to be.

I see you come from the same school of optimism as me.
My take on things is :
Qualify for Europa Conference league.
Get drawn against FC Sheriff Tiraspol who cannot play at home due to threats from Russia-supported Transnistrian rebels. Both games held at the Amex, go out on penalties.