6 weeks to destiny....

[Sutekh]

Well I think it's fairly clear that the next 6 weeks is going to dictate our season and whether it's going to be a realistic run for the play offs (or better) or an excursion to midtable respectability. Either way it will be a big improvement on the past two seasons of complete and utter ineptitude.

Basically this next 6 weeks sees 8 games with 7 of them being played against the teams currently 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th. The only exception is 1 game against proverbial bogey team Blackburn :

26 Nov - Bristol City (h)
03 Dec - Fulham (a)
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h)
13 Dec - Leeds United (a)
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a)
26 Dec - Norwich City (h)
30 Dec - Fulham (h)
02 Jan - Bristol City (a)

So that's 24 points up for grabs and to be honest I think all those games could go either way. I can see us winning them but I can equally see us being turned over as we never seem to be particularly convincing in any game.

However the side appears to be gradually developing that understanding and generally performances are improving so if that can be maintained over this period of games then things should be very bright going into 2017 and who knows what that could bring.

So definitely a sustained period of very difficult opponents to play against. I think that 15 points or more would be an amazing return but more realistically would perhaps be looking at around the 12 mark and certainly anything less than 10 would be disappointing

Thoughts on how you think we'll do over this period, esp. given the crop of injuries we seem to have acquired?

[BR2]

Well I think it's fairly clear that the next 6 weeks is going to dictate our season and whether it's going to be a realistic run for the play offs (or better) or an excursion to midtable respectability. Either way it will be a big improvement on the past two seasons of complete and utter ineptitude.

Basically this next 6 weeks sees 8 games with 7 of them being played against the teams currently 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th. The only exception is 1 game against proverbial bogey team Blackburn :

26 Nov - Bristol City (h)
03 Dec - Fulham (a)
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h)
13 Dec - Leeds United (a)
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a)
26 Dec - Norwich City (h)
30 Dec - Fulham (h)
02 Jan - Bristol City (a)

So that's 24 points up for grabs and to be honest I think all those games could go either way. I can see us winning them but I can equally see us being turned over as we never seem to be particularly convincing in any game.

However the side appears to be gradually developing that understanding and generally performances are improving so if that can be maintained over this period of games then things should be very bright going into 2017 and who knows what that could bring.

So definitely a sustained period of very difficult opponents to play against. I think that 15 points or more would be an amazing return but more realistically would perhaps be looking at around the 12 mark and certainly anything less than 10 would be disappointing

Thoughts on how you think we'll do over this period, esp. given the crop of injuries we seem to have acquired?

We don't really have many injuries but will no doubt get some over the coming weeks and as long as Moore and McCleary stay fit we have a chance of picking up quite a few points-other teams of course also get injuries and suspension which, as of today, are unknown.
I do think we will miss the flair of Swift and as we don't tend to make that many chances per game it is likely we will be in for some closely fought fixtures which some of us find more interesting and exciting than 3-0 s against weak opposition.

Our position at this stage is unexpected and marvellous and after these games we will know if this is a base that will be built upon or is this as good as it gets?
With Reading I find it impossible to predict (although last Saturday being evens to win was a steal based solely on league positions) so will just look forward to these coming weeks and what will be will be.

[Maneki Neko]

26 Nov - Bristol City (h) W 2-1
03 Dec - Fulham (a) L 1-0
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h) W 2-1
13 Dec - Leeds United (a) L 2-0
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a) W 1-0
26 Dec - Norwich City (h) W 2-0
30 Dec - Fulham (h) W 2-1
02 Jan - Bristol City (a) D 1-1

16 points - still in the play off positions

[Silver Fox]

WWWWWWWW

[BR0B0T]

WWWWWWWW

U coming to the promotion party SF?

Hoping to go away in May so hoping the
lads can get it wrapped up in April.

[LUX]

we'll prolly drop a few points between now and the end of season Bro, but I reckon beating the 106 is still ON. That's March, m8.

[tidus_mi2]

we'll prolly drop a few points between now and the end of season Bro, but I reckon beating the 106 is still ON. That's March, m8.

I know you're tongue in cheek but right now, in the entire football league, only Newcastle are on course to best 106 with a projected points tally of 108pts, even that is after an 8 game winning streak.

[Snowball]

26 Nov - Bristol City (h)
03 Dec - Fulham (a)
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h)
13 Dec - Leeds United (a)
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a)
26 Dec - Norwich City (h)
30 Dec - Fulham (h)
02 Jan - Bristol City (a)

Bristol are 19th in the six-game form table (we are 3rd).

Over 10 games Brsitol are 9th, and we are 3rd, but they are carried by their home form IMO

Take out their anomalous 4-0 win at Fulham and their away results aren't great.

The only reason for not thinking we will win on Saturday is because it's hard to believe we can win five on the trot. I fancy Samuels FG again (or McCleary) and the reverse for the second goal, win 2-0.


======================

Fulham are 2-4-3 at home so we must have a very decent chance of avoiding defeat, could sneak a win.

========================

Wednesday are 2-4-3 away so again, nothing special, definitely beatable

===============================

Elland Road will be tough and I'd take 0-0 now, but we've had some decent results there...

===============================

Blackburn are bottom three 3-3-3 but improving, (10th in both form tables) but we should at least get a draw there (maybe better)

=============================

Norwich are 21st on recent form (God knows how - I thought they were solid for top three). It depends on when they turn it around. I wouldn't be surprised if we conspired to lose this one but I fancy 3-3 (or hopefully a 3-2 win)

=================================================

Fulham are 10th on the last ten games, about 6th on the last six, but away they are 4-3-1 with a VG goal difference. But I think we are good enough (and still improving) so how about two consecutive 3-2 wins?

================

Bristol have a reasonable home record but their wins include the crap early Villa, Wigan, Blackburn, Leeds and Forest. They haven't won at home against a top six side, so we shouldn't fear going there.

============================================

I don't really EXPECT us to go eight undefeated but we have a seriously good chance of doing so, and we could win 4/5/6. If we can start by beating Bristol to nil the belief will be massive.

I fancy at least 16 points from these eight games.

[tidus_mi2]

I'd love your optimism but 16/18pts would be bloody impressive, fair play if they do it, we'll probably be in the autos if we pulled that off.

[Lower West]

We don't really have many injuries

Quinn, VDB and Swift.

Williams on 4 bookings.

Lack of depth maybe exposed. Can see a 3-5-2 formation for a few weeks.

[Snowball]

We don't really have many injuries

Quinn, VDB and Swift.

Williams on 4 bookings.

Lack of depth maybe exposed. Can see a 3-5-2 formation for a few weeks.

Saturday's first 11 was pretty decent and we have Mendes, Meite, Kelly, Cooper, Harriot, Gravenberch, Tennai Watson with Rakels due back any time, so I wouldn't say we were threadbare. Plus we may bring in a couple in January. Are our loanees coming back?

[Lower West]

Quinn, VDB and Swift.

Williams on 4 bookings.

Lack of depth maybe exposed. Can see a 3-5-2 formation for a few weeks.

Saturday's first 11 was pretty decent and we have Mendes, Meite, Kelly, Cooper, Harriot, Gravenberch, Tennai Watson with Rakels due back any time, so I wouldn't say we were threadbare. Plus we may bring in a couple in January. Are our loanees coming back?

Saturday's team choose itself (with the exception of Beerans). Like to see Meite in that role.

I thought Rakels wasn't due back until well into the New Year.

Neither Gravenberch, or Cooper looked exceptional the other night against Yeovil. Watson and Kelly are ones for the future.

[CountryRoyal]

26 Nov - Bristol City (h) 0-1 (L)
03 Dec - Fulham (a) 2-2 (D)
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h) 1-1 (D
13 Dec - Leeds United (a) 2-2 (D)
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a) 0-2 (W)
26 Dec - Norwich City (h) 1-2 (L)
30 Dec - Fulham (h) 2-0 (W)
02 Jan - Bristol City (a) 0-2 (W)

12 points and going into the half way mark in a fairly healthy position.

Has to be said though its honestly impossible to even remotely predict how we will do.

I can see us getting positive results in all of those games but you never know with us and we have yet to look thoroughly convincing for an entire 90 minutes. The only thing with this team is that unlike previous years, we are a different prospect away from home, and we seem to be able to bounce back after a loss.

Exciting times either way.

[Sutekh]

We don't really have many injuries

Quinn, VDB and Swift.

Williams on 4 bookings.

Lack of depth maybe exposed. Can see a 3-5-2 formation for a few weeks.

Amnesty on bookings is the end of this month. If Williams, and anyone else on 4 bookings, can avoid one Saturday they'll get a bit more breathing space before needing to tread carefully again.

[Ian Royal]

26 Nov - Bristol City (H) D 1-1
03 Dec - Fulham (A) D 2-2
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (H) D 0-0
13 Dec - Leeds United (A) W 0-1
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (A) L 1-0
26 Dec - Norwich City (H) W 2-0
30 Dec - Fulham (H) W 2-1
02 Jan - Bristol City (A) L 1-0

12 points - which should keep us in contention for the play offs

This will be almost certainly completely wrong.

[lewesroyal]

Shouldn't this read 6 months... A long way to go still

[Sutekh]

1 down, 7 to play and 3 points collected....

[genome]

WWWWWWWW

On course

I'm confident

[Snowball]

If this is genuine and not edited, it's very impressive

26 Nov - Bristol City (h) W 2-1 CORRECT SCORE
03 Dec - Fulham (a) L 1-0 CORRECT RESULT
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h) W 2-1 CORRECT SCORE
13 Dec - Leeds United (a) L 2-0 CORRECT SCORE
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a) W 1-0 CORRECT RESULT

26 Dec - Norwich City (h) W 2-0
30 Dec - Fulham (h) W 2-1
02 Jan - Bristol City (a) D 1-1

16 points - still in the play off positions

[Snowball]

If this is genuine and not edited, it's very impressive

26 Nov - Bristol City (h) W 2-1 CORRECT SCORE
03 Dec - Fulham (a) L 1-0 CORRECT RESULT
10 Dec - Sheffield Wednesday (h) W 2-1 CORRECT SCORE
13 Dec - Leeds United (a) L 2-0 CORRECT SCORE
17 Dec - Blackburn Rovers (a) W 1-0 CORRECT RESULT
26 Dec - Norwich City (h) W 2-0 [CORRECT RESULT]

30 Dec - Fulham (h) W 2-1 ABANDONED


02 Jan - Bristol City (a) D 1-1

16 points - still in the play off positions

For myself I fancied 16+ points and we have 12 with Bristol and Fulham to play