Are Cardiff more of a threat to us than Brum?

[Victor Meldrew]

No.

Cardiff vs Swansea in the playoffs.

That's assuming we are not in the play-offs?

[Ian Royal]

The biggest problem as far as I can see with a Cardiff v Swansea play off final would be that there would the Premier League would be guaranteed to have at least one bunch of South Wales oxfords in it next season.

But on the other hand it's unlikely either would be strong enough to stay up.

Wolves 2nd and Sheff Utd to win the play offs would suit me fine. Two teams we have fairly good records against.

[Stranded]

Cardiif could well be a threat - they've only lost 4 time this season. Think they may draw too many in the end though.

[readingbedding]

No.

Cardiff vs Swansea in the playoffs.

That's assuming we are not in the play-offs?

What do you think?

[Dr Hfuhruhurr]

Honestly, the way the top 3 are playing at the moment, anybody in the top 8 could even get automatic promotion. I would suggest that on current and past form this season, we are looking at a mid to late 80s points total. Thats overcomeable by a team on a run. That most likely team is Cardiff. But at the moment, quite obviously Birmingham are the bigger threat.

[Ian Royal]

Honestly, the way the top 3 are playing at the moment, anybody in the top 8 could even get automatic promotion. I would suggest that on current and past form this season, we are looking at a mid to late 80s points total. Thats overcomeable by a team on a run. That most likely team is Cardiff. But at the moment, quite obviously Birmingham are the bigger threat.

Whilst our recent form isn't too shit hot, it's not as bad as it might appear either. We could quite easily go on another run of 5 or more wins like before Xmas and suddenly we look very very strong. Our recent blip was only 2 draws and 2 losses remember. They just happened to come in quick succession off the back of some less than fantastic performances.

If that were the case (I'm not saying it would be) 11 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses would be pretty darn good form.
2.3 pts per game, title winning form in fact.

[BR2]

Honestly, the way the top 3 are playing at the moment, anybody in the top 8 could even get automatic promotion. I would suggest that on current and past form this season, we are looking at a mid to late 80s points total. Thats overcomeable by a team on a run. That most likely team is Cardiff. But at the moment, quite obviously Birmingham are the bigger threat.

Whilst our recent form isn't too shit hot, it's not as bad as it might appear either. We could quite easily go on another run of 5 or more wins like before Xmas and suddenly we look very very strong. Our recent blip was only 2 draws and 2 losses remember. They just happened to come in quick succession off the back of some less than fantastic performances.

If that were the case (I'm not saying it would be) 11 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses would be pretty darn good form.
2.3 pts per game, title winning form in fact.

As a counter to that Birmingham from what we read and see have played badly all season and yet are only 2 points behind us so if they do click into gear we could be in trouble.
I have a feeling this is going to be a nervewracking and exciting run-in during the coming months.

[Dr Hfuhruhurr]

Honestly, the way the top 3 are playing at the moment, anybody in the top 8 could even get automatic promotion. I would suggest that on current and past form this season, we are looking at a mid to late 80s points total. Thats overcomeable by a team on a run. That most likely team is Cardiff. But at the moment, quite obviously Birmingham are the bigger threat.

Whilst our recent form isn't too shit hot, it's not as bad as it might appear either. We could quite easily go on another run of 5 or more wins like before Xmas and suddenly we look very very strong. Our recent blip was only 2 draws and 2 losses remember. They just happened to come in quick succession off the back of some less than fantastic performances.

If that were the case (I'm not saying it would be) 11 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses would be pretty darn good form.
2.3 pts per game, title winning form in fact.

Agreed, to an extent.
We're not that bad - we cant be, we still have a healthy gap over 7th.
I still think the top 6 is still going to be a lot tighter than it is now (Ok, with the traditional exception of 6th, who will be 10 points behind and still win the playoffs)
The problem with this league is that with the rapidness of games that need to be played, you can easily make up or lose 6 points in a fortnight. I admit that Brum and Wolves look to have strong squads, but you wouldnt want to go to war with them at the moment.

[Archie's penalty]

I'm surprised that there are more yes than no votes in this poll.

[Ian Royal]

As a counter to that Birmingham from what we read and see have played badly all season and yet are only 2 points behind us so if they do click into gear we could be in trouble.
I have a feeling this is going to be a nervewracking and exciting run-in during the coming months.

Brum don't seem to be in great shape off the field, and whilst they have a lot of individual talent, they don't have the squad and team mental strength that we have. Nor do they have the organisation and well developed game plan of us and Wolves.

From what I've seen and heard, they appear to be just trying to grind their way through the division, which will get you towards the top if you're good, but it's unlikely you'll win with teams like the top two around.

Not that I'm discounting them, they could well carry on in the same vein and still finish above us if we have a down turn. For example if the last 5 games is more indicative of our form that the last 10. We could only slightly less easily lose another two, draw two and win one.

It's going to be close. But then the Chumpionship is almost every year.

[leon]

As a counter to that Birmingham from what we read and see have played badly all season and yet are only 2 points behind us so if they do click into gear we could be in trouble.
I have a feeling this is going to be a nervewracking and exciting run-in during the coming months.

Brum don't seem to be in great shape off the field, and whilst they have a lot of individual talent, they don't have the squad and team mental strength that we have. Nor do they have the organisation and well developed game plan of us and Wolves.

From what I've seen and heard, they appear to be just trying to grind their way through the division, which will get you towards the top if you're good, but it's unlikely you'll win with teams like the top two around.

Not that I'm discounting them, they could well carry on in the same vein and still finish above us if we have a down turn. For example if the last 5 games is more indicative of our form that the last 10. We could only slightly less easily lose another two, draw two and win one.

It's going to be close. But then the Chumpionship is almost every year.

Birmingham have a lot of quality but just don't play well as a team. A friend of mine who's Bc fan is convinced they're sh*t and still havent recovered from last season and are basically too old. Whether this is true I have no idea - but what is true is that the best teams get out of the Championship and usually not the best footballing sides, or the teams packed with "quality players"

[AbovetheI]

Birmingham = 2 points behind us
Cardiff = 9 points behind us

I'd say Birmingham are still more of a threat than Cardiff at the moment. But it could change if we and Birmingham lose and Cardiff win.

Easy there Statto.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Signing Quincy Owusu-Abeyie today. Must admit I didn't think much of him at Brum so not entirely bothered about that

[Dirk Gently]

The team that has the momentum is Swansea - remember Palace in 2006 when they came from nowhere in the second half of the season? Swansea strike me as being like them, except that Swansea are starting in a much higher position than Palace did.

[JimmytheJim]

The team that has the momentum is Swansea - remember Palace in 2006 when they came from nowhere in the second half of the season? Swansea strike me as being like them, except that Swansea are starting in a much higher position than Palace did.

And they kicked it all off at the Mad Stad with that trouncing. We were flying high, they were languishing at the bottom, and it finished 3-0 to them, IIRC. I can't see Swansea threatening the automatic spots, but they might well be a good bet for the playoffs. Both of the Welsh teams are very strong, and Cardiff are the best outfit I've seen us play against in this division. Extremely well organised.

[Archie's penalty]

Cardiff now 7 points behind us with a game in hand.

[exileinleeds]

...and Brum losing at SW.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

("Goddammit") Kevin Phillips ("Again") draws 'em level late

[Arch]

Cardiff are really the only team with any serious form of late. All today's games went to form and if that keeps happening we'll be promoted. Any reasonable measure of form that has Cardiff catching us (i.e. anywhere from 2-7 games, ignoring home/away/standard of opposition) also has us finishing second ahead of Wolves. If you include more sophisticated measures like home/away etc we do better than merely "last n games".

[Woodcote Royal]

("Goddammit") Kevin Phillips ("Again") draws 'em level late

I watched all of tonights game and Brum were just the same as they were in 3 or 4 others I've seen this season......................worse than ordinary but bailed out by Phillips.

In all these match the commentators have drooled over what they see as the "depth" and "quality" in their squad yet only one player seems to produce the goods.

We might be justified in complaining about some of the poor performances from our team but when RFC and Wolves are on song they hammer the opposition, whereas Brum seem to be getting by on a wing and a prayer.

I think it's fair to say there are better teams below BC and that without significant improvement we won't be the last team to catch and overtake them before the seasons end.