The Promotion Thread 16/17

[Liam_SWFC]

I didn't want to say anything.

 

[JJH]

Yeah alright, but even I wouldn't just accept mediocrity, even if I expected it.

 

[LeylandWhite]

I don't think it's accepting mediocrity, we've got a bottom three budget in this league so mid table would be an achievement if anything.

For me we won't be involved in the promotion race this season as much as I'd love us to be, it's about season on season progression as someone said earlier and then hopefully in a season or two we might be able to push on if we can keep hold of our better players and keep building.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Not sure why, but I quite like Preston, definitely more than any other club from over that side of the hills. Maybe because most fans seem reasonable, they have a great history, but don't expect too much. Anyway hope they have a decent season and exceed most expectations.

 

[Kneezy]

I support Preston.

Expect nothing.

We respect Preston - played very well against us today. But bloody hell. That ref.
What was it ? 6 minutes time added (From WHERE ???), yet he played ELEVEN ?????????
At least he didn't fall for the expected throwing themselves to the ground rolling around claiming penalties - Preston players did this THREE times in last 2 or so minutes of time added on
Preston will thump other teams though.

 

[SF_]

We respect Preston - played very well against us today. But bloody hell. That ref.
What was it ? 6 minutes time added (From WHERE ???), yet he played ELEVEN ?????????
At least he didn't fall for the expected throwing themselves to the ground rolling around claiming penalties - Preston players did this THREE times in last 2 or so minutes of time added on
Preston will thump other teams though.

Beckford's penalty shout looked a decent one to me.

Some of your time wasting was horrific so I imagine that contributed to the 6 minutes of injury time.

 

[LeylandWhite]

We respect Preston - played very well against us today. But bloody hell. That ref.
What was it ? 6 minutes time added (From WHERE ???), yet he played ELEVEN ?????????
At least he didn't fall for the expected throwing themselves to the ground rolling around claiming penalties - Preston players did this THREE times in last 2 or so minutes of time added on
Preston will thump other teams though.

The 6 minutes was more than I expected but the amount of stopping play you were doing was ridiculous. There might have been 11 minutes on top of the 90 but the first 5 mins after the board went up nothing happened because yet again there was another injury.

 

[Magic]

Looks like us and Newcastle have the top 2 places wrapped up. Good luck to everyone else trying to battle for the play-offs.

 

[mossypne]

We respect Preston - played very well against us today. But bloody hell. That ref.
What was it ? 6 minutes time added (From WHERE ???), yet he played ELEVEN ?????????
At least he didn't fall for the expected throwing themselves to the ground rolling around claiming penalties - Preston players did this THREE times in last 2 or so minutes of time added on
Preston will thump other teams though.

6 minutes from your lot wasting loads. The extra from your play going down in the box after being coined. And we had 2 STONEWALL penalties denied, one of which he has apologised for not giving. The least we deserved was a draw.

Anyway, play like that rest of the season and i seriously think we will be pushing for the playoffs.

 

[Magic]

I don't think we're gonna see many teams breaking clear this year tbh. Gonna be a mad scrap for top six I reckon. Think Newcastle, Brighton and Norwich might be comfortable in there but the rest is a free for all imo.

Very much not getting carried away myself, think we're lacking in firepower for the moment but it's nice to not even be thinking about relegation for a change. Third in the form table for the last 10 games, conceding at roughly 1 every 2 games since Bartley and Jansson came together in defence. If we can get through our tough run of fixtures before Christmas, you never know with the right investment in January.

Four out of our next five games are Norwich (A), Newcastle (H), Villa (H) and Brighton (A) though so could easily slide back down quite quickly.

 

[Ciderhead]

Feel like there's a lot of pretty good teams this year, not too many great perhaps but there's going to be some very decent outfits on their day coming bottom half. Agree with Magic, take away your Newcastle, Brighton, Norwich there's another 12 or so sides you'd say could well have a shot of nabbing one of those playoff spots.

As for us, I do think we'll end up coming short, still feel we'll finish around 8th-12th which would represent a good season. But I imagine Leeds, Brentford, Birmingham, Reading fans are all saying similar - I'd be surprised if none of us make it.

We've got some tough games coming up though. Brighton at home on Saturday and then Birmingham, Reading and Huddersfield are our next 3 aways. If we're still 6th in a month or so I'll be delighted

 

[Magic]

Think I was joking, lads?

 

[KevinMcallister]

Leeds are going up thanks to pontus jansson and his magic hat

 

[SMH]

Quite refreshing to see such a scrap for the playoffs as a neutral. Thanks to Derby, Aston Villa and Sheff Wed all falling way short of expectations, the league has really opened up in terms of who can get in the top six. Reading, Leeds, Bristol City, Huddersfield, Fulham and Birmingham will all feel they have a genuine chance of getting in there. Villa will come on strong from now on under Bruce though. Agree that Newcastle, Brighton and Norwich are the only lock ins although Norwich might have to sack Alex Neil to keep their spot.

As for me, it's back to the relegation thread I go!

 

[LeylandWhite]

You forgot to mention us .

 

[joethegill]

Villa got Bruce in at exactly the right time, had they left it a month the play-offs would probably be beyond them but now they're looking promising. Only worry is with the African Nations in January, Ayew and Kodjia will be absent for a month and McCormack hasn't really fired yet.

 

[mossypne]

You forgot to mention us .

I'm not sure he's ready for that!

 

[Magic]

Our chances linger on injuries at CB/ST (decent cover elsewhere) and what happens in January. I think Hernandez's loan is up but would like to think that'll get sorted. Very important it does. Jansson we've got all season but would be a huge blow if we don't wrap up a permanent deal...could have a negative impact on us if he's going to go elsewhere in the summer. And teams will be queuing up for him as he's easily one of the best defenders in the league.

I never expected to be a real threat this year and hoped more to build for next year...problem is, until we tie down Bartley/Jansson/Hernandez/Sacko, we'll be back to square one in the summer. Hard to get too carried away until then...if we manage that then anything is a bonus this year as I reckon we'll be set for a strong campaign next year.

 

[villa loyal]

To use an American saying, I think Leeds will be the wild card this season.

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

As things stand, nobody else looks consistant enough to overhaul the current top two and I cant see that changing from now until May but hey its a long old season so you never know.

As for playoffs, I think Norwich and Wednesday will be in there but after that who the hell knows? With our current squad, we dont have a chance in hell but the January transfer window will be very interesting. We've got potentially £15 million in the kitty with the Kodjia and Bolasie money, so if we spend that wisely we've got as good a chance as anyone. As for Leeds being dark horses - Id agree. They looked good against us by all accounts.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Well, we're clawing our way up here. Norwich have imploded. Division is stupidly close.

 

[Costello]

Yep, I did not see Norwich going through a slump of these proportions - surely won't be long before Neil gets the boot the way things are going?

Reading going about their business quietly and effectively - must admit I wasn't convinced about the Stam appointment and the possession heavy style (which has its flaws), but they were one of the better sides we've faced this season, back in August, and are clearly getting consistent results.

 

[Madejski]

I quite liked the mid-table thread

 

[Magic]

I think Norwich will bounce back. Possibly not under Neil but today's game was over after 60 seconds. Still find it hard to see them outside the top 6. Fancy Villa to gradually work up there too.

In all seriousness I don't feel like we're a promotion side but then again, when I think about the fact we've gone on a great run and even the two games we've lost in the last couple of months we've been a touch unfortunate in.

Might as well enjoy the ride for a change, though!

 

[AnkleBiter]

Our next 4 games of Wigan H, Blackburn A, Bristol City H and Burton A are massive, need a good run in those because our recent form is shocking, particularly away (11 goals conceded in 3) but 15 of our 21 goals conceded this season have been from set pieces!! really needs sorting, we've a massive chance this season and I'd be gutted to completely blow it.

 

[Haillay7]

Tomorrow's game is now huge. Win and we're 5 points clear of 2nd, 9 clear of 3rd.

 

[Rammy]

Hi there, we're joining the party at last.

 

[Magic]

No, you're going down James. You said so and who are we to disagree?

 

[The Southbank]

I feel as if we're a striker away from a top six finish this season. Good solid structure to our team, especially with Moore and McShane at the back.

Big fan of George Evans in midfield, gets about his job in an underrated manner.

 

[Madejski]

We're the Barcelona of the Championship according to Mad Dog, so we should be comfortably winning the league.