I don’t frequent your board regularly, just in case I think I’m obsessed or a stalker! I got an email saying I’d been tagged in a message so logged in to have a look.
I’m glad we’ve played you twice and got 6 points. I’m equally pleased we haven’t got to play you again this season . It’s clear that there are 3 teams in this league who are a fair bit better than the rest. I felt we deserved our win at the end of last month against you but that the 3-0 at PR wasn’t a reflection of the game. Another late winner for you last night - the only disappointment on an otherwise good night for us. Actually thats not true, Norwich winning 5-0 away was a bit irritating.
You’re doing what we did 2 years ago - edging close games by the odd goal and getting late winners. We’re looking very comfortable in games at the moment, squad depth is playing a big part and if we can get through this run of away games in February without losing much ground (say within 3 points of second) I fancy us to go up automatically. We look a much better team than we did in the first few months.
I hope this doesn’t come across as arrogance, it’s not meant in that way. I just don’t think the league as a whole is very strong. Leicester, Southampton and Sheffield U have given themselves too much to do. It’s there for the taking for both of us.
On the balance of things, I back us to still win the league but finishing 2nd is also fine. At the start of the season, top 2 was aspirational but leading the way as long as we have, winning the division is an expectation now.
Ipswich have looked strong all season, you top the xG table and at home you’ve only lost once. It’s your away form that has let you down so hoping in Feb you drop points as we did when our calendar was weighted towards tough away games Nov-Jan.
I’m pretty optimistic about our run in, most of our away games are against middling teams, with the exception of Hull and Watford as two our final 3 away games. At home, we’re the strongest in the division and thankfully our most difficult games are at home. Since Lampard has joined, we’ve only lost to promoted teams in the league/playoffs so that’s potentially a good omen for yourselves.
I can’t see Boro overturning a 6-9 point gap over us, particularly if we beat them on the 16th. Ipswich, it depends on your away form picking up so we’ll wait and see. In any case, it’s fair to say both teams overturning the deficit is unlikely at this stage.