Are we going to blink? (16 Viewers)

[Paxman II]

Just a thought came to mind as we consider what a stunning season it has been so far with all the pundits saying we are nailed on for top spot.
Looking at previous teams like Sheff.Utd and Burnley in their promotion seasons. They each blinked in form at some point, but then after a few quick defeats, they quickly got back to winning ways before their 'lead' over the chasing pack was eroded.
Do you think that same scenario will play out with us? Watching the form picking up dramatically at Southampton for example, and Ipswich's fine run of recent form, and Stoke staying the course and pressure, should we be nervous?
My own view after Stoke and Boro' away wins, is we will not blink bar a couple games here and there. I think we are all set in a forward motion and a good place in terms of confidence, a very good harmonised team with some gifted players for this level all finding good form when needed. The gap we have created is a nice cushion when we get that blink.
That being said, who do you think will get the other automatic spot, and purely for bias reasons who would you actually like to get it?

 

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[SkyBlueSam01]

Yep

Life is just a series of blinks

But as long as we open our eyes again we see our destiny come to fruition

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

We’ll have a bad run of form at some point, it’s inevitable. Hopefully we’ll have done enough by that point for it to not matter too much in the grand scheme.

 

[stevefloyd]

The only way it seems at the moment that will impact our season is injuries to key players, the players stepping in have done their bit well in keeping our momentum up so far long may it continue

 

[JulianDarbyFTW]

All it takes is a run of four or five games where you lose three and draw a couple, and all of a sudden the chasing pack are breathing down your neck. Just a sticky run that almost every team has. But I suspected the wheels would fall off after Wrexham, and it didn't happen, so I'm not sure even a few games without a win is enough to derail the season.

But I think back to Newcastle and their 12-point lead over Liverpool, and how it all imploded as the season reached its crescendo. Pressure does funny things to people. The advantage we have is that Lampard has lived and breathed pressure his entire career, and if anyone can keep things steady, I’m confident he's the man.

 

[Lamps]

Our squad depth is stronger than most thought. Rudoni is finally coming back after over 2 months out. Wright is out injured again. We've just won away to 2nd place 2 games on the bounce. Yet we're now on a run of 10 wins from 11 games. The only defeat all season was with 3 defenders missing.

Southampton now have a decent chance of climbing the table now they've got rid of Will Still, but their problem is they have to keep winning just to climb up the table. They are 16 points and 26 goals behind us. We've drawn 4 lost 1. So out of the 1st 17 games we've only dropped 11 points.

We're scoring for fun. We have now had 12 different goalscorers. We have players at the top of the goals table. Teams can't cope with our attacking threat both when playing on the front foot or on the break. Our opponents are normally knackered by the 70th to the 80th minute. And when our opponents get a chance they still have to beat Rushworth.

Of course there's a chance of us suddenly going on a bad run and other sides suddenly getting a run together, but there's more of a chance of things continuing as they are especially now Rudoni is back and fully fresh when other players are starting to feel the pace.

 

[SIR ERNIE]

Said it before, the biggest threat to our league form is a cup run. We don't need one.
Let's not be distracted from the real business.

 

[Marty]

The hard work is already done, the buffer has been created, I heard the other day that for us to get autos we need mid table form for the rest of the season. If we go to both Ipswich and Soton and get 4 points from those fixtures we're dead certs for the title. As fans it's now time to enjoy the ride.

 

[Johhny Blue]

We're scoring for fun. We have now had 12 different goalscorers. We have players at the top of the goals table.

13 if you include Osayi-Samuel

 

[clint van damme]

Sure we'll hit a blip. But I don't see any team good enough to replicate our current run and take advantage.

I've been saying for weeks that people have been over estimating the challenge posed yIpswich and for me the jury's still out on Southampton even though they've undoubtedly got some fire power.

 

[harvey098]

It just feels similar to the Robins league 1 promotion to me now. I don’t fear anyone below, in fact it feels like teams have the fear factor when playing us which then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.. I’m sure that boro striker scores the sitter on Tuesday if they’re playing someone shit and already 4-0 up. Psychology affects performance massively in sport and we’re walking on with an advantage every game right now.

 

[Lamps]

Sure we'll hit a blip. But I don't see any team good enough to replicate our current run and take advantage.

I've been saying for weeks that people have been over estimating the challenge posed yIpswich and for me the jury's still out on Southampton even though they've undoubtedly got some fire power.

It was clear to see before the season started that Will Still was their weak link. Because of the time they allowed him they have been left with a realistic chance of 2nd. In 13th but only 6 points off 2nd. But to beat us they need to get 0.56 points more than us for every remaining game. Each time we win that target goes up slightly even with a win for them.

 

[Dougin]

Nah, we will be 20 points ahead by the end of January.

 

[SonofErnie]

All it takes is a run of four or five games where you lose three and draw a couple, and all of a sudden the chasing pack are breathing down your neck. Just a sticky run that almost every team has. But I suspected the wheels would fall off after Wrexham, and it didn't happen, so I'm not sure even a few games without a win is enough to derail the season.

But I think back to Newcastle and their 12-point lead over Liverpool, and how it all imploded as the season reached its crescendo. Pressure does funny things to people. The advantage we have is that Lampard has lived and breathed pressure his entire career, and if anyone can keep things steady, I’m confident he's the man.

One team caught Newcastle. In that scenario we would be promoted.

 

[Kilclines curly mullet]

Remember that we have been in Automatic form over the past 46 games since Lampard took over, not just the 17 games this season.
We have proved over a significant period of time that we are an excellent team.
Sure we will have a blip, but the difference is that we have those blips in games and we still win.
Ipswich for example had a blip last night and lost

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Yeah we’ll have blips. Already had one against Wrexham and can’t imagine we finish the season without another one of them.

The important thing is how we respond and so far we’ve done that extremely well.

 

[Sky_Blue_Daz]

The only way it seems at the moment that will impact our season is injuries to key players, the players stepping in have done their bit well in keeping our momentum up so far long may it continue

I am concerned about the lack of cover up front . Not sure how long both BTA and Wright are out for .

 

[itsabuzzard]

NO.
Sorry @TomRad85, but it's Brum for the other auto spot.
I would like Oxford to get, if only for stalling Ipswich's charge up the table.

 

[Lamps]

Yeah we’ll have blips. Already had one against Wrexham and can’t imagine we finish the season without another one of them.

The important thing is how we respond and so far we’ve done that extremely well.

Was it a blip or was it because we were missing MVE, JDS and Thomas from our defence all at the same time?

Wouldn't normally give it a second thought but we've won the other 10 games out of our last 11

 

[bigfatronssba]

Of course we will at some point. Main thing is for everyone to remain sensible about it.

The meltdown from some when we lost to Wrexham was ridiculous

 

[Wyken Sky Blue]

Reassess in the New Year, some tough fixtures coming up in December including Ipswich (twice) and Southampton

Sent from my Pixel 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Was it a blip or was it because we were missing MVE, JDS and Thomas from our defence all at the same time?

Wouldn't normally give it a second thought but we've won the other 10 games out of our last 11

I mean to be fair we were missing basically our entire backline.

My point was more so we will of course lose games which on paper we should win (tho I wouldn’t mind winning all our remaining games ). The mentality of the squad this season is ridiculous and as long as that stays the same I we’ll be more than fine

 

[wingy]

No more bookings today please!

 

[Flying Fokker]

The hard work is already done, the buffer has been created, I heard the other day that for us to get autos we need mid table form for the rest of the season. If we go to both Ipswich and Soton and get 4 points from those fixtures we're dead certs for the title. As fans it's now time to enjoy the ride.

I’d be happier if we were in week 38 under those circumstances.

 

[sc1940]

One team caught Newcastle. In that scenario we would be promoted.

And that's possibly the only example of a crash of that magnitude we can come up with in around 30 years.

 

[wingy]

When are/will the bookies going to pay out,will they pass the tax on or be made to absorb it?

 

[SkyBlue_Adam]

It’s getting to the point where we can have a blip and still have enough of a gap to stay top.. there is next to no pressure from the chasers

 

[TomRad85]

NO.
Sorry @TomRad85, but it's Brum for the other auto spot.
I would like Oxford to get, if only for stalling Ipswich's charge up the table.

That would be horrendous.
Their home form has really picked up so possible but they are wank away and that's not going to get you top 2. They'd have to sort that out.

 

[suffolkskyblue24]

Reassess in the New Year, some tough fixtures coming up in December including Ipswich (twice) and Southampton

Sent from my Pixel 10 using Tapatalk

Exactly this.

Ipswich are cruising up the table and will be in the mix for 2nd if they win their game in hand. Two big games vs the Tractor Boys in December for sure, although I think our fight is really with everyone else.


Southampton have the pedigree to challenge but are dependent on a big stumble from us.

We will drop points. We will lose games. Our lead gives us a great cushion but we cannot be complacent and pretty sure Frank wont let that happen.

Then it is down to injuries, luck, the run of the ball and maybe a pick up in January transfer window.

Good times. Nervous times but hey, it would be boring if it was easy.

 

[Jamesimus]

Let’s be honest, an injury to a certain Mr Grimes (who Swansea fans largely said wasn’t very good and passed the ball backwards all the time ) would likely derail us. Luckily he seems to be made of steel so far - must be all that youth frisbee practice.

 

[clint van damme]

Let’s be honest, an injury to a certain Mr Grimes (who Swansea fans largely said wasn’t very good and passed the ball backwards all the time ) would likely derail us. Luckily he seems to be made of steel so far - must be all that youth frisbee practice.

I think our biggest worry is a Grimes injury
However, I think we'd have to revert to 5atb, and we won 9 out of 10 playing that formation last season and won away at Pompey playing it this season.

Not sure a Grimes injury would guarantee a collapse though obviously it would be a massive blow.

 

[Jamesimus]

I think our biggest worry is a Grimes injury
However, I think we'd have to revert to 5atb, and we won 9 out of 10 playing that formation last season and won away at Pompey playing it this season.

Not sure a Grimes injury would guarantee a collapse though obviously it would be a massive blow.

When we were 5 at the back in that period, I liked it, but the football was atrocious. We were effective though!

 

[clint van damme]

When we were 5 at the back in that period, I liked it, but the football was atrocious. We were effective though!

If the worse happened and that's what we needed to do to get over the line then so be it
Hopeful it's not a scenario we need to worry about.

 

[Lamps]

Exactly this.

Ipswich are cruising up the table and will be in the mix for 2nd if they win their game in hand. Two big games vs the Tractor Boys in December for sure, although I think our fight is really with everyone else.

Ipswich cruised to a 2-1 defeat at Oxford last night. They had 72.9% of possession but Oxford managed 13 shots with 8 on target. For all their possession advantage Ipswich managed 17 shots with 7 on target. For those who think xG is reliable they managed 1.7 for nearly 3/4 of the possession.

I expected much better from them. If they don't improve quickly they will struggle to pull away from the pack.

 

[Flying Fokker]

I think our biggest worry is a Grimes injury
However, I think we'd have to revert to 5atb, and we won 9 out of 10 playing that formation last season and won away at Pompey playing it this season.

Not sure a Grimes injury would guarantee a collapse though obviously it would be a massive blow.

Wouldn’t we buy Hamer?