It’s getting to the point… (1 Viewer)

[marrrkjay_ccfc]

The league is there for the taking which makes the summer transfer window all the more disappointing in my eyes. We've already lost our only LW and only AM for a while. If Sakamoto gets injured, we'll have to switch to a back 5, and I do not want to see us play 5 at the back against teams parking the bus. We can get away with Eccles playing a more advanced role against shite like Blues, but I'll be very surprised if we can sustain automatic form without more reinforcements in the attacking/wide areas.

As someone mentioned upthread, the first 11 is easily top 4, but the drop off in quality is huge.

Hopefully we can get to January in or around the top 2 and then bring in some quality to get us over the line!

 

---

[Bugsy]

Try not to worry to much,

We are 3rd with a game in hand as I speak
The squad is on form and got great coaching staff behind them.
Just enjoy it, life is good..... PUSB

 

[Paxman II]

Before the season started I suggested Ipswich and Southampton would not simply walk the league. They were poor in the prem and have lost a couple of good players with no great replacement. Didn't see them as favourites. Middlesborough were in and around us last year and now we are repeating that. Vivash could be their missing link but can't see their squad sustaining top two. Sheff. Utd have blown up, they will improve but I no longer see a threat from them. Brum and Wrexham are just hype. Leicester are really not looking good either, but somehow they are up there and will hang aroung top six. Who is the surprise package? Stoke, Bristol solid starts and some consistency there but ultimately do not have the quality. Coventry must be the surprise package. Quality in abundance, momentum, lots of renewed positivity. I just wonder if our achiles heal could be the pressure if we set an early pace. I don't yet see any team coming through the pack. Maybe Ipswich, but again tonight had to settle for another draw. Norwich have a one trick pony up front and have not strengthed. I think it's there if we want it badly enough and the January window needs to sharpen the squad with a couple of good quality additions. Remember Wolfenden has not had a start yet! One worry, if Grimes gets injured we don't have a replacement. He's the glue. I don't want to beleive it's possible this early in but we do look like the best in the league at the minute....
If we can win at Millwall and Sheff. Wed. then I think we are onto something with momentum and belief going with us,

 

[Lamps]

I know you mean well, but this is the kind of thread we would mock fans of other clubs for starting after seven games.

There's a big difference this season though. We're not near the top of the table through luck. With a little luck we would have even more points.

Rival fans? The Internet can be a weird place. There will always be unearned confidence and bravado from some. Banter is another reason. But realistic talk is another matter. People used to look at us as 3 points. Now we're seen as a very hard game and rightly so.

We have players that are a goal threat right through our team. McBurnie went top with 6 goals for Hull last night. 3 players are on 5. Wright, Torp and Sergent. Yes we have a midfielder doing better than nearly every striker in the Championship. Undefeated after 7 games with a big GD.

From the games I've seen so far I haven't seen another side to worry about. We're the only side that looks capable of pulling away from the others. We're in 3rd with a game in hand over the other sides in the top 8. We're playing good attacking football, scoring goals and have tightened up at the back.

I started the season thinking 2nd to 4th. I'd have been very happy with 4th. Now I look at the table and can't see 2 sides better than us. Yes it is a long, hard season. Injuries and suspensions happen. But they happen to everyone. We now have a nice run of games this month before a more difficult November and December. Confident? Yes I am. But I'd still be happy with 4th.

 

[Lamps]

The league is there for the taking which makes the summer transfer window all the more disappointing in my eyes.

This wasn't a normal transfer window for us. We kept every player we wanted to keep. We didn't have to replace anyone. We sold 2 players for 9m that wouldn't have been 1st choice. We now have cover for MVE. We swapped Binks for a proven CB at this level. We have gone from Wilson and Collins to Rushworth who catches the ball instead of flapping and giving it to the other side. He makes saves instead of letting it through him. He starts attacks with long balls that has already paid dividends.

Add to this our squad have been together and know each other well. Yes the window could have been better but it could also have been a lot worse. And we have money to spend in January. And our players on the bench are better than many like to make out.

 

[skybluegod]

Jeez this is mental. We are doing well. But let's not pretend we didn't conceded 3 to Derby, 2 to Oxford and scraped a draw with Norwich.

We are doing well and playing some good football and we will be there or there abouts come the end of the season but we aren't even at the 10 game mark, so many teams have good starts at fizzle put just like we used to have poor starts and come good. Take it a game at a time and don't get too ahead of ourselves. We will become just as unbearable as other entitled fan bases if we start expecting to piss every game in the league. We will undoubtedly lose a few games this season, let's see if people are as positive after that.

 

[rob9872]

Jeez this is mental. We are doing well. But let's not pretend we didn't conceded 3 to Derby, 2 to Oxford and scraped a draw with Norwich.

Scored 5 v Derby and won from behind at 3-2, could easily have dropped heads.
Battered Oxford but didn't kill first half then individual mistake.
Norwich wasting time and dark arts, good lesson for the boys, but still fought to the end and didn't get beat.

Imo games like these are as important as the occasional 7-1 wins like QPR or beating a poor 10 man Blues. The character in not giving up is part of the reason I agree with the OP. My invincible thread was of course a bit tongue in cheek at this stage, but here he's correct. We'll need some luck not just in games but with squad fitness too, however nothing at all to be scared of in this league.

 

[skybluegod]

Scored 5 v Derby and won from behind at 3-2, could easily have dropped heads.
Battered Oxford but didn't kill first half then individual mistake.
Norwich wasting time and dark arts, good lesson for the boys, but still fought to the end and didn't get beat.

Imo games like these are as important as the occasional 7-1 wins like QPR or beating a poor 10 man Blues. The character in not giving up is part of the reason I agree with the OP. My invincible thread was of course a bit tongue in cheek at this stage, but here he's correct. We'll need some luck not just in games but with squad fitness too, however nothing at all to be scared of in this league.

I'm not saying that those games are bad things? Or we didn't deserve to win. But the idea that we are able to piss the league is laughable and is just making us look entitled as a fan base.

I also didn't knock our character and I don't disagree that we don't need to be 'scared' of anyone in this league but I also don't think that's ever been the case really. The championship has always been very tight and about small margins. Which is why unlike those that are going overboard now about how good we are I won't go overboard when we lose a game to a bottom 3 side etc.

 

[Lamps]

Jeez this is mental. We are doing well. But let's not pretend we didn't conceded 3 to Derby, 2 to Oxford and scraped a draw with Norwich.

We are doing well and playing some good football and we will be there or there abouts come the end of the season but we aren't even at the 10 game mark, so many teams have good starts at fizzle put just like we used to have poor starts and come good. Take it a game at a time and don't get too ahead of ourselves. We will become just as unbearable as other entitled fan bases if we start expecting to piss every game in the league. We will undoubtedly lose a few games this season, let's see if people are as positive after that.

To me it isn't just where we are in the table. It's the way we're playing and how ordinary most of the sides around us look.

It's also about those who are supposed to be our main rivals that are struggling. Will Still has shown his lack of experience to be a problem like a few of us thought. Sheffield United had a poor transfer window and started with a poor manager. Ipswich, my favourites for the title pre season just can't get going. People got caught up in the media frenzy with Birmingham but now the truth is out. Leicester are within touching distance but have not been very good up front. They also have their impending points deduction.

Yes we let 3 in against Derby when scoring 5. We let 2 in against Hull. Wee didn't start well with letting in set pieces. Scraped a win against Norwich? Other than having to wait until late to score we totally outplayed them. They had 2 yellow cards in the first half for rimewasting including their GK.

We seem to have sorted out the soft goals. Only 1 goal against in our last 3 games. Yes it's a bit premature to be celebrating but most of the signs are good.

 

[skybluegod]

To me it isn't just where we are in the table. It's the way we're playing and how ordinary most of the sides around us look.

It's also about those who are supposed to be our main rivals that are struggling. Will Still has shown his lack of experience to be a problem like a few of us thought. Sheffield United had a poor transfer window and started with a poor manager. Ipswich, my favourites for the title pre season just can't get going. People got caught up in the media frenzy with Birmingham but now the truth is out. Leicester are within touching distance but have not been very good up front. They also have their impending points deduction.

Yes we let 3 in against Derby when scoring 5. We let 2 in against Hull. Wee didn't start well with letting in set pieces. Scraped a win against Norwich? Other than having to wait until late to score we totally outplayed them. They had 2 yellow cards in the first half for rimewasting including their GK.

We seem to have sorted out the soft goals. Only 1 goal against in our last 3 games. Yes it's a bit premature to be celebrating but most of the signs are good.

Again I'm not saying the signs aren't good and I'm not using the games I stated as a stick to best us with. Look at my comments in the Norwich thread I said it was our best performance of the season (we actually played better than the QPR game.) my issue is this thread is totally disregarding any the negative signs (these are minimal but important to take into account such as conceding 3 at Derby) and suggesting we will walk the league. We haven't even got to the 10 game point. We are doing well but let's calm down and take it a game at a time like I said.

The margins in this league are so so fine. We could just as easily lose 3 on the bounce as win 3 on the bounce.

 

[rob9872]

To me it isn't just where we are in the table. It's the way we're playing and how ordinary most of the sides around us look.

It's also about those who are supposed to be our main rivals that are struggling. Will Still has shown his lack of experience to be a problem like a few of us thought. Sheffield United had a poor transfer window and started with a poor manager. Ipswich, my favourites for the title pre season just can't get going. People got caught up in the media frenzy with Birmingham but now the truth is out. Leicester are within touching distance but have not been very good up front. They also have their impending points deduction.

Yes we let 3 in against Derby when scoring 5. We let 2 in against Hull. Wee didn't start well with letting in set pieces. Scraped a win against Norwich? Other than having to wait until late to score we totally outplayed them. They had 2 yellow cards in the first half for rimewasting including their GK.

We seem to have sorted out the soft goals. Only 1 goal against in our last 3 games. Yes it's a bit premature to be celebrating but most of the signs are good.

I want to know more about Rim Wasting?

 

[rob9872]

I'm not saying that those games are bad things? Or we didn't deserve to win. But the idea that we are able to piss the league is laughable and is just making us look entitled as a fan base.

I also didn't knock our character and I don't disagree that we don't need to be 'scared' of anyone in this league but I also don't think that's ever been the case really. The championship has always been very tight and about small margins. Which is why unlike those that are going overboard now about how good we are I won't go overboard when we lose a game to a bottom 3 side etc.

I kind of agree, but this is our board not X or other social media. If we can't get hyped up and excited on here where can we? And fek everyone else's fans and what they think

 

[hill83]

All these threads popping up but I got a few pelters the other week for suggesting the Leicester game was 2 points dropped if we are serious this season.

 

[Lamps]

Again I'm not saying the signs aren't good and I'm not using the games I stated as a stick to best us with. Look at my comments in the Norwich thread I said it was our best performance of the season (we actually played better than the QPR game.) my issue is this thread is totally disregarding any the negative signs (these are minimal but important to take into account such as conceding 3 at Derby) and suggesting we will walk the league. We haven't even got to the 10 game point. We are doing well but let's calm down and take it a game at a time like I said.

The margins in this league are so so fine. We could just as easily lose 3 on the bounce as win 3 on the bounce.

Walk the league? Keep seeing people use this comment to make a point but have never seen anyone use it. I'm about the most confident of our chances on here. Before the season started my prediction was 2nd to 4th. My confidence has since grown a little. My prediction is now 1st to 4th. I thought Ipswich would be a level above everyone else. I don't predict 1st to 4th because we will walk our way to the title.

The Derby game was the second game of the season. These things happen. We won 7-1 next game. These things happen. Oxford was at the end of August. Last month we played 3 games and only conceded 1 goal in what was supposed to be a difficult 3 games. If we were still letting in lots of set pieces I would agree about it being a concern.

I'm quietly confident of being at or near the top of the table for most of the season. A lot of that is to do with how poor most of the sides have been that are supposed to be challenging at the top. We can only guess from the information in front of us. Of course it could all change.

 

[wingy]

I want to know more about Rim Wasting?

Is that where you go to the bogs and try to destroy that fly?

 

[chiefdave]

At the moment it does look like the division will be more wide open than in previous years.

But having said that if anyone would should know that good or bad starts to the season can be turned around its us. How many times have we had people on here talking about relegation being nailed on at this point of the season only for us to go on a play off run.

Injuries will be key, as for any club. If they start mounting up its going to be a huge ask to maintain anything approaching this kind of form.

Certainly not going to start saying at this point that we're a certainty for autos.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Jeez this is mental. We are doing well. But let's not pretend we didn't conceded 3 to Derby, 2 to Oxford and scraped a draw with Norwich.

We are doing well and playing some good football and we will be there or there abouts come the end of the season but we aren't even at the 10 game mark, so many teams have good starts at fizzle put just like we used to have poor starts and come good. Take it a game at a time and don't get too ahead of ourselves. We will become just as unbearable as other entitled fan bases if we start expecting to piss every game in the league. We will undoubtedly lose a few games this season, let's see if people are as positive after that.

We didn't scrape a draw with Norwich. That suggests we were under the cosh and just about managed to hold on and not concede.

We battered them and they got away with it with an inordinate amount of time wasting. It was disappointing given the performance to only get a draw, but we certainly didn't scrape it.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

The league is there for the taking which makes the summer transfer window all the more disappointing in my eyes. We've already lost our only LW and only AM for a while. If Sakamoto gets injured, we'll have to switch to a back 5, and I do not want to see us play 5 at the back against teams parking the bus. We can get away with Eccles playing a more advanced role against shite like Blues, but I'll be very surprised if we can sustain automatic form without more reinforcements in the attacking/wide areas.

As someone mentioned upthread, the first 11 is easily top 4, but the drop off in quality is huge.

Hopefully we can get to January in or around the top 2 and then bring in some quality to get us over the line!

Last season we won something like 9 games in a row playing a back 5.

If they're sitting in then the WB could almost play in the positions saka and EMC do anyway. We could play two strikers to give them something to worry about and have an AM, so you've got a front five there.

If we did have to switch to that formation, there's no reason we couldn't make it work given the players we've got.

 

[skybluegod]

We didn't scrape a draw with Norwich. That suggests we were under the cosh and just about managed to hold on and not concede.

We battered them and they got away with it with an inordinate amount of time wasting. It was disappointing given the performance to only get a draw, but we certainly didn't scrape it.

Your reading into what the word means is your perception and you looking to argue. I have already said we dominated the match in this thread. We did scrape a draw with 93rd minute equaliser from a Norwich fuck up, yes it was deserved.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

one thing that strikes me is that we've not once looked like we were lucky in any game. We look like a top team. Injuries is going to the be the big one.

Incidentally, I've said the feeling is similar to 19/20. the records are eerily similar. 7 games in 4 wins and 3 draws in 19/20 - 3 wins 4 draws this year

Millwall will be tough - but if we can take points tonight. You've got to fancy a big haul from the next 5.

Sheff Wed (A)
Blackburn (H)
Portsmouth (A)
Watford (H)
Wrexham (A)

We could easily win all of them.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Far too early & circumstances can change really quickly

Last season we got 27 points in 10 games then followed it up with 13 points in the next 10

Though in fairness a run like that in most seasons would be automatic promotion ppg

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

If we finish above either Southampton or Ipswich, I think we'll have a shout for autos. They are the teams that I think will keep improving.

 

[SkyB]

We've played 2 good sides, 2 average sides and 3 shit sides. While I'm yet to see one better than us it's hardly a good enough sample size to say we're one of the 2 best.

It's very premature to say we'll be in the autos but I don't think you'll find a Cov fan that would write us off from it yet.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Sheff Wed (A)
Blackburn (H)
Portsmouth (A)
Watford (H)
Wrexham (A)

We could 'perhaps' win all of them.

Edited for you (I'd settle for anything from 10 points or more)

 

[Macca]

Shitty fixtures like tonight are the test for future champions.

 

[baldy]

To me it isn't just where we are in the table. It's the way we're playing and how ordinary most of the sides around us look.

It's also about those who are supposed to be our main rivals that are struggling. Will Still has shown his lack of experience to be a problem like a few of us thought. Sheffield United had a poor transfer window and started with a poor manager. Ipswich, my favourites for the title pre season just can't get going. People got caught up in the media frenzy with Birmingham but now the truth is out. Leicester are within touching distance but have not been very good up front. They also have their impending points deduction.

Yes we let 3 in against Derby when scoring 5. We let 2 in against Hull. Wee didn't start well with letting in set pieces. Scraped a win against Norwich? Other than having to wait until late to score we totally outplayed them. They had 2 yellow cards in the first half for rimewasting including their GK.

We seem to have sorted out the soft goals. Only 1 goal against in our last 3 games. Yes it's a bit premature to be celebrating but most of the signs are good.

When did we let 2 in against Hull?

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

It's just a great time to support the club, and that's as far as it goes. I am not going to get carried away.

That said, this time in 12 months we can hopefully be talking about Champions League opponents and where we're going on our away trips.

 

[Brylowes]

Before the season started I suggested Ipswich and Southampton would not simply walk the league. They were poor in the prem and have lost a couple of good players with no great replacement. Didn't see them as favourites. Middlesborough were in and around us last year and now we are repeating that. Vivash could be their missing link but can't see their squad sustaining top two. Sheff. Utd have blown up, they will improve but I no longer see a threat from them. Brum and Wrexham are just hype. Leicester are really not looking good either, but somehow they are up there and will hang aroung top six. Who is the surprise package? Stoke, Bristol solid starts and some consistency there but ultimately do not have the quality. Coventry must be the surprise package. Quality in abundance, momentum, lots of renewed positivity. I just wonder if our achiles heal could be the pressure if we set an early pace. I don't yet see any team coming through the pack. Maybe Ipswich, but again tonight had to settle for another draw. Norwich have a one trick pony up front and have not strengthed. I think it's there if we want it badly enough and the January window needs to sharpen the squad with a couple of good quality additions. Remember Wolfenden has not had a start yet! One worry, if Grimes gets injured we don't have a replacement. He's the glue. I don't want to beleive it's possible this early in but we do look like the best in the league at the minute....
If we can win at Millwall and Sheff. Wed. then I think we are onto something with momentum and belief going with us,

I can’t see how we could be viewed as a surprise package, play offs in 2 of the last 3 seasons plus a very high profile FA Cup semifinal defeat & the bookies had us as 4th favourites before a ball was kicked.

Norwich signed 8 players for a combined almost £30m + another 3 free transfers, so they have definitely strengthened whether they’ve improved is a different matter mind.

 

[mrtrench]

4/1 after tonight to win the Championship is the best price available