Our circumstances produce the exception to this. A squad of new players , a formation change , the start to the season was inevitably slow. Difficult to determine whether we deserve to be in the play off spots or not . Our form since the this period compares very favourably with most over a long period of games.Some teams have slow starts some have slow finishes, as a rule you end up where you deserve to be from the season as a whole. Trying to pin point where something went wrong is kind of futile as there are so many variables.
And then we can assume (hope ) that we are going to improve the team further this summerSo our form over the last 25 games, which we know is a standard this team can maintain, equates to 1.88 points a match. Around 86-87 points over the course of the season. Comfortably 3rd or 4th I'd reckon, most seasons, and sometimes you'd be pushing for 2nd.
We need to keep all our key players this season. Our starting line-up for the first game of next season should be:
Collins
van Ewijk
Thomas
Bidwell
Sheaf
Eccles
New CAM/Palmer/Mason Clark
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright
As much continuity as possible.
A poor start definitely hampered us, and I said at the time that our pre-season was poorly thought out. (Exeter away was in no way a good prep for the first league game at Leicester)We had 16 points after 16 games .. over the last 25 games we've competed with the best .. wasn't losing to Cardiff or away at Southampton that done us in .
Should already be sat with southampton tbh , big positives for next season if we miss out (I know negative but reality I think )
View attachment 35095
Are we only going to start the first match with 10 players !!!We need to keep all our key players this season. Our starting line-up for the first game of next season should be:
Collins
van Ewijk
Thomas
Bidwell
Sheaf
Eccles
New CAM/Palmer/Mason Clark
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright
As much continuity as possible.
And fair fucks to Birmingham City's owners for fucking them upFair fucks to the QPR manager for turning them around
hahah ffs knew I’d missed something100% agree with this, we have to. Palmer at 10 for me, we can ease new players in as we progress. The only change I'd make is bringing in Kitching, and starting with 11 players.
I think if only one place in the starting 11 is being challenged for by a newbie, it will have been a very poor summer window.We need to keep all our key players this season. Our starting line-up for the first game of next season should be:
Collins
van Ewijk
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Sheaf
Eccles
New CAM/Palmer/Mason Clark
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright
As much continuity as possible.
I hope we don’t start with this team as it will mean 2 things …. We haven’t been promoted and we haven’t recruited as well or as early as we hoped.We need to keep all our key players this season. Our starting line-up for the first game of next season should be:
Collins
van Ewijk
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Sheaf
Eccles
New CAM/Palmer/Mason Clark
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright
As much continuity as possible.
"loosing" ?A poor start definitely hampered us, and I said at the time that our pre-season was poorly thought out. (Exeter away was in no way a good prep for the first league game at Leicester)
We also had 1 disastrous spell between international breaks, where we plummeted down the table, with some people even suggesting we part company with MR!!!
Bedding in so many new players was also going to be a huge challenge, but having said that, the shocking early season form of Wright and Simms meant that we struggled for goals for way too long, having to rely on Godden, who is past his prime now was never going to be the answer.
Thankfully HW and ES finally started to deliver, but by then we were playing catch up.
Injuries, and a squad that was way under size hasn't helped. Getting O'hare back was good, but loosing Sakamoto was a massive blow. Those two played far too few games together, and that could of been key to us getting in the playoffs. (O'hare's form may not have dipped so much with Sakamoto as an outlet for him)
The F A. Cup run may(?) also of impacted our league form, but the game against Wolves was epic, and we don't yet know what the semi-final will bring.
Wherever we finish up, this season has been a good one, with gates up, the excellent cup run, half a squad of new players now bedded in and looking good, and optimism high for next season.
If you were to add Sakamoto and EMC to today's match day squad we'd look very capable of beating anyone. And there should be a few more coming in before next term.
onwards and upwards!
It’s not unsurprising to have had such slow starts given the level of squad turnover we’ve had each year. Hopefully those years may be behind us.
Edited, thanks for your well thought out contribution."loosing" ?
This didn’t age well …..We need to keep all our key players this season. Our starting line-up for the first game of next season should be:
Collins
van Ewijk
Thomas
Kitching
Bidwell
Sheaf
Eccles
New CAM/Palmer/Mason Clark
Sakamoto
Simms
Wright
As much continuity as possible.
Great post. Ultimately disappointed that the okay offs have gone but we've hung in there until game 42 and we have a proud day out next weekend.“Killing the season” is an interesting take. I think we’ve had a fantastic season. Having to cope with the play off final trauma, rebuilding the team especially in defence and having to replace the goals of Gyokeres and Hamer. Yet here we sit in an FA semi and with a squeak of the play offs. Plus some brilliant wins along the way and lots of goals.
It’s not unsurprising to have had such slow starts given the level of squad turnover we’ve had each year. Hopefully those years may be behind us.
After that today, I hope you are right...I wouldnt be so sure...
Just lost 3 of the last 4.It turns out it was the finish that killed us too!
I think Tats getting injured was far more impactful that Fadz moving onIt was not recruiting in January while getting rid of Mcfadezean that really killed it.
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