On the bright side (6 Viewers)

[Diogenes]

We have increased the gap between us and 3rd to 9 points...

Think its time to accept Ipswich catching us is a case of when not if, but fortunately the teams below them dont look good enough to put a run together that will challenge us.

Also think some of the criticism of rhe players is a bit OTT. They have had a month of being ravaged by illness and playing 3 game weeks with a tiny squad. Plus, this isnt a top 2 deck. Lampard has had them performing beyond their abilities and it was always going to revert to type at some point. This is why January is key.

Doug not buying in the summer is a big part of why we are now looking so run down. He has to bring serious reinforcements in or we risk the wheels coming off big time.

Will he do it? Im 50/50 tbh.

 

---

[shmmeee]

Can’t see him doing what’s needed tbh.

 

[Snaily]

We were 10 points ahead of 3rd and we’re now 9

But I know what you mean… sort of

 

[covcity4life]

Of course Ipswich can win the league but this talk of it's just a matter of time is nonsense

Do people really think we wont start winning again? Do we really think Ipswich don't drop pts again this season?

We have a 8pt lead. It's a great season and it's STILL going well

 

[SkyblueTexan]

The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable and we know what happened. Our lead at the top was supposedly unassailable. Yet our meager return of 1.28 points per game over the last 7 games is very ominous. So many players out of form with some ill, injured, suspended etc. We’ve hit a wall and run out of ideas, energy and confidence. I fear we’ll miss out on autos and get knocked out in the playoffs by an in form team like Watford.

 

[covcity4life]

The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable and we know what happened. Our lead at the top was supposedly unassailable. Yet our meager return of 1.28 points per game over the last 7 games is very ominous. So many players out of form with some ill, injured, suspended etc. We’ve hit a wall and run out of ideas, energy and confidence. I fear we’ll miss out on autos and get knocked out in the playoffs by an in form team like Watford.

But on the bright side?...

 

[robbiekeane]

Our lead at the top was supposedly unassailable

who said this?

 

[quinn1971]

The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable and we know what happened. Our lead at the top was supposedly unassailable. Yet our meager return of 1.28 points per game over the last 7 games is very ominous. So many players out of form with some ill, injured, suspended etc. We’ve hit a wall and run out of ideas, energy and confidence. I fear we’ll miss out on autos and get knocked out in the playoffs by an in form team like Watford.

steady on mate, ipswich were always going to catch us, and look at mboros fall off, wer‘e at least the 2nd best team in the league, we got a point today with probably the weakest team we’ve put out all season, we’ll be fine

 

[Cally Fedora]

We’re in fantastic shape points wise. Stay calm, add a couple, piss the league.

 

[Sick Boy]

It’s down to King now to get the players in…

 

[Ccfcisparks]

It’s down to King now to get the players in…

Exactly. Lampard done enough so far to get us to January with a buffer. no excuses for Douglas not to back him

 

[Martw]

The Titanic was supposedly unsinkable and we know what happened. Our lead at the top was supposedly unassailable. Yet our meager return of 1.28 points per game over the last 7 games is very ominous. So many players out of form with some ill, injured, suspended etc. We’ve hit a wall and run out of ideas, energy and confidence. I fear we’ll miss out on autos and get knocked out in the playoffs by an in form team like Watford.

Play off are literally 4 months away yet

 

[theskyisthelimit]

Do we think Lampard only naming 8 substitutes was a hint to Doug as to him needing depth?
Sorry if it's been covered elsewhere but I've had to work all day.

 

[Nick]

Do we think Lampard only naming 8 substitutes was a hint to Doug as to him needing depth?
Sorry if it's been covered elsewhere but I've had to work all day.

No it's more that torp pulled out last minute

 

[Mercian In Anglia]

Ipswich haven't got an easy month:

Pompey A

Blackpool H in cup (who are lower end of L1, so will be hard for Ipswich to lose that)

Blackburn H

Brizzle C H

Blunts A

PNE H

can see them dropping points in at least 2 of those

 

[CovveeBreak]

We’re 8 points clear of Ipswich with a still vastly superior GD.

We’re 9 points clear of 3rd.

We’ve lost just twice in the past 12 games.

Let’s face facts - we’re a trophy win for any team now. The fact teams are putting on the absolute performances of their season against us, and we’re shit, and we STILL come away with points - says a lot.

A few new additions, BTA and JDS back in the fold, flu behind us - on we march.

 

[blunted]

We have increased the gap between us and 3rd to 9 points...

Think its time to accept Ipswich catching us is a case of when not if, but fortunately the teams below them dont look good enough to put a run together that will challenge us.

Also think some of the criticism of rhe players is a bit OTT. They have had a month of being ravaged by illness and playing 3 game weeks with a tiny squad. Plus, this isnt a top 2 deck. Lampard has had them performing beyond their abilities and it was always going to revert to type at some point. This is why January is key.

Doug not buying in the summer is a big part of why we are now looking so run down. He has to bring serious reinforcements in or we risk the wheels coming off big time.

Will he do it? Im 50/50 tbh.

I don't think it is a given that Ipswich will overtake us. With a £200 million squad they should, but this is football and the Championship.
Our squad has accumulated 92 points in the last year which is auto's form. It will get harder from here, as everyone wants to beat us. We are a big scalp now, but so are Ipswich.
If we can avoid serious injuries, our best players can recapture their form, and we can add a bit of quality in this transfer window, we have a good chance of going up.
Doug did try to replace Sheaf at the end of the window, but it unfortunately fell through. No one could foresee a particularly nasty strain of flu that has hit us way worse than other clubs so far. Ipswich have not had it so far. Fingers crossed, the Gods of football even things out.

 

[theskyisthelimit]

No it's more that torp pulled out last minute

Oh fair enough

 

[SkyblueTexan]

who said this?

All the so-called experts/analysts/pundits (whatever you want to call them) on Youtube and other mainstream media. They all seemed to say we could not be caught, but I fear we will.

Our pace to start the season was a torrid one, but we've gone from 2.3 ppg to a 1.3 ppg average in the last few weeks. Everyone says keep calm and we'll be fine, but the Ipswichs and Watfords of the league keep stacking up the wins like we used to do and our margin for error keeps dwindling.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Can we try and put these results behind us. It’s clearly not us at our best but that’s due to the schedule and illness/fatigue.

The results haven’t been as good as the earlier months but even so, we are still well on track. Get past Birmingham, allow our first teamers to rest and get some quality reinforcements and there’s no reason we can’t keep on the pace.

 

[quinn1971]

All the so-called experts/analysts/pundits (whatever you want to call them) on Youtube and other mainstream media. They all seemed to say we could not be caught, but I fear we will.

Our pace to start the season was a torrid one, but we've gone from 2.3 ppg to a 1.3 ppg average in the last few weeks. Everyone says keep calm and we'll be fine, but the Ipswichs and Watfords of the league keep stacking up the wins like we used to do and our margin for error keeps dwindling.

It was always going to be the gap to 3rd, couldn’t care less if Ipswich finish 20 points above us, Watford have had nice little run of games, mboro are in freefall and when you looked at our fixtures end of November this was always going to be a test with our thin squad, we’ve come through it with the gap to 3rd 10 points, thats some going, we’re not messing this up,

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

I still think that there are a group of teams that will slit each other's throats in terms of taking points off each other Blues (at their place), PNE, Sheff Utd, Watford, even Leicester ( at their place), along with the likes of Boro, Bristol and Norwich ( improving). That is why points currently in the bag will hopefully prove vital.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

On Sunday we could have Rudoni, JDS, Sakamoto, Torp and EMC all starting who have all been rested today or played a bit part. Not a bad problem to have.

 

[covcity4life]

On Sunday we could have Rudoni, JDS, Sakamoto, Torp and EMC all starting who have all been rested today or played a bit part. Not a bad problem to have.

Yet people are getting angry we might not bring a player in tomorrow morning!

 

[Hullinho87]

All the so-called experts/analysts/pundits (whatever you want to call them) on Youtube and other mainstream media. They all seemed to say we could not be caught, but I fear we will.

Our pace to start the season was a torrid one, but we've gone from 2.3 ppg to a 1.3 ppg average in the last few weeks. Everyone says keep calm and we'll be fine, but the Ipswichs and Watfords of the league keep stacking up the wins like we used to do and our margin for error keeps dwindling.

Ignoring the Tubers and the like .. Can you find a quote from one of these specifically experts/analysts/pundits where they say “it’s unassailable”? - outside of them using historical statistics to say how likely it is from our position.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

I still think that there are a group of teams that will slit each other's throats in terms of taking points off each other Blues (at their place), PNE, Sheff Utd, Watford, even Leicester ( at their place), along with the likes of Boro, Bristol and Norwich ( improving). That is why points currently in the bag will hopefully prove vital.

Every away ground (exp Shef Wed) is for everyone is a very tough fixture.

Any point away is a good point. Just win the majority of our home games.

Key 6 pointer is Boro at home. Must not lose game.

Watford away last game of season looks a mighty tough fixture now.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

The 2 week break between Birmingham and leicester at home will be a big reset.

We will get back to basics players will be well rested and and. A couple of new signings will be very welcome.

We should have. A fully fit squad by leicester.

 

[Bristol sky blue]

Every away ground (exp Shef Wed) is for everyone is a very tough fixture.

Any point away is a good point. Just win the majority of our home games.

Key 6 pointer is Boro at home. Must not lose game.

Watford away last game of season looks a mighty tough fixture now.

Well said.

Apart from Sheff Wed, who are already doomed and we've played anyway, any point away from home isn't a 'bad' result really. Having said that, drawing at Oxford was the only disappointing one because we should have won easily but let them back into the game.

I would be happy with another point away at Blues, then hopefully we will have another player in and players will have had a rest for the next league game. My concern is Grimes getting an injury, as he has looked fucked for the last 2 games and we don't have a similar replacement for him.

U21s / U18s all the way for the cup game (Wilson in goal though).

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Watford away last game of season looks a mighty tough fixture now.

Thought that at first, but could well be that one of us, or both, will already know our fate - autos or playoffs, so probably one side (if not both) will have nothing to play for - resting players for play-offs/already up.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I seriously don’t know why there’s a fatalism that Ipswich will catch us up…

It was much more obvious they’d break into the top 2 because Boro and the other teams were over performing the underlying data.

Ipswich beat us handily, credit to them but those two games won’t be the difference between winning the title and not. We’ve got 9 points on them and their away record has been poor.

They may close the gap this month but I’m confident a good Jan transfer window will be the difference between winning the league and finishing 2nd.