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Looking at december

Looking at december

raefil

raefil

Dolly Patron
Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
111,048
So this is where it is at now,
Preston -- 38 points,
Cardiff, Birmingham, Derby -- all 37 points
Burnley -- 34 points
Stoke, Southampton -- 33 points

Here are their fixtures for December

Preston
Sat. 2 Dec Luton v Preston
Sat. 9 Dec Birmingham v Preston
Sat. 16 Dec Preston v Plymouth
Sat. 23 Dec Preston v Colchester
Tue. 26 Dec West Brom v Preston
Sat. 30 Dec Sunderland v Preston

Cardiff
Sat. 2 Dec Cardiff v Colchester
Sat. 9 Dec Cardiff v Ipswich
Sat. 16 Dec Hull v Cardiff
Sat. 23 Dec Leicester v Cardiff
Tue. 26 Dec Cardiff v Plymouth
Sat. 30 Dec Cardiff v Crystal Palace

Birmingham
Sat. 2 Dec Birmingham v Plymouth
Sat. 9 Dec Birmingham v Preston
Sat. 16 Dec Sheff Wed v Birmingham
Sat. 23 Dec Southend v Birmingham
Tue. 26 Dec Birmingham v QPR
Fri. 29 Dec Birmingham v Luton

Derby
Sat. 2 Dec West Brom v Derby
Sat. 9 Dec Leeds v Derby
Sat. 16 Dec Derby v Crystal Palace
Sat. 23 Dec Burnley v Derby
Tue. 26 Dec Derby v Wolverhampton
Sat. 30 Dec Derby v Plymouth

Burnley
Sat. 2 Dec Ipswich v Burnley
Sat. 9 Dec Coventry v Burnley
Sat. 16 Dec Burnley v Sunderland
Sat. 23 Dec Burnley v Derby
Tue. 26 Dec Barnsley v Burnley
Sat. 30 Dec Hull v Burnley

Stoke
Sat. 2 Dec Coventry v Stoke
Sat. 9 Dec Stoke v QPR
Sat. 16 Dec Colchester v Stoke
Sat. 23 Dec Ipswich v Stoke
Tue. 26 Dec Stoke v Sheff Wed
Sat. 30 Dec Stoke v Leeds

Southampton
Sat. 2 Dec Hull v Southampton
Sat. 9 Dec Southend v Southampton
Sat. 16 Dec Southampton v Norwich
Sat. 23 Dec Sheff Wed v Southampton
Tue. 26 Dec Southampton v Crystal Palace
Sat. 30 Dec Southampton v Leicester


How many points will these teams get out of the 6 matches (maximum 18 points)?

Preston -- Some tough matches ahead (Birmingham, West Brom) If we can get something out of those, then I would believe we are on for automatic promotion. I reckon we should get at least 11 points.

Cardiff -- Should be easier for Cardiff to pile up the points. Less than 12 points would be considered a slip up for automatic promotion.

Birmingham -- Another easier fixture except for home against Preston. Should be able to bag 12 points minumum.

Derby -- Some tricky matches - West Brom, Leeds, Burnley and Wolves. Would be happy if they can get 8 points.

Burnley -- Ipswich and Coventry matches might be critical to gain their confidence again. If they can pull through with some points, then they still have a chance to challenge and strengthen in January. 12 points would keep them in the hunt.

Stoke -- In top form at the moment. Colchester match would be difficult to win though. My guess would be 13 points.

Southampton -- Out of the 7 teams, Southampton have the easiest on current form. Pressure will be on them to get grind out the results. 13 points should be achievable
 
Re: Looking at december

Looking at those fixtures tells me that we have the toughest month in store. If we are still top 4 come January 2nd I will be a very happy chap.
 
Re: Looking at december

Where_is_Big_George? said:
Looking at those fixtures tells me that we have the toughest month in store. If we are still top 4 come January 2nd I will be a very happy chap.
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Got to agree with this, very tough month indeed! If we are still there or thereabouts then i will be a happy boy.
 
Re: Looking at december

Irrespective of the opposition, with the exception of Burnley (who I don't think will be in the reckoning come May), we have the most away games over the period. If We're still top come New Years Day (14 points should see this) I will believe Championships to be a distinct possibility. If not we will be left to rue the 4 points dropped from the past 2 games.
 
Re: Looking at december

Had a look yesterday if we can get 12 points would be good, obviously we would want 1 of them points to be against Birmingham and another 1 against West Brom...

If we got 12 points it would put us on 50 points, in the last few seasons after 26 games last year Sheff Utd had 56 points(2nd), the year before Ipswich were top with 52 points, the year before that Norwich top with 52, so basically not a million miles off.

If we can take points off the teams around us it puts us in a stronger position, it's how teams win Championships, Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea win it by taking points off each other....

All in all will be there or there abouts!!!

I am feeling more confident as the week passes and Tuesdays performance becomes a blur and a small blip on an otherwise fantastic season....

:mawene:
 
Re: Looking at december

i think realistically, 12 points is a target we should aim for. i'd be happy with this
anything more is a bonus and anything less is not good enough.
 
Re: Looking at december

spidernugent said:
If we got 12 points it would put us on 50 points, in the last few seasons after 26 games last year Sheff Utd had 56 points(2nd), the year before Ipswich were top with 52 points, the year before that Norwich top with 52, so basically not a million miles off
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Using BD's old method, that would be great, because we would have avoided relegation by the statr of the year 😀
 
Re: Looking at december

raefil said:
Burnley -- Ipswich and Coventry matches might be critical to gain their confidence again. If they can pull through with some points, then they still have a chance to challenge and strengthen in January. 12 points would keep them in the hunt.
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I think Burnley's chances have been rather decreased by losing Andy Gray for a couple of months.
 
Re: Looking at december

The most sensible thing is to take one game at a time! 12 -14 points mentioned on here, forget it guys, we have 4 very tough away games and could end up with no more than 3 points out of them and, at home, we have Plymouth, who have been outstanding away and Colchester, who are 8th in the league. I honestly can`t put my finger on even 1 game out of all that lot and say, we`ll definetely win this! Don`t expect Luton to lose every game and don`t be surprised if Colchester start picking some points on the road as well. 1 game at a time rfor this month, I don`t even want to look further than Luton at the moment.
 
Re: Looking at december

pobeda said:
The most sensible thing is to take one game at a time! 12 -14 points mentioned on here, forget it guys, we have 4 very tough away games and could end up with no more than 3 points out of them and, at home, we have Plymouth, who have been outstanding away and Colchester, who are 8th in the league. I honestly can`t put my finger on even 1 game out of all that lot and say, we`ll definetely win this! Don`t expect Luton to lose every game and don`t be surprised if Colchester start picking some points on the road as well. 1 game at a time rfor this month, I don`t even want to look further than Luton at the moment.
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Jezzzze, optomistic aren't we?

Looking at how the lads have come back from disappointments to secure some unexpected results already this season (Wolves, Southampton, Sunderland, Ipswich etc.) I see absolutely no reason why 14 points is out of the question - all be it a tough prospect. If we are looking at promotion form we should be averaging 2 points a game and 14 points is only 2 more than that in the next 6!
 
Re: Looking at december

pobeda said:
The most sensible thing is to take one game at a time! 12 -14 points mentioned on here, forget it guys, we have 4 very tough away games and could end up with no more than 3 points out of them and, at home, we have Plymouth, who have been outstanding away and Colchester, who are 8th in the league. I honestly can`t put my finger on even 1 game out of all that lot and say, we`ll definetely win this! Don`t expect Luton to lose every game and don`t be surprised if Colchester start picking some points on the road as well. 1 game at a time rfor this month, I don`t even want to look further than Luton at the moment.
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Yep very much my way of looking at things.. just face each game as it comes and see where it takes us. I must admit I have had a look at the fixture list myself but you could drive yourself nutty thinking about the "ifs", "buts", "maybe's" and "if onlys".

Basically all that matters is that its Luton on Saturday and if we win we are still top.. the rest is just a waste of time and energy. Its just as tough for the other teams in the hunt and they will be just as worried about playing us.

Theres a long way to go, but we have a manager who knows how to deal with the pressures of leading the table. He's been there twice in the last two seasons... nothing new to him ! You can be sure he has been working on their heads all week. Wouldn't surprise me if someone gets a real tonking of us in the near future. We are top of the table because we have more points than other sides and we aren't suddenly going to become a crap side.

Bruce doesn't seem very up for it and his board will sack him if he starts to slip again.. Jimmy Krankie has famously bottled it twice.. Cotterill hasn't got the deepest of squads.. Dave Jones looks tired, and now has Ridsdale to deal with.. Mowbray seems to be struggling to get any consistancy.. Burley has some catching up to do.. and Pullis the same.. anyone else ? I'd be worried about a team like Sheff Weds or Sunderland making a run as anyone.

So chin up at lets enjoy the ride and start getting behind Simmo and the lads.

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE ! WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE !
 
Re: Looking at december

" One day (game) at a time, Sweet Jesus "


(Lena Martell, 3 weeks @ #1, 1979. Lyrics by Kris Kristofferson)
 
Re: Looking at december

4 points a game would make me very happy anything less then sack everyone!
 
Re: Looking at december

weall8leeds said:
Jezzzze, optomistic aren't we?

Looking at how the lads have come back from disappointments to secure some unexpected results already this season (Wolves, Southampton, Sunderland, Ipswich etc.) I see absolutely no reason why 14 points is out of the question - all be it a tough prospect. If we are looking at promotion form we should be averaging 2 points a game and 14 points is only 2 more than that in the next 6!
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I`m very optimistic, but don`t want to be dissapointed. I`m not saying we are not going to pick 14 or even 16 points, but setting such a ridiculous target just puts unnecessary pressure on us. We have 4 away games, 3 of them against last season`s Prem teams. In order to get 14 points, we have to go unbeaten and beat at least 1 of those teams, plus win every other game. A bit hard that don`t you think?! I think we`ll probably end up being happy with 9-10 points this month, which would be great achievement in this scenario:
-1 point at Brum, WBA and Sunderland=3 points, plus keep the distance between us and them
-3 points and 1 point v Plymouth and Colchester=4 points, given their league possition and form looks like both being hard games, so 4 points will probably satisfie us
-3 points v Luton

There might be a team or two that will do better and probably overtake us at the top, but we`ll have much easier months than this one, so the above results will count for an awlfull lot come end of the season.
 
I think if we are in a similar position at this time in January then there will be cause for genuine excitement.
 
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