Re: Pole Position
Whiter than White said:
Our regular "failures" to make the last step, through playoffs or by making the top two, are legendary.
I beleive it is inherent within the club to not "expect" anything better. The fans need to put more pressure on the club as a whole, the players, the management and the Directors, to capitalise on the opportunities that come our way.
Second best is not "success" any more. Three failed playoff attempts in the apst 6 years is reason enough to expect us to make the final step - maybe too many are prepared to make the excuse for another "failure"?
After 46 years, we have a RIGHT to expect our club to do what many, many other (sometimes smaller) clubs HAVE done in that time and gain promotion to the top flight. But we always seem to blow it at the last, shrug our shoulders and say "next season". Maybe THAT is why the doubters don't flock back to Deepdale?
"Pole Position" it is - the quality players usually win from that position. Now me must do exactly that and not blow the chance, as we did on Saturday. Far from the fans turning up and just expecting a win, it was the players who showed just that attitude - they must do better.
Yes Whiter, there are several examples of other 'similar sized' clubs who hung around the play off positions for several seasons before striking it rich as it were, and reaching the prem...........Charlton, Ipswich, Bolton for examples.
I get the impression that this season, this particular team/squad, and this particular manager & chairman/board will not "blow it at the last" to use your phrase.
Some clubs are buckling under the pressure already, and by those I am referring to the likes of Cardiff (11 pts from their last 8 games), Burnley (10 from the last 8), WBA (10 from the last 8), whereas PNE have 17, Brum 19 and Derby also 19,.........those numbers are from memory so may not be 100% accurate but you get my point hopefully.
If this trend continues I can see a breakaway group of three, (possibly four) teams fighting it out for the golden two automatic promotion places, PNE, Brum, Derby, with possibly Southampton/Stoke in with an outside chance.
When clubs such as PNE and Brum are going as well as they are, it is very very difficult for the teams below them to make an impression on the lead held by the top clubs. For example, last season when North End's long, long unbeaten run was finally ended at Reading, (was it 22 league games?), believe it or not, we were further behind the likes of Sheff Utd (in terms of points) than we were before the unbeaten run started...........
😱 .
If we can 'just' keep up our almost 2 points per game average, we will be playing in the premiership next season. We did it for the first 18 games, and if we beat Coventry tomorrow, we will have 40 pts from 20 games, and for my money, it will be very difficult for TWO TEAMS to generate more points than us if we reproduce in the last 26 games, what has been achieved in the first 20.
