Without sounding like a Wendy I think the reason behind this recent run is that teams in this division are looking at where we are and the fact that we beat both Sheffield clubs in a week, thinking 'a point will do'. We haven't played well, but neither have they. Lucky for us we have players who can produce league one standard brilliance at any moment. For as long as we don't underestimate our opponents, and they give us too much respect, we will continue this run of form. It's also coming to the point of the season where promotion/playoff contenders might be thinking; 'we nick a point of Charlton this weekend, and get all three against Yeovil/Tranmere/Rochdale next...that way we're still on course'.
It will be interesting to see an overview of how much possession we have in games. I'd hazard a guess that, on average, our opponents have a lot of the ball when they play us, even teams lower down the league. If so, then this is down to us having a great belief and confidence in our ability to defend as a team. Teams like MK Dons will use the ball well, however teams rarely get behind us or succeed in punting long balls to their front men, or over the top of Morrison and Taylor. With the number of games we have coming up in a short space of time it makes sense to not go all out, especially when two goals in front.
All if and buts, if the defender didn't lose his head, but we went to defensive. We won that's all that matters in football you don't get more points for winning 5 0 or playing attractive football, west ham are top of the championship with a half decent defence and bog standard hoof style of football. You only have to look at that and think that could well be us next season with our solid defensive unit. Be happy were winning 8 points 2 games in hand and only 17 games left. Be positive.
Let's get this straight MKD are one of the best footballing teams in this league.If as it appears the players sub consciously decided to shut up shop. MKD are always going to look good in possesion (they did against QPR) it then isn't easy once in that mode to change back to positive mode. Probably a lesson learnt and to be fair Powelly has learnt a lot this season and seems to be responding to these lessons.
To be honest, if we played the second half that way another 10 times we would still win them all. It's just it wasn't pretty on the eye but we mustn't forget the words ONE AIM! Basically the team is more than happy to win ugly and the second half was safety first. Possibly we could have won more comfortably had we got more bodies forwards but the players were clearly confident they could prevent them scoring 2 goals. We have to remember that only 2 teams have scored more than 1 goal against us in the league all season so it is natural to think that way even if it isn't the prettiest to watch.
Some very good posts on here - I was thinking what AFKA was thinking last night.....my conclusion is that when we do find our 'form' again we are going to start mullering some of the sides that we come up against.
To not 'perform' to your best and still win is the hallmark of champions...it just goes to show what a fantastic job CP and his team have done to build a side with the right mentality to do it.
One thing's for certain - every other team in our league wishes they had the players to do it. The points keep rolling in and it must really intimidate and dismay our rivals to see it. Great, isn't it?
As ive said on a previous thread, If we don't get promotion from our position we've got now. We don't deserve to get promoted and we will be stuck in league 1 for years to come.
Ohhhh and it's noww or never, i ain't gunna live forever .
Playing so bad in the past games that we have beaten the 2nd 3rd and 5th teams. Erm sounds good to me. Just got to hold our nerve - players and fans alike
We have to remember that only 2 teams have scored more than 1 goal against us in the league all season so it is natural to think that way even if it isn't the prettiest to watch.
Don't mean to be pedantic, Muttley ..... but several people have posted recently that we've only conceded 2 goals on 2 occasions. Without checking our results, I can think off the top of my head of 4 teams who've scored twice:
I always remember reading after the Preston match, Powell commenting that we'd let in 2 goals in the last few minutes against Preston: "......but fortunately we were 5-0 up at the time!"
The difference between now and three months ago is only one thing. Strikers are not scoring. Powell knows this only too well and is the reason we do not play with a swagger. Every other part of the team is as good as ever in fact the midfield and defence has got better. Powell regardless of how much I rate bwp needs a very strong muscular striker for next season more like bradleys dad
Playing so bad in the past games that we have beaten the 2nd 3rd and 5th teams. Erm sounds good to me. Just got to hold our nerve - players and fans alike
Exactly, Redman.
It's becoming apparent, that bar a major collapse on our part, there's only 1 team that can pip us to the title .......and even then, Sheffield United have got to maintain a fantastic run of results to do so - and at the same time, hope that we blip.
Sheff Weds and Huddersfield both seem to be mired in their own internal strife to worry about us too much at the moment.
The best they can hope for is to catch a glimpse of Sheff Utd's shirt tails as they disappear over the horizon.
Playing so bad in the past games that we have beaten the 2nd 3rd and 5th teams. Erm sounds good to me. Just got to hold our nerve - players and fans alike
Exactly, Redman.
It's becoming apparent, that bar a major collapse on our part, there's only 1 team that can pip us to the title .......and even then, Sheffield United have got to maintain a fantastic run of results to do so - and at the same time, hope that we blip.
Sheff Weds and Huddersfield both seem to be mired in their own internal strife to worry about us too much at the moment.
Agreed. There is no way we won't win the league.
But if AFKA' s opening post in this thread is right (and I believe it is), we will go up without having played much fluent, classy football since November.
What does that tell us ? Probably that this is a shit division - and we will need some hevayweight signings this summer if we are going to compete in the championship.
Certainly not counting any chickens yet. We have some tricky/banana skin type games coming up including against sides we have struggled against this season and not quite got to grips with the styles (Tranmere and Stevenage). Hope we can deal well and Powell gets it right with the Sat/Tues/Sat/Tues for the next few weeks.
What has impressed me is that we can mix it up, at times we have been more free flowing and played excellent football but we've also not been afraid to be slightly more direct, dig in and grind out the results. Do not agree with Rosler that we're a long ball side nor are we in the same league as Stevenage but the fact we have players who can seemingly adapt is a big plus.
So far this season whenever we've scored we haven't lost. We've lost 5 games in total and haven't scored in any of them, so in other words whenever we score we don't lose. As a matter of interest the games we've lost are: Stevenage (away) 0-1, Leyton Orient (away) 0-1, Preston (home) 0-2, Brentford (home) 0-3, Fulham (away) 0-4
I'll take second right here right now The performances of late have to improve or the results "may" begin to mirror them or get unlucky ....if ifs and ans....... and paranoia and fear of not going up .... Two home games and two more shit 1-0 's will do but for the sanity/greed of some of us a spanking(ooooerrrr) or two wouldn't go amiss ONE AIM
I'll take second right here right now The performances of late have to improve or the results "may" begin to mirror them or get unlucky ....if ifs and ans....... and paranoia and fear of not going up .... Two home games and two more shit 1-0 's will do but for the sanity/greed of some of us a spanking(ooooerrrr) or two wouldn't go amiss ONE AIM
I still think we'll end up as champions, but I did the BBC predictor a couple of days ago and the Blades pipped us by 1 point. We were way ahead of 3rd though which is all that matters.
Everyone is going to drop points when you least expect it. United do look good though but have a feeling the massives may beat them Sunday as it's the perfect time for them to get back to winning ways.
But you would also have played worst case scenario sub conciously and not allowed for the Blades to have an off game like tonight so in fact over compensated for their ability to win...we must be playing with your head now!
Comments
With the number of games we have coming up in a short space of time it makes sense to not go all out, especially when two goals in front.
To not 'perform' to your best and still win is the hallmark of champions...it just goes to show what a fantastic job CP and his team have done to build a side with the right mentality to do it.
One thing's for certain - every other team in our league wishes they had the players to do it. The points keep rolling in and it must really intimidate and dismay our rivals to see it. Great, isn't it?
Yes I would like to see Hayes and Waggy more involved but my only worry is JJ's continued fitness.
If we don't get promotion from our position we've got now.
We don't deserve to get promoted and we will be stuck in league 1 for years to come.
Ohhhh and it's noww or never, i ain't gunna live forever .
Scunthorpe .........(H) 2-2
Rochdale..............(A) 3-2
Preston Both Ends(H) 5-2
Yeovil...................(A) 3-2
I always remember reading after the Preston match, Powell commenting that we'd let in 2 goals in the last few minutes against Preston: "......but fortunately we were 5-0 up at the time!"
Don't you just love Chrissy Powell?
;o)
It's becoming apparent, that bar a major collapse on our part, there's only 1 team that can pip us to the title .......and even then, Sheffield United have got to maintain a fantastic run of results to do so - and at the same time, hope that we blip.
Sheff Weds and Huddersfield both seem to be mired in their own internal strife to worry about us too much at the moment.
The best they can hope for is to catch a glimpse of Sheff Utd's shirt tails as they disappear over the horizon.
But if AFKA' s opening post in this thread is right (and I believe it is), we will go up without having played much fluent, classy football since November.
What does that tell us ? Probably that this is a shit division - and we will need some hevayweight signings this summer if we are going to compete in the championship.
What has impressed me is that we can mix it up, at times we have been more free flowing and played excellent football but we've also not been afraid to be slightly more direct, dig in and grind out the results. Do not agree with Rosler that we're a long ball side nor are we in the same league as Stevenage but the fact we have players who can seemingly adapt is a big plus.
Long way to go.
As a matter of interest the games we've lost are: Stevenage (away) 0-1, Leyton Orient (away) 0-1, Preston (home) 0-2, Brentford (home) 0-3, Fulham (away) 0-4
The performances of late have to improve or the results "may" begin to mirror them or get unlucky ....if ifs and ans....... and paranoia and fear of not going up ....
Two home games and two more shit 1-0 's will do but for the sanity/greed of some of us a spanking(ooooerrrr) or two wouldn't go amiss
ONE AIM