I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
No team at the moment seems to be able to handle TC and Small and that's the beauty of the setup you can't just put 2 or 3 players on 1 because then it leaves gaps for the other to exploit and as both are a handful then both have to be equally defended against. The problem will be if we lose 1 of them to an injury then teams will likely then put 2 or 3 up against the other which may well then blunt the attack completely.
Hopefully neither do get injured but also ramsay has pace and hopefully Gilbert will add some alternate attacking options albeit not from wide with pace where we would now need to rely on eg Dixon
I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
Taking that to the nth degree, there's a team in the Championship that are easy to defend against. However, they've let in nine goals in 31 league games, have lost just two matches and haven't conceded more than one goal in any match. They are guaranteed a place in the play offs, are 3 points off automatic promotion and beat a PL team yesterday in the FA Cup.
No games are won on paper but with only one team to come to the Valley who are currently above them (Huddersfield) and the other 7 currently 10th or below in the table, then you want to be getting as many as points as possible to take off the pressure away from home, especially when have to travel to the top 4 in the League in the remaining 9 away games.
I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
I think there’s a chance that if we’d started the season like this we would have been too open. Jones had to teach us how to defend properly and build from there. The injuries de-railed the plan, which is a shame, as without them I think we would have got to this point a lot sooner and be challenging the top 2. But I do think those opening games were very important in establishing the strong defence and mindset
I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
I think there’s a chance that if we’d started the season like this we would have been too open. Jones had to teach us how to defend properly and build from there. The injuries de-railed the plan, which is a shame, as without them I think we would have got to this point a lot sooner and be challenging the top 2. But I do think those opening games were very important in establishing the strong defence and mindset
Jones plan was always to sort the defensive side out first, which we saw early season. Then it was to make small tweaks from that solid base to try and make us better with the ball. We saw a few of those not work, such as REG coming in for Mitchell as a player better on the ball, Taylor in midfield alongside Coventry, TC playing at wing back, and then we finally got it right with Small playing right wing back and TC drifting out left. The injuries disrupted this process but we’ve still got here in the end
I think all of the above but the biggest change has been the attacking width from TC and Small. We were previously too easy to defend against but now we are not.
Agree, but still unsure why it took so long 🤔 Many CL members said (including me) use Small in a more attacking role and get TC wide as well as coming central. I was thinking to get Thierry to link up with Edwards on the left and use the width of the pitch more. Ok, I didn't think Small would end up on the right with Ramsey behind him but these 3 all in the team together, plus the rock at the heart of the defence LLoyd Jones, consistent Coventry and even Gillesphey (with the odd clanger 🤦🏼♂️) Berry, Docherty have stepped up to the mark. TC is the most improved player over the last 12 months. Leaburn and Kanu will still play a part when Six yard box poacher Golden Godden needs a time out.
Aneke only if we have an off day and are behind.
AMB is doing fine overall, and the great unknown is Gilbert and McIntyre who will get game time. Especially Alex Gilbert who at least can come into a team not struggling and will get around 25 minutes against the Posh as Berry put in a mighty shift against Stevenage.
I'm going to watch the Wycombe Managerial change with interest, their man in charge doesnt inspire me, but wont be watching them every week - I still think if they've got that wrong, that they could be dragged right back into it
We've won 5 out of last 6 games, and in 3 of them the crucial winning goal was after 86 mins, 90+6 and 89 mins. Indeed the only blip was conceding to Blackpool in the 87th minute!
Stop me if I am being too ambitious, but in the unforcasted scenario that we beat Birmingham (not that deluded if we draw/loose) Saturday, hence doing the 'double' over them. We should change this thread to 'will we make automatic promotion'!
I still think that the games will run out before we can catch 2nd... We pretty much need Wycombe to double their defeats in half the games that they've already achieved their current number.
3rd or 4th will be ideal realistic targets, because then we get to ensure that the 2nd leg of the Play-Offs is at the Valley.
I thought that we had a decent chance of making the play offs but automatic promotion would take a monumental effort on our part and will be reliant on other teams and especially, Wycombe, losing their way. They are currently 9 points clear and should they win their game in hand we would need to make 12 points, with 16 games to play, on a side that has averaged more than 2 points a game over the course of the season. And then we would have to hope that we'd bridged that 14 goal difference in the GD.
Momentum is everything and the team that no one wants to face is the one in form. That is what we should expect to be given our recent form.
Starting to build a nice gap between the other sides. Still plenty of football left, but personally don’t think Reading or Barnsley have the consistency to challenge for top 6. I think it’s down to 4 sides fighting for two spaces between; Charlton, Huddersfield, Bolton and Orient.
Leyton Orient have their big month of the season coming up: Lincoln at home, followed by Wrexham, Bolton & Birmingham away.
We are definitely on course to surpass the 70+ points mark needed to be near top 6. I am very confident that we will be in play offs at end of the season.
48 points up for grabs. currently have 50, for the past 10 seasons its been 85 + required for 2nd, would mean we can drop 13 points, whilst mathematically possibly its a good aim but I do feel a stretch too far, playoffs is the minimum i would expect for our club and squad as I thought at the start of the season. my only concern is we arrive there too early and the intensity drops off, we are proving value for money this season for late drama as on the 76mins to full time we are top of the table.
There’s been talk of automatic promotion since yesterday, we’ve moved to the “we’re so back stage”.
I swear people just keep on reposting this meme (I have seen this posted time and time again after the Bolton win) so after the next defeat they can go. 'Look see I said so didn't I'.
Comments
- Lloyd Jones being back and back to his best
- TC getting stronger and better each week ruining at the opposition
- Ahadme dropped
The nagging worry is the reliance on Jones in the event of injury.
Agree, but still unsure why it took so long 🤔
Many CL members said (including me) use Small in a more attacking role and get TC wide as well as coming central. I was thinking to get Thierry to link up with Edwards on the left and use the width of the pitch more. Ok, I didn't think Small would end up on the right with Ramsey behind him but these 3 all in the team together, plus the rock at the heart of the defence LLoyd Jones, consistent Coventry and even Gillesphey (with the odd clanger 🤦🏼♂️) Berry, Docherty have stepped up to the mark.
TC is the most improved player over the last 12 months.
Leaburn and Kanu will still play a part when Six yard box poacher Golden Godden needs a time out.
Aneke only if we have an off day and are behind.
AMB is doing fine overall, and the great unknown is Gilbert and McIntyre who will get game time. Especially Alex Gilbert who at least can come into a team not struggling and will get around 25 minutes against the Posh as Berry put in a mighty shift against Stevenage.
We are also their next game after that. So this bodes well for them dropping points in that run but also hopefully won’t be 100% going into our game
25 points required from 16 games to get to the magic (but not guaranteed) number.
We've won 5 out of last 6 games, and in 3 of them the crucial winning goal was after 86 mins, 90+6 and 89 mins. Indeed the only blip was conceding to Blackpool in the 87th minute!
Brum a
Exeter h
Orient a
Barnsley h
Stockport a
7 points out of that lot and we will of done well i think.
3rd or 4th will be ideal realistic targets, because then we get to ensure that the 2nd leg of the Play-Offs is at the Valley.
Long way to go yet though.
Stockport seem to be gaining momentum.
Huddersfield have started dropping off since signing Taylor and Charles.
Wrexham are struggling too at the moment with consistency and may run out of legs before the end of the season.
Be an interesting few weeks.
The next 5 games are harder, with 3 really tough away games. I'd be delighted if we could avoid defeat in all 3.
Momentum is everything and the team that no one wants to face is the one in form. That is what we should expect to be given our recent form.
Leyton Orient have their big month of the season coming up: Lincoln at home, followed by Wrexham, Bolton & Birmingham away.
We are definitely on course to surpass the 70+ points mark needed to be near top 6. I am very confident that we will be in play offs at end of the season.
This meme has lost all meaning to me.