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Post by mrcoke on Nov 9, 2020 19:25:30 GMT
Oh dear, I was getting carried away after Saturday's result and now I've read this thread.  |
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Post by foxysgloves on Nov 9, 2020 19:28:34 GMT
I genuinely don’t have a clue.
We seem to have enough about us to make top 6. I don’t think we are top 2 contenders.
Then again I would have said the same in our promotion season so who knows!!??
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Post by wearestoke80 on Nov 9, 2020 19:29:10 GMT
I’m going for Bournemouth and Stoke for automatic promotion with Middlesbrough, Norwich, Brentford and Swansea for the playoffs. What planet are you on? |
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Nov 9, 2020 19:31:42 GMT
I’m going for Bournemouth and Stoke for automatic promotion with Middlesbrough, Norwich, Brentford and Swansea for the playoffs. What planet are you on? To be fair mate nobody is standing out at this stage. Stoke have a good a chance as anyone for promotion/play offs |
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Post by Clem Fandango on Nov 9, 2020 19:32:29 GMT
1. Stoke - we’re gonna piss this * league 😆 * tinpot |
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Post by wearestoke80 on Nov 9, 2020 19:33:07 GMT
To be fair mate nobody is standing out at this stage. Stoke have a good a chance as anyone for promotion/play offs Play offs would be an unbelievable achievement. Automatic ? Forgot it |
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Nov 9, 2020 19:35:26 GMT
To be fair mate nobody is standing out at this stage. Stoke have a good a chance as anyone for promotion/play offs Play offs would be an unbelievable achievement. Automatic ? Forgot it I already have now you’ve told me to😉 |
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Post by FullerMagic on Nov 9, 2020 19:38:49 GMT
To be fair mate nobody is standing out at this stage. Stoke have a good a chance as anyone for promotion/play offs Play offs would be an unbelievable achievement. Automatic ? Forgot it We've got the second best form in the Championship since January 1st. It wouldn't be ridiculous, would it? I don't think we're quite good enough, but I don't think it's absolutely crazy |
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Post by jezzascfc on Nov 9, 2020 19:56:30 GMT
Not necessarily in this order, although I think at least one of Watford and Bournemouth will go straight back up, and we do not probably have enough to make the top two:
Watford
Norwich
Bournemouth
Swansea
Stoke
Middlesbrough
Outside bets - Bristol City and Millwall
I think Brentford will miss Watkins and Benrahma over a whole season and may depend too much on Toney's goals. Reading have started their slide back into midtable already.
Relegation
Derby (I hope!)
Rotherham
Wycombe
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Post by wearestoke80 on Nov 9, 2020 21:39:31 GMT
Play offs would be an unbelievable achievement. Automatic ? Forgot it We've got the second best form in the Championship since January 1st. It wouldn't be ridiculous, would it? I don't think we're quite good enough, but I don't think it's absolutely crazy I do. It’s just not gonna happen. Top half finish is more realistic. |
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Post by PotterLog on Nov 9, 2020 22:15:34 GMT
Play offs would be an unbelievable achievement. Automatic ? Forgot it We've got the second best form in the Championship since January 1st. It wouldn't be ridiculous, would it? I don't think we're quite good enough, but I don't think it's absolutely crazy Out of interest does that factor in or extrapolate the records of promoted and relegated teams? Or are there potentially six other teams that could have done better in that time if they’d been in the division the whole period? |
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Post by FullerMagic on Nov 9, 2020 22:24:42 GMT
We've got the second best form in the Championship since January 1st. It wouldn't be ridiculous, would it? I don't think we're quite good enough, but I don't think it's absolutely crazy Out of interest does that factor in or extrapolate the records of promoted and relegated teams? Or are there potentially six other teams that could have done better in that time if they’d been in the division the whole period? No - just includes the 18 who've been in the league over both seasons. So I think we'd be behind Leeds and Fulham (although not WBA) on a points per game basis over the calendar year And also the 3 relegated teams too on that basis, based on their bright start - so suppose it more accurately shows us showing play-off form over the piece |
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Post by jwhpotter on Nov 9, 2020 23:01:53 GMT
I’m going for Bournemouth and Stoke for automatic promotion with Middlesbrough, Norwich, Brentford and Swansea for the playoffs. What planet are you on? Tbf if anyone knew the answer they’d be pretty rich! Anything can happen |
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Post by PotterLog on Nov 9, 2020 23:15:05 GMT
Out of interest does that factor in or extrapolate the records of promoted and relegated teams? Or are there potentially six other teams that could have done better in that time if they’d been in the division the whole period? No - just includes the 18 who've been in the league over both seasons. So I think we'd be behind Leeds and Fulham (although not WBA) on a points per game basis over the calendar year And also the 3 relegated teams too on that basis, based on their bright start - so suppose it more accurately shows us showing play-off form over the piece Seems about right. Playoffs have to be the target now and it’s not unrealistic. |
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Post by walrus on Nov 10, 2020 8:55:31 GMT
Very few saying Millwall. They’re one of only two sides to have won more points than Stoke since MON came in. I think they’ll be up there.
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Post by FullerMagic on Nov 10, 2020 11:05:49 GMT
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Post by bayernoatcake on Nov 10, 2020 11:21:58 GMT
At the start of the season and play off push was what I thought we should be doing.
Having watched us and seeing how good Fletcher is, play offs should be the aim as a minimum.
If we can actually start playing then there's no reason it can't be better.
This season should be exciting.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Nov 10, 2020 11:44:41 GMT
At the start of the season and play off push was what I thought we should be doing. Having watched us and seeing how good Fletcher is, play offs should be the aim as a minimum. If we can actually start playing then there's no reason it can't be better. This season should be exciting. I believe we are an injury to Fletcher/Campbell away from bottom half mediocrity. If we can keep these two fit for the majority of the season I see no reason why we can’t reach the play offs at least. I don’t think anyone is going to run away with it. Same with all the leagues. |
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Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Nov 10, 2020 14:06:08 GMT
It's how we accommodate Clucas and Allen effectively, keep the two frontline strikers fit (difficult) and seek to iron out any gaps in January, assuming we can get rid of a few. Verlinden may prove an unknown quantity to an extent and strengthens the squad, but I think we're a little unbalanced overall to be Top 6 by the season's end, but it's a distinct possibility.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Nov 10, 2020 14:31:47 GMT
At the start of the season and play off push was what I thought we should be doing. Having watched us and seeing how good Fletcher is, play offs should be the aim as a minimum. If we can actually start playing then there's no reason it can't be better. This season should be exciting. I believe we are an injury to Fletcher/Campbell away from bottom half mediocrity. If we can keep these two fit for the majority of the season I see no reason why we can’t reach the play offs at least. I don’t think anyone is going to run away with it. Same with all the leagues. We probably are but that shouldn't stop us thinking about what we can actually achieve this season if we want it. Fletcher, Campbell and Powell are a formiddable attacking trio. |
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Post by mickstupp on Nov 10, 2020 15:00:12 GMT
I’m trying not to get too carried away even though our points per game ratio under MON would suggest 70 points plus.
I still think defensively we are suspect and there will be days where we see a return of the 3/4/5 goal pastings we saw occasionally last year. I don’t think the manager truly trusts any of our current central defenders to play solidly as a pair in back four.
Moving forward I hope to see Allen and Verlinden return to full fitness near Christmas. They would be like new signings, and in Verlinden we have a player who can dribble and run at defenders with pace which is something we don’t have a great deal of at the moment. At the very least, he’s a good option to have off the bench.
I concur that an injury to Fletcher and Campbell could potentially derail us, but I fear injuries are going to be part and parcel of this season and all clubs will struggle with injuries at some stage. It’s down to the supporting cast to step up and play a part, which is a concern after our crappy showing against Swansea.
January could be key, a quality Premier League loan could make a massive difference but it looks like dead wood might have to get moved on first.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Nov 10, 2020 17:28:06 GMT
I think it’s 50/50 for the playoffs though if we lose one of our front 2 for any time we’ve got no chance. Allen or Clucas getting back is key too.
I’ll go with
Swansea
Norwich
Watford
Bristol Citu
Bournemouth
Brentford
I think we’ll end up 8th
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Post by lordb on Nov 10, 2020 17:36:24 GMT
At the start of the season and play off push was what I thought we should be doing. Having watched us and seeing how good Fletcher is, play offs should be the aim as a minimum. If we can actually start playing then there's no reason it can't be better. This season should be exciting. the issue with Fletcher was never his age or his ability (I thick a lot have underestimated how good he is) but his injury record That's still a worry - he wasn't 100% early in the season so O'Neill was just using him from the bench for quote a while which in my view was spot on, we can't take unnecessary risks with him - If Fletcher misses a chick of the season we may see a dip in results unless Vokes can transform himself into the useful Championship standard frontman he was at Wolves (seems unlikely he's had enough chances now) it's a problem however the upside maybe his amazing barnet-beard combo is keeping the injuries at bay, hope so, |
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Post by The man from Utch on Nov 10, 2020 23:19:54 GMT
Norwich
Bournemouth
Swansea
Stoke
Forest
Watford
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Post by jonnybravo on Nov 11, 2020 8:52:47 GMT
If we keep players fit not many injuries and Michael gets his tactics right we could finish anywhere between 1st and 10th this season, the league is that close.
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Post by RF10 on Nov 11, 2020 9:07:16 GMT
Well last night I had dream we all started to be let back in again end of Jan at reduced numbers, we had some sort of paper ticket system like the old season ticket booklets, I met John Coates just before kick off after tucking into a bacon and cheese oatcake which he brought for me. He then told me we just signed a Premier Leagiec class striker called Celleo who will guarantee us promotion. He scored on his debut and we looked a real force.
I'm not such which part was most realistic but for that reason I'm going for.
1) Stoke
2) Watford
3) Middlesborough
4) Bournemouth
5) Blackburn
6) Swansea
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Post by tachyon on Nov 11, 2020 9:33:40 GMT
Didn't want to clog the piece with numbers & tables, but here's the full range of possible finishing positions for all 24 teams. Our most likely final postion has crept up to 6th. Attachment Deleted |
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obhstokie
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Post by obhstokie on Nov 11, 2020 10:49:45 GMT
Attachment DeletedLooking at the table at this point last year, gives interesting reading. 4 points separating the top 8 this year, was top 10 last year Only 3 out of the at the time top 6, were there at the end of the season Strong starts from Wednesday & Charlton, but we all know how their seasons turned out The bottom 7 were pretty much strugglers all throughout - & then Brentford with a slow start, but came into it later on So it's such a difficult league to predict, especially this year with no real outstanding teams. Arguably Watford but they scraped past Coventry & were slightly (shall we say) lucky to beat us That's said, I do believe the 3 relegated teams will finish in the top 6, I can also see obvious choices of Brentford, Bristol & Swansea being in a round them. But with the league being so tight, the likes of Millwall & Stoke will have a chance if they just keep consistently picking up points on a regular basis & don't let the gap to the top 6 get too big Head says Bournemouth Watford Norwich Swansea Brentford Bristol Heart says Bournemouth Watford Norwich Swansea Brentford Stoke
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Post by lordb on Nov 11, 2020 12:13:41 GMT
Well last night I had dream we all started to be let back in again end of Jan at reduced numbers, we had some sort of paper ticket system like the old season ticket booklets, I met John Coates just before kick off after tucking into a bacon and cheese oatcake which he brought for me. He then told me we just signed a Premier Leagiec class striker called Celleo who will guarantee us promotion. He scored on his debut and we looked a real force. I'm not such which part was most realistic but for that reason I'm going for. 1) Stoke 2) Watford 3) Middlesborough 4) Bournemouth 5) Blackburn 6) Swansea Dream sounds completely plausible... |
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Post by Ron on Nov 11, 2020 13:30:54 GMT
We need Allen and Clucas fit and firing if we’re going to make the playoffs. They are both goal threats and would balance out an injury to any of the main front 3. Their fitness would also allow us to manage Powell- keeping him in shape for the games that matter most is key as he is very prone to niggles. Their fitness would ease the burden on Mikel- who can’t carry on playing every game at his age.
My worry is an injury to either Smith or (the average) Fox- we’d then be without full backs. Tymon not good enough defensively- hence why he’s not used as an out n out LB. Pair of fullbacks and another quality forward should be enough in jan for me to get us up there.
On paper our 1st XI can beat any side in this division. BUT I think the mistake prone defence and our poor ball retention will eventually see us fall just short in between 7th and 10th.
Despite our 3-0 win sat I think we’ve been ( except for half an hour at Watford) pretty unconvincing lately to be honest.
Let’s hope we have enough.
Predicting the top ) is impossible at this point- over half the division will have at some point seen enough , as we have, to think they could get in the playoffs. Only Watford look certs for me to finish top 6.
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