7 games to decide Heaven or will it be Hell

[ted1965]

I am hoping we will have at least one more addition when the transfer window closes on Thursday as we desperately need more fire power, that is not in doubt.

The facts, we sit top of the league, teams around us are hardly setting the world alight with the exception of the rampaging Hull who have come from out of the clouds and are now becoming serious contenders, simply because everyone else has been treading water for the last few weeks. We should never under estimate momentum and at this moment in time they certainly have it, at the rate points are being dropped they could actually be right on our heels in a few weeks time if we stutter, though if we can get a couple of good wins they may blow themselves out as far as being a danger to us.

I certainly wouldn’t want another three games this season, it’s a lottery and usually a team carrying momentum has a better chance than one licking it’s wounds after being so close to automatic promotion for so long. We are also not exactly much of a cup side under Pulis, which is what makes me very nervous of the play off route. I know at the start of the season any of us would have bitten your hands off to reach a play off place, not sure many would now, for me it would be a very disappointing end to what has been a remarkable season to date.

So much has improved over this season at the club, lets be honest in some areas it could hardly have got any worse, though the transformation from the summer fiasco has to be applauded and encouraged, it’s to be hoped the off field and on field improvements will continue, the club has made great strides in bringing itself and the supporters back together. That was something that was long overdue, the relationship was almost at a breaking point in some areas and for many it looked beyond repair, though its amazing what positive PR and a little show of ambition can achieve in giving people belief in the club can do.

Peter Coates also seems to have learned lessons, you have to speculate to accumulate, there are also other factors, his age and stated desire to see the club once more in the top flight before his tenure as the owner comes to an end. There has also been a noticeable softening of his ego towards the supporters, maybe having a good season has been as responsible for that as anything but they are welcome changes for those who have painful memories of his previous deeds. Though of course long memories do always bring that little tinge of doubt and suspicion.

The game against Watford on Saturday has gone, the arguments over whether we should have gone more on the offensive and taken advantage of Watford being down to ten men for almost 70 minutes no longer matter. It’s to late to change that now and at least we came away with what we set out for a point. I still think it was a missed opportunity as Watford still have a game in hand and a slightly superior goal difference. Though it did bring back a few nagging doubts over whether players need to motivate themselves and whether they fear failure more than they desire success.

The issue now is how do we play those final 7 games, surely we must not allow fear of losing to seep into the side and play cautiously, none of those 7 games are easy though they are all winnable, we have on paper as good a run in as we could have wished for. I know we meet Bristol City, though it’s at home and a game where playing for a draw isn’t going to be acceptable unless we come back from the position we found ourselves in against Scunthorpe.

The manager or the players must not retreat into their shell now, we have the league at our mercy, not meaning it’s easy or we should take things for granted and become arrogant but that we shouldn’t fear any of our last 7 games.

I don’t think any team will need more than about 82 points to gain promotion, mainly because the league is so competitive and teams are hardly firing on all cylinders.

The emergence of Hull from the pack as late challengers for a top two spot has shown that if you take the game to the opposition you will get your rewards. We have reached the summit by mixing our styles, though this season we have created more chances and therefore scored more goals than we have under Pulis before.

I really hope now he sends the side out with the instructions, its in your hands, seize the chance, don’t allow the negative drivel from many in the written and spoken media to count for anything. This is the chance of a lifetime, yes we may have other opportunities but will any be as good as this, top of the league with just 7 games left.

I sincerely believe and hope that we will be in heaven in seven games time because after the season we have had I am not sure I could take the hell that is the play offs now.

[lordb]

this time last year after a miserable post xmas pre-Easter TP seemed to change his mentality & Stoke 'went for it' only to splutter @ the death.

I think the signs are there that TP & Coates recognise the need for a boost to the club in the form of a striker.

[howard moon is a stokie]

great post as per usual ted! karma for you sir

[potters11]

Superb Ted, Kamara coming your way.