Well done Millwall on their semi-final appearance. However looking at their fixture backlog I don't envy them one jot. Their FA Cup semi is on the 13th April meaning that they will have to re-schedule the Palace home game. That game I would imagine can only really be played after the Forest game (27th April) and before the Derby game (4th May). If it was rescheduled for the end of April it will leave Millwall playing 11 games in 32 days, not discounting any possible FA Cup replay. They also have to play, Leicester, Ipswich, Sheff Wed, Watford, Huddersfield, Palace and Notts. Forest. Their league form is still pretty awful having won only 1 of the last 8 (against a Boro side that has lost 8 of the last 10). I think if you're looking at relegation fodder then Millwall are prime candidates, with their only positives being that some of those games are at home. [TABLE="width: 416"] <colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR] [TD="align: center"]Fixture [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Date[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Kick-off[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Charlton V Millwall [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 16 Mar[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12:30[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leicester V Millwall [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Fri 29 Mar[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19:45 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Ipswich [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Mon 1 Apr [/TD] [TD="align: center"]15:00[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Birmingham V Millwall [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 6 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15:00[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Sheff Wed [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Tue 9 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19:45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Crystal Palace [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 13 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15:00 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Wigan vs Millwall (FA Cup) [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 13 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]TBC[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Watford [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Tue 16 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]19:45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Huddersfield V Millwall [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 20 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12:30 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Blackburn [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Tue 23 Apr [/TD] [TD="align: center"]19:45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Millwall V Nottm Forest [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 27 Apr[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15:00 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Derby V Millwall [/TD] [TD="align: center"]Sat 4 May[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12:45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"] [/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE]
As a comparison, look at this table from the 1st January. Millwall had 40 points and were 7th, one place outside the playoffs on goal difference and 15 points away from the relegation zone. In the 9 games since then they have picked up only 4 points from a possible 27. Click here
What that table also shows is the impact Flitcroft etc have had since then. We were down at that point imho.
It's like history repeating itself. Remember the year they last got to the FA cup final, they were top of the league at Christmas and picked up about 7 points the remainder of the season and went down. Reckon they could do the same this year, albeit they weren't top at Christmas.
'Why can't we do what Millwall are doing?' They're dropping the league like a stone. That's what happens when you lose two of your best players - just like us last season.
Exactly. I feel for Kenny Jackett in particular. He takes a punt on Chris Wood, who proceeds to fire them up the table, and Leicester show up with their monies... again, very similar to us last season. I have no issues with Leicester supporters, but I will chuckle to myself if they're still in this division next season. Keith Hill may well have come up short, failed even, but he was right about so many things. His problem was continually telling us what we already knew. In fact, I still believe that had he had a bit more luck, stopped being so stubborn, and a smaller gob, he'd still be here now.. Controversial.
While drawing on Tuesday night, we scored a penalty on won. While drawing v Birmingham, we missed a penalty and lost. Moments.
If we go down it's the home matches against Birmingham, Huddersfield, Blackburn, Wednesday and Peterborough that will have cost us. 0 points out of 15.
Personally speaking, completely justifies my views on progressing in the Cup. We saw this first hand in 08. I'm totally glad we're out of it. PS. Re. the other point, totally agree. Flicker's doing an astonishing job
Interesting stuff. They could well be in the mix at the end of the season. I spoke to a Derby fan yesterday and he's really worried. I'd not really reckoned them to be in it but when you look at the table you can see there are a few teams that are one or two results away from a real scrap.
True; the Fowls (poor challenge on keeper), Brum missed penalty. Wins from those matches (both achievable without the mentioned incidents) and he isn't sacked when he was sacked.
Let's be real though, we were struggling under hill regardless of those 2 incidents. The difference under flicker is marked.
spot on ponty.. we'd have been all but down now had hill stayed,pi55in abart passing the ball sideways and never getting forward was the reason he failed.We could be down on our knees at half time and there was no change come the second half,under flicker that has changed and we can come from behind like we were a different team,Flicker does seem capable of changing tactics and implementing plan 'b',I hardly ever saw that under Hill.Hills stats speak volumes for me and we are well shut.
If Leicester don't go up then they have major problems to sort out there wage bill. I think they were the only team affected last season. quite a few more will be affected this season but it will have to be a big shift for Leicester to meet the new seasons criteria.
Hi chaps first post so go easy. Problem for the teams sat on 43-47 points is that us Bristol and Peterboghorror are all picking up points and catching them, they've seen Wolves get sucked in and there's plenty of time for it to happen to them. There's a few sides looking for 3 on the bounce and a sigh of relief right now and it's not happening for any of them.
Our problem over the last couple of months is that although we've been picking up a lot of points, so has everyone else around us. Now we've pulled so many other teams into the mix it's not possible that they'll all pick up points what with teams playing each other and the sheer number that are within a few points as us. I'd rather have climbed out of the relegation zone and be heading up the league than begin high up and be dropping like a stone. There's plenty of games left yet and I wouldn't be surprised to see Derby and Millwall drop right into it, especially if we beat Derby in a few weeks time.
I agree mate, my point was it would have been harder to sack him when we did had we won those two matches.
Agreed, with so many teams playing each other and top 6 sides I think the number of points will be hard to predict, but Id guess at 52 points to be safe with goal difference being vitally important in such a close battle. On the upside our home form has improved (10 goals last 5 home games) and we are scoring goals away from home, something many of the bottom teams are struggling to do. Table below shows as near as possible the same position for the bottom 3 games (after 37 games) from previous years. Look how much better the teams are doing this year compared to previous ones. At least one team is more or less cut adrift at this point. [TABLE="width: 346"] <tbody>[TR] [TD]2012-13[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]22[/TD] [TD] Peterborough United[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]23[/TD] [TD] Wolverhampton Wndrs[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]24[/TD] [TD] Bristol City[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2011-12[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]22[/TD] [TD] Coventry City[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]31[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]23[/TD] [TD] Doncaster Rovers[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]30[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]24[/TD] [TD] Portsmouth[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]27[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2010-11[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]22[/TD] [TD] S****horpe United[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]34[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]23[/TD] [TD] Sheffield United[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]32[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]24[/TD] [TD] Preston North End[/TD] [TD="align: right"]36[/TD] [TD="align: right"]28[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2009-10[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]22[/TD] [TD] Crystal Palace[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]23[/TD] [TD] Plymouth Argyle[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]34[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]24[/TD] [TD] Peterborough United[/TD] [TD="align: right"]38[/TD] [TD="align: right"]30[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2008-09[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]22[/TD] [TD] Norwich City[/TD] [TD="align: right"]38[/TD] [TD="align: right"]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]23[/TD] [TD] Southampton[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]38[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: right"]24[/TD] [TD] Charlton Athletic[/TD] [TD="align: right"]37[/TD] [TD="align: right"]28[/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] One note - only one team from the above list escaped relegation by the end of the season. That was Palace in 09-10 who stayed up at the expense of Wednesday.