Some people are writing off our chances of even finishing in the top six but a quick glance at the remaining fixtures shows that it is highly unlikely we will drop out of the play offs, unless of course we lose every single game (unlikely I would think). Several teams are playing each other around us so the points needed to keep our position diminishes game by game. Whisper it but second spot is still mathematically possible but I know it's probably beyond us. It was a bad watch last night (again), with a team of triers and speedy battlers running at us at will and seeming to find it easy to tackle us anywhere on the pitch. Their leading scorer Reid had four men in front of him towards the end but still, very easily, got his shot away and was unlucky to hit the post. But then they got lucky with our blatant penalty not awarded, but we seem to be going back to the old days of easy decisions to make going against us.
You're absolutely right. Top 6 is still completely in our hands. We've all watched football long enough, to know how quickly things can change and how fickle fans are. Despite how things currently look, if we somehow manage to turn it round and win our remaining 4 games, this will all be yesterday's news. That said, the team we've all seen since the Bolton match, won't get anywhere near Wembley - and may even drop out of top 6.
"unless of course we lose every single game (unlikely I would think)" I'm not sure it's that unlikely on current form. "Whisper it but second spot is still mathematically possible but I know it's probably beyond us." Admire your optimism but...lol.
With home games to Reading and already relegated Carlisle to come, we should be able to get the points we need to confirm the play offs. In fact, we may already have the points, as there is no guarantee that both Oxford and Lincoln are going to win all their games (apart from the one where they play each other). I would think a win on Saturday will all but clinch it for us. But we have to think that if we cannot beat both Reading and Carlisle at home, trying to get past Bolton, Derby or Peterborough over the two legs looks a tall order. But it’s knockout football and anything can happen. In 2006 I went out and stuck a river on us going up after the 0-1 at home to Huddersfield and it paid for my trip to Cardiff. And how many Peterborough fans booked hotels in London after their first leg last season and went for the option with a cancellation fee, so confident they were already there. I’ve seen absolutely nothing to suggest we’ll progress through the play offs, but I also was resigned to relegation after the home game to Cardiff just before the first lockdown, and again when Flicker took over. But if Collins has a plan up his sleeve he’s keeping it well and truly hidden.
We need to create a siege mentality and treat it like the season starts now, Collins needs to pick his best players (the ones that have gained us the majority of our points) and remind them how good they are and make them believe again. All this changing the team every week isn't working so let's get back to basics and have a proper crack at the playoffs and if it isn't to be then fair enough but I'd hate to see us miss out by limping to the end of the season. Time for the blame game to stop and for chests to be stuck out.
We may get something against Reading and Northampton, but it would need to be 2 wins for the minimum 5 points we need to guarantee playoffs, hopefully it transpires its less. Blackpool may still be fighting for a slim chance of playoffs, so I don't see owt there, and Portsmouth doesn't bear thinking about. They'll either be confirming their promotion or more likely their Championship against us, so won't be anywhere near a beach, scarey.
To be honest I can't see many points from the last 4 games. Reading are terrible bogey side at home and not in bad form. Portsmouth away we can forget and Blackpool have a pretty good record at home. Northampton is the stand out one for winning but given our recent failings against Cheltenham and Cambridge even that's not a given. We don't want it to go to the last game for sure but I've a feeling it might.
Just like us to beat Portsmouth & struggle with the rest ! Like the op says it ain't over & once in the play offs it's a cup competition & we're undefeated in this year's fa cup
Well, the short answer to that is no! Even though I went to the home game! I’ve ‘known’ our last game was Carlisle at home for some time now, so I’ve no idea how that got into my head. Nevertheless, we should be beating Northampton at home too.
If we make the Play offs by winning a few of these next four games, or even if we make them on goal difference only. We will still have as much of a chance of winning them, as the other three teams. Form at the time, doesn't always count, and it might even make us a bit more dangerous/unpredictable. Maybe!.
I went to my first Giants game of the season last night, against the Washington Nationals. Going into the 8th inning, with the Giants trailing 4-3, we went to our potent weapon. "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey was blasted across the stadium, with the words highlighted on the big screen. The fans stood up and sang along with gusto to support their beloved Giants. We lost 5-3. Bugger! I had a chat with a lad from Exeter in the bar before the game.
Who will be in the Summer fire sale then, because according to some on here we don’t have anyone that is staying worth buying? None of the out of contract players are signing and the loan players will return to their parent clubs. That doesn’t sound like a fire sale to me
Don’t stop believing and Tub thumping by Chumbwamba were regularly played at Oakwell in the Prem season