ChippenhamRed

That’s exactly what you did further up! I argued against the claim that our form was relegation-level and you responded saying we hadn’t won away in 11 and you could make the stats say what you wanted.

Because you never, ever offer anything even close to balanced opinion and this is yet another example. I’m disappointed that our form has dipped since Christmas but against pre-season expectations and where I think par would have been for this season, yes I’m a happy supporter. It’s called being able to see the bigger picture.

Tell me, when Gary Johnson was manager in 2007 were rival clubs paying £10m+ for strikers? Have a think about it.

In a division where players routinely exchange hands for millions of pounds nowadays. The backing is proportional to the market in which we now operate and we still operate with a lower-half budget without the benefit of parachute payments. It is not a fair or straightforward comparison to compare financial backing in 2018 to that of previous generations.

Sheffield Wednesday are 10 points clear of Barnsley and we beat them 4-0. Ipswich are midtable and we beat them. So, yes, winnable is a perfectly reasonable description.

Criticism is fine. Your relentless negativity and inability to offer any sort of perspective or recognition of our overall progress is the problem.

The point is Dave you appear to defending the notion that our form is relegation-level by pointing to a poor away run. Overall - considering both home and away - it isn’t.

Since LJ has been here, he comfortably staved off relegation in his first season, marginally improved our league position in his second - albeit with a very poor run in the middle - and now has us challenging for play offs. His win % is better than any manager in our history, other than those who have benefitted from periods in the easier third tier. Quite clearly he is in credit overall.

Derby played there in December and are currently winless in 7 games. “This club won there so why didn’t we” is always such a weak argument. See: Wigan, Manchester City.

I have said that 12 months ago we were relegation candidates and now we are promotion contenders, nothing more. Which part of that is “twisted”, exactly?

Last five: W2 D2 L1. How is that relegation form?

Do I truly believe all is well at a club heading for a 4th consecutive season of league position improvement while simultaneously rebuilding its stadium? Yes. Strange how mid table “would do” yet here you are berating the management team who has us in 7th spot.

Doesn’t mean our overall form is relegation-level, which was the claim. It isn’t. It’s a mixed bag.

Did I say he hadn’t? 12 months ago we were close to relegation so my point still stands.

3 defeats in 12. Unbeaten in five at home. Yep, relegation form.

Collapsed? We’re level on points with 5th place and still have a very realistic chance of making the play offs. 3 defeats in the last 12 games and unbeaten in five at home. Not pretending for one second we are hitting the heights we were pre-Christmas, but would it kill you to find something a bit more balanced to say?

Yeah Johnson, you’ve only turned us from relegation fodder to promotion contenders in 12 months, what the hell do you think you’re playing at, sort it out!

Facts are an inconvenience to many.

Away from home perhaps. 3 wins 2 draws in the last 5 at home. Winnable game on Monday. Still everything to play for, despite what some on here say.

The usual candidates I see, still struggling to form balanced opinions based on anything other than the most recent game of football. Oh and we’ve scored. How inconvenient.

Beat me to it. Imagine spending all that money on a professional production and then screwing up the date at the end. So incredibly simple to check, double check and triple check this stuff. Amateurs.

As I said you can clearly draw a distinction between our home and away form. The away form is the issue. Apalling form is when you’re losing every week. We’re not, we’ve lost 3 times in our last 11 games. It’s average and it’s disappointing in the context of our season, but it’s not appalling.

Not arguing against your analysis (I wasn’t there) but we have to be a contender for a top six finish when we’re 1 point off 5th at this stage of the season, especially with rivals also dropping points regularly. Contenders for actual promotion might be more of a stretch. Also worth pointing out that last five home games have brought 3 wins and 2 draws, not quite the “appalling” form some would have you believe. The away form specifically would seem to be the issue. If we can pick up a couple of wins on the road who knows what might happen. Maybe just maybe we will rediscover the performance level we know this team are capable of.

Commiserations @Full nelson

We win, Preston win. Boro, Brentford, Sheff Utd all drop points and Derby have a very tough game tomorrow. A good day. The season is still alive, despite what some will tell you.