Second Promotion place

[Rossineri]

Looking at the table and thinking Leeds will finish in the top two. The other automatic promotion place looks like it could be a realistic target for us this season. With no other runaway contenders it is open to quite a number of teams this season. Teams like Preston, Charlton and Forest could all fancy their chances. Why not us?

[Roger Red Hat]

We can’t win at home?

[Major Isewater]

10 minutes ago, Rossineri said:

Looking at the table and thinking Leeds will finish in the top two. The other automatic promotion place looks like it could be a realistic target for us this season. With no other runaway contenders it is open to quite a number of teams this season. Teams like Preston, Charlton and Forest could all fancy their chances. Why not us?

It is way too early to guess who’s going to get promoted or what position teams will find themselves on at the finish.

Leeds ran out of steam last season and may well do the same this one .

[Guest]

If we had Afobe then I'd fancy us, definitely. Now not so much.

[chinapig]

11 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

We can’t win at home?

Neither can Leeds but apparently they are nailed on.

[Touch_my_butter]

No top two without Afobe unfortunately 

[FrozenRobin]

14 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

If we had Afobe then I'd fancy us, definitely. Now not so much.

January anyone?

He's a loss for us 

BUT THERE ARE OTHER STRIKERS IN THE WORLD 

[TonyTonyTony]

1 minute ago, Touch_my_butter said:

No top two without Afobe unfortunately 

That’s just silly. He may have gone on to have a ‘mare this season. Too many variables to say this. We will be in the mix I reckon and I don’t think any team will walk it this year - it will be close

[Red]

We did not look so disjointed with Afobe up front!.

 

[Roger Red Hat]

19 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Neither can Leeds but apparently they are nailed on.

Looks like its us and Leeds then. Cancel the rest of the season immediately.

[chinapig]

3 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

Looks like its us and Leeds then. Cancel the rest of the season immediately.

I think we owe to the nation to go through the motions before the inevitable triumph.

[054123]

Not for me.

Today and Boro demonstrates how we are a good, solid, top 10 team.

You need a striker to go up and we are simply toothless upfront. Devoid of idea or clinical edge.

[OldlandReddies]

Top two places are there for the taking. Leeds really aren't all that. If they had the injuries to their key players like we have had then they would be in a right mess. IMHO their squad is not deep enough to sustain a season long challenge for the title. Time will tell. We are right in the mix especially with 4/5 players who would walk into any Championship team to come back into our squad.

[Mr Popodopolous]

4 minutes ago, OldlandReddies said:

Top two places are there for the taking. Leeds really aren't all that. If they had the injuries to their key players like we have had then they would be in a right mess. IMHO their squad is not deep enough to sustain a season long challenge for the title. Time will tell. We are right in the mix especially with 4/5 players who would walk into any Championship team to come back into our squad.

Agree and disagree.

The fact we are doing so well despite all the injuries is testament to everyone- don't consider us to have had an especially easy start either. 

'Leeds are not all that' Well how do you account for their dominance of virtually every if not every game this season? Can't be a fluke can it, yet they're not finishing games at home, oddly.

I think it'll be very open however, definitely don't think Leeds nailed on. Yet unsure I see us in top 2 or as serious top 2 contenders, more like strong push for playoffs.

'4-5 players who would walk into any other Championship side'. Could you list them?

[ChippenhamRed]

3 hours ago, TonyTonyTony said:

That’s just silly. He may have gone on to have a ‘mare this season. Too many variables to say this. We will be in the mix I reckon and I don’t think any team will walk it this year - it will be close

I’m not sure it is silly. Last season we were solid at the back but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. I really felt that Afobe was the quality we needed up front to change that; I thought he was the decisive difference between making the play offs (as a minimum - possibly 2nd) and another top half finish. I also felt that quality might be all the more important without the added insurance of Webster at the back.

Afobe’s injury leaves me with the inescapable feeling that we’re now only marginally better than we were last year.

[ChippenhamRed]

3 hours ago, FrozenRobin said:

January anyone?

He's a loss for us 

BUT THERE ARE OTHER STRIKERS IN THE WORLD 

We had one in the hand. He was worth a million others in the bush.

[shelts]

3 hours ago, Rossineri said:

Looking at the table and thinking Leeds will finish in the top two. The other automatic promotion place looks like it could be a realistic target for us this season. With no other runaway contenders it is open to quite a number of teams this season. Teams like Preston, Charlton and Forest could all fancy their chances. Why not us?

Very unlikely. Nothing would surprise me . 

[Bristol Oil Services]

3 hours ago, Rossineri said:

Looking at the table and thinking Leeds will finish in the top two. The other automatic promotion place looks like it could be a realistic target for us this season. With no other runaway contenders it is open to quite a number of teams this season. Teams like Preston, Charlton and Forest could all fancy their chances. Why not us?

Because we've got serious bloody injury problems! 

Because the spine - and the quality - of the team is crocked. For months.

Because you need a good splodge of good fortune to be promoted - and having half your nailed on starters out for months leaves you lacking in the good fortune stakes.

Because we look short of goals now.

Just because ok?

[mozo]

Fulham, West Brom, Forest and even maybe Cardiff will be battling for 2nd.

I think we'll be duking it out with Wednesday, Preston and Birmingham for 4th-6th IF we can ride the injury storm and score enough goals.

[Dastardly and Muttley]

49 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

 

'4-5 players who would walk into any other Championship side'. Could you list them?

Nagy, Kalas, Dasilva, Afobe, Smith perhaps.

The quote should have probably read “most” rather than “any” Championship side, but all five of those would be competing for a place in sides aiming for the playoffs at least.

[Mr Popodopolous]

6 minutes ago, Dastardly and Muttley said:

Nagy, Kalas, Dasilva, Afobe, Smith perhaps.

The quote should have probably read “most” rather than “any” Championship side, but all five of those would be competing for a place in sides aiming for the playoffs at least.

Fair yeah can see that. 

"Most" sounds right. Can we include Afobe given his season seems to be over?

I fully agree they would be strongly competing for places in sides who are big playoff contenders and maybe more but I can't see most of them as so much above that eg Nagy/Smith walks in ahead of Phillips at Leeds or Arter at Fulham.

Kalas and Dasilva would of course be sought after by many and maybe a good shout abd we all know about Afobe's quality.

No doubt we have some serious depth and quality now but it's quite a statement- not on the level of someone who suggested we'd never be relegated to League One again (!?) earlier in the week but it's very bullish indeed.

[reddogkev]

Just be happy to secure the top six place, which is something we should be a strong contender for.

[marcofisher]

If we can get to January in the playoff spots and can bring in a top striker to replace Afobe then we have every chance. The hard bit will be managing to do that!

[Davefevs]

I know the Champ is a tough division whoever you play, but I think we’ve had quite a tough start.  Leeds, Boro, Derby, Stoke, you’d expect less than the 7 points we got from those games.  

October has some interesting games:

Preston (a) 

Reading (h)

Luton (a)

Charlton (h)

Wigan (h)

Not gonna predict points total, but I think we’ll know a lot more about City by the time we go away to Barnsley at start of November.

[marcofisher]

I think once Fulham's front three of Cavaliero, Knockaert and Mitrovic really start clicking then they will be as good as it really gets at this level. 

Not to mention they have Bobby in the 10 role behind them as well. 

[miketh2nd]

Far too early ... Leeds will struggle to keep their best players fit with how they play... 

[Major Isewater]

9 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Agree and disagree.

The fact we are doing so well despite all the injuries is testament to everyone- don't consider us to have had an especially easy start either. 

'Leeds are not all that' Well how do you account for their dominance of virtually every if not every game this season? Can't be a fluke can it, yet they're not finishing games at home, oddly.

I think it'll be very open however, definitely don't think Leeds nailed on. Yet unsure I see us in top 2 or as serious top 2 contenders, more like strong push for playoffs.

'4-5 players who would walk into any other Championship side'. Could you list them?

I agree with your remark on our start . I thought our first two months had thrown up very tough fixtures .

We have done brilliantly to be where we are all credit to the players and staff.

[Major Isewater]

9 hours ago, ChippenhamRed said:

I’m not sure it is silly. Last season we were solid at the back but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. I really felt that Afobe was the quality we needed up front to change that; I thought he was the decisive difference between making the play offs (as a minimum - possibly 2nd) and another top half finish. I also felt that quality might be all the more important without the added insurance of Webster at the back.

Afobe’s injury leaves me with the inescapable feeling that we’re now only marginally better than we were last year.

In fairness we only need to be ‘ marginally better than we were last year ‘ to nick a playoff spot .

[ChippenhamRed]

6 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

In fairness we only need to be ‘ marginally better than we were last year ‘ to nick a playoff spot .

Possibly, but that also depends on how much other teams around us have improved/not improved.

[1960maaan]

10 hours ago, OldlandReddies said:

Top two places are there for the taking. Leeds really aren't all that. If they had the injuries to their key players like we have had then they would be in a right mess. IMHO their squad is not deep enough to sustain a season long challenge for the title. Time will tell. We are right in the mix especially with 4/5 players who would walk into any Championship team to come back into our squad.

Leeds are a good side, what I would question is their ability to sustain it when the Coach likes to utilise a small squad. Last year they had a bad spell which cost them, I know most teams do , but I put some of it down to trying to play that high intensity press with the same players week in , week out.

13 hours ago, TonyTonyTony said:

That’s just silly. He may have gone on to have a ‘mare this season. Too many variables to say this. We will be in the mix I reckon and I don’t think any team will walk it this year - it will be close

Afobe's goals weren't the only thing that he brought to the team. His movement and intelligent running , brought KP into the game more, and gave Weimann more room to play in. I thought Fam did well yesterday, but his movement is poor compared to BA. If Afobe played and didn't score, there is a chance he would have pulled the CB's around enough to make space for others. That isn't in FD game , sadly, and we have to play slightly differently.

8 hours ago, marcofisher said:

If we can get to January in the playoff spots and can bring in a top striker to replace Afobe then we have every chance. The hard bit will be managing to do that!

Sadly, IMO , we are not in the "top striker" market, we can't compete with the money thrown around for those players. I do think we will be looking, but Afobe was down the list a way, apparently , and it took a while to get him. January is a difficult window so I think it will have to be a bit of a left field signing, or taking a chance on another like Afobe, poor recent record but underlying quality. We shall see, in the meantime I hope we can see Semenyo shine.

8 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I know the Champ is a tough division whoever you play, but I think we’ve had quite a tough start.  Leeds, Boro, Derby, Stoke, you’d expect less than the 7 points we got from those games.  

October has some interesting games:

Preston (a) 

Reading (h)

Luton (a)

Charlton (h)

Wigan (h)

Not gonna predict points total, but I think we’ll know a lot more about City by the time we go away to Barnsley at start of November.

Weird that I would feel more optimistic if we had those fixture reversed, home form still a concern, not just results (M'boro and Swansea are tough) but we don't tend to create enough at home going back a year or more.

Off to Preston next week ,with our pet PNE fan driving, tough game but I think we can get something. If we do and beat Reading I might have to go to Luton (a place I hate), good results in those 3 and the last 2 look winnable . All ifs and buts , but that list does look more favourable . Agree , November will show us where we stand. If we can be top 6 , with players hopefully coming back , I'd be optimistic for the season ...... fingers crossed the injury Gods move on to someone else.

[mozo]

8 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I know the Champ is a tough division whoever you play, but I think we’ve had quite a tough start.  Leeds, Boro, Derby, Stoke, you’d expect less than the 7 points we got from those games.  

October has some interesting games:

Preston (a) 

Reading (h)

Luton (a)

Charlton (h)

Wigan (h)

Not gonna predict points total, but I think we’ll know a lot more about City by the time we go away to Barnsley at start of November.

Preston is the biggest threat there. The other 4 are winnable. 

Despite their impressive frontline, Reading are lacking cohesion. 

Luton perform well, but need to adapt to how clinical this league is. 

Charlton are on the slide now.

Wigan have good players but not performing as a unit like we do.

If Kalas and Nagy are back by Reading, we could do alright. 

[robin_unreliant]

I suspect we will end up just outside the playoffs again.

Unfortunately we don't have a very well balanced squad. We have a number of injured players who should be fit in the next month or two. That will leave us with a lot of CBs, plenty of good midfield options but very little in the way of firepower up front.

We've been saying for at least two seasons that we needed reinforcements up front. It is really unlucky that Afobe is going to be out all season. However we shouldn't have got into a position where the loss of one new player leaves us fecked. This is a culmination of two years of poor (or no) striker recruitment.

[mozo]

12 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

I suspect we will end up just outside the playoffs again.

Unfortunately we don't have a very well balanced squad. We have a number of injured players who should be fit in the next month or two. That will leave us with a lot of CBs, plenty of good midfield options but very little in the way of firepower up front.

We've been saying for at least two seasons that we needed reinforcements up front. It is really unlucky that Afobe is going to be out all season. However we shouldn't have got into a position where the loss of one new player leaves us fecked. This is a culmination of two years of poor (or no) striker recruitment.

I totally agree, and I think people are living in a fantasy world if they think that Diedhiou can perform to the Afobe standard, or that Semenyo is ready to terrorise Championship defenses. LJ clearly doesn't think so. He's a realist.

That said... the October fixtures are games where those two could have some joy. Luton, Charlton and Reading don't defend as well as Swansea do 

[Lanterne Rouge]

PNE worry me as always and I`m sure every fan`s favourite Ben Pearson will be looking to leave his mark on our French wonderkid.

[ChippenhamRed]

2 hours ago, robin_unreliant said:

I suspect we will end up just outside the playoffs again.

Unfortunately we don't have a very well balanced squad. We have a number of injured players who should be fit in the next month or two. That will leave us with a lot of CBs, plenty of good midfield options but very little in the way of firepower up front.

We've been saying for at least two seasons that we needed reinforcements up front. It is really unlucky that Afobe is going to be out all season. However we shouldn't have got into a position where the loss of one new player leaves us fecked. This is a culmination of two years of poor (or no) striker recruitment.

I don’t agree with this criticism. Afobe was clearly our best quality option up front, and to lose him for the entire season was incredibly unfortunate.

It’s simply not realistic for us to have an equal level of quality on the bench ready to step in. It’s not even financially viable to have players of Afobe’s quality not playing every week, particularly with FFP and no parachuted payments. Any club would miss the loss of their best forward.

In fact I would argue that to have a £5m striker with a 1 in 3 goal ratio, ready to step in, is actually a pretty good replacement and better than many clubs in this division would be able to call upon if they lost their best forward. Plus we also have Semenyo and Wiemann capable of playing up top. We’re certainly weaker, but not “fecked” any more than anyone else would be when losing their star striker.

[pillred]

12 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Fair yeah can see that. 

"Most" sounds right. Can we include Afobe given his season seems to be over?

I fully agree they would be strongly competing for places in sides who are big playoff contenders and maybe more but I can't see most of them as so much above that eg Nagy/Smith walks in ahead of Phillips at Leeds or Arter at Fulham.

Kalas and Dasilva would of course be sought after by many and maybe a good shout abd we all know about Afobe's quality.

No doubt we have some serious depth and quality now but it's quite a statement- not on the level of someone who suggested we'd never be relegated to League One again (!?) earlier in the week but it's very bullish indeed.

Someone? surely you haven't forgotten me already.

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, pillred said:

Someone? surely you haven't forgotten me already.

Haha sorry @pillred cider and the sun affected my memory a little.

Of course, I loved the optimism of that statement though but it's very bold.

[Alex_BCFC]

Unless we can replace Afobe quickly then I see a 8-11th finish. 

It was a good effort yesterday but it’ll be like that (ie not enough quality) for a period time until injuries are sorted. 

[robin_unreliant]

41 minutes ago, Alex_BCFC said:

Unless we can replace Afobe quickly then I see a 8-11th finish. 

It was a good effort yesterday but it’ll be like that (ie not enough quality) for a period time until injuries are sorted. 

Sorry to sound like a stuck record but which injuries being sorted will make that change? What we have coming back are players where our cover is pretty good (apart maybe from LB).

What we won't have unless we recruit again is the kind of finishing power that will get us into automatic contention. The fact we are now reduced to scouring the free agent market for two of the spine of the team is a bit ridiculous, given all the money from sales.

I agree we have been very unlucky with injuries but the basic problem needs to be acknowleged i.e. MA and co haven't recruited as well as some seem to suggest. Too many wingers and CBs and not enough quality striker cover.

[Alex_BCFC]

What I mean is it will be a struggle to get points until the likes of Nagy, Kalas etc come back as those are the players who control games for us. Last season we relied on defence to win us games where as I wouldn’t back the current side to do so.

I like Fammy but now we’ve seen an upgrade in Afobe - it’s hard to go back to Fammy starting every game. But he is a regular scorer. Just hoping we can find some else up there as not yet sure about Semenyo. 

I think we recruited really well but got unlucky - it happens but now they need to go and find a hidden gem.