The Championship 2020-21

I've not yet given up on winning the league. Their win today makes it a little more unlikely, however, there's a real possibility they could lose their next 2 games. (If we are to be in with a shout, then that would need to happen).

2 points behind with three to play is very doable. Of the last 3, they have 2 away and we have 2 at home.

Looking at Brentford and Swansea's runs, they both have 4 at home and just 2 away. Both have good fixtures, so I don't see them dropping too many points from now on. We need to keep up the pace, as slip ups will almost certainly be punished.

 

Hold your horses there Mr glass half full. We are getting beaten by Bournemouth in the playoffs don't you know, none of this upbeat crap from now on please.

 

It’s all arbitrary but wouldn’t really think Swansea or Brentford are expecting to go up automatically would think they would be keen to secure play off and then rest key players to ensure they do t miss the playoffs.

At the moment there are 5 teams vying for 4 play off places, muff have to play Norwich and Brentford and reading have to play Swansea and Norwich and Barnsley have to play Norwich.

I would have thought thought Brentford and Swansea would be more concerned with muff, reading and Barnsley than us

 

The gap is mildly annoying in being 3 wins. Meaning we only need slip up once then lose to Brentford and Brentford can capitalise by winning a few other easyish games.

People are saying "that's it we're up" are likely to be correct but they just won 5-0 so are giving it a go and inviting us to slip up.

 

I also don't think they're expecting to finish in the top 2 neither, but as long as it's possible for them, you can't expect them to rest players for the play-offs. The prospect of 2/3 extra games in the play-offs may affect how Brentford plan to use their injured stars on their return, although they also have their B team for that

 

Not a bit of it. They'll both still fancy their chances of catching us knowing we have Norwich to play. If we drop points to Luton or Millwall will be an added bonus for them. If we manage to win the next two (or win and avoid defeat at Norwich), only then I think they'll start losing faith in catching us.

I expect Brentford and Swansea to win most of their games in the run in.

 

There would be a lot of damp mattresses if that happened

 

All games being moved from 3pm next week. Just confirmed by the EFL.

 

Don't forget Swansea play their game in hand this Tuesday, while I expect them to win against Sheffield Wednesday, they would have less recovery time than their opponents next weekend.

 

That's pretty much what the top clubs in Europe are planning for us.

 

absolutely, but it’s a tall order to make up 9 points with 6 remaining (for them), they will be hoping we slip up so they can avoid the play offs but there must be a point (1 or 2 games time) when the focus moves to preparing for the play offs.

I haven’t had a look, but would be interesting to see what their forums think.

 

Guessing the games will all be played Saturday at midday or evening, or moved to Sunday.

 

On what do you base this given for example Brentford have won *only* 50% of their
matches this season ?

 

There's nothing the scum will delight in more than ****in up our promotion bid so someone needs to explain to Munoz the history behind this fixture and to be wary of any gamesmanship from them, including trying to get our players red carded

 

Stop panicking, we're not suddenly going to become utter dross and lose most of our remaining games

 

Exactly. We’re not suddenly going to become utter dross because we’ve always been utter dross

 

Just as much pressure for the Trash Town team from its own moronic supporters in not to lose 0-5
to us .
"Do do do a-promotion party , do do do at the Kenilworth!"

 

Fewer.

 

He also posted that there would be no vaccines for Covid last year.

 

That would be very Watfordy.

 

No he didn't ?

 

Well, I distinctly recall you posting that there had only been one disease ever dealt with by a vaccine, which was smallpox. I certainly read that as you presuming that we wouldn’t find a vaccine for Covid.

I’ll see if I can find the post.

 

Don’t fall into the trap of these teams cannot up their game when they need to. Today proved that. Both Swansea and Brentford destroyed decent opposition away.

Good teams sometimes go into their shell and try to control games to win consecutively. But that can be a bit detrimental. What you’re seeing now is a different mentality. I believe now they HAVE TO win they will take more risks in their game plan. This is why they got big victories today. I expect this to continue as their opponents in the majority of remaining games are similar as today.

Watford are the opposite. They have something to protect and have become a little conservative. We’ve not been great since the international break and have ride our luck in order to get the 7 points.

We have to remain professional, and win the games we should win, but I think we have to play a little better than we are currently.

 

I was only making a light-hearted quip about his user name and the fragility of my confidence in our promotion chances!

 

The confidence feels a bit too much like the confidence after beating Norwich and Newcastle last year. It wasn't finished, we absolutely bombed against West Ham and the rest is history.

Is it in our hands and are we in a clearly better position than our rivals? Absolutely. Are we still to face the teams current 1st, 3rd and 4th in the table, plus our hated rival and a tough, scrappy club, which are 7th and 8th in form over the past 10 matches? Also yes.

Brentford have been streaky for much of this season. 4 draws in a row...a little before that 3 losses in a row...before that 4 wins a row. Let's hope today was an aberration not the start of another streak.

Swansea lost 4 in a row, but three were 0-1, two of them on goals after the 90th minute, one of which was an OG. Given they've had tight matches all season, is that a real shift downward in form or just a few bad breaks, after a few very good ones earlier with their penalties?

We have no control over it, so just have to hope the coach and players know there's still hard work to do.

 

Despite their result today, Brentford’s next 3 games are extremely tough if you ask me, that has given me a lot more confidence.

Millwall aren’t crap, they’re ahead of Boro and QPR and in that group that have just fallen short of being in play off contention. Cardiff are Cardiff, we needed a gift in injury time to beat them, they can give anyone a game, of course Bournemouth are one of the toughest games for anyone in the championship at the moment.

If they get 4 points out of that lot they’ll have done well.

 

Yep, Covid-19 thread, post 3896. Tbf it was “eradicate” but I did read that as pessimism on your part that a vaccine would be found. But maybe it was me who was being the Cassandra there.

Just joshing really. It comes to something when Nath is more positive though!

I will confess that I am slightly less comfortable now than I was this morning. Mainly because of the manner of Brentford’s victory.

 

It’s an absolute disgrace to move matches next Saturday afternoon.

The games are having to be played behind closed doors anyway, so what difference would it have made to play them then?

I’ve been a lifelong republican and the only consolation I can find in it all at the moment is the extraordinary decisions being taken by the likes of the BBC yesterday and now the football authorities today might help convert a few more people to the cause.

This country doesn’t half do overreaction as a masterpiece. Whether it’s a hot sunny day or doing well in an international sporting event or the pathetic pampering to people who’ve seized their roles by birth rather than elected mandate, it’s embarrassing.

(Said me, probably overreacting myself lol)

 

We just need to win our home games and get a point away somewhere.

 

Would be surprised if they get less than 6, problem for them is they can’t really afford to get less than 9

 

As we're all watching it on telly, I actually prefer it if it was later. 3pm breaks up the afternoon I can be doing other chores and stuff - gardening, washing the cars etc. Moving all games to early evening so I can watch whilst eating my dinner would be perfect

 

Too soon. Show some respect! We’re all mourning here for the tragic loss of the chance to seal promotion by winning against the scum.

 

Maybe.
On the other hand both Swansea and Brentford would both rather be in our position than theirs

 

If they move them to early evening on a Saturday, I’m with you Tempesta.

But they haven’t actually given a new day or time, which implies they might not play them at all on the Saturday?

Regards the climax to the season, we can all pass endless hours pontificating on who will do what, trying to guess results, moving from anxiety to confidence and back again day by day...or just sit back, enjoy the excitement of being very much in the mix and let the matches speak for themselves one by one.