3 Games to go

[Athers]

Agree on 6 likely being enough

but without Dawson, N'gog, Spearing, M Davies, a fit Holden and with a knack of conceding goals away from home I can't say I'd be confident, but playoff games can go either way on things as simple as set pieces.

Excited about next season though.

Even with those players out, we still (i believe) have a better XI and probably a better bench than the (definitely) 2 of the teams we've left to play and possibly even Cardiff..

Then I'd go as far as saying it'd be better, or at least as good as Palace, Watford, Hull, Leicester, Brighton, Forest.. 2 of who'm we'd potentially meet in the play-offs.

I think we can do it. And I think a few people are getting excuses in early by bemoaning injuries. Coyle got that mindset into us all and we ended up shrugging our shoulders and thinking "hard lines".

I think under Dougie, we shouldn't feel that at all.

I think we'd have an alright chance, but I fear Dawson-Spearing-N'gog is right through the spine of the team and I think a playing-well N'gog makes a big difference.

I also worry about Ream completing the set of a full back 4 with a mistake-leading-to-a-goal in them

but then I'm always a bit negative where hope is concerned!

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree on 6 likely being enough

but without Dawson, N'gog, Spearing, M Davies, a fit Holden and with a knack of conceding goals away from home I can't say I'd be confident, but playoff games can go either way on things as simple as set pieces.

Excited about next season though.

Even with those players out, we still (i believe) have a better XI and probably a better bench than the (definitely) 2 of the teams we've left to play and possibly even Cardiff..

Then I'd go as far as saying it'd be better, or at least as good as Palace, Watford, Hull, Leicester, Brighton, Forest.. 2 of who'm we'd potentially meet in the play-offs.

I think we can do it. And I think a few people are getting excuses in early by bemoaning injuries. Coyle got that mindset into us all and we ended up shrugging our shoulders and thinking "hard lines".

I think under Dougie, we shouldn't feel that at all.

I don't think it's about excuses or the wrong mindset. I don't think we'll fall into that. And there is no need for excuses. Were it not for Dougie we would be down where Wolves and Blackburn are at this stage bumbling around at 1.1ppg!

But we've not been good enough to get results away at better sides in this division all season. I think it's a big ask for that to turnaround now, and lets face it, even if we get away without needing anything at Cardiff, we'll still have an away play-off game to negotiate.

And Spearing, Mark Davies, Andrews, NGog are all players who would be involved in some capacity if fit.
Spearing and NGog being so near the end, are particularly cruel as they were two of the absolute constants in the side. As above take the spine out of any side and they struggle. Dawson-Spearing-NGog a massive part of recent success, all missing for the play-offs (should we get there), I'm less than confident that we've enough quality, strength in depth and resilience in the squad to cope with that.

I'm far from convinced our squad minus those players is as good as the teams mentioned either. In fact I think you're underestimating those considerably. Which of Leicesters strikers for example would they swap for Sordell? I'd say none. Same goes for Craig Davies and Eaves (at this stage).

We're close thanks to a brilliant run. But we needed a bit of luck at this stage and it seems to be going against us.....

[leyther95]

I can still see it, Losing yesterday hasnt effected us at all really, with forest losing aswel. Leicester will not get in the play offs. Not a chance with their last 3 games. Saturday is massive. I personally think 6 points could be enough. Cardiff will have won the league by next week. They wont just sit back and let us win like people make out but they wont be to bothered with dropping points. Fingers crossed it comes down to the Blackpool game and its in our hands. 3 points needed to get 6th. Then we will lose and the season will be over. BELEIVE

[Lord Kangana]

If they've mathematically secured the title by then, then I agree they may have their foot off the gas. Of course, this relaxed state of mind could have them putting 10 past us.

3 cup finals now. Potentially followed by 3 more. Each and every point makes a difference at this business end of the season.

I wish I didn't have to care.

I f*cking hate football.

[BWFC_Insane]

If they've mathematically secured the title by then, then I agree they may have their foot off the gas. Of course, this relaxed state of mind could have them putting 10 past us.

3 cup finals now. Potentially followed by 3 more. Each and every point makes a difference at this business end of the season.

I wish I didn't have to care.

I f*cking hate football.

It's a reet old bastud sometimes for sure.

[boltonboris]

I agree on that. Fvckin football

[Lord Kangana]

Might I just add that Wolves and Blackburn are really twisting the knife too. I wish the pair of them would just f*ck off, sharpish. I can't concentrate with all this going on.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

My guess: we could, should and will get the six home points. At Cardiff, owt could happen. But I'd guess we'll lose, which leaves us ending up on 69pts.

LEICESTER might now win at Palace this weekend, which would be no bad thing – especially if the Foxes then lose at home to Watford. Their last game at Forest is obviously mahoosive. I reckon draw, draw, draw = 67pts... but (assuming we get 6pts) they only need 5 pts from the 3 games to stay above us.

BRIGHTON should beat Blackpool (h) but I can see them struggling at Leeds and on the last day they host Wolves, who might be fighting for their lives. Win, loss, win = 72pts.

After Leicester, PALACE are at Blackburn (now probably safe but gathering momentum), then at Millwall who'll delight in beating them, and then home to Peterborough, who again will be desperate. Draw, draw, loss, loss = 68pts.

FOREST host Barnsley (desperate), go to Millwall and then host Leicester, which they can't both win... Win, win, draw = 70pts. (But if they lost that last game to Leicester – who would thus stay above us – they'll probably miss out to us on goal difference.)

We'll play Watford in the play-offs, drawing 1-1 at home and losing 2-0 there. Brighton will lose 1-0 at Forest but win 3-1 at home after extra time. Brighton will play Watford in the Ex-Chelsea-Boys final and I don't care who wins.

[Enoch]

And what are Saturday's lottery numbers!

[TKIZ!]

I like to think that if Sir Douglas doesn't get us promoted that in a similar style to BSA we go up next season. Would forummers be open to giving him the time to rebuild?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I like to think that if Sir Douglas doesn't get us promoted that in a similar style to BSA we go up next season. Would forummers be open to giving him the time to rebuild?

He's earnt the time in my book, but with the caveat that any Coylesque behaviour/mess on the pitch and I reserve the right to sharpen the pitchfork...

[Lost Leopard Spot]

There are still too many variables to be able to confidently predict any outcome, but as far as the play-offs are concerned the parameters are 3rd to 12th + 16th place can all still have reasonable hopes of being in a play-off position. That is too many teams to model a realistic result. We'll just have to see what the situation is after the boro match with just two games to go.

[r0ckpaperscissors]

One thing IS for sure. This is waaaaay more exciting than waiting to see if we could finish in 14th in the Barclays Premier League.

[thebish]

Agree on 6 likely being enough

but without Dawson, N'gog, Spearing, M Davies, a fit Holden and with a knack of conceding goals away from home I can't say I'd be confident, but playoff games can go either way on things as simple as set pieces.

Excited about next season though.

Even with those players out, we still (i believe) have a better XI and probably a better bench than the (definitely) 2 of the teams we've left to play and possibly even Cardiff..

Then I'd go as far as saying it'd be better, or at least as good as Palace, Watford, Hull, Leicester, Brighton, Forest.. 2 of who'm we'd potentially meet in the play-offs.

I think we can do it. And I think a few people are getting excuses in early by bemoaning injuries. Coyle got that mindset into us all and we ended up shrugging our shoulders and thinking "hard lines".

I think under Dougie, we shouldn't feel that at all.

I don't think it's about excuses or the wrong mindset. I don't think we'll fall into that. And there is no need for excuses. Were it not for Dougie we would be down where Wolves and Blackburn are at this stage bumbling around at 1.1ppg!

But we've not been good enough to get results away at better sides in this division all season. I think it's a big ask for that to turnaround now, and lets face it, even if we get away without needing anything at Cardiff, we'll still have an away play-off game to negotiate.

And Spearing, Mark Davies, Andrews, NGog are all players who would be involved in some capacity if fit.
Spearing and NGog being so near the end, are particularly cruel as they were two of the absolute constants in the side. As above take the spine out of any side and they struggle. Dawson-Spearing-NGog a massive part of recent success, all missing for the play-offs (should we get there), I'm less than confident that we've enough quality, strength in depth and resilience in the squad to cope with that.

I'm far from convinced our squad minus those players is as good as the teams mentioned either. In fact I think you're underestimating those considerably. Which of Leicesters strikers for example would they swap for Sordell? I'd say none. Same goes for Craig Davies and Eaves (at this stage).

We're close thanks to a brilliant run. But we needed a bit of luck at this stage and it seems to be going against us.....

Not really sure luck is going against us - we have been very lucky that most of our playoff rivals have conspired to drop points like hoboh drops his drawers for harriet harman.

[TKIZ!]

One thing IS for sure. This is waaaaay more exciting than waiting to see if we could finish in 14th in the Barclays Premier League.

Bang and indeed on

[bwfcdan94]

Well at least 7 required now, quite possibly 9.

Can see Leicester having a little run which won't be all bad but can see Palace scraping 4 points. Means we might need to win the last three.......

Really! looking at the other lots fixtures I would beg to differ, 6 points could defo do it.
they are as follows.
Brighton: Blackpool (H),Leeds (A) and Wolves (H)
Palace: Leicester (H),Blackburn (A), Millwall (A) and Peterborough (H)
Leicester: Palace (A), Watford (H) and Forest (A)
Ourselves: Middlesbrough (H), Cardiff (A) and Blackpool (H)
Forest: Barnsley (H), Millwall (A) and Leicester (H)
While we are playing 3 teams who realistically have nothing left to play for our opposition are all playing at least two if not three teams competing for play off places or in a relegation scrap. It is also vital to remember that several of the teams above us still have to play each other meaning that at least one if not both of the sides involved in those games have to drop points so on the whole I would say that if it was not for the fact Palace have a game in hand then it is near impossible to have a better chance of making the play offs given our position. Personally I think we will finish 5th which is what I said at the start of the season (domed). So taking all of that into account I think it is fair to say that it is extremely unlikely that we will need more the 6 points in fact I would not rule it out being possible to do it with 5. Whatever happens it is fair to say that given the current lie of the land it would be a underachievement if we were not to finish in the play offs this season.

[bwfcdan94]

I should also add that if we do get 9 points it will be mathematically impossible for us to not finish in the play offs (domed). I am going to set my stall out here and say if we do reach the play offs I would be more than happy to put money on us winning it (domed, again). Sorry for all the positive vibes I know it gets under the skins of the majority of you.

[BWFC_Insane]

I should also add that if we do get 9 points it will be mathematically impossible for us to not finish in the play offs (domed). I am going to set my stall out here and say if we do reach the play offs I would be more than happy to put money on us winning it (domed, again). Sorry for all the positive vibes I know it gets under the skins of the majority of you.

It's not as I shall demonstrate below...

Leicester Remaining Games
Leics V Palace Leicester Win (67 Points)
Leics V Watford Leicester Win (70 Points)
Leics V Forest Leicester Win (73 Points)

Crystal Palace Remaining Games
Palace V Leics Lose (66 Points)
Palace V BBurn Draw (67 Points)
Palace V Millwall Win (70 Points)
Palace V PBoro Win (73 Points)

Leaves Leicester and Palace above us. Brighton win 2 of their games and their superior goal difference sees them above us, but for absolute mathematical certainty they win 2 and draw one leaving them on 73 points.

Watford win one of their 3 games (not the Leicester one) leaving them on 74 points.

So mathematically, if we get 9 points it is certainly possible to finish outside the top 6.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I should also add that if we do get 9 points it will be mathematically impossible for us to not finish in the play offs (domed). I am going to set my stall out here and say if we do reach the play offs I would be more than happy to put money on us winning it (domed, again). Sorry for all the positive vibes I know it gets under the skins of the majority of you.

It's not as I shall demonstrate below...

Leicester Remaining Games
Leics V Palace Leicester Win (67 Points)
Leics V Watford Leicester Win (70 Points)
Leics V Forest Leicester Win (73 Points)

Crystal Palace Remaining Games
Palace V Leics Lose (66 Points)
Palace V BBurn Draw (67 Points)
Palace V Millwall Win (70 Points)
Palace V PBoro Win (73 Points)

Leaves Leicester and Palace above us. Brighton win 2 of their games and their superior goal difference sees them above us, but for absolute mathematical certainty they win 2 and draw one leaving them on 73 points.

Watford win one of their 3 games (not the Leicester one) leaving them on 74 points.

So mathematically, if we get 9 points it is certainly possible to finish outside the top 6.

^ Well done that man. I was going to do similar, but I really couldn't be arsed to write it all down. How lazy is that?

[bwfcdan94]

I should also add that if we do get 9 points it will be mathematically impossible for us to not finish in the play offs (domed). I am going to set my stall out here and say if we do reach the play offs I would be more than happy to put money on us winning it (domed, again). Sorry for all the positive vibes I know it gets under the skins of the majority of you.

It's not as I shall demonstrate below...

Leicester Remaining Games
Leics V Palace Leicester Win (67 Points)
Leics V Watford Leicester Win (70 Points)
Leics V Forest Leicester Win (73 Points)

Crystal Palace Remaining Games
Palace V Leics Lose (66 Points)
Palace V BBurn Draw (67 Points)
Palace V Millwall Win (70 Points)
Palace V PBoro Win (73 Points)

Leaves Leicester and Palace above us. Brighton win 2 of their games and their superior goal difference sees them above us, but for absolute mathematical certainty they win 2 and draw one leaving them on 73 points.

Watford win one of their 3 games (not the Leicester one) leaving them on 74 points.

So mathematically, if we get 9 points it is certainly possible to finish outside the top 6.

Thank you for proving me wrong. I am starting to think kit is generally best to just presume that whatever happens we will not get into the play offs.