No automatic promotion!

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

90 points is the magic number.

That means 70 more from remaining 30 matches.

22 wins, 4 draws, 4 defeats, for example.

Damn tall order.

Craig Levein will be a god if he could achieve that, but he has my 'loud and proud' support in trying.

 

[Scotfox]

Put like that no doubt that it is a tall order, maybe a playoff place is a bit more realistic. It will be interesting to see who Levein drops and who he brings in from the current squad. Sounds as if the 'oldies' may be struggling for a game. At the transfer window a couple of Hearts players may be targetted, assuming we have the money of course, to pay for them !!!!!!!!

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Its going to be a tough job getting into the play offs but one I think we are capable of achieving, as for automatic promotion I think that is nigh on impossible from our current position.

I think as supporters we have to realise that this season may be transitional as Levein tries to reshape the squad and refine the tactics and I think this will require large doses of support and paitence from both the board and us fans, we definately have the right man in charge he nows needs to assemble the team to complete the job.

We do have a good squad of players but too many are in the twilight of there careers and therefore are on the slide, also we do not posess the energy displayed by the top teams, thats why we need the squad rebuilding with players that offer long term opportunities and not 12 month quick fixes.

But to achieve this Levein needs time and therefore this season if we do reach the play offs it will have been a tremendous achievement given the circumstances.

 

[webmaster]

90 points is the magic number.

Not necessarily - it could be a lot less than that.


These are the number of points the second placed team got in recent seasons - and how many points would have been enough for them to finish second:

2004 86 WBA (but 80 would have been enough)
2003 92 Leicester (81)
2002 89 WBA (87)
2001 91 Blackburn (88)
2000 89 Man City (88)

 

[muzzy magic]

I think the play offs is do-able, it all depends how quick CL gets rid of the dead wood and brings in players who actually want to play for us

 

[MKFox]

top 2 is still easily possible for alot of clubs. the play offs should be a piece of pi55 for us.
however, managers take time to bed in and our current team are punching well below their weight.
Just as long as we don't go down this season...

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Thanks for the stats Webby.

I stand corrected - average 85 points over the last 5 years.

Of course that still means 20 Wins, 5 Draws, 5 Defeats - still very hard!

Do you have the figures for the last play off place as well?

 

[step]

It is going to take a couple of games for him to start to work out his team, them he has to get them to play, then he has to get them to play together, Like I always said. The longer we hung on to ma the harder it was going to be for city to get back up, and we hung on to ma for five games to long.
If we achieve play off we will be doing well so dont expect to much. but by the end next season we will be up.

Anyway, watch MOTD and you can see that we are no where near good enough for the premier and if we did get up, would only come straight back down again with the current squad.

 

[Joe_Fox]

I did the same stats a while ago if you remember and also included the points required to get into 6th place (the final play off spot)

Here they are again:

2003/4 - 73
2002/3 - 74
2001/2 - 75
2000/1 - 74
1999/2000 - 76
1998/9 - 76
1997/8 - 74
1996/7 - 71
1995/6 - 71

 

[Naughty Fox]

CL has got a hell of a job to do, but seems to have a great attitude. He mentioned on Friday about the ave age of the squad and wanting to bring it down, also not knowing who's out of contract at the end of the season, I think when he looks at the list he will be shocked, but see the opportunity to bring in his own players next season. If we are looking for a longterm answer, give him the remainder of this season just to see what he can do and if promotion comes great, if not, with the list below free to leave expect a brand new squad for either prem survival of promotion push.
Out of contract (from memory)
Walker, Pressman, Keown, Elliott, Dabizas, Gillespie, Wilcox, Nalis, Scowcroft, Dublin, Blake, Trev, Wright?.
Should bring the ave age down a bit, but a hell of alot to replace again.

 

[is it a fox?]

Wigan, Ipswich and West Ham will fight out the top 2 places, leaving 3 play off spots to fight for. We're already 8 points off 6th place but we only need to put a run together and we'll be up there with Sunderland, Sheff Utd, Reading, Stoke, QPR and Derby fighting to get in the play offs.

 

[beaumontfox]

let's hope the sheep have dropped dwn by then!!



oh just heard that Dave Jones has been given the push.

 

[highland fox]

8 points off 6th,10 points off 2nd.We can still gain automatic promotion there is a hell of a long way to go yet,wait til injuries etc start kicking in.Wigan aside I see no outstanding sides in this League.

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

8 points off 6th,10 points off 2nd.We can still gain automatic promotion there is a hell of a long way to go yet,wait til injuries etc start kicking in.Wigan aside I see no outstanding sides in this League.

Good point, Highland, it will also be interesting to see how some of the teams react to a couple of defeats especially Wigan on the 20 th Nov when Craig Leveins blue and white army inflict a damaging defeat.

 

[Brauny Blue]

no automatic

I don't wish to be negative, but a general improvement in play and the gradual change of the team maybe the best we can do this season.With these things the results will come, but i believe we will have to wait for next season for a serious challenge.
Hope i am wrong.

 

[step]

I think you may be right brauny. But I HOPE YOUR WRONG

 

[alex]

I think Wigan may slip up at some stage, it'll be interesting to see how they bounce back (do they have bounceback ability) from a couple of defeats when they come.

Let's not count our chickens just yet; although the last thing i want to do is pile any prtessure on Levein, I think we are more than capable of going on a run, and if we did then we'd be up there fairly quickly.

Admittedly we have thrown away some silly games, but we haven't lost many this term, we turn draws to wins and we'll be in contention. Neither West Ham or Ipswich I would consider as consistent, which always leaves the door ajar...

 

[Chrysalis]

I can see us finishing between 5th and 10th place, and in the summer and maybe january heart's players will be brought in.

Our real promotion push will be next year now.

 

[Lboro fox]

I can see us finishing between 5th and 10th place, and in the summer and maybe january heart's players will be brought in.

Our real promotion push will be next year now.

Could be a similar situation to the o'neill era, late push into 6th, play offs, shin it in, 9 yrs in premier.

Have it.

 

[Joe_Fox]

I can see us finishing between 5th and 10th place, and in the summer and maybe january heart's players will be brought in.

Our real promotion push will be next year now.

Could be a similar situation to the o'neill era, late push into 6th, play offs, shin it in, 9 yrs in premier.

Have it.

Oooh ya beast, now you're talking my kind of language!