11 wins and plays off are ours
If we end up having an excellent run to the end of the season it will be promising for next year, but oh so frustrating for this season. There will be a lot of "if only" and "what if" statements flying about.
Without doubt, removing the uncertainty, new focus, direction and hope from MM, and some fresh faces have made a huge difference to the team and management.
City dropped 14 points between when MM was expected (mid-December) and when he actually arrived, including to play-off contenders Sunderland and Cardiff (we picked up 6 points from 7 games). If we had picked up another 7 points (with MM coming sooner - just 13 points from 7 games), then we would have only been 6 points off the play-offs with a game in hand (less if we had got points against the Mackems and Bluebirds).
We could have been talking about the play-offs then!
If the teams in 6th & 7th kept up their current points per game average they would end up with 76pts. As we have a much inferior goal difference that means we would need another 34 points out of 39 available to make the play-offs. That's 11 wins, one draw and one defeat. The teams aiming for the play-offs could slip up - but let's get real, we are not going to make it this season (if we win the next 6 I might raise my hopes a little though!)