In danger of meeting our low expectations?

[Jezzard 16]

Yes, it''s very impressive at the moment, particularly as this has been achieved without possibly two of our best players. However, it seems now we are "on target" for the play offs. We should be aiming for the top two; not a lottery of facing a 75% chance of still being in the same division next season. Despite talk of rebuilding and needing time, our squad is stronger than nearly every other in the division, certainly stronger than teams above us such as Cardiff, Sheffield Utd., Leeds, Bristol C, Preston and errm, Ip5h1t. Last season was a spectacular failure for this reason. We weren''t a terrible Premier League team in 15/16: 23 points from the first 20 matches; failing to hold on to consecutive two goal leads at home in February, and getting done by Fat Sam buttering up referees; it wouldn''t have taken much to stay up rather than go down with one game to spare. Most clubs that come down from the Prem are terrible and do poorly in the Championship (Sunderland this season, Villa last, Fulham and Cardiff when they came down with us in 13/14). However, most clubs that just narrowly get relegated - Newcastle in 15/16; us in 13/14; Hull in 14/15 - tend to go straight back up. For reference Middlesbrough were also terrible last year and down by Christmas. So last year was a huge failure, yet we still finished eighth. So if we perform only slightly better than last year, we should be top six, and if we perform to our potential we should be near the top two. While we''ve not got as good a chance of automatic as last year, we''ve got a better chance than nearly all other teams in the division....and a hugely better chance than next year. Next year a) better teams from the Premier league than Hull, Boro and Sunderland will come down and b) we won''t have Klose, Pritchard and Oliveira. Last chance basically.

[Haggerdoo 6]

and breathe.........................

[Rogue Baboon 0]

''We should be aiming for the top two''

Is every team in the league not also aiming for that though?

At the start of the season a lot of people thought playoffs were not achievable. 5 games in it looked as though mid table wouldn''t be achievable. Playoffs would be an unbelievable achievement given our circumstances compared to the finances of other teams in this league.

[Lessingham Canary 99]

Any where in top 6 would be a great season, a top 2 finsish would be amazing as would another day at Wembley !! enjoy the ride, as Adam said to Eve, Stand back, dont know how big this might get