We have the toughest run in by far , but NA has instilled confidence in the team . Three wins are required and I can see us needing something from the Hull game to secure our place in the play-offs .
If I'm being honest this has all the feels of Bowyer's start with us.
If we don't get promoted, it's still been an incredible turn around in desire and effort from the players. 10 games unbeaten, you have to go back to Feb 2019 to beat that and even then it was 11.
I'd take the table as it is now, Sunderland over 2 legs and the 2nd leg being away should phase us at all
You’re right. Considering our overall form this season, it would actually be better to play the 2nd leg away if we make the play offs. Complete opposite to how you’d usually want those 2 legs played.
It’s quite incredible how poor Accrington and Doncaster have been in the last 6 weeks or so. At one point, I think they had 4 games in hand each on us. Doncaster in particular, I think, could have been 12 points or something clear of us if they’d won those games in hand.
The size of the Accrington squad made me believe that they could never keep their run of form going - Doncaster I think we've been aided by Sheffield Wednesday with them taking Moore.
Ben Whiteman to Preston must have been another big loss for them
Doncaster actually started their poor run in the five games before Moore left when they only picked up one point. On change of Manager, they won their next two games but then endured another run of games that has amounted to one win in eleven. Moore probably saw that the writing was on the wall and that he had taken them as far as they were capable of going this season and jumped ship at the right time albeit that he will, almost certainly after a run of just 11 points in 11 games under him, be managing in League 1 again next season.
I'd take the table as it is now, Sunderland over 2 legs and the 2nd leg being away should phase us at all
Would definitely prefer them in the semis rather than the final
Sunderland have been very consistent and difficult to beat. On that basis I’d rather meet them over one game than two. Consistency has not been our strong suit this season. Look at the Ipswich and Plymouth performances.
A long way to go still. We have to stay in the top six, which is, by no means, certain. Then, it's the play-offs. Play-offs are full of surprises and don't always go with form. I still remember how one bad tackle by Llera against Swindon lost us that game when, I felt, we were sure to win. Have a look what the bookmakers say. I suspect they are not far out.
how many times in recent years have we played the champions last game of the season, when we have been the form team in the divison and have we won any?
I can see Sunderland and Lincoln changing places and us and Blackpool doing the same, so when we make the playoffs, it could be Sunderland in the semis, i think that the winner of that tie, should it happen will win the final. I am sure Sunderland will not relish another playoff appearance involving us.
The great thing when you are in form is that you don't care who you play. It is all a bonus for us to enjoy and let the other teams worry about playing us.
One thing that was significant about yesterday was the fact that we are in the top 6 on PPG. I know it was in our own hands before it but we haven't been genuinely (by that I mean factoring in games played) top 6 for ages. Does anybody know the last time we were there?
One thing that was significant about yesterday was the fact that we are in the top 6 on PPG. I know it was in our own hands before it but we haven't been genuinely (by that I mean factoring in games played) top 6 for ages. Does anybody know the last time we were there?
We were sixth after beating Bristol Rovers, positions in yellow highlight when we've been in a Play-Off position this season
According to @Dazzler21 's work on the PPG thread, last update that had us top 6 on PPG was on December 19th. Game 17, a 2-2 draw with Swindon. Our true position was 7th but we had games in hand at that point.
December 19th was over four months ago. It is a significant moment and hopefully the form that has achieved it will continue. We seem to have a fully fit squad and managed to turn a difficult away game into what looked like a brilliant team building exercise.
A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours exclaimed, “Goodbye horse, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbours shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbours cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few months later, the farmer was chatting with his son after watching Charlton thrash Plymouth 6-0. His son said “After that win and with Sunderland in the play-offs we’re surely going up, what amazing luck!” The farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
One thing that was significant about yesterday was the fact that we are in the top 6 on PPG. I know it was in our own hands before it but we haven't been genuinely (by that I mean factoring in games played) top 6 for ages. Does anybody know the last time we were there?
We were sixth after beating Bristol Rovers, positions in yellow highlight when we've been in a Play-Off position this season
It's crazy that we haven't been in the bottom half of the table for so long. Think it shows that you don't have to be a good side to finish top half. There's a massive gap of quality in the league.
how many times in recent years have we played the champions last game of the season and have we won any?
Lost to:
Brighton Bournemouth Burnley Leeds
First 3 all at home. Probably more but they are the ones at the forefront of my mind whenever I now look at the fixture list in July.
Difference this time is, with a fully fit squad and functional game plan, we are arguably as good as Hull and maybe better. Would anyone swap Stockley or Aneke for Magennis, for example? I wouldn't. Last year, and proven this season, Leeds were clearly a class or two above us in terms of quality.
League 1 is pretty even this year as we have all observed. Had Adkins been manager all season, and had we had better 'luck' with injuries - and probably it's not luck and those two matters are linked - I suspect the Hull game would have been a winner takes all for the title or promotion.
how many times in recent years have we played the champions last game of the season and have we won any?
Lost to:
Brighton Bournemouth Burnley Leeds
First 3 all at home. Probably more but they are the ones at the forefront of my mind whenever I now look at the fixture list in July.
Difference this time is, with a fully fit squad and functional game plan, we are arguably as good as Hull and maybe better. Would anyone swap Stockley or Aneke for Magennis, for example? I wouldn't. Last year, and proven this season, Leeds were clearly a class or two above us in terms of quality.
League 1 is pretty even this year as we have all observed. Had Adkins been manager all season, and had we had better 'luck' with injuries - and probably it's not luck and those two matters are linked - I suspect the Hull game would have been a winner takes all for the title or promotion.
I agree mate. We have been saying all season that this squad should be automatic promotion from this league. Fortunately it looks like we may get a second chance via the playoffs but imo it shouldnt have come to that
It’s a really poor league, we’re really not that much worse than Hull. They’ve just been a bit more solid so have been able to turn draws into wins and losses into draws.
There’s not one team I look at and fear playing. That’s not to say we’re brilliant, it’s just everyone is pretty evenly matched. If we win against the posh then we’re almost certainly getting in the play-offs.
Looking at other top 6 clubs fan forums, nobody seems to rate us. They’re all preoccupied worrying about each other. We go into the playoffs simultaneously being the inform side and the underdogs.
A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours exclaimed, “Goodbye horse, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbours shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbours cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few months later, the farmer was chatting with his son after watching Charlton thrash Plymouth 6-0. His son said “After that win and with Sunderland in the play-offs we’re surely going up, what amazing luck!” The farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Comments
If we don't get promoted, it's still been an incredible turn around in desire and effort from the players. 10 games unbeaten, you have to go back to Feb 2019 to beat that and even then it was 11.
I am sure Sunderland will not relish another playoff appearance involving us.
Brighton
Bournemouth
Burnley
Leeds
First 3 all at home. Probably more but they are the ones at the forefront of my mind whenever I now look at the fixture list in July.
We even lost to Ipswich when WE were champions!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–21_Charlton_Athletic_F.C._season#Result_summary
A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours exclaimed, “Goodbye horse, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbours shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbours cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few months later, the farmer was chatting with his son after watching Charlton thrash Plymouth 6-0. His son said “After that win and with Sunderland in the play-offs we’re surely going up, what amazing luck!” The farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
League 1 is pretty even this year as we have all observed. Had Adkins been manager all season, and had we had better 'luck' with injuries - and probably it's not luck and those two matters are linked - I suspect the Hull game would have been a winner takes all for the title or promotion.