If only..

[PSumbler]

Every single team at this point of the season will point at games they could/should have won and points they have given away needlessly

The league table doesn’t lie and we’ve just been too inconsistent through the season but it’s testament to what this division is that we are still in with a shout despite managing just three wins in half a season

 

[jasper_T]

Another comparison to make is that we've only got 1 point more than we had last season after 44 games, so if we were to lose our last two as we did then, we would have shown only marginal improvement over Russell's first attempt. Last season we were on a similarly good run, undefeated in 9 games although 4 draws going in.

 

[JackSomething]

I find it wild that so many on this forum were calling for Martin’s head. Some of the vitriol I’ve read on here directed at him has put me off this site completely.

Knee jerk sackings in the midst of bad runs is something all clubs need to start avoiding. People go on about how owners are so trigger happy these days, but most of the time it’s down to the type of clown that posts on this forum unable to handle a few losses and shouting loudest from the stands.

Thank good the yanks didn’t listen to the type of moron who posts on this forum. (Just about the only thing they’ve done right).

You've had a mare here Ross.

Any manager who delivers a 15th place finish and follows it up the next season with 3 wins in 21 games can consider themselves extremely lucky to keep their job.

Many clubs have sacked managers for far less and it certainly wouldn't have been 'a knee jerk reaction'.

I'd say a bigger problem would be with fans who accept a 15th place finish followed by another season where we may yet only finish with 1 more point than last season. Graveyard of ambition indeed.

 

[Neath_Jack]

I find it wild that so many on this forum were calling for Martin’s head. Some of the vitriol I’ve read on here directed at him has put me off this site completely.

Knee jerk sackings in the midst of bad runs is something all clubs need to start avoiding. People go on about how owners are so trigger happy these days, but most of the time it’s down to the type of clown that posts on this forum unable to handle a few losses and shouting loudest from the stands.

Thank good the yanks didn’t listen to the type of moron who posts on this forum. (Just about the only thing they’ve done right).

I think what you've got to remember Ross, is that this site is populated by angsty older folk, many of whom don't attend or even watch some games. They paint themselves into a corner with their opinions, and are too stubborn to change even when things improve. What is the old saying, something like 'what is the point of having a mind if you can't change it'. What has been the worst of this forum for me lately is that after wins, it's always along the lines of 'They were the worst team I've seen this year' or something along those lines. Those same people now saying that, were the ones crying the loudest when premier league teams used to say exactly the same about us.

The site is unrecognisable from what is was in it's pomp, although there are still a couple of fantastic contributors.

 

[Cooperman]

I think what you've got to remember Ross, is that this site is populated by angsty older folk, many of whom don't attend or even watch some games.

You speak for yourself :lol:

 

[Arthurmorgan]

I think what you've got to remember Ross, is that this site is populated by angsty older folk, many of whom don't attend or even watch some games. They paint themselves into a corner with their opinions, and are too stubborn to change even when things improve. What is the old saying, something like 'what is the point of having a mind if you can't change it'. What has been the worst of this forum for me lately is that after wins, it's always along the lines of 'They were the worst team I've seen this year' or something along those lines. Those same people now saying that, were the ones crying the loudest when premier league teams used to say exactly the same about us.

The site is unrecognisable from what is was in it's pomp, although there are still a couple of fantastic contributors.

I do agree with some of that, I was myself wanting Martin to succeed as us all, and I was reluctant to be firmly in the “Martin out” camp, but as I’ve said after the Rotherham match, I thought, na, he’s no way back now, I think that raw interview straight after the whistle did his plight at that juncture zero favours, and it was more for that reason than the string of results for me, but as a package, I felt his time was up I’ll admit, but, I was obviously chuffed with our two derby wins, but thought, well this is papering cracks, but my mind has definitely swayed from Coventry onwards as we are playing some great football, we obviously did v Bristol and Cardiff, but I thought it was a case of win those two which to some are be all end all, and relax, but no I have to openly admit I’m glad I was wrong, but can see that the 3/23 period really was hard to digest, but going forward, if we are to trust, which we’ve no choice, Russ has to take some stock too I think that’s fair.

 

[Risc]

I do agree with some of that, I was myself wanting Martin to succeed as us all, and I was reluctant to be firmly in the “Martin out” camp, but as I’ve said after the Rotherham match, I thought, na, he’s no way back now, I think that raw interview straight after the whistle did his plight at that juncture zero favours, and it was more for that reason than the string of results for me, but as a package, I felt his time was up I’ll admit, but, I was obviously chuffed with our two derby wins, but thought, well this is papering cracks, but my mind has definitely swayed from Coventry onwards as we are playing some great football, we obviously did v Bristol and Cardiff, but I thought it was a case of win those two which to some are be all end all, and relax, but no I have to openly admit I’m glad I was wrong, but can see that the 3/23 period really was hard to digest, but going forward, if we are to trust, which we’ve no choice, Russ has to take some stock too I think that’s fair.

Even I thought after the stoke game he was done, relationship with owners completely broken down, looked a broken man, results not going our way. But fair play to the bloke he’s stuck at it.

 

[Arthurmorgan]

Even I thought after the stoke game he was done, relationship with owners completely broken down, looked a broken man, results not going our way. But fair play to the bloke he’s stuck at it.

There’s been a lot of moments we could point to, and I think that’s why there’s still that tipping point of unrest and distrust is a nice way of putting it, that January sh*t show would’ve been an easy way to say “sod it im off” from his pov, so I think, yes, we should feel both aggrieved and happy, and as you say he didn’t throw the he towel in, I just think that the season as a whole screams mediocre with sprinklings of what could be.

 

[bakajack]

When was the last time that there was only 4 points between 5th and 12th with only 2 rounds of games left to play?

Right now it would be madness to rule out any of those eight sides and pressure really will be on for these final two games. WBA and Blackburn play Sheff Utd (A) and Burnley (H) respectively for their games in hand, after that its a straight shootout about who can hold their form and nerve.

I might be high on hopium at the moment, but honestly I wouldn't fear any of the other teams in the top half in a playoff game the way that I did Brentford (who had a real air of inevitability) or Bournemouth the two previous seasons we made the playoffs.

The 8 sides in with a shout and their final games:
Coventry: Birmingham (H), Middlesbrough (A)
Sunderland: Watford (H), Preston (A)
Millwall: Blackpool (A), Blackburn (H)
Blackburn: Burnley (H), Luton (H), Millwall (A)
West Brom: Sheff Utd (A), Norwich (H), Swansea (A)
Preston: Sheff Utd (A), Sunderland (H)
Norwich: West Brom (A), Blackpool (H)
Swansea: Hull (A), West Brom (H)

 

[Neath_Jack]

There’s been a lot of moments we could point to, and I think that’s why there’s still that tipping point of unrest and distrust is a nice way of putting it, that January sh*t show would’ve been an easy way to say “sod it im off” from his pov, so I think, yes, we should feel both aggrieved and happy, and as you say he didn’t throw the he towel in, I just think that the season as a whole screams mediocre with sprinklings of what could be.

One thing that has stood out, is that despite the poor run we went on, the togetherness of the squad is incredible. The players have obviously bought into whatever it is that Russ is doing.

 

[Neath_Jack]

You speak for yourself :lol:

Definitely guilty of the older bit, not guilty to the rest though

 

[Ringwood Jack]

We are young and brave.