Is the table taking shape?

[CusworthRovers]

Looking at the table, does one feel the league is starting to take shape?

The teams above us have all looked the best sides that we have faced IMO (admittedly there are still a few to face still), however I'm confident we can match those above us and we have nothing to fear, but as said the ones above us are there on merit IMO and have been tough tests for us.

We need to hang on in there with this group, and I feel we can. Burnley have the potential to gatecrash this group, and I'm not sure on Ipswich yet........this does look a very open league this season, and nobody looks dominant. It's been said by many and stating the obvious, but it really does look like anybody is capable of beating anyone.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Sticking with my favourites QPR. I thought Ipswich would also be a force but they are falling away quite badly.

Cardiff were always going to be a contender, even more so with Bellamy however, I think they believe they should walk this league and that's a very dangerous attitude. I fully expect then to blow up, again.

That leaves anyone from another dozen who could challenge. I still think Leicester will come in to the mix but Burnley are not hungry enough and they have a crap manager.

Swansea could nick the automatic, but otherwise look certainties for play-offs. Derby, like us, have the potential but they could blow up very easily.  

I really do think we have one of the best chances of getting right in there so long as we keep working very hard. The reason I think we will is we have two of the most hard working forwards in Billy and Hayter, backed up by natural talent that can open up defences.

Whether our back line can find enough of that 'shall not pass' attitude remains to be seen.

Are you bold enough to book a provisional hotel room for London in May ? I know some have already.

[Alan Southstand]

I think the league is anything but taking place, other than (possibly) the top 2. I think, even then, Swansea will gradually challenge for one of those 2 places. From 4th to (about) 16th, its anybody's guess at the moment.

We need (somehow) to gain a bit of consistency and how we're going to do that whilst we're constantly having to change the back 4, through injuries, is again anyone's guess. Answers on a postcard to Sean O'Driscoll.

[bedale rover]

just looking at the table there are 11 points between 1st (QPR) and sixth (Florists)

but only 10 points between 6th (Florists) and 22nd (Boro)

not much of a shape except that of a slight incline

usually by christmas there are about 4 groups

those desperately clinging on

those looking backwards but staing in the comfort zone

those looking up and fancying their chances of at least getting into the play-offs

and those who believe automatic is within their grasp and at worst a play off place

i would like to think that we fall into the either of the last 2 groups

the way this league is going the sooner we get to 55 points the better  

[BobG]

Agree with that last sentiment Bedale. That's the important target. Once we get it we might havre a go at another target, but staying here is the most important thing.

Personally, I don't think we'll make the play offs. We're good enough to, but we haven't the strength in depth. It's expecting too much to expect us to score points at the neccesary rate for another 5 or 6 months yet when we seem to be fated to have injury after injury after injury. And the suspensions haven't even started yet. To get in the top six we need luck as well. You can see the impact of all those injuries now: inconsistency. Unless and until we have a settled side for a dozen games we're going to carry on being inconsistent. And that's not play off form. We need either more good players in the squad, or no injuries and no suspensions if we're going to be there in May

BobG

[hoolahoop]

BobG wrote:

Agree with that last sentiment Bedale. That's the important target. Once we get it we might havre a go at another target, but staying here is the most important thing.

Personally, I don't think we'll make the play offs. We're good enough to, but we haven't the strength in depth. It's expecting too much to expect us to score points at the neccesary rate for another 5 or 6 months yet when we seem to be fated to have injury after injury after injury. And the suspensions haven't even started yet. To get in the top six we need luck as well. You can see the impact of all those injuries now: inconsistency. Unless and until we have a settled side for a dozen games we're going to carry on being inconsistent. And that's not play off form. We need either more good players in the squad, or no injuries and no suspensions if we're going to be there in May

BobG

Differing opinions Bob , I think we have had (touch wood) some difficulties with injuries and hopefully when we get Billy back we will be in better shape. I think we have the creativity and 'gamechangers' in spades to reach the P/Offs.

[BobG]

I didn't deney anay of that mate. of course we have. I said as much. But we don't have something that is just as neccesary: sufficient capable players. Without that, we can only be really succesful if we're lucky with injuries and suspensions. and I canm't see any sign of that. Can you?

BobG

[Superspy]

i tend to look at it from the other side, we've already had injuries a-plenty in defense, where we've been struggling, but still we have a substantial amount of points over what we had at this point last season (i think it was 9 before saturdays game), along with an unbeaten run of 4 matches including 2 away games at last years prem teams and 1 at home against 3rd in the league, i think we actually ARE finding that consistency, even without a settled back 4, which can only be good in my opinion.

that being said, our next 4 games are arguably the \"easiest\" 4 consecutive matches in the entire season, and all of our hard work so far will count for nothing if we can't pick up a very impressive haul of points from these coming games. to be in with a serious shout we really have to be beating palace away and boro at home at the very least.

[roversam]

Superspy wrote:

i tend to look at it from the other side, we've already had injuries a-plenty in defense, where we've been struggling, but still we have a substantial amount of points over what we had at this point last season (i think it was 9 before saturdays game), along with an unbeaten run of 4 matches including 2 away games at last years prem teams and 1 at home against 3rd in the league, i think we actually ARE finding that consistency, even without a settled back 4, which can only be good in my opinion.

that being said, our next 4 games are arguably the \"easiest\" 4 consecutive matches in the entire season, and all of our hard work so far will count for nothing if we can't pick up a very impressive haul of points from these coming games. to be in with a serious shout we really have to be beating palace away and boro at home at the very least.

I agree with most of those comments Superspy, but there are no easy games in this league, they are all like cup ties, i personally will be very happy with 8 points from the next 4 games.

[Alan Southstand]

Personally, I don't think we'll make the play offs. We're good enough to, but we haven't the strength in depth. It's expecting too much to expect us to score points at the neccesary rate for another 5 or 6 months yet when we seem to be fated to have injury after injury after injury. And the suspensions haven't even started yet.

I think that's about it in a nutshell, Bob and I couldn't agree more with your thoughts. Our squad is threadbare, given the injuries we have, but it seems to be something we have to get used to.

Having said all that though, the thought keeps nagging away at me - when JR openly acknowledges that we have a Premiership standard manager, why wouldn't the Board back him to make that massive next step and potentially cure all our financial worries in one foul swoop?

[bedale rover]

i havent seen it mentioned but the times supplement on monday \"the game\" has on the results page a little 'stat' box

and we for about the first time figured so i paraphrase

\"if doncaster rovers who sit just outside the play off places in 7th got promoted they would have done so in 8 years  faster than wimbledon who did it in 1 year more\"

so even if we are sceptical others are more believing!

not that i am of course being a signed up optimist of the first order as befits a long time supporter of the ever consistent DRFC  

[Superspy]

roversam wrote:

I agree with most of those comments Superspy, but there are no easy games in this league, they are all like cup ties, i personally will be very happy with 8 points from the next 4 games.

i knew somebody would say that, that's why i put \"easiest\" in speech marks. i know there are no easy games, but if you were to look at our fixture list and somebody said \"which 4 games do you think have the potential to be the best run of results?\" then you'd pick the 4 coming up based on how the teams are doing at the minute.

interestingly, our next 4 fixtures are exactly the same as the last 4 of the season....obviously reversed....

[i_ateallthepies]

Alan Southstand wrote:

Personally, I don't think we'll make the play offs. We're good enough to, but we haven't the strength in depth. It's expecting too much to expect us to score points at the neccesary rate for another 5 or 6 months yet when we seem to be fated to have injury after injury after injury. And the suspensions haven't even started yet.

I think that's about it in a nutshell, Bob and I couldn't agree more with your thoughts. Our squad is threadbare, given the injuries we have, but it seems to be something we have to get used to.

Having said all that though, the thought keeps nagging away at me - when JR openly acknowledges that we have a Premiership standard manager, why wouldn't the Board back him to make that massive next step and potentially cure all our financial worries in one foul swoop?

So, the Board haven't backed Sean this season then?  Shattering our previous biggest transfer fee by a mile to get the player most of us daren't even dream of not enough for you???  Tied down many of our best players on costly new contracts.

And equally potentially, consign us to those now all too familiar financial problems that beset so many other clubs who gambled recklessly.  Smart idea that!!!

[Viking Don]

What the hell's a foul swoop? Beware low flying chickens?

Yes we do have a strong squad otherwise we'd be worrying about relegation now, considering all the injuries we've already had this season, rather than cantering along just behind the chasing pack with over a third of the season gone.

When Sean is eventually able to pick the strongest starting 11 from the squad we could be a very difficult side to stop. We've already shown that we can get results even when some of our best players are watching from the stands or on the bench. I still reckon we should be aiming for top spot.

[Alan Southstand]

Where did I say they havn't backed him? Some people on here are only too ready to jump on even the slightest opinion that might not agree with their own. Read again what I wrote and take a deep breath.

You're welcome to your opinion Viking, just as much as I'm happy writing down mine. I'm in the Bob camp and, if you listen to the manager, I'm in his also.

[hoolahoop]

Viking Don wrote:

What the hell's a foul swoop? Beware low flying chickens?

Yes we do have a strong squad otherwise we'd be worrying about relegation now, considering all the injuries we've already had this season, rather than cantering along just behind the chasing pack with over a third of the season gone.

When Sean is eventually able to pick the strongest starting 11 from the squad we could be a very difficult side to stop. We've already shown that we can get results even when some of our best players are watching from the stands or on the bench. I still reckon we should be aiming for top spot.

I'm with you on this one, despite injuries to what we would normally have considered 'crucial' players , we are still in 7th. place.
Staying in this place to me is akin to a 1500m shadowing the runners ahead, enough to worry about but not yet in the limelight and with the potential to overttake the runners ahead on thre final corner. The 'Seb Coe' team of the npower if you like.  B)

[benaldo]

hoolahoop wrote:

Viking Don wrote:

What the hell's a foul swoop? Beware low flying chickens?

we would normally have considered 'crucial' players , we are still in 7th. place.
Staying in this place to me is akin to a 1500m shadowing the runners ahead, enough to worry about but not yet in the limelight and with the potential to overttake the runners ahead on thre final corner. The 'Seb Coe' team of the npower if you like.  B)

Lets just hope we're not the paula radcliff of distance running and end up having a slash on the pitch during the play off final!

[Viking Don]

Alan Southstand wrote:

Where did I say they havn't backed him? Some people on here are only too ready to jump on even the slightest opinion that might not agree with their own. Read again what I wrote and take a deep breath.

You're welcome to your opinion Viking, just as much as I'm happy writing down mine. I'm in the Bob camp and, if you listen to the manager, I'm in his also.

Not sure if that's directed at me Alan, but if it is then I can only ask you to take the same advice. I've no problem with people expressing their own opinion. My opinion is based on the fact that we're in 7th despite all the injuries. I'd also say that every manager bemoans the lack of depth in their squad, but Sean also once said he thinks we can win every game we play.

I don't mind admitting I was in your camp after the Accy game but I've changed my mind simply because of where we still are in the league.

Also nearly fell off my chair - Hools in agreement with VD shocker  

[hoolahoop]

It's not the first time btw, you either have a short memory or need glasses VD
I think it's our anniversary agreement, where you taking me ? lol