Heard a interesting piece on the RNS Nottingham Forest podcast this week. Colin Fray had done some research on everyone from Forest upwards in the play off race to look at who they have left to play in the remaining 8/9 league games. Derby came out as having the easiest run in playing teams with an average league position of 15th and Sheff Weds had the toughest run in playing teams with an average league position of around. 8th.
Forest ended up fixtures against teams with an average league position of 13.65.. Looking at the run in, you can’t really look past the Easter fixtures against Sheff Utd and Middlesbrough as being the make or break point for the Reds. 4 or even 6 points from those fixtures would be a great boost to their chances. Much less than that and I think that would probably be it. Thoughts?
8 and through the gate?...
posted on 28/3/19
Just having Grabban on the pitch will help. It means our opponents can't risk just worrying about Joe Lolley.
Just hope he can manage an hour on Saturday
posted on 28/3/19
comment by Redfor50yrs (U2973)
posted 44 minutes ago
My predictions are based as best I can on league position and form but we all know it never works that way in the Championship.
We are more likely to win at Sheff U than Rotherham
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As likely to find the Rotherham and QPR away games as taxing as any remaining. Not had a run at Rotherham since the early 00’s. I remember it well at their old Millmoor ground. Think Holt and Lester scored. Was a bit tight in the away end there. Scraped a lot of skin off my knees!
posted on 28/3/19
I don’t have Boro’ as a shoe in for the play off’s, they look very susceptible atm plus they have Norwich at home this Saturday. Villa look nailed on, WBA and who ever messes up from the top 3, so I agree there is probably one spot up for grabs. Now the problem, I have absolutely no idea who will grab it, is all I can say is it will be a brilliant run in, bring it on, I can’t wait, regardless of the outcome.😀
posted on 28/3/19
Yes dave, Villa to take 5th spot. 'boro might hang on to 6th but if I was a betting man I'd put my money on Sheff Wed; PNE also in with a shout.
Then again we could win six from eight and Bingo.
That's what makes the Championship a better watch than the Prem.
posted on 28/3/19
All 4 of our home games are winnable, but knowing us I doubt that will happen, 2 of the away games also winnable Rotherham and QPR, whilst anything from our trips to Sheffield would be a bonus, personally I still think we will fall short, probably about 8th, however, a good run and the play offs are possible. Being totally selfish, like Red, I would sooner watch the cut and thrust of the championship than the Prem prima donnas any day.
posted on 28/3/19
That’s the paradox! It is unlikely any promoted team from the Championship to the Prem enjoys anywhere near the same kind of excitement in that league than is found in the top half of the Championship. You may get a win or two against some of the top sides but primarily, it is a generally a grim struggle to survive more than a few years by the looks of it. Wouldn’t be so bad but the rich only seem to get richer exponentially so the chances of even moving a few places up the Prem table becomes a Herculean task.
posted on 28/3/19
Year on year the Prem is becoming more of a closed shop. With the FFP restrictions snapping at the heels of many clubs in the Championship, it is going to get to the point where promotion becomes completely unviable for many with the competitions in their current format. It shouldn’t be this stressful bridging the gap from the Champ to the Prem and subsequently from the bottom to the middle of the Prem and onwards.
posted on 29/3/19
At the moment we are just not good enough. I think we may win a few games and put ourselves in contention, then start losing when we really need a win. I guess this is inconsistency which is not surprising really with a new manager and plenty of new players. I think if we can get a couple of good signings in and start. Ext season well then we have a shot then.
posted on 29/3/19
That’s the realistic view. Been a particularly unpredictable season so far, though...
posted on 29/3/19
The other thing to remember when considering our chances of a play-off spot is not just that we have to have a good run to the end of the season, but that the run in needs to be better than all five teams above us. If we were in seventh place I would feel more confident of catching Villa or 'boro.