The playoffs it is

[loganking222]

Looks pretty obvious now.

Who would you prefer in the final?

[Bordeauxclaret]

Long way to go yet.

[Lip]

No it doesn't. You on the jungle juice?

[Gp8419]

So you have told us two things we are finishing in the play offs-and we are guaranteed a place in the final????

[Andreshotboots]

Nothing like positivity!!!

[ElectroClaret]

It's slowly but inexorably heading towards us and
the Undead at Wembley.

We all know it....

[Lip]

Looks pretty obvious now.

Who would you prefer in the final?

You aren't a Claret,who do you support.

[JimmyRobbo]

A long way to go.

If it ends up being the playoffs, then so be it. If we end up with 3 0-0 draws and then relying on JT on penalties, then also, so be it.

[helmclaret]

Looks pretty obvious now.

Who would you prefer in the final?

Bore off. Loads of points to play for.

[TPClaret]

Give over. Season ends in May

[claretspice]

It's not done yet, but we're now chasing and the season is in the final straight.

Time to play like it and occasionally gamble on losing out on one point, to try and get three.

[helmclaret]

This ‘we need to concede to release something’ is BS.

We don’t have the quality in the final third and haven’t all season.

[Ric_C]

Watched the Luton Sheff Utd game today. I know blades have quite a few injuries, but they looked really average. We still have to play them at the Turf, where they've had a recent poor record.

We need to put a run of 4-5 wins on the trot together, and suddenly it looks all more positive.

[RVclaret]

Watched the Luton Sheff Utd game today. I know blades have quite a few injuries, but they looked really average. We still have to play them at the Turf, where they've had a recent poor record.

We need to put a run of 4-5 wins on the trot together, and suddenly it looks all more positive.

Not sure they have any injuries apart from known long term ones? Squad is full strength.

[warksclaret]

There is a long way to go, but the trend at present is not encouraging-we clearly struggle to convert our dominance to goals, and sadly Leeds and Sheff Utd have the intent and know how to win ugly when its not going their way. We have to be realistic and no point wishing for a miracle. Foster and Fleming showing again today that they each need three good chances or more before they score

[claretspice]

Watched the Luton Sheff Utd game today. I know blades have quite a few injuries, but they looked really average. We still have to play them at the Turf, where they've had a recent poor record.

We need to put a run of 4-5 wins on the trot together, and suddenly it looks all more positive.

You can't win 4 games in a row, let alone 5, if you aren't brave enough to really try and turn draws into a wins.

The last time Parker really took a risk with his subs was away at Norwich when he went with Hannibal and Anthony ad wing backs. Interestingly, that's also the last time we fell behind and it speaks volumes that we won that game whilst we've drawn with Derby, Stoke, Portsmouth and Preston since without registering a single goal.

[Row x]

Not sure they have any injuries apart from known long term ones? Squad is full strength.

Hamer and cannon out today through injury

[stateofthenation]

I’ve thought this from about September/ October, nothing has ever changed my mind. I did hope the transfer window would change my mind. Think we will need to win at least 10 out of the last 13 and I just can’t see it happening.

[colne-claret]

We aren’t good enough to go up automatically. We aren’t brave in our attacks and continue to struggle to break teams down. Leeds and Sheff both finding ways to win. Us and Sunderland are limping along behind. One thing for sure is that I would not want to go up against Sunderland at Wembley.

[boatshed bill]

We aren’t good enough to go up automatically. We aren’t brave in our attacks and continue to struggle to break teams down. Leeds and Sheff both finding ways to win. Us and Sunderland are limping along behind. One thing for sure is that I would not want to go up against Sunderland at Wembley.

Penalty shoot-out would be fun

[equinox]

Edwards will be integrated now, he's too good not be, then we'll see a difference.

[NewClaret]

Hate to say, I’m in this camp now, sadly.

There are no signs whatsoever to me that we’re good enough to earn automatics, nor any real signs we’ll improve sufficiently to do so. It will take someone to gift it us.

[Stayingup]

Maybe the playoffs. Not getting a goalscorer in is hurting us, as with all the nil nil draws. I sometimes think that the defensive record, which is fantastic, has taken preference over winning.

[colne-claret]

Penalty shoot-out would be fun

Not my for blood pressure

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

The season ends in May

[boatshed bill]

Maybe the playoffs. Not getting a goalscorer in is hurting us, as with all the nil nil draws. I sometimes think that the defensive record, which is fantastic, has taken preference over winning.

They defend very well, but are no real threat from our set-pieces.

[Taffy on the wing]

Looks pretty obvious now.

Who would you prefer in the final?

Don't talk wet!........Tons of games left.
Sheffield Utd have been incredibly lucky to win the last 2 games.

[agreenwood]

Let’s assume Leeds beat Sunderland on Monday. We’ll be 7 points behind them and 5 behind Sheffield United.

If we beat Sheffield Weds next Friday the gap then becomes 4 and 2 points again with the top two playing each other on the Monday after. At worst (a Sheffield United win) we’d be 4 points behind the top two, but the gap could be as low as two points with a Leeds win.

Long way to go.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

We’re 5 points behind SU with 39 still to play for. There’s still time to gain automatic.

[Woodleyclaret]

Nonsense we are going up automatically

[karatekid]

Burnley v Rovers in a Wembley play off final would go down in folklore. Songs would be written and sung on the terraces, parties to mark the anniversary and not to mention the celebrations after we beat them 5-0 in the final. Just imagine the journey back up the motorway. Dare to Dream.

[Stayingup]

They defend very well, but are no real threat from our set-pieces.

Whereas Mee, Tsrkowski and Kean were.

[rosswallacefreekick]

Hate to say, I’m in this camp now, sadly.

There are no signs whatsoever to me that we’re good enough to earn automatics, nor any real signs we’ll improve sufficiently to do so. It will take someone to gift it us.

I feel the same way. It’s been a really frustrating season as we’ve always seemed on the cusp of achieving our potential, but not doing.

One thing to consider is that we seem to think that we’ll definitely improve, and that Leeds and Sheffield United will falter. The opposite could be the case: there’s no reason to assume we won’t fade. Today’s result at Preston shows that we haven’t improved as much as we thought we would by this point in the season.

I am fully prepared to eat my own words if we start blasting away opposition next week onwards.

I like the team, I like Scott Parker, but this has honestly been one of the most frustrating seasons I’ve seen. Perhaps I’m expecting too much.

[Elizabeth]

It's always going to come down to putting our chances away. We have now improved our performances and playing good football at last to complement the defensive side of our game.
Put them away we go up automatically. Miss them like we have done today and in other recent games it's the play offs. That simple.

[AlargeClaret]

You have to wonder what kind of weirdo , joins from another club to post such BS? His mums already cross he’s late for his tea ..

[Tricky Trevor]

Looks pretty obvious now.

Who would you prefer in the final?

I wouldn’t want to go into battle with you, quitter.
39 more points to play for yet.

[JR1882]

I’d love to be proved wrong but I also think we will struggle to get in that top 2. It’s not unrealistic that we go in a decent run but I think there’s too much water under the bridge now, 14 draws in 33 games speaks volumes.

It’s mid Feb and we aren’t still having the same problem of finishing teams off, if we haven’t solved that after 33 games then it’s reasonable to suggest we will continue to struggle with it. As seen today Sheff can play poorly and still win which is generally a sign of a team going up.

The only think I don’t understand is that the playoffs are absolutely guaranteed now, there is literally nothing to be lost by not taking the handbrake off a little.

[RVclaret]

Edwards will make a difference once he’s starting. Champ defences won’t be able to handle this lad once he’s up to speed. Parker acknowledged after the game they’ve had to be careful with him since he arrived due to lack of game time and change in intensity. He will likely be starting from the next game.

[loganking222]

I wouldn’t want to go into battle with you, quitter.
39 more points to play for yet.

I couldn't give a monkeys what you think.

Smile

[Stonehouse]

Wouldn’t like to get that shower of **** down the road in the playoffs ,it would be our worst nightmare and my nerves wouldn’t be able to cope.

[TopCat]

We have a great squad that is not being utilised.
FFS use the subs.

[willsclarets]

Far too early to call, but obviously we need more wins and we need our rivals to falter. The odds are beginning to stretch against us a little, but it's not over.

As many have alluded to, now is the time to rake a few risks. The playoffs are assured, and we desperately need a 4 or 5 game winning streak.

[GetIntoEm]

We have a great squad that is not being utilised.
FFS use the subs.

What subs would you have made today?

[Dark Cloud]

We've never looked like a top 2 side all season. We're good, but not quite good enough unfortunately. It's been play offs for quite some time now.

[billyhamilton82]

We will win the league.

A long way to go yet with plenty of twists and turns, especially when the pressure starts to ramp up.

We will see that today's result was a good one at the end of the season.

PNE are no duck eggs and we were very unlucky not to win.

3 home games on the trot to come.

UTC

[ALP]

Some of the shite on these boards never cease to make me laugh out loud.

P!ss!ng ridiculous non thread.

[summitclaret]

My advice. Start practicing pens now. Everyday all the time. Semi 0 -0 x2. Win on pens. Final 0 - 0, with on pens after extra time.

[willsclarets]

Completely feasible Sheffield United lose to Leeds then QPR away. Not only is it not over, if we win our next two games we might be in the top 2.

[alwaysaclaret]

Maybe the playoffs. Not getting a goalscorer in is hurting us, as with all the nil nil draws. I sometimes think that the defensive record, which is fantastic, has taken preference over winning.

Spot on this, just one wrong word, sometimes.

[NewClaret]

I feel the same way. It’s been a really frustrating season as we’ve always seemed on the cusp of achieving our potential, but not doing.

One thing to consider is that we seem to think that we’ll definitely improve, and that Leeds and Sheffield United will falter. The opposite could be the case: there’s no reason to assume we won’t fade. Today’s result at Preston shows that we haven’t improved as much as we thought we would by this point in the season.

I am fully prepared to eat my own words if we start blasting away opposition next week onwards.

I like the team, I like Scott Parker, but this has honestly been one of the most frustrating seasons I’ve seen. Perhaps I’m expecting too much.

So glad you’ve said this, I feel exactly the same. I was beginning to think it was just me.

I like Parker and think he’s done a good job this season but it’s also been an incredibly frustrating watch where I feel we’ve had the squad capable of going up automatically, but played within ourselves.