I remember 3 promotions to to top tier, Dyche x2 ans Adamson, although we comfortably won promotion on all 3 occasions, there were many occasions that we had to battle out results. This time is seems so different, its like a stroll in the park, the opposition seems so inept, lacking in any quality. Are they that bad, are we so good or it is just my perception?

Sorry about the typo errors, I'm not wearing my reading specs

gtclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:14 am

I remember 3 promotions to to top tier, Dyche x2 ans Adamson, although we comfortably won promotion on all 3 occasions, there were many occasions that we had to battle out results. This time is seems so different, its like a stroll in the park, the opposition seems so inept, lacking in any quality. Are they that bad, are we so good or it is just my perception?

Did you forget about Coyle?

Anonymous Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:17 am

Did you forget about Coyle?

Yes, I did forget about Coyle, although it was entertaining, it certainly wasn't easy

It seems easy but just imagine if THB and Beyer get long term injuries or if we lose our skipper for a considerable amount of time. For now, we just need to keep gathering the points as efficiently as possible

I’ve never presumed that Burnley will win before. Whoever we have next in the fixture list - we’ll win that one then the next one. Even if we are losing, I’m confident that we’ll still win. It’s mad.

It really isn't easy at all. We're an excellent team but not the finished article. It's our hard work that is making it look easy at times.

Long way to go. Calm down.

I don't think we ever have had it this easy in terms of the gulf between us and most sides in the league. I do wonder if it shows that the gap between the Premier League and the Championship is as wide as it's ever been. Just look at Jack Cork. It's like a stroll in the park for him. Having said that the inbuilt mentality of being a Burnley fan still makes me think something is going to go wrong!

The standard in the Championship is the worst it's been and other club's supporters admit that. We are however, very, very good and it shows with us putting unbeaten runs together whereas other teams except Sheff United are inconsistent.

quoonbeatz wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:23 am

It really isn't easy at all. We're an excellent team but not the finished article. It's our hard work that is making it look easy at times.

This.

I’ve been paying close attention to the players interviews lately, all of them make it clear how much hard work is going on behind the scenes. Brownhill last night on Sky said it and JBG pre-United made mention of the amount of meetings and long days - he said he can’t believe how much VK knows about the opposition and wonders how he finds the time to analyse them so much.

It's a good job VK doesn't share this complacent attitude.

It’s been mentioned a few times by the staff at Barnfield what long hours VK and Bellamy put in compared to the previous regime.

To expand on things slightly has team with an eleven point gap (twelve with GD taken into account) been caught with less than half a season left?

Also, whilst I think promotion is all but certain winning the title isn't guaranteed as Sheff United are only three points behind.

Stan Tastic wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:32 am

It's a good job VK doesn't share this complacent attitude.

I don't think anyone is being complacent. Just commenting on the way we are playing and our standard compared to the standard of the opposition. How about answering the question StanTastic? Can you point to a promotion season where we have consistently out performed teams in the way we have so far this season?

I think you only have to look at the team occupying the 3rd spot in the league to see how bad the championship is this season

Watching us this season is a joy. Part of that is the sheer contrast with the turgid dross served up over the past few years but most is the refreshing, youthful spirit of a side that is being schooled by a master who knows modern football. VK is class personified and he knows it's still a work in progress and will not count his chickens but keep on, quietly under-stated, keeping on. Whatever happens in the remainder of this season, what he has achieved in the last six months is simply amazing.

Arrogance is our biggest danger.

I hope the whingers can see that ball retention knackers the opposition.

Bringing players on with pace kills a tiring defence. The face on the defender at 93 mins last night trying to keep up with Tella was hilarious.

I love this league. I know we need the money, but just now I think of promotion as a punishment.

It isn't easy but we are making it appear easy due to our quality and work ethic.

What marks this squad out is the sheer amount of match winners we now possess, last night a prime example we bring on Taylor and Tella and they combine for the 3rd.

I'm actually glad Sheff Utd are pushing us all the time as that competition will ensure we don't become complacent.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 12:40 pm

I'm actually glad Sheff Utd are pushing us all the time as that competition will ensure we don't become complacent.

It's probably good as well that Sheff utd are opening up a gap as those teams below will start to think that automatic promotion is disappearing and therefore thir mindset changes.

Let's not get too complacent lads. I'm sure VK won't allow the players to be.

It's 'easy' when we have this team playing week in, week out - but a key injury to the likes of Cork, Cullen or THB and things might look different. We cannot count our chickens and just need to keep putting teams away, and sensibly using the squad.

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 12:17 pm

Arrogance is our biggest danger.

I hope the whingers can see that ball retention knackers the opposition.

Bringing players on with pace kills a tiring defence. The face on the defender at 93 mins last night trying to keep up with Tella was hilarious.

I love this league. I know we need the money, but just now I think of promotion as a punishment.

Absolutely.
Our performances are terrific and luck, if and when it's needed, seems to be going our way.
When we hit a relatively poor run, as we're bound to, I'm sure Kompany will be ready to keep the players focused on playing our way through it just as he is doing now in the good times.
It's us, the fans, that need to avoid getting carried away.
We're loving every minute of it, of course we are, but things can change.

As above, we’re working really hard to get every point. It might look easy but it isn’t. We saw at Bramhall Lane what happens if we’re slightly off it. Or in that 2nd half v Blackpool.

I’m enjoying it, it’s great to watch and we should do it from here. But we’re an injury to Cork or one of our centre halves away from it being a much bigger struggle. We’ve actually been quite fortunate so far in that injuries have happened in areas where we’ve loads of options.

The team on and off the pitch are making it look easy.

Just to add, our January / Feb offers a tricky run of fixtures.

Away trips to Millwall (3rd best home record in the league behind us and Sheffield), Luton and Norwich (new manager).

Home games against a rejuvenated West Brom, Watford and local derby with PNE.

Not expecting that run to be easy at all.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:02 pm

Just to add, our January / Feb offers a tricky run of fixtures.

Away trips to Millwall (3rd best home record in the league behind us and Sheffield), Luton and Norwich (new manager).

Home games against a rejuvenated West Brom, Watford and local derby with PNE.

Not expecting that run to be easy at all.

Boro, Sunderland and Birmingham looked tricky. If this season has taught us anything it's don't worry about the fixtures.

nothing is easy, we are seeing the result of a smart man and his staff putting in lots of hard work, it's an absolute joy to behold

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:02 pm

Just to add, our January / Feb offers a tricky run of fixtures.

Away trips to Millwall (3rd best home record in the league behind us and Sheffield), Luton and Norwich (new manager).

Home games against a rejuvenated West Brom, Watford and local derby with PNE.

Not expecting that run to be easy at all.

Agree RV.

Do feel that Stoke, Swansea and “Coverntry” games are important in that sense.

The best players in any sport make their game look easy. The same can be said for the best teams. We’ve made the game look easy all season tbh and more so than we did in any of the other promotion seasons that I remember. I won’t be surprised if we break 100 points tbh.

At the start I thought if we don’t finish top 6 we have one something wrong.Every team might have one or two decent players but most are stuck with the same team year upon year due to finance.You already know they ain’t good enough.We had a few quid but our recruiting as been absolutely superb.Vitinho-THb-beyer-Ian-cullen-zaroury-benson have all been outstanding.I think Muric is doing well now also take the sheff u game out he’s been decent lately.you don’t get too cocky but this team won’t get beat often I think we go up comfortably.Fair play to sheff u though they have stuck with us.

I actually think that the games vs Stoke and Swansea are a good opportunity to pile up some points. Stoke have only won one of their last five home games and Swansea have not won any of their last eight games home or away. We marmalised Swansea at Turf Moor they really are low hanging fruit. The only advantage they have is the possible disruption due to the amount of travel for Burnley and the close proximity of games.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:25 pm

Agree RV.

Do feel that Stoke, Swansea and “Coverntry” games are important in that sense.

Thankfully, looking and planning fixtures is utterly pointless. They aren't turning into reality when they happen.

gtclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:19 am

Yes, I did forget about Coyle, although it was entertaining, it certainly wasn't easy

Thats Blasphemous forgetting about Coyle to some on here

Has it ever been this easy?
Don't count your chickens.....unless of course you're called old Ma Venky

The commentator on Sky said something about judging a team on how they perform against Burnley, who are the best team in the league.

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 4:08 pm

The commentator on Sky said something about judging a team on how they perform against Burnley, who are the best team in the league.

I watch the 'Sheff United Way' YouTube channel for their predictions and they reckon we "WIN" games whereas they are just not losing games - every game is a struggle for them but they believe/hope? that we will have to lose form at some stage even though I have pointed out our squad depth and how we have scored most of our goals from 'non forwards' with only 12 of our 49 league goals to date coming from the main striker role.

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 4:08 pm

The commentator on Sky said something about judging a team on how they perform against Burnley, who are the best team in the league.

They also said that the referee was the MOTM.