Next 8 Games

[jedi_master]

Portsmouth (H)
Oxford (A)
Plymouth (H)
Preston (H)
Sheff Wed (A)
Hull (A)
QPR (H)
Millwall (A)

Yes, yes “One game at a time” etc - that being said, this is a run of fixtures that this side should be coming out top of the league from afterwards in my opinion. I’m not suggesting they’re all bankers or anything of the sort (Oxford are no mugs) but that is a very tasty run of games.

How many points?.

[gandhisflipflop]

I’m going to say between 18 and 20 points

[quoonbeatz]

24

[morninbob]

Minimum of 20 I'd say.

[taio]

I was thinking about the next eight games yesterday. 18-20 points be a good return and as you say leave us top.

[RVclaret]

Looking forward to this run. Team starting to settle and likes of Tresòr potentially being added. First midweek game coming up with Plymouth too. Quite confident we’ll be top after these 8 games.

[gandhisflipflop]

Looking forward to this run. Team starting to settle and likes of Tresòr potentially being added. First midweek game coming up with Plymouth too. Quite confident we’ll be top after these 8 games.

Ramsay back in training too apparently

[RVclaret]

Ramsay back in training too apparently

He is on the grass again but will be December before we see him if lucky.

[gandhisflipflop]

He is on the grass again but will be December before we see him if lucky.

Hoping we can add a striker in Jan and get Ramsay and beyer back and we will be looking very strong indeed for the new year

[claretspice]

Wouldn't be a surprise if we found some of these games quite tricky, and in an odd way its no surprise two of our wins to date have come at fancied sides like Leeds and Luton who have tried to impose on us.

Attacking wise our strength at present is exploiting gaps when space is left, primarily via individual quality, not opening up a set defence. That's not a surprise and was the same 2 years ago pretty much up to the long world cup break. But it will mean we will need lots of patience in the games against teams that sit deep and it wouldn't be a surprise if we found ourselves a goal down to sucker punches on the counter attack once or twice in this run of games. I wouldn't be getting carried away with overconfidence about the next few games quite yet but doubtless the cohesion will grow as we go through those games.

[CrosspoolClarets]

24 points and we will be on trend for 120 points so that sounds fine by me

I suppose the law of averages means we’ll get about 18 points but that would still be reasonable as a return so I should predict that.

Any less and it’s poor and puts us up against it going into the tougher games.

[123EasyasBFC]

Hoping we can add a striker in Jan and get Ramsay and beyer back and we will be looking very strong indeed for the new year

I think flemmings performance yesterday showed he can play the 9 comfortably if foster isn’t fit. I think in Jan we should really aim to go all out for Whittaker

[Claretitus]

Whoa, whoa. Yes the next run of games looks fruitful, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. One at a time, and hopefully a good points haul, but we don’t want/ need complacency, or we’ll get bitten on the backside.

[northernpowerhouse]

For comparison 12 points from the next 8 games would get us to the same total Kompany had at that point. So for me anything over 15 would be fantastic.

[bfcjg]

18 to 20.

[Stonehouse]

I think flemmings performance yesterday showed he can play the 9 comfortably if foster isn’t fit. I think in Jan we should really aim to go all out for Whittaker

Flemming will miss the Millwall game as he’s only on loan.

[gtclaret]

SP has said that there is still a lot of work to do,in terms of cohesion and style of play.So I wouldn't be too confident just yet

[IanMcL]

Plymouth beat Sunderland yesterday.

This league is, as always, unreadable.

We will win though!

[123EasyasBFC]

Flemming will miss the Millwall game as he’s only on loan.

Let’s hope foster is fit for that one then

[AGENT_CLARET]

Portsmouth (H) W
Oxford (A) D
Plymouth (H) W
Preston (H) W
Sheff Wed (A) W
Hull (A) D
QPR (H) W
Millwall (A) W

20 Points

[mdd2]

For comparison 12 points from the next 8 games would get us to the same total Kompany had at that point. So for me anything over 15 would be fantastic.

It would but I doubt we will repeat the run we had last time in this league.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Flemming will miss the Millwall game as he’s only on loan.

Not necessarily, it's not always in place especially if we have to buy him at the end of the loan.

[ksrclaret]

I agree with those who are saying we don’t yet look equipped to consistently beat teams who will let us have more of the ball. The patterns of play in those moments definitely aren’t there yet and our general use of the ball isn’t sharp enough yet.

These next 8 games will be about us finding a settled starting side and trying to find more cohesion and fluidity. I’d imagine there will be quite a number of draws there leaving us with a points return of around 15.

[Goliath]

I agree with those who are saying we don’t yet look equipped to consistently beat teams who will let us have more of the ball. The patterns of play in those moments definitely aren’t there yet and our general use of the ball isn’t sharp enough yet.

These next 8 games will be about us finding a settled starting side and trying to find more cohesion and fluidity. I’d imagine there will be quite a number of draws there leaving us with a points return of around 15.

'In those moments'
Scott is that you?

In all seriousness I think some of those could be more challenging than suggested. Millwall, Oxford, hull away could all be tough if we don't start to show a better ability to control games with the ball and create better chances when we do have good possession.

[Anonymous Claret]

I don't think it is going to be that easy to pick up 20 points plus as some are suggesting. I think anything above 15-16 is a decent return. I am hoping for 18-20 and dreaming of 24 but as people have said we may find it difficult to break teams down. We did to Leeds what Rovers did to us. A lot of teams will defend deep and hope to hit us on the break.

[RVclaret]

I don't think it is going to be that easy to pick up 20 points plus as some are suggesting. I think anything above 15-16 is a decent return. I am hoping for 18-20 and dreaming of 24 but as people have said we may find it difficult to break teams down. We did to Leeds what Rovers did to us. A lot of teams will defend deep and hope to hit us on the break.

That’s where players like Sarmiento and Tresor will be important, like Benson was last time. Plus we haven’t seen Flemming & Foster together yet, while Cullen was also out against Rovers & we had 4 debuts with half of them not match fit and 1 training session. I just can’t see many Champ defences handling both of them & I’m personally quite excited to see it.

[summitclaret]

I agree with those saying don't get carried away/one game at a time. I also have concerns about our ability to break down defensive tactics at home. Indeed I think we'll get more points away.

However, I think that we'll get more control with Cullen playing regularly and Flemming at number 10, with hopefully Foster fit and well.

I know it may be wishful thinking, but I see Tresor as the key to getting at low block teams.

[Ric_C]

That’s where players like Sarmiento and Tresor will be important, like Benson was last time. Plus we haven’t seen Flemming & Foster together yet, while Cullen was also out against Rovers & we had 4 debuts with half of them not match fit and 1 training session. I just can’t see many Champ defences handling both of them & I’m personally quite excited to see it.

Was actually going to post this. Some games will be 50/50, others will be like yesterday where we setup to play on the counter, and others against the lower teams will be trying to break down a low block. Personally in those games I'd play Foster and Flemming up top and get plenty of crosses into the box. this is where players like Tresor, Benson (hopefully) and Sarmiento come into play.

[SirBob]

Flemming will miss the Millwall game as he’s only on loan.

I thought there was rule brought in a couple of years back banning this kind of thing?

Edit: it’s in fact the other way around

[alwaysaclaret]

I’m going to say between 18 and 20 points

Not saying we won't, but I'd be interested to know where you expect us to drop points ?

[HahaYeah]

16 points from those 8 games would be achievable and a great return.

[ashtonlongsider]

Sorry but I can only see one game and that's Portsmouth.

[Holmeclaret]

I’d forgotten that Plymouth were now in the Championship. I wonder if they still have that animosity towards us which was bizarre given the geographic distances between the two clubs.

[Anonymous Claret]

That’s where players like Sarmiento and Tresor will be important, like Benson was last time. Plus we haven’t seen Flemming & Foster together yet, while Cullen was also out against Rovers & we had 4 debuts with half of them not match fit and 1 training session. I just can’t see many Champ defences handling both of them & I’m personally quite excited to see it.

I agree with you that we have the talent to break teams down. I am also excited to see the players at our disposal trying to do this.
I think that it may take a couple of months on the training ground before everything fully clicks as our players become more familiar with each others movement and decision making etc. As with the Kompany promotion, especially early on in the season we may not be victorious in every game that we expect to win.

[ElectroClaret]

Pompey are pretty poor, for that reason I reckon they well may come
for a point and just park the bus.

Up to us to figure a way round em.

[gandhisflipflop]

Not saying we won't, but I'd be interested to know where you expect us to drop points ?

To be honest, my prediction was a low estimate. But qpr and millwall we dropped 4 points against last time around, and there’s always Oxford who will be no mugs still riding a wave from promotion l.

[Casper2]

I’d forgotten that Plymouth were now in the Championship. I wonder if they still have that animosity towards us which was bizarre given the geographic distances between the two clubs.

It’s not that bizarre bearing in mind we beat them in the playoffs after they had booked their coaches to Wembley, plus we relegated them the Waddle season.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

15 + would be good. Koleosho’s fitness and Foster’s return will be key to getting us more.

[summitclaret]

Pompey are pretty poor, for that reason I reckon they well may come
for a point and just park the bus.

Up to us to figure a way round em.

I think every team will park the bus at the Turf, except Leeds as their defence is poor.

[Oshkoshclaret]

This thread worries me. My entire life watching Burnley there has been one constant: when expectations are high, we do badly.

[Wokingclaret]

It’s not that bizarre bearing in mind we beat them in the playoffs after they had booked their coaches to Wembley, plus we relegated them the Waddle season.

And trying to get Whitaker

[Dark Cloud]

There's a danger that we have ridiculously high expectations because once Kompany's team got into their stride it was basically a very long victory parade, but we have to remember it took until the end of October for that team to fully gel. Meanwhile we've got games against teams who unlike Luton and Leeds, won't fancy beating us, but will do everything in their power to spoil the game, frustrate us and steal an undeserved point. Whether we have the quality and guile up top of someone like Tella up or Benny when he was really firing is possibly an issue, because after Foster it's really Houdini and Jay which doesn't look threatening enough. Although I guess we could see more of Flemming leading the line after yesterday.

[Wokingclaret]

There's a danger that we have ridiculously high expectations because once Kompany's team got into their stride it was basically a very long victory parade, but we have to remember it took until the end of October for that team to fully gel. Meanwhile we've got games against teams who unlike Luton and Leeds, won't fancy beating us, but will do everything in their power to spoil the game, frustrate us and steal an undeserved point. Whether we have the quality and guile up top of someone like Tella up or Benny when he was really firing is possibly an issue, because after Foster it's really Houdini and Jay which doesn't look threatening enough. Although I guess we could see more of Flemming leading the line after yesterday.

Yes got to prove we can come back from going behind, we're still developing.

[roperclaret]

I’d be happy with 15 or more

[Buxtonclaret]

We SHOULD get a good points haul.
But things often go like they should.
We've still a lot of 'bedding in' to do too.

[boatshed bill]

I think flemmings performance yesterday showed he can play the 9 comfortably if foster isn’t fit. I think in Jan we should really aim to go all out for Whittaker

If you'd seen Whittaker yesterday you may have a different opinion.

[Goody1975]

Points is one thing but the position will depend on how our rivals get on.

Here are the main contenders and their fixtures over the next eight games.

Screenshot (71).png (30.64 KiB) Viewed 2835 times

[NewClaret]

I don't think it is going to be that easy to pick up 20 points plus as some are suggesting. I think anything above 15-16 is a decent return. I am hoping for 18-20 and dreaming of 24 but as people have said we may find it difficult to break teams down. We did to Leeds what Rovers did to us. A lot of teams will defend deep and hope to hit us on the break.

Completely agree.

We’ll line up against these teams with far more quality in our side, but they’ll likely press us hard, sit in shape and make it difficult to break them down.

We’ll pick up plenty of frustrating draws, I imagine.

I’d like to see Parker working a lot on corners/set pieces this week because we should have a lot of them and nicking one against these teams will change games. We also need to be much better at overloads/whatever patterns he wants to use to break teams down that sit in a low block because we didn’t create much against Rovers at all.

Just need to take them one at a time and hopefully use this period to establish some confidence in the team.

[Stonehouse]

Points is one thing but the position will depend on how our rivals get on.

Here are the main contenders and their fixtures over the next eight games.


Screenshot (71).png

It’s a bit early in the season to start thinking about what our rivals are doing .I seem to remember last time some of the posters were saying that Sheff Utd had won the league by the end of September.

[Quickenthetempo]

24 points. If you want to win the league we will need to win 9 or 10 on the bounce at some stage.

This looks a good opportunity.