congrats leeds and sheff u

[Rileybobs]

Maths aside what it boils down to is whether Parker will try to attack more or whether he'll just use the same safe tactics we've already seen.
For me if he was going to do that he would have started 2-3 games ago.
Parker has been good for us overall but i'm worried that his inclination towards safety is his achilles heel.

It’s clearly getting to that point of the season where Parker will have to take more risks. But going too far in that direction could actually have the opposite effect and leave us cut adrift. Sunderland may regret not having a more safety first approach in stoppage time today when they were recklessly galavanting forward and losing the ball with players over-committing to the attack. Obviously Farke’s positive approach will be lauded, but what about Le Bris’?

As is often the case, someone’s biggest strength can also be their biggest weakness - and this certainly rings true with Parker. But it makes me laugh how people make the situation sound so simple - as if we can flick a switch and rather than take a draw have a 50/50 chance of a win or defeat. It doesn’t work like that.

Parker seems like quite an intelligent bloke and I’m sure he’ll realise that we need to take more risks in order to catch the leading pack. But equally I don’t think this means scrapping the fundamentals that see us in a strong league position. I also don’t agree that he would have changed his approach 2-3 games ago. He will be monitoring the situation regarding our competition, which has changed tonight, and will change again following Leeds’ visit to Brammall Lane this time next week. We may be in a position then where we have to match Sheff Utd’s results and gamble on beating them at home. This would still mean being pragmatic and taking the odd draw in certain situations.

[CoolClaret]

Some people just lack any nuance.

They certainly do and isn't it just exhausting?

[kevinlasagne]

It’s clearly getting to that point of the season where Parker will have to take more risks. But going too far in that direction could actually have the opposite effect and leave us cut adrift. Sunderland may regret not having a more safety first approach in stoppage time today when they were recklessly galavanting forward and losing the ball with players over-committing to the attack. Obviously Farke’s positive approach will be lauded, but what about Le Bris’?

As is often the case, someone’s biggest strength can also be their biggest weakness - and this certainly rings true with Parker. But it makes me laugh how people make the situation sound so simple - as if we can flick a switch and rather than take a draw have a 50/50 chance of a win or defeat. It doesn’t work like that.

Parker seems like quite an intelligent bloke and I’m sure he’ll realise that we need to take more risks in order to catch the leading pack. But equally I don’t think this means scrapping the fundamentals that see us in a strong league position. I also don’t agree that he would have changed his approach 2-3 games ago. He will be monitoring the situation regarding our competition, which has changed tonight, and will change again following Leeds’ visit to Brammall Lane this time next week. We may be in a position then where we have to match Sheff Utd’s results and gamble on beating them at home. This would still mean being pragmatic and taking the odd draw in certain situations.

Fair points.

Re flicking a switch for draws - I see your logic but it works both ways; even if you play for the draw you still might lose, so why not push a little harder for the win?

I dont expect him to change the entire approach but theres been a few games recently that have been crying out for Barnes so why not throw him on with a decent amount of time to spare?

On reflection however the title of this thread may have been a little dramatic, we do still have a chance if SU dont win on monday and we beat the owls.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I mean, there’s a whole new can of worms there if you’re saying we won’t win enough of our remaining games (largely against teams outside the top 6) to finish in the top two, but will then be able to win at least 66% of our play off games….

…but I’ll leave you to ponder that and wish you goodnight.

We don’t have to win any play off games.

Draw all of them 0-0 just win on pens

[TheFamilyCat]

We don’t have to win any play off games.

Draw all of them 0-0 just win on pens

I couldn't think of a more fitting end to the season.

[bumba]

I don't see us winning the play offs either to be honest, Sunderland would be my favourites to win them.
Would hate that lot at any point in the play offs it could turn out to be ultimate karma for winning the league at Ewood and Flemming with the flag this season.
Sadly don't see us catching the top two though and we don't really deserve too be top two either if we're all honest about it.

[mikeS]

At the moment we are six points short so the tactics needed are about winning, not bloody drawing and this idea we have done something spectacular by the string of not conceding in games, is irrelevant. We're third, six points worse off automatic promotion than Sheffield. Keep winning Clarets.

[Burnley1989]

5 points short I think

[jlup1980]

Leeds and Sheff U seem to have the extra something we had under VK. They're turning poor performances into wins, or finding a way late in games to get a win. It's highly unlikely they'll be caught. We would need to win 10 of the last 13 to stand any chance, and I just can't see that happening, as we've shown we don't have the firepower.

I hope we make it through the play-offs though, as next season will be far more competitive in this league. It's been a four horse race for the majority of the season.

Luton have been a non-event. I can't see Leicester, Ipswich or Southampton being THAT poor next season. Plus we'll have Tom Brady's Birmingham coming up, and possibly even Ryan Reynolds with Wrexham. They won't be afraid of spending. It's no guarantee that they'll do well, but I think the overall quality of the league will be higher as a result.

[Clovius Boofus]

We aint catching them.

Well there you go - we've been told.

[JohnMcGreal]

It’s clearly getting to that point of the season where Parker will have to take more risks. But going too far in that direction could actually have the opposite effect and leave us cut adrift. Sunderland may regret not having a more safety first approach in stoppage time today when they were recklessly galavanting forward and losing the ball with players over-committing to the attack. Obviously Farke’s positive approach will be lauded, but what about Le Bris’?

As is often the case, someone’s biggest strength can also be their biggest weakness - and this certainly rings true with Parker. But it makes me laugh how people make the situation sound so simple - as if we can flick a switch and rather than take a draw have a 50/50 chance of a win or defeat. It doesn’t work like that.

Parker seems like quite an intelligent bloke and I’m sure he’ll realise that we need to take more risks in order to catch the leading pack. But equally I don’t think this means scrapping the fundamentals that see us in a strong league position. I also don’t agree that he would have changed his approach 2-3 games ago. He will be monitoring the situation regarding our competition, which has changed tonight, and will change again following Leeds’ visit to Brammall Lane this time next week. We may be in a position then where we have to match Sheff Utd’s results and gamble on beating them at home. This would still mean being pragmatic and taking the odd draw in certain situations.

That's assuming that the reason we've been picking up so many draws is because of Parker's pragmatism and his lack of will to try and win the game.

I think on occasion that's been true. He's not the most adventurous manager and plays it safe too often for my liking. But another possible factor that often gets overlooked is that the players we have (particularly in attacking positions) are just not good enough to win games at the frequency we need to finish in the top 2.

You look at Flemming, Foster, Anthony, Hannibal, Koleosho etc, and although some of them have had their moments, they don't look quite good enough for what we want to achieve this season.

The one hope might be Edwards. He's shown something different in the short glimpses we've had of him and if he turns out to be the match winner we need, everything could change yet.

Here's hoping.

[Culmclaret]

The good thing about football is that it is unpredictable. Nothing is anywhere near decided yet. We are creating more chances. If we can put a higher proportion of them away we stand a chance.

[evensteadiereddie]

"congrats leeds and sheff u" ?
Barmy even by this board's standards.

[warksclaret]

Our problem has been dropping points when leading off the weekend games - we have been better playing catch up. Sadly we have another shitty Friday game again this week.

If we can't beat Sheff Wed on Friday with the pressure on us, we dont deserve auto promo

I just hope Foster, Fleming and Anthony have been doing practice shooting this week. I rewatched the whole of the Preston game yesterday and there were 3 huge (and easy) goal opportunities, and had we got the 3 points there would be less doom and gloom around this site

We may not have natural goal scorers but we also let ourselves down in set pieces where we are shocking. How many corner takers have we tried, and how many yielded goals. Who attacks the ball when there is the occasional good corner. Who is our free kick taker when we get close to their goal.You have to question at present the value we are getting from our set piece coach.The same goes for throw ins

[claretonthecoast1882]

The good news with Leeds & Sheff Utd being so good and better than us, then we are exactly in the league where we should be and we can all be spared the negative nonsense posted on here.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The good news with Leeds & Sheff Utd being so good and better than us, then we are exactly in the league where we should be and we can all be spared the negative nonsense posted on here.

The irony is Sheffield don’t even look a good side. They can just put the onion in the basket.

Watched them against Boro the other day and I thought technically and tactically they looked poor. But they just create and score chances.

[NL Claret]

Read OP and stopped when I checked that we are in February.

[JohnMac]

Leeds took 4 points from their last 6 games in the previous season. It really isn't all over yet.

[pureclaret]

I do feel that past performance can be a guide of what can happen if everything remains the same for all the teams in the league, but ant team that has an upturn or downturn in form can make a difference to all the other teams positions.
Using stats and percentages is only a guide I was once told that if you sit on metal plates A / B with 1 under each cheek A at 65c and B at -50c on average you are sitting comfy but both will burn your arse off.

So there are 39 points to play for and until we cant get enough points to give 1/2 places in the league I will carry on supporting the team in a positive term

[DavidEyresLeftFoot]

I can’t understand this narrative about sheff Utd being so good. We were miles better than them at their place. I watched their game against bottom of the table Luton on the weekend. They could have lost by 4 or 5 and it wouldn’t have flattered Luton. Fair enough they pulled it out of the bag but I haven’t seen us get hammered by anyone this season. Plus sheff Utd have probably the toughest run in. A win on Friday and Leeds beat sheff Utd……we’re right back in it.

[Burnley87]

If we draw another game 0-0 this season he has to go because he doesn’t see the picture in front of him

If with 30 mins to go we aren’t going hard and I mean really hard to win games of football with the risk of losing he doesn’t have the Killer instinct needed or required at this stage

[Newcastleclaret93]

Leeds took 4 points from their last 6 games in the previous season. It really isn't all over yet.

Leeds can take four points of there last 6 games this season. If they win the rest we won’t catch them

[TPClaret]

Can’t believe how easy our fans give up. Hope the team haven’t given up!

[Ric_C]

I can’t understand this narrative about sheff Utd being so good. We were miles better than them at their place. I watched their game against bottom of the table Luton on the weekend. They could have lost by 4 or 5 and it wouldn’t have flattered Luton. Fair enough they pulled it out of the bag but I haven’t seen us get hammered by anyone this season. Plus sheff Utd have probably the toughest run in. A win on Friday and Leeds beat sheff Utd……we’re right back in it.

Exactly this

[GetIntoEm]

Some pretty cowardly posts going on here. Pathetic

[Culmclaret]

I bet not many Sheff U fans think they already up

[SydneyClaret]

And the winner of tw@ of the day goes to the original poster of this thread. Seriously, there’s 12 games left yet. Get a grip.

[clarets1978]

I'm sure there was plenty of people said that there was no way we was going to get promoted, let alone win the league after Boxing Day in 2015 and look how that turned out. Nobody can see into the future so why not just get behind the team?

[LoveCurryPies]

I think Leeds have been consistently strong and looking like they will get automatic promotion.

However, it’s going to be neck and neck with Sheffield.

If we end up in the playoffs, then that is a reflection of our inability to sign a top striker and a lack of goals all season.

Bring on the next match!

[Swizzlestick]

"put the onion in the basket" is a new one.

[jojomk1]

The main difference between ourselves and the other two is the intensity of their style of play
We continue to play in a methodical way with very little intensity or speed irrespective of scoreline
When Leeds or Sheff Utd are behind or drawing in games they just give it a good go, last night being a classic example
Put the opposition under intense pressure and there is a good chance they will capitulate
We just don't do that, hence our lack of goals
All sports commentators praise our defensive records but also state our inability to score being the major weakness
If supporters are now pinning our auto promotion hopes on Sheff Utd losing to both Leeds and us then it's a desperate call

[Rileybobs]

That's assuming that the reason we've been picking up so many draws is because of Parker's pragmatism and his lack of will to try and win the game.

I think on occasion that's been true. He's not the most adventurous manager and plays it safe too often for my liking. But another possible factor that often gets overlooked is that the players we have (particularly in attacking positions) are just not good enough to win games at the frequency we need to finish in the top 2.

You look at Flemming, Foster, Anthony, Hannibal, Koleosho etc, and although some of them have had their moments, they don't look quite good enough for what we want to achieve this season.

The one hope might be Edwards. He's shown something different in the short glimpses we've had of him and if he turns out to be the match winner we need, everything could change yet.

Here's hoping.

Agreed. This is what I meant on another point about people making the situation sound so simple, as if a more risk taking approach is guaranteed to pick up more points. Obviously we’re getting to the point where taking that risk is a no brainer as there’s little to lose, but we’re still within striking distance and there are signs that we are looking more dangerous in attack.

[ClaretPete001]

Agreed. This is what I meant on another point about people making the situation sound so simple, as if a more risk taking approach is guaranteed to pick up more points. Obviously we’re getting to the point where taking that risk is a no brainer as there’s little to lose, but we’re still within striking distance and there are signs that we are looking more dangerous in attack.

I'm not sure we are tbh. We look good against the mid table, lower end of the table sides but not against the better sides. The issue is the number of squandered chances against the average teams - Preston being the latest example.

It was obvious from the off we weren't strong enough up front and it's no surprise that we are struggling to compete with the top two.

This is not aimed at you but at the wider thread. The truth is not some mysterious world that exists somewhere else. We've have debates about striker quality but our strikers did not look good enough at the start and have looked poor against the better sides.

Our main striker barely plays 25 games a season and has only had one good season and our second striker is 35 (Jay Rod/Barnes). Our third striker has been farmed off elsewhere and our fourth striker doesn't want to play for us and is now in Portugal. Kolosheo has begun where he left off last season with no end product and currently an attacking midfielder is preferred to our striker leading the line because our Eur11 million striker can't do it.

We don't live in some Trumpian other reality. We are where we are because the club failed to invest in a striker and we have a manager who has a preferred style without the likes of Mitrovic or Solanki.

[Vincent'sCap]

We aint catching them. Leeds are on track for 100 points, Sheff u for 98.
Getting to 98+ points is a bridge to far for us this year. Shame, but all things considered the lads are doing us proud.
It aint over til its over but im preparing myself for the stress of the play offs.

UTC

Here we go again Sheffield United getting promoted because they have opened a tiny gap sit down fella no panic at our end we will finish above them just like the last time.

[JohnMac]

Leeds can take four points of there last 6 games this season. If they win the rest we won’t catch them

So the 14 points they would drop minus the 7 plus goal difference, let's call it 6 points means we could catch them and overtake them quite comfortably.

All semantics obviously but the maths prove otherwise.

[Darnhill Claret]

Well, if we are stating that Parker is happy with 0-0 draws, and he's achieved, (is it 12?), then that must easily make him the best manager in the division.

[morninbob]

I can’t understand this narrative about sheff Utd being so good. We were miles better than them at their place. I watched their game against bottom of the table Luton on the weekend. They could have lost by 4 or 5 and it wouldn’t have flattered Luton. Fair enough they pulled it out of the bag but I haven’t seen us get hammered by anyone this season. Plus sheff Utd have probably the toughest run in. A win on Friday and Leeds beat sheff Utd……we’re right back in it.

They aren't more good, they just win more games than us.

[boatshed bill]

I'm beginning to wonder if some people actual enjoy football.

[Newcastleclaret93]

So the 14 points they would drop minus the 7 plus goal difference, let's call it 6 points means we could catch them and overtake them quite comfortably.

All semantics obviously but the maths prove otherwise.

4 points plus 21 points = 25 points. 72 plus 25 = 97 points

Burnley are not going to get 32 points from the next 13 games

[Jakubclaret]

Some pretty cowardly posts going on here. Pathetic

Perhaps some people are in preparation to embrace reality. Always makes me chuckle how legitimate concerns are interpreted as not getting behind the team. You can do both you can get behind the team whilst also having doubts.

[dandeclaret]

Mathematical odds and bettings odds are two different things you realise?

Go on then, educate us on this one.... should be good. Just for reference here, I've worked for the worlds largest bookmakers for the last 13 years, am a successful punter, and have a strong grasp of the mathematics behind probability and how they fit into betting - so go as detailed as you like on your answer.

[warksclaret]

Bring back 2 points per win and we would walk the division

[GetIntoEm]

Perhaps some people are in preparation to embrace reality. Always makes me chuckle how legitimate concerns are interpreted as not getting behind the team. You can do both you can get behind the team whilst also having doubts.

Not really. Throwing the towel in is accepting defeat

[Jakubclaret]

Not really. Throwing the towel in is accepting defeat

There's still enough points to play for but it's more likely that Sheffield united will clinch the last auto spot. It wasnt necessarily directed towards you I actually misquoted the wrong poster. It's almost as if you can only do 1 or the other regarding concerns & getting behind the team when you can do both. Having doubts & raising questions doesn't mean you aren't getting behind the team it isn't 1 or the other.

[greeny364]

We have the easiest run in. No team can score against us and we have Sheff UTD to come at home. We have Edwards to come in who is a game changer and the bench is looking much much stronger now with the returning players.

Lots of football to be played yet

The bench is indeed looking stronger and I was excited by it, but parker doesn't like using it. Leeds used theirs excellently last night. We rarely touch it.

[Dyched]

We need the type of form we had between 10th November - 4th Jan

8 Wins
4 Draws
Plus the extra game with a win would make 31 points. That’ll take us to 96 points. So we’re not asking for something beyond this team.

If we can now roll off 3 or 4 wins in a row in the league, we’d give ourselves a chance. We need to match Sunderland or better and gain 3 points over Sheff Utd before we play them.

[Rileybobs]

I'm not sure we are tbh. We look good against the mid table, lower end of the table sides but not against the better sides. The issue is the number of squandered chances against the average teams - Preston being the latest example.

It was obvious from the off we weren't strong enough up front and it's no surprise that we are struggling to compete with the top two.

This is not aimed at you but at the wider thread. The truth is not some mysterious world that exists somewhere else. We've have debates about striker quality but our strikers did not look good enough at the start and have looked poor against the better sides.

Our main striker barely plays 25 games a season and has only had one good season and our second striker is 35 (Jay Rod/Barnes). Our third striker has been farmed off elsewhere and our fourth striker doesn't want to play for us and is now in Portugal. Kolosheo has begun where he left off last season with no end product and currently an attacking midfielder is preferred to our striker leading the line because our Eur11 million striker can't do it.

We don't live in some Trumpian other reality. We are where we are because the club failed to invest in a striker and we have a manager who has a preferred style without the likes of Mitrovic or Solanki.

I agree, we are light on quality in forward areas, without a doubt. And this further reinforces the point I'm making about this not being as simple as throwing caution to the wind. Some people have suggested we wouldn't have won last night's game had we been in Leeds' position, and they say this as a criticism of the manager's approach - whereas the truth is we probably wouldn't have won the game, but the reason being that our players aren't as good as Leeds'.

[TPClaret]

Don’t seem to remember fans chucking the towel in in 2000 when we nicked 2nd place on the last day of the season at Scunny

[Dyched]

I agree, we are light on quality in forward areas, without a doubt. And this further reinforces the point I'm making about this not being as simple as throwing caution to the wind. Some people have suggested we wouldn't have won last night's game had we been in Leeds' position, and they say this as a criticism of the manager's approach - whereas the truth is we probably wouldn't have won the game, but the reason being that our players aren't as good as Leeds'.

100%. If Fosters chances on Saturday would have fallen to say 13-14 Danny Ings, we’s have won 2-0 and the “approach” would have been called spot on by everyone.

[gtclaret]

It's not negative to say that as things stand,we are not going to get enough points to finish in the top two.For example,let's take a typical 5 games.Sheff Utd may lose one,but win four (12 points). Whilst we we probably win two and draw three, without conceding (9 points), that's the problem and unless we change this will not change.Each in particular home game has a 0-0 feeling to it. Let's be honest, what is the most likely scoreline on Friday.If Sheffield Wednesday set themselves up right and manage the game,time waste etc,we just hope we get lucky and score.I don't know why Benson and Shelvey are not being used,but we have to make changes or it will be over very soon