The Run In - Jeopardy

[Woodleyclaret]

Spoke to two dog walkers today in Lytham one Burnley fan hid mate Leeds fan.We all agreed it's us and Leeds for top 2 and Sheffield United having the nightmare of a trip to Wembley. I think Coventry will get a draw on Friday and we will beat Bristol to go second.Then a win away at Coventry and another v Norwich and we are well on course for automatically going up.I still feel we will go up as Champions with Leeds in second.UTC

[boatshed bill]

At this point why do many assume Leeds will finish top when they aren't even the best side in the division to date?

Just wondered

Why do you think they are not the best side in the division?

[Spijed]

Why do you think they are not the best side in the division?

If it wasn't for a two point deduction at the start of the season Sheffield United would be clear by two points at the top of the table.

That's what makes the Blades currently the best side in the championship.

[boatshed bill]

If it wasn't for a two point deduction at the start of the season Sheffield United would be clear by two points at the top of the table.

That's what makes the Blades currently the best side in the championship.

I suppose you could see it that way.
From what I have seen, though, Leeds are the best football team in the division.

[blatherwickstattoos]

I suppose you could see it that way.
From what I have seen, though, Leeds are the best football team in the division.

I thought Sunderland have been the best we’ve faced.

[Dark Cloud]

What comes as quite a shock when you stop and think about it is that the Sheffield U game feels like it's just around the corner and like it's going to be a decider and yet there's 5 massive and extremely tough games before then and actually in quite a short timeframe. We start this weekend and admittedly we get a week between Bristol City and Coventry, but then have 3 in 6 days and that's going to be bloody hard for any team who really can't afford a slip up of any kind. Obviously we then get a week before Watford, but that run of games is daunting to say the least and if we emerge from Watford ready for Sheffield still in the situation we are now (or better) that really will have been some fortnight!!

[dsr]

What comes as quite a shock when you stop and think about it is that the Sheffield U game feels like it's just around the corner and like it's going to be a decider and yet there's 5 massive and extremely tough games before then and actually in quite a short timeframe. We start this weekend and admittedly we get a week between Bristol City and Coventry, but then have 3 in 6 days and that's going to be bloody hard for any team who really can't afford a slip up of any kind. Obviously we then get a week before Watford, but that run of games is daunting to say the least and if we emerge from Watford ready for Sheffield still in the situation we are now (or better) that really will have been some fortnight!!

Look on the bright side. the "three in six days" is actually three in 7 and a half days, and it comes after 1 game in 19 days so the poor things will be well rested. (Apart from the international players, of course, who may have played as many as three games in three weeks.)

[Rileybobs]

Look on the bright side. the "three in six days" is actually three in 7 and a half days, and it comes after 1 game in 19 days so the poor things will be well rested. (Apart from the international players, of course, who may have played as many as three games in three weeks.)

It's actually 3 games in less than 6 and a half days.

And when people talk about playing a number of games in a short period of time being difficult, they're not expecting sympathy towards the players, they're just recognising the physical demands that such a schedule will put on the players. This is all backed up by actual sports science, but if you think you know better I'd love to read your explanation.

[dsr]

It's actually 3 games in less than 6 and a half days.

And when people talk about playing a number of games in a short period of time being difficult, they're not expecting sympathy towards the players, they're just recognising the physical demands that such a schedule will put on the players. This is all backed up by actual sports science, but if you think you know better I'd love to read your explanation.

True enough. when you start counting days as starting at 12.30 in the afternoon, it can get confusing. Let's call it three in 7 days, because it is.

I realise that as sports science improves over the years, footballers are able to play less and less because of the efforts it involves. Such is progress. Funnily enough, tennis players can do more and more with the increase in sports science - they have different scientists, presumably. But one thing that sports science always seems to prove is that everyone needs to play less. Players at Liverpool, with three major cups plus PL matches plus internationals, need rest because they can't play so many matches; non-international players at Burnley, with 46 league games and 4 cup games, still need rest because they can't play that many either. If the season was one game a month I'm sure players be told they need a month off to recover.

Anyway, both Derby and Norwich will have two and a half fewer hours to recover from their Good Friday matches before playing us, and they both have long away trips n the Friday as well. So the advantage is all ours.

[Rileybobs]

True enough. when you start counting days as starting at 12.30 in the afternoon, it can get confusing. Let's call it three in 7 days, because it is.

I realise that as sports science improves over the years, footballers are able to play less and less because of the efforts it involves. Such is progress. Funnily enough, tennis players can do more and more with the increase in sports science - they have different scientists, presumably. But one thing that sports science always seems to prove is that everyone needs to play less. Players at Liverpool, with three major cups plus PL matches plus internationals, need rest because they can't play so many matches; non-international players at Burnley, with 46 league games and 4 cup games, still need rest because they can't play that many either. If the season was one game a month I'm sure players be told they need a month off to recover.

Anyway, both Derby and Norwich will have two and a half fewer hours to recover from their Good Friday matches before playing us, and they both have long away trips n the Friday as well. So the advantage is all ours.

It doesn't really matter how obtuse or disingenuous you want to be, a day is a period of 24 hours, that's just a fact. We kick off the first of those three games at 12.30pm on 5th April and will have ended our 3rd game in that run by 10pm on 11th April. That is 153.5 hours, or just under 6.4 days.

Again, your disingenuity is something to behold. Is anyone claiming that footballers are able to play less because sports science has improved? The answer, as you know, is no. The argument, which is evidenced by science, is that elite sportspeople need time between physical exertion for their body to fully recover. Playing games in quick succession is likely to result in a lack of performance and an increased risk of injury.

This of course affects all teams more or less the same, and you could argue that with a stronger and deeper squad than most teams this may be to our advantage. The flip side of this is that it won't be as important to all of our opponents that they perform to the highest level in every game, as many won't have as much at stake.

Edit- how do Norwich and Derby have more time to recover when they play on the same day as us? See, two can play at that game.

[Dark Cloud]

I just don't see why playing Saturday, Tuesday, Friday isn't playing 3 matches in 6 days. It is.

[dsr]

It doesn't really matter how obtuse or disingenuous you want to be, a day is a period of 24 hours, that's just a fact. We kick off the first of those three games at 12.30pm on 5th April and will have ended our 3rd game in that run by 10pm on 11th April. That is 153.5 hours, or just under 6.4 days.

Again, your disingenuity is something to behold. Is anyone claiming that footballers are able to play less because sports science has improved? The answer, as you know, is no. The argument, which is evidenced by science, is that elite sportspeople need time between physical exertion for their body to fully recover. Playing games in quick succession is likely to result in a lack of performance and an increased risk of injury.

This of course affects all teams more or less the same, and you could argue that with a stronger and deeper squad than most teams this may be to our advantage. The flip side of this is that it won't be as important to all of our opponents that they perform to the highest level in every game, as many won't have as much at stake.

Edit- how do Norwich and Derby have more time to recover when they play on the same day as us? See, two can play at that game.

And in the same way, someone who has breakfast at 9 am one day and 8.45 the next has eaten two breakfasts in one day. greedy fat pig!

We kick off against Coventry on the Saturday at 12.30. Norwich and Derby both kick off at 3 pm. That means that for the Tuesday game, Derby will have had two and a half less hours to recover than we have, and for the Good Friday game,. Norwich will had two and a half less hours to recover for the "third game in 6 days" than we have.

[dsr]

I just don't see why playing Saturday, Tuesday, Friday isn't playing 3 matches in 6 days. It is.

1. Saturday.
2. Sunday.
3. Monday.
4. Tuesday.
5. Wednesday.
6. Thursday.
7. Friday.

Count again.

[Dark Cloud]

1. Saturday.
2. Sunday.
3. Monday.
4. Tuesday.
5. Wednesday.
6. Thursday.
7. Friday.

Count again.

Ok, but it's still less than a full week (I think?? )

[Rileybobs]

And in the same way, someone who has breakfast at 9 am one day and 8.45 the next has eaten two breakfasts in one day.

Yes, they obviously have - because a day is a period of 24 hours. It's really not difficult to comprehend.

We kick off against Coventry on the Saturday at 12.30. Norwich and Derby both kick off at 3 pm. That means that for the Tuesday game, Derby will have had two and a half less hours to recover than we have, and for the Good Friday game,. Norwich will had two and a half less hours to recover for the "third game in 6 days" than we have.

Yes, of course they will. I was being deliberately disingenuous to prove a point, and told you as much.

[claretonthecoast1882]

You can imagine dsr when in the travel agents and they tell him "right that is your 2 week holiday all booked and sorted" only for him to inform them it is actually 15 days

[fidelcastro]

You can imagine dsr when in the travel agents and they tell him "right that is your 2 week holiday all booked and sorted" only for him to inform them it is actually 15 days

To be fair, he is an accountant

[dsr]

You can imagine dsr when in the travel agents and they tell him "right that is your 2 week holiday all booked and sorted" only for him to inform them it is actually 15 days

Surely Rileybobs is more likely to complain because his Sunday to Saturday holiday is only 6 days? I'd be gaining a day - no complaint from me!

[ChorltonCharlie]

What an odd argument. Taking the pedantic side of it away, Coventry, Derby & Norwich is 3 games in 7 days. There's no argument on that, it's an absolute fact. 7 days, on which 3 of them have games.

Describing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday games as 3 games in 1 week is understandable as clearly 8 days is approx. 1 week. It's not meant in a literal sense.

If you have a full month playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday no one in their right mind describes it as "we played 3 games a week".

None of this matters, but 3 games in 7 days is still a tight turnaround, but we've got one of the biggest squads in the division and it should be something we see as an advantage, not a disadvantage.

[martin_p]

Isn’t it simpler all round to just say three games in a week.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Latest on this, going off what is a fluid situation.

We now have the least tricky run in based on teams fighting things, but it can change quickly. Remember, higher the score, the easier the run in as a high score for a game represents opposition that's got a lot less 'jeopardy' in the game.

Based on positional score, rather than points. We have 40, our two rivals have 37. So not much in it.

Points is a bit more interesting though. Our total is 38, Sheffield United's is 35, but Leeds's is significantly lower at 30. At the moment the only game they have left against opposition almost on the beach is Preston, though there's a decent chance Plymouth will be relegated by the time they play in the last game.

Other thing that jumps out is most weeks we have similar levels of trickiness in our fixtures. The one round of fixtures that stands out is the midweek games coming up. Sheff Utd play Millwall at home whilst us and Leeds face awkward away games at Derby and Boro.

Can't help thinking the next 2 games could be pivotal for one team. I expect at least one of us to drop points. The kind of double header where a team that goes on to get promoted goes and does the business.

[mybloodisclaret]

Coventry will be tough. They will be well up for it after getting spanked by Blades. If we get the win there, I fancy us picking up maximum points in the following 2 fixtures what Leeds and Sheff do is on them.

No time for blinking!

[ChorltonCharlie]

Yesterday’s results show why I came up with this. Games against teams battling relegation at this stage of the season are a lot tougher than they would have been a couple of months ago.

After yesterday, on places Leeds now have the slightly easier run in, with a score of 31. We have 29, Sheffield United 27.

More importantly, on points Leeds’ run in has far more banana skins. Their score comes in at 29 for that. Sheff Utd with a much bigger score of 36, and ours is a whopping 42.

Leeds have 5 games against teams currently well in the fight. We have Norwich, Watford, QPR and Millwall who look increasingly likely to have nothing to play for. No counting of chickens here, but I think if we can beat Derby on Tuesday we’re in a very promising position.

[IanMcL]

If it wasn't for a two point deduction at the start of the season Sheffield United would be clear by two points at the top of the table.

That's what makes the Blades currently the best side in the championship.

One point

[IanMcL]

Look on the bright side. the "three in six days" is actually three in 7 and a half days, and it comes after 1 game in 19 days so the poor things will be well rested. (Apart from the international players, of course, who may have played as many as three games in three weeks.)

And some travelled many miles.

[Ric_C]

We currently have 6 games left. I feel the hardest 2 games will be Derby on Tuesday and of course the Sheffield Utd game. Although I am really confident we will do them.

What is interesting to note now is that the other 4 teams we have left to play, (Norwich, Watford, QPR and Millwall) hardly have anything to play for, and Norwich, QPR and Watford are 20th, 22nd and 23rd in the form table (last 6 games).

Whereas the blades have Cardiff and Stoke to play (who are both scrapping).

Leeds have Stoke and Oxford (who are both scrapping) and Boro and Bristol (who are both trying to get in the play offs)

Suddenly (if we can get over the big hurdle of Tuesday), we could argue we have the best types of teams left to play, out of form and nothing to play for.

All ifs buts and maybes of course.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Evidently Wilder keeps banging on about how Sheffield United have 2 more points than the table shows because of the deduction before the season started. He says they are top on 85 points. Surely he should be ignoring the deduction because if they finish level on points with us and Leeds they will be in the playoffs, no way round it.
Bonkers.

[billyhamilton82]

Interesting interview by Wilder.....

Dangerous game having a go at your own fans, especially at this stage of the season.

In six minutes he has:

1. Called out his own supporters and told the one's who weren't happy on Saturday not to come back

2. Banging on about a record that's stood for "350 years"

3. Then "the deluded one" carries on saying that they have 85 points, I think he believes that if he keeps saying it, that it may happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNX4K6S ... ldUnitedFC

[Spijed]

Interesting interview by Wilder.....
Then "the deluded one" carries on saying that they have 85 points, I think he believes that if he keeps saying it, that it may happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNX4K6S ... ldUnitedFC

He'll be talking about the points from results they've achieved this season which is correct (85). They got a two point deduction at the start of the season.

[billyhamilton82]

He'll be talking about the points from results they've achieved this season which is correct (85). They got a two point deduction at the start of the season.

Yes, but they only have 83 points....the 2 points were deducted pre-season, they don't exist.

We could say we have 86 points because West Brom moved the ball back for a free kick.

Its the same deluded thinking.

He's lost it, also having a go at travelling away fans, his press officer told him to leave it, for good reason, and ignored him.

[CaptainKirk]

No ****, Sherlock!

[bfcmik]

I didn't see any problem apart from the 350 year old record stuff. He came back to the 85 point statement near the end and clarified that it where they would have stood if the 2 point deduction hadn't been in place. It is a fact that Sheff Utd still have a slightly better points per game ratio than us despite being a point behind!

As for the dig at the supporters booing them, isn't it about time someone said what they must think about the name-calling and vitriol that is shouted at players at the end of a defeat? You pay your money and are entitled to an opinion - but so are they! Just because they are currently employed by the club you support doesn't mean they are there to be abused.

[Colburn_Claret]

He's right about the moaning fans not helping, stupid for saying they have 85 points, bur mad if he thinks talking like this helps his players. It will just add to the pressure.
Good for us.

[billyhamilton82]

"As for the dig at the supporters booing them, isn't it about time someone said what they must think about the name-calling and vitriol that is shouted at players at the end of a defeat? You pay your money and are entitled to an opinion - but so are they! Just because they are currently employed by the club you support doesn't mean they are there to be abused."
[/quote]

Theres a reason his press officer told him not to mention it.

Wrong time, wrong place, wrong statement, all too emotional and shows his current mentality and upset his own travelling fans, it was even mentioned in the Daniel Farke interview.

Compared to Parker he's a sweaty mess.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Just read these Wilder remarks, you know, it may be that momentum suddenly reverses as well as managers who are acting under pressure and teams under performing suddenly turn 180 degrees and become calm and deadly. Leeds 1 in 6. Sheffield have been scraping wins for weeks and were due a bump.

But all that reversing at once, including our own attributes?

All right, it can happen, but I don’t see it. Just gotta stay calm and I sense we could soon be looking at beating the Blades to guarantee promotion with 2 games to spare.

[Spijed]

With five games to go we've taken eleven points from the last five, Leeds nine & Sheff United seven.

Really need to beat Norwich to put pressure back on the other two. I feel it's pretty much a must win.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

He's right about the moaning fans not helping, stupid for saying they have 85 points, bur mad if he thinks talking like this helps his players. It will just add to the pressure.
Good for us.

Think you’ve been proved right there Colburn.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Another round of games ticked off. Our draw at Derby another great example of why it's not a great time to be facing relegation threatened teams, whilst Sheff Utd's result at home to Millwall shows you can drop points anywhere and these figures are all a load of nonsense.

Our game tonight looks to be a must win against a Norwich side all but confirmed as being in the Championship next season, and it's the same for Leeds at home to PNE. Sheffield United face the long trip down to Plymouth who look to be in last chance saloon. If we do win tonight, the added pressure on them would be starting the game 5 points behind us.

Current scores on points are:
Sheff Utd 27
Leeds 32
Burnley 45

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

Very happy not to be playing any more relegation threatened teams.

Fighting to avoid a wage reduction / having a relegation on your CV - I think is fair to say is pretty motivating.

Predictably, as is the case every season, these games prove just as hard as playing a top 3 team, at the end of the season.

Derby was always going to be very tough for us.

I think Leeds and Sheff's games against Stoke, Cardiff etc are going to be energy sapping battles. Plymouth is tough tomorrow for Sheff but they will be down by the time Leeds play them unfort.

No game is easy but hoping 4 of our last 5 are dead rubbers for the other team. So Watford losing tomoz and Millwall dropping a few points over the next 4 would be helpful. QPR too - a few more points pls, so completely on the beach.

All 3 of the top 3 will drop a good number of points though still I reckon.

Our manager is handling the pressure exceptionally well. And of course this is passed to the players. Wilder especially is way too emotional.

Huge game tonight, all metrics point to us going up though if we keep Trafford, CJ, Steve, Cullen, Brownhill and the two wingers fit. Full backs we really need to avoid injury as cover is weak. Fair play to Pires, he has really stepped up beyond what I thought he could. Was very confident on Tuesday.

UTC

[boatshed bill]

All games could be seen as "must win" games, but in reality all we have to do is match Sheff Utd's results...
not a bad place to be in.

[ChorltonCharlie]

All games could be seen as "must win" games, but in reality all we have to do is match Sheff Utd's results...
not a bad place to be in.

I'm not usually one for using 'must win', but tonight if think it's more about the psychology. The players may see that they missed a chance of pulling clear on Tuesday, though positively they may still see it that they dropped points and still increased the lead over Sheffield United. Who knows. But I think failing to win tonight wouldn't be great for our young teams mindset at such a crucial stage of the season.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

We won!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[CrosspoolClarets]

2 wins and 2 draws now certain to be enough for top two. If the win is against Sheff Utd, 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat will be enough.

And that is with Sheffield winning all their other games. So it seems to be coming down to just avoiding defeat against Sheffield United and the odds will be heavily in our favour.

[billyhamilton82]

Huge win that creates huge pressure on the other two and Sheffield in particular.

[Whitgord]

By my reckoning Sheff Utd need to win two more games than we do in the run in from now. I know whose side I’d rather be backing.

[matttheclaret]

I think if we beat Sheffield United now it's very unlikely we don't go up. Few games to be played still but struggling to see how we don't finish above them now if we beat them next Monday

[Burnleyareback2]

Fancy 2 draws tomorrow for Leeds and Sheffield

Let’s go!

[Colburn_Claret]

We have the advantage of playing first again next Friday.
We don't know how it's going today but our winning makes it a little bit harder. If we can do the same at Watford the fat lady will be greasing her tonsils.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

He's right about the moaning fans not helping, stupid for saying they have 85 points, bur mad if he thinks talking like this helps his players. It will just add to the pressure.
Good for us.

Colburn, this was your quote on Monday night after they’d lost their first game.
We all know what’s happened since!
Think it’s turning out to be my favourite post of the season!