Realistic Thread

[StuRomseySaint]

Once again I think it is time for one and time to put things into simple terms... we have next to no chance of going up this season, let's enjoy Wembley and stop talking about the play-offs because it won't happen, and it also does our reputation in this league no good as it makes us look like big-time charlies... this happened to Leeds and look how hard they are finding it to get out of this league.

 

Huddersfield (6th ) are on course for 82 points this season... they might drop a couple more but it won't be many, if they keep their form up for the last third of the season then that is where they will be.

 

For us to get enough points to catch them, we need 2.75 points a game.

 

So for all you students out there, I will do the maths for you... it means we can only drop 1 point every 4 games... or put in simple terms... we need to win 14 and draw 2 of our 16 games to reach that target.

 

We won't go up this season, I will settle for us being in a play-off place without the -10... at least we know then we would have gave ourself a chance of promotion without the deduction.

 

So give up thinking we will get promoted, enjoy the end of the season, enjoy your Wembley day out and forget the play-offs... everyone else in the league is laughing at us still talking about it.

 

Lastly... Pardew... now is the time to give Rickie a couple of weeks off so he is fresh for Wembley.

[Glasgow_Saint]

do we really need another AP excuse thread?

 

absolutely no chance of playoffs - becuase AP has some very good players playing very average.

[John B]

Once again I think it is time for one and time to put things into simple terms... we have next to no chance of going up this season, let's enjoy Wembley and stop talking about the play-offs because it won't happen, and it also does our reputation in this league no good as it makes us look like big-time charlies... this happened to Leeds and look how hard they are finding it to get out of this league.

 

Huddersfield (6th ) are on course for 82 points this season... they might drop a couple more but it won't be many, if they keep their form up for the last third of the season then that is where they will be.

 

For us to get enough points to catch them, we need 2.75 points a game.

 

So for all you students out there, I will do the maths for you... it means we can only drop 1 point every 4 games... or put in simple terms... we need to win 14 and draw 2 of our 16 games to reach that target.

 

We won't go up this season, I will settle for us being in a play-off place without the -10... at least we know then we would have gave ourself a chance of promotion without the deduction.

 

So give up thinking we will get promoted, enjoy the end of the season, enjoy your Wembley day out and forget the play-offs... everyone else in the league is laughing at us still talking about it.

 

Lastly... Pardew... now is the time to give Rickie a couple of weeks off so he is fresh for Wembley.

 

Very true - Promotion has never been realistic after the first ten games.

[Guy]

...I will settle for us being in a play-off place without the -10...

 

This. Would be an excellent finish seeing where we were at the start of the season, let alone over the summer.

[StuRomseySaint]

do we really need another AP excuse thread?

 

absolutely no chance of playoffs - becuase AP has some very good players playing very average.

 

This is about people accepting we won't go up this season, nothing to do with Pardew... who for the record, I don't think he is doing a bad job, I think he is doing an 'acceptable' job.

[Harry Faz]

agree we wont go up this season - and not unhappy about that - given the state of the club at the start of this season.

 

I want two things from rest of this season /the summer: 1) win at wembley, 2) lay solid foundations so that we win this division/automatic promotion next year.

 

So im expecting a strong finish to the season in the league, but not play-offs - and expect us to come firing out of the traps from the very begining of next season - no excuses at all next year.

[Glasgow_Saint]

This is about people accepting we won't go up this season, nothing to do with Pardew... who for the record, I don't think he is doing a bad job, I think he is doing an 'acceptable' job.

 

Since this is the realistic thread and your summary is realistic I agree.

 

AP doing an "acceptable" job is probably still kind considering the money spent and players in our squad, but for now I will agree. Thin line between acceptable and poor and AP is dangerously close to the poor side imho

[View From The Top]

I realised at Exeter what we wouldn't make the play offs but at the start of the season I would have settled for a mid-table position and a trip to Wembley allowing for the chaos we'd suffered.

 

However, next season I expect no less than automatic promotion with the squad we have.

 

Some gimps, and our club has more than their fair share of them but they tend to be the ones that don't go to games very often, had totally unrealistic expectations allowing for -10 and the rebuilding that happened in Aug/Sept.

[John B]

Since this is the realistic thread and your summary is realistic I agree.

 

AP doing an "acceptable" job is probably still kind considering the money spent and players in our squad, but for now I will agree. Thin line between acceptable and poor and AP is dangerously close to the poor side imho

 

Yes I agree unbeaten in the League in 2010 a JPT final place and the only League 1 Team in the 5th Round of the FA cup is really poor

[Toomer]

do we really need another AP excuse thread?

 

absolutely no chance of playoffs - becuase AP has some very good players playing very average.

 

Behave yourself, promotion automatic or via the play offs was always going to be a big ask, -10 and the problems during the close season. Lets get the last two away games into perspective I think most of us would have taken four points prior to the Norwich game. Top half finish a few in and few more out over the summer and I think automatic promotion is a must next season.

[StuRomseySaint]

I realised at Exeter what we wouldn't make the play offs but at the start of the season I would have settled for a mid-table position and a trip to Wembley allowing for the chaos we'd suffered.

 

However, next season I expect no less than automatic promotion with the squad we have.

 

Some gimps, and our club has more than their fair share of them but they tend to be the ones that don't go to games very often, had totally unrealistic expectations allowing for -10 and the rebuilding that happened in Aug/Sept.

 

I thought there was a chance of play-offs when we brought the gap into about 7 points before Xmas... but it is crazy that people still think we are in with a shout of the play-offs... and it's a dangerous attitude to have.

 

One of the reasons that Leeds are still down in this league is the attitiude of their club and the fans, who think they have some god-given right to promotion... teams raise their game and get a buzz out of putting them in their place.

[torsaint]

Thank goodness we are starting to be realistic. One big addition in midfield in the summer and we'll be on track for a realistic crack at a top two place next season.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Behave yourself, promotion automatic or via the play offs was always going to be a big ask, -10 and the problems during the close season. Lets get the last two away games into perspective I think most of us would have taken four points prior to the Norwich game. Top half finish a few in and few more out over the summer and I think automatic promotion is a must next season.

 

We can agree on this! fo sho

[alpine_saint]

Once again I think it is time for one and time to put things into simple terms... we have next to no chance of going up this season, let's enjoy Wembley and stop talking about the play-offs because it won't happen, and it also does our reputation in this league no good as it makes us look like big-time charlies... this happened to Leeds and look how hard they are finding it to get out of this league.

 

Huddersfield (6th ) are on course for 82 points this season... they might drop a couple more but it won't be many, if they keep their form up for the last third of the season then that is where they will be.

 

For us to get enough points to catch them, we need 2.75 points a game.

 

So for all you students out there, I will do the maths for you... it means we can only drop 1 point every 4 games... or put in simple terms... we need to win 14 and draw 2 of our 16 games to reach that target.

 

We won't go up this season, I will settle for us being in a play-off place without the -10... at least we know then we would have gave ourself a chance of promotion without the deduction.

 

So give up thinking we will get promoted, enjoy the end of the season, enjoy your Wembley day out and forget the play-offs... everyone else in the league is laughing at us still talking about it.

 

Lastly... Pardew... now is the time to give Rickie a couple of weeks off so he is fresh for Wembley.

 

Yep, and sod sorting out the issues so that pre-season and next season start goes well all for a day in the sun at Wembley, eh ?

[StuRomseySaint]

Yep, and sod sorting out the issues so that pre-season and next season start goes well all for a day in the sun at Wembley, eh ?

 

Did anyone say "stop playing football" ?

 

All I am saying is there is ZERO chance of us going up, everyone else in the league thinks we are arrogant c*nts for even thinking we will still make it.

 

Leeds suffered from the same views from other teams fans... why do you think they are struggling to get out of this league?

[INFLUENCED.COM]

all for a day in the sun at Wembley, eh ?

 

See you there !!

[doddisalegend]

I really am not as worried as some of our drama queens. We have lost very few games this year if we had had a better start this season (and I understand why we didn't) we would be flying high by now. If this squad stays intact over the summer we will win most (all) of our games at home and draw a lot of games on the road and thats promotion form. Colchester have a very good home record but a very average away record this year and look where they are. Saturday showed that we can be a very good team we just need to find a bit more consitency next year and we will be great.

[sadoldgit]

I have been supporting the Saints since 1966. Guess what? Every season we have had good results, average results and poor results in various measures. It will happen next season and every season to come. After the 10 point deduction and the slow start promotion was always going to be tough. We have not had a bad season and the signs are there for a decent crack at promotion next season.

 

Some of you need to grow up and stop being so precious. How many seasons have we had a trip to Wembley to look forward to?

[The9]

Huddersfield (6th ) are on course for 82 points this season... they might drop a couple more but it won't be many, if they keep their form up for the last third of the season then that is where they will be.

 

That's probably true, but they almost certainly won't be 6th if they're on 82 points, they'll be nearer 4th. Leeds were 4th last season on 84, Millwall 5th on 82 and Scvnthorpe 6th on 76.

 

So that's two defeats you haven't factored in already.

 

Having said that, we can't keep doing what we did(n't do) last night and think we're close to the playoffs, we're only 9th even WITH the -10 back (although we're safely better than MKDons in 8th).

[StuRomseySaint]

That's probably true, but they almost certainly won't be 6th if they're on 82 points, they'll be nearer 4th. Leeds were 4th last season on 84, Millwall 5th on 82 and Scvnthorpe 6th on 76.

 

So that's two defeats you haven't factored in already.

 

Having said that, we can't keep doing what we did(n't do) last night and think we're close to the playoffs, we're only 9th even WITH the -10 back (although we're safely better than MKDons in 8th).

 

This season the 6th place will be on 80+ points imo... the gap between the top 6 and the rest is larger than normal.

 

Regardless... we won't be anywhere near 82 points and we won't be near to 76... we will finish on about 70 points.

[RonManager]

At the moment we are 19 points behind 6th place (Huddersfield) with 2 games in hand. If they lose on Saturday and we win, then we beat them on Tuesday we will be 13 points behind and still have 2 games in hand. Win those and we are 7 points behind.

 

I realise that even if the above happens, 6th place can be filled by (most likely) Millwall as there is a gap below them to 8th place, but it does show how quickly things can change to close what at the moment seems an unbridgeable gap.

 

Keep the faith

 

COYR

[StuRomseySaint]

The only realistic expectation is that we'll get over-positive threads when we win, and over-negative threads when we don't.

 

There is a big difference between being realistic and being negative.

[krissyboy31]

This season the 6th place will be on 80+ points imo... the gap between the top 6 and the rest is larger than normal.

 

Regardless... we won't be anywhere near 82 points and we won't be near to 76... we will finish on about 70 points.

 

Agreed. Swindon and Huddersfield are on great runs and the chasing pack needs one or both of those to collapse to be able to catch them. Both are on schedule for 80 points the way they are playing and I can't see us getting more than 73 now.

[Smirking_Saint]

At the start of the season i still believed that the playoffs were probably achievable, and i definately thought we could do it when we went through our good run. I just think it a shame as in my mind even with the minus 10 we could have got there.

 

But hey ho, there have been some decent results and the cup run has been fantastic, however we really need to start playing like a team capable of automatic promotion next year and now is the time to start working on that.

 

Is it time to call for Pardews head ?? No i think that is far to early to say, he has spent a lot of money and has assembled a good team but we need to get them to start working like we know they can and start playing against the small teams the way we played against norwich.

 

Next season this has to happen, lets not just fool ourselves all will be different next year and we will be a steamroller if we are not now. Pardew has 16 or so games to instill the passion and win ethic we need to be successful, lets get behind him, in my mind its too early to question his ability.

[RedAndWhite91]

I find myself agreeing with Stu once again, play offs are out of the question now. And to be honest at the start of the season I said I'd settle for mid table this year, knowing we'd have a proper good chance of going up next year.

 

We had a sh!t start to the season, and have slipped up in games; take last night for example. Playing like that won't get you promoted.

 

Piling on unwarranted pressure won't help anybody now, and like Stu said, just enjoy the football for the rest of the season... Next year, when we can start on the same level as everyone else, will prove whether or not we really are the best team in the league, we'll have an equal chance of going up and hopefully we won't have such a crap start to the campaign.

[saint_stevo]

I was gently coming round to the idea that this season is a transitional one and next season we will walk this league FFS, until i saw last night that we are still capable of turning in horrific performances showing very little going forward and lacking almost everywhere else other than perhaps at CB

[eurosaint]

The only realistic expectation is that we'll get over-positive threads when we win, and over-negative threads when we don't.

 

Now that is a FACT !

[Wildgoose]

Sensible OP. Agree with what you have said. Thanks for bringing some common sense....

 

To be honest the playoffs were always an unrealistic target this year with the -10 but we all hoped it might happen. When we seemed to be getting within a few points our hopes were raised perhaps falsely, but I am enjoying the good things that are happening this season and the definite turnaround and progress made since the preseason shambles......

[Saints67]

Sensible OP. Agree with what you have said. Thanks for bringing some common sense....

 

To be honest the playoffs were always an unrealistic target this year with the -10 but we all hoped it might happen. When we seemed to be getting within a few points our hopes were raised perhaps falsely, but I am enjoying the good things that are happening this season and the definite turnaround and progress made since the preseason shambles......

 

Agreed. I'd still love to see us thump a few teams though before the end of the season. On paper we look like we should however.....

[Dr Who?]

Very true - Promotion has never been realistic after the first ten games.

 

I remember listen to 5 Live back in September 2009, and they were talking about Saints and saying that it looked like things may have to get a little worse (relegation to league 2) before we started looking up.

 

If I think back to then, I did think that this may happen. I think it was after our draw at Stockport!!

 

Things are so much better now though, and next season i think they will be even better. COYR!!

[Dr Who?]

I was gently coming round to the idea that this season is a transitional one and next season we will walk this league FFS, until i saw last night that we are still capable of turning in horrific performances showing very little going forward and lacking almost everywhere else other than perhaps at CB

 

Which is strange as this is where we were lacking, I just feel before we were scoring for fun, but could not keep a clean sheet. Now we have cleans sheets the balance has been upset. Just nned to get this right and I think we will be fine.

[Draino76]

I love league 1, and cant wait to go to the grounds I missed this year next season.

[VectisSaint]

The reality set in after the Exeter game for me. This is not just based on us, but also the reality that the rivals for 6th spot (Swindon then, but no longer, Huddersfield and Millwall) were also in form and continuing to win more often than not and also win more often than us. Even if we were to have gone on a brilliant run, we would still not overhaul the team in 6th.

 

In my view we will do very well indeed to finish 8th, I believe 9th is more realistic. I actually hope that we don't get to less than 10 points from the play-offs, otherwise I will be ****ed off that we missed out because of RL's ridiculous decision to delay administration.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

I was gently coming round to the idea that this season is a transitional one and next season we will walk this league FFS, until i saw last night that we are still capable of turning in horrific performances showing very little going forward and lacking almost everywhere else other than perhaps at CB

 

You should have been at Norwich...

[BadgerBadger]

I find over ambition ugly - enjoy the ride mo fo's

[stanstubbs]

think we have to much to do now ,but i won't stop hoping and we have still got to play the teams above us

[boxosponge]

do we really need another AP excuse thread?

 

I was about to say "Just **** off" but thought that would be to rise to your bait

[docker-p]

I've been saying it for ages, the play-offs are out of our reach. I would expect to be within the 10 points of sixth place though, anything else would be a disapointment.

Irespective of what the fans do and don't want, i fear for AP. Everything I've heard about NC suggests he is not a patient man.

[Toadhall Saint]

Since this is the realistic thread and your summary is realistic I agree.

 

AP doing an "acceptable" job is probably still kind considering the money spent and players in our squad, but for now I will agree. Thin line between acceptable and poor and AP is dangerously close to the poor side imho

 

When will you get your head around the fact that having the best players does not guarantee success. There are other factors involved with a team sport - oh silly me your a golfer.

 

AP was more than acceptable to you when we beat Norwich 2 nil. I suggest you get out more (perhaps to a few games).

[St Marco]

Yes I agree unbeaten in the League in 2010 a JPT final place and the only League 1 Team in the 5th Round of the FA cup is really poor

 

Indeed.

 

Plus also to sort of kill the defence of those having a pop about performances not being good etc..

 

We have lost once in 8 games, 6 of those games were away. Our last 5 away games we sit 6th in the league, and our last 5 home games we sit 2nd in the league.

 

Meaning both our home and away forms are promotion level form. You can't ask for more then that.

 

4 of our next 5 games are home games. If we win those 4 and draw the away game we will be fine.

 

We have had a strange run of fixtures due to games being canceled. But if we win at the weekend, Huddersfield lose away to Leeds and then we beat them on tues we will be 13 points behind them with 2 games in hand.

 

If we win all our home games and draw all our away games we will be there or there abouts.

[Saint_clark]

I got a massive dose of "perspective" this morning when I woke up to hear my dad shouting too me and went downstairs to find he'd had a stroke.

Given that, I honestly couldn't give two sh*ts about football anymore.

[St Marco]

I got a massive dose of "perspective" this morning when I woke up to hear my dad shouting too me and went downstairs to find he'd had a stroke.

Given that, I honestly couldn't give two sh*ts about football anymore.

 

Really sorry to hear that SC, sincerely hope he will be ok

[Toadhall Saint]

I got a massive dose of "perspective" this morning when I woke up to hear my dad shouting too me and went downstairs to find he'd had a stroke.

Given that, I honestly couldn't give two sh*ts about football anymore.

 

Sorry to hear that mate. Hope it works out fine tho'.

[saint1977]

I got a massive dose of "perspective" this morning when I woke up to hear my dad shouting too me and went downstairs to find he'd had a stroke.

Given that, I honestly couldn't give two sh*ts about football anymore.

 

Really sorry to hear that, hope is better soon and that the prognosis is ok.

[david in sweden]

do we really need another AP excuse thread?

 

absolutely no chance of playoffs - becuase AP has some very good players playing very average.

 

I think we need an AP " excuse thread " until the end of the season.

Some people conveniently overlook / forget, that we did start 10 points worse off than everyone else. Despite the fact we've had some good results, and some disappointing away draws, we will still have to be ten points better than everyone else just to qualify for the play-offs.

 

Both Leeds and Norwich have squads that have (more or less) been together for a couple of seasons. Apart from a new goalie, AP has bought a whole new team and has to make it work ASAP. Not an easy task.

 

You have to ask yourself what people would be saying if we CORRECTLY placed in the table, based on our proper results ...and not our deductions !

[saint_stevo]

I love league 1, and cant wait to go to the grounds I missed this year next season.

 

Wouldn't bother with Adams Park tbf

[RedAndWhite91]

Wouldn't bother with Adams Park tbf

 

I will die a happy man if I never have to go to Wycombe again.

[saint_stevo]

I will die a happy man if I never have to go to Wycombe again.

 

As would i.

 

Kinda glad i missed the first 15mins, having witnessed the following 75....

[SuperMikey]

F*cking hell Stu, you still managed to slip a quick moan about students into your original post...marvellous.

 

Personally, i'm happy with where we are this season. The aim this season was survival, and we've done that pretty much, although promotion will be tricky if we don't beat teams like Wycombe next season.