davieG Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 Manager Nigel Pearson believes his Leicester City side are on track for the play-offs. City extended their recent unbeaten run to five with a 1-1 draw at Bristol City on Tuesday night and are nicely set in sixth place. Pearson admits it has not been all plain sailing so far this season but he said he is satisfied with their progress and points return. "We have played 30 games and, if you look at the three batches of 10 games, this one is as good in terms of points return as the others," Pearson said. "People's perception might be different but we have 16 points from this last group of 10, 15 from the second batch and 16 from the first 10." The draw at Ashton Gate was the first in a sequence of three away games, and they travel to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow. But Pearson said his City players will approach each game in exactly the same way, regardless of whether it is at the Walkers Stadium. "Our home form in terms of points has been pretty good," he said. "We haven't always played as well as we would have liked but, having said that, teams still come to our place and make it difficult. "I don't think the players need to think too much about whether it is home or away. If the players are confident about going into games and think they can win, it doesn't really matter if it is home or away. "We are five unbeaten now. Yes, we have drawn three of them but we are still making opportunities and, hopefully, that will continue." Pearson added: "It is important that between now and the end of the season the squad really does come into its own. "It won't be the same players playing week in and week out, because there are a lot of games coming up." THIS STORY
sdb Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 7 points from the next 3 games, and avoiding defeat at Cardiff. If we manage that - we've a hell of a chance imo. But i can see M'boro creeping in on the last day.
Guest Bilo Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 I can see us holding onto a play-off spot as well, purely because the competition seems a bit too inconsistent to snatch it from us. Middlesbrough flatter to deceive and have had some truly appalling results (home defeat to Plymouth and 0-5 at home to West Brom), Sheffield United just don't look capable and Blackpool's over-achievement has really come to light over the past few weeks. I wouldn't complain if we didn't make the play-offs though as it would be a huge leap forward after years struggling in this division, particularly in 07-08. To follow up promotion with a top six finish is cracking form, especially considering how out of their depth Scunny and Peterborough have looked here.
Dr The Singh Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 I can see us holding onto a play-off spot as well, purely because the competition seems a bit too inconsistent to snatch it from us. Middlesbrough flatter to deceive and have had some truly appalling results (home defeat to Plymouth and 0-5 at home to West Brom), Sheffield United just don't look capable and Blackpool's over-achievement has really come to light over the past few weeks. I wouldn't complain if we didn't make the play-offs though as it would be a huge leap forward after years struggling in this division, particularly in 07-08. To follow up promotion with a top six finish is cracking form, especially considering how out of their depth Scunny and Peterborough have looked here. Every game is crucial, we have 2 games in hand on those below us, which gives us an advantage!! Top 6 is very achievable!!
Guest Bilo Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 Every game is crucial, we have 2 games in hand on those below us, which gives us an advantage!! Top 6 is very achievable!! Four points from Doncaster and Cardiff is achievable and would put some real daylight between us and the chasing pack as well. It's doable but I'm not counting me chickens.
Corky Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We're in a good position, we can still put pressure on the teams just above us whilst creating a gap from the sides below us. The fact we're above clubs predicted to do so much better than us (Middlesbrough, QPR, Ipswich, Derby as well) is a very good achievement from the team.
MPH Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 At the beginning of the season i didnt expect us to get into the play offs. Im delighted we are in with a fighting chance and will be gutted if we missed out but i am sure if we dont make it once all the dust has settled i will be proud of the improvement in the team and be grateful they gave it a right good go. Lets hope they do make it though!!
Tilley Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 Still think we'll miss out because of our lack of goals.
richardsfoxes Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 Lets hope so, got some big games coming up, we have a chance. Even if we dont quite make it into the playoff, i am very proud of what Nigel Pearson has achieved this season, with such little funds.
davieG Posted 19 February 2010 Author Posted 19 February 2010 Still think we'll miss out because of our lack of goals. On that basis so will Swansea who have scored less than us.
Legend_in_blue Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 It's do-able. The fact that NP has changed the predictability of us and now utilises a system that the opposition won't be able to read as easily pleases me. How many of our remaining games see us playing teams in the bottom half? I see these as being harder than the ones against teams around us. These teams will set up in similar fashion to Doncaster imo.
Guest Mee-9 Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We can do this. IN NIGEL PEARSON WE TRUST
maddog Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We would have to have a pretty bad finish to the season to not make the playoffs now. The fact we have taken 4 points off Sheffield United this season and 6 points off Blackpool, the 2 chasing sides below us really shows that we should finish above both of them. And we beat 9th place M'Boro away from home, so the only way we can throw this away now is by losing to the lower sides in the bottom half, which under NP i can't see happening, we would need to lose a good chunk of games. Then theres always a good chance we could leapfrog the Welsh sides above us, having beaten Swansea twice this season already. Infact if we win our game in hand Tuesday against Donny it will put us above Swansea should we match their Saturday result. We face Plymouth away, they face Derby away so we are more likely to win than them i rekon. A win at Doncaster Tuesday actually should give us a big enough lead over them and they will not catch us, at least 7 points, possibly 13, a loss to them and it's another matter. We still have to play 6 of the bottom 7 sides in this League, Plymouth being one of them, and with only 10 other games after those it's ours to throw away now. I could pointlessly analyse this until the end of the season which i will, i'm sure an option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4, option 5, etc......... thread like last season will pop up when we get down to it.
CosbehFox Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We would have to have a pretty bad finish to the season to not make the playoffs now. No, it wouldn't. This division is about as predictable as the Grand National.
dandannieldanok Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We would have to have a pretty bad finish to the season to not make the playoffs now. We're only 2 points ahead of 7th with months to go yet, it wouldn't exactly take a huge slip for that gap to be bridged.
Fox You Forest Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 The fact that NP has changed the predictability of us and now utilises a system that the opposition won't be able to read as easily pleases me. You wanted back to basics 4-4-2 after Doncaster. :laugh:
Jimbo Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 We would have to have a pretty bad finish to the season to not make the playoffs now.The fact we have taken 4 points off Sheffield United this season and 6 points off Blackpool, the 2 chasing sides below us really shows that we should finish above both of them. And we beat 9th place M'Boro away from home, so the only way we can throw this away now is by losing to the lower sides in the bottom half, which under NP i can't see happening, we would need to lose a good chunk of games. Then theres always a good chance we could leapfrog the Welsh sides above us, having beaten Swansea twice this season already. Infact if we win our game in hand Tuesday against Donny it will put us above Swansea should we match their Saturday result. We face Plymouth away, they face Derby away so we are more likely to win than them i rekon. A win at Doncaster Tuesday actually should give us a big enough lead over them and they will not catch us, at least 7 points, possibly 13, a loss to them and it's another matter. We still have to play 6 of the bottom 7 sides in this League, Plymouth being one of them, and with only 10 other games after those it's ours to throw away now. I could pointlessly analyse this until the end of the season which i will, i'm sure an option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4, option 5, etc......... thread like last season will pop up when we get down to it. I reckon we're going to need 30-35 more points for a top 6 finish. 10 games is 30 points (stating the obvious!)and bad runs have been known to happen. But knowing Leicester they'll lose the 6 games against the bottom sides and win the other 10 I wouldn't say it's ours to throw away just yet
Tony Pine Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 interesting point about the points per 10 games
fatmando Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 Thinking about making the play offs gives me the willys!! I'm still 50/50. Heart says we can do it, head says we'll just miss out.
J.Lisemore Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 With the position were in. I'd be disappointed if we didn't make the Play-Offs.
marbelladave Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 I am finding this thread slightly disturbing. Having more or less given up on the playoffs due to our witless football at the back end of last year I am now coming to believe that we should actually get into the playoffs rather than just be 'in and about', a position I have said previously, that I would be happy with. Now that Pearson has actually dumped the wretched 4-4-2 long ball game (hopefully never to return) and moved to a variation on 4-3-3 we can only get better as we come to terms with the system. If Pearson can just get past his defensive instincts and get us into a more attacking style (essential now, in Fryatt's absence) then a playoff spot should be pretty much 'nailed on'. Come on, get the shackles off and let us put the fear of God into the opposition, we have done it twice in the last few games, now do it again...
jonthefox Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 I think we would all be annoyed to miss the play offs now, but imagine we actually won the darn thing? back to another thread...are we ready for the prem, simple answer, no.
marbelladave Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 I think we would all be annoyed to miss the play offs now, but imagine we actually won the darn thing?back to another thread...are we ready for the prem, simple answer, no. Take the money, strengthen the squad and the club and carefully manage expectations. If we do not stay up do it again, and again.... It is the only way, short of a lot of money, that we can move forward.
jonthefox Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 True i suppose. You only have to look at stoke.
marbelladave Posted 19 February 2010 Posted 19 February 2010 True i suppose. You only have to look at stoke. Why so reluctant? Without serious money it is the only practical way forward......
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