Inevitable Comedown

[Flynny]

For a start, I think we could well end this month top of the table or perched in 2nd if we take 7 points this month, which we're more than capable of doing.

But what happens if we don't? Or, worse, what happens if we do ascend right to the top of the table and then drop of in December and finish 8th or 9th?

Basically, what I'm saying is, if we don't capitulate, if we give our all and come up short at the end of the season, will you really, genuinely be disappointed? This has been an exciting week and we look a very organised, motivated side for once, but I'm wary of the backlash if suddenly we're not in the playoff places. To put things into perspective, I'd have taken 12th-14th at the start of this season if I'm honest.

[suffolk fox]

For a start, I think we could well end this month top of the table or perched in 2nd if we take 7 points this month, which we're more than capable of doing.

But what happens if we don't? Or, worse, what happens if we do ascend right to the top of the table and then drop of in December and finish 8th or 9th?

Basically, what I'm saying is, if we don't capitulate, if we give our all and come up short at the end of the season, will you really, genuinely be disappointed? This has been an exciting week and we look a very organised, motivated side for once, but I'm wary of the backlash if suddenly we're not in the playoff places. To put things into perspective, I'd have taken 12th-14th at the start of this season if I'm honest.

WHAT IF!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????????? what if the world ends tommorrow no fooking football!!!!!

[maddog]

For a start, I think we could well end this month top of the table or perched in 2nd if we take 7 points this month, which we're more than capable of doing.

But what happens if we don't? Or, worse, what happens if we do ascend right to the top of the table and then drop of in December and finish 8th or 9th?

Basically, what I'm saying is, if we don't capitulate, if we give our all and come up short at the end of the season, will you really, genuinely be disappointed? This has been an exciting week and we look a very organised, motivated side for once, but I'm wary of the backlash if suddenly we're not in the playoff places. To put things into perspective, I'd have taken 12th-14th at the start of this season if I'm honest.

It's not happening, we're finishing in the top six somewhere, i'm certain of it. Pearson won't let us not be there.

[Flynny]

It's not happening, we're finishing in the top six somewhere, i'm certain of it. Pearson won't let us not be there.

See this is what I'm worried about. Sure I'm fairly confident myself but there's no point making silly statements like that while we're in form. In November.

[ramboacdc]

everyones going ot have their own hopes and dreams for the club.

i personally would of been more than happy fighting for the last playoff spot.

whatever happens happens, the fans are there to do their job and support the club.

[Fox You Forest]

See this is what I'm worried about. Sure I'm fairly confident myself but there's no point making silly statements like that while we're in form. In November.

You're not going to get through to him.

[lcfc_jme]

I'm one of those "fans" who does not really see the attraction of us playing in the Premier League, so I can't really say missing out on promotion would make me lose any sleep or cry into my cornflakes. To be honest, at the beginning of the season I'd have been delighted to finish anywhere between 12th and 15th much like Flyncent Pericard, and being where we are absolutely amazes me, though I don't expect it to last all season.

[Babylon]

But what happens if we don't?

Quite a few people will be calling for the managers head. As usual.

[Dr The Singh]

This season has been one of the most exiting for ages, were not expected to do so well, yet the side is surprising everyone, if there is a comedown, i'm sure the there will be a come up. Basically i'm pleased were not involved in a relegation battle and the side do actually entertain more then often.......................

[maddog]

See this is what I'm worried about. Sure I'm fairly confident myself but there's no point making silly statements like that while we're in form. In November.

maddogs pointless research

We're a whole third into the season now, theres only 2 more thirds left, we're well into the season now, and theres no way we are going to lose the winning mentality we have carried over from League One.

We all should be confident of the top six, the season will be all over before you know it, and we will be there.

The top six at this point in the season 07/08 ended up finishing:

West Brom 1st

Bristol City 4th

Watford 6th

Wolves 7th

Charlton 11th

Coventry 21st

So half the top six finished in the top six, and Wolves finished 7th.

Are we going to do a Coventry, under Pearson with this team, no fooking chance.

And in 06/07 the top six at this stage in the season ended up finishing:

Birmingham 2nd

WBA 4th

Wolves 5th

Preston 7th

Cardiff 13th

Burnley 15th

And fook it, lets have a look at 05/06 as well:

Reading 1st

Sheffield United 2nd

Watford 3rd

Leeds 5th

Crystal Palace 6th

Luton Town 10th

So in our last 2 Championship seasons, 3 of the sides who were in the top six at this stage of the season, finished in the top six. And one side finished just one place outside the playoffs in 7th, in both those seasons.

The side that capitulated the most was Coventry, we're not Coventry.

05/06 is the strongest one though, four of the top six back then at this stage of the season finished in the top six, infact Reading, Sheffield United and Leeds made up the top three. And the furthest team that fell away was Luton who finished 10th.

Ultimately looking at these previous seasons, the odds are at least 3 of the current top six will finish in the top six, so that gives us a 50/50 chance of being one of those three.

The table now of the top six, won't be too dis-similar to the top six come the end of the season, as is showed in those seasons 56% of the top six at this stage of the season finished in the top six.

I have no doubts we will be in that 56%, we will finish in the top six.

[lavrentis]

For a start, I think we could well end this month top of the table or perched in 2nd if we take 7 points this month, which we're more than capable of doing.

But what happens if we don't? Or, worse, what happens if we do ascend right to the top of the table and then drop of in December and finish 8th or 9th?

Basically, what I'm saying is, if we don't capitulate, if we give our all and come up short at the end of the season, will you really, genuinely be disappointed? This has been an exciting week and we look a very organised, motivated side for once, but I'm wary of the backlash if suddenly we're not in the playoff places. To put things into perspective, I'd have taken 12th-14th at the start of this season if I'm honest.

Yes I will be disappointed if we don't make playoffs at least, people say they'll be happy with midtable. Why be happy of midtable? Build a decent proven Championship squad? Not really a good reason, who says the season after that we couldn't go down. This year were looking good, lets jjust see how it pans out and hope we have something to play for by the end of the season.

[Webbo]

If we're 10th at the end of Nov then I will just hope we're in the playoff places at the end of Dec and if not then the end of Jan and so on until it's mathematically impossible to reach the playoffs.

If we make it great. If we don't then I'm not going to slit my wrists.

[maddog]

Now then last season in the Championship.

The top six at this stage:

Wolves

Birmingham

Reading

Burnley

Sheffield United

Cardiff

Finished:

Wolves 1st

Birmingham 2nd

Reading 4th

Burnley 5th

Sheffield United 3rd

Cardiff 7th (When they should have finished 6th)

That looks pretty conclusive to me. The current top six from last season all finished in the top six apart from Cardiff, and we all know what happened to them, losing 6-0 to Preston and losing out on goal difference.

[Fosse Boy]

Anything better than a top ten finish is a bonus this season given what our club has gone through the past couple of years. Yes, we are on a fantastic run at the moment and yes, I do believe this squad of players is the best we've had for a number of seasons, but let's not get over-confident and come to premature conclusions just yet. Enjoy the ride and if we stay at the top, so be it.

[Webbo]

Now then last season in the Championship.

The top six at this stage:

Wolves

Birmingham

Reading

Burnley

Sheffield United

Cardiff

Finished:

Wolves 1st

Birmingham 2nd

Reading 4th

Burnley 5th

Sheffield United 3rd

Cardiff 7th (When they should have finished 6th)

That looks pretty conclusive to me. The current top six from last season all finished in the top six apart from Cardiff, and we all know what happened to them, losing 5-0 to Preston and losing out on goal difference.

I know you're not being a 100% serious but what happened last season means f@ck all.

[maddog]

I know you're not being a 100% serious but what happened last season means f@ck all.

I know

But the stats show that at least 3 sides in the top six now finish there, and if you look at every single season even further back, it will be the same.

Can you imagine more than 3 of the current top six not finishing in the top six, i can't, so as long as we are in the good 50% we will be there.

[Flynny]

We're a whole third into the season now, theres only 2 more thirds left

Hahahaha that made me laugh for some reason.

The table now of the top six, won't be too dis-similar to the top six come the end of the season, as is showed in those seasons 56% of the top six at this stage of the season finished in the top six.

I have no doubts we will be in that 56%, we will finish in the top six.

So your research showed that we're about 50/50 to finish top six, thus proving we definitely will. I see.

Bear in mind that at this point last season there was unlikely to be so many teams on the same number of points, too. Since goal difference rarely makes a difference at the end of the season there's functionally 4 teams joint 6th at the minute.

[Tommeh]

Away wins at Forest and Derby, a cup run to match 04/05 and a top 12 finish and I'll be delighted.

[maddog]

Hahahaha that made me laugh for some reason.

So your research showed that we're about 50/50 to finish top six, thus proving we definitely will. I see.

Bear in mind that at this point last season there was unlikely to be so many teams on the same number of points, too. Since goal difference rarely makes a difference at the end of the season there's functionally 4 teams joint 6th at the minute.

I think we're going to finish in the top six is what i'm saying.

And having not posted much today i've been set off by this into searching for any crappy stats i can find to back up my top six theory

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Maddog has Rabies!

[davieG]

For a start, I think we could well end this month top of the table or perched in 2nd if we take 7 points this month, which we're more than capable of doing.

But what happens if we don't? Or, worse, what happens if we do ascend right to the top of the table and then drop of in December and finish 8th or 9th?

Basically, what I'm saying is, if we don't capitulate, if we give our all and come up short at the end of the season, will you really, genuinely be disappointed? This has been an exciting week and we look a very organised, motivated side for once, but I'm wary of the backlash if suddenly we're not in the playoff places. To put things into perspective, I'd have taken 12th-14th at the start of this season if I'm honest.

Well it won't be the first or the last time things go tits up after promising so much. This why as a long standing and suffering LCFC fan I've become the master of pessimism so that I'm never ever disappointed and if by chance we do achieve a degree of success it is so much sweeter.

[Babylon]

Well it won't be the first or the last time things go tits up after promising so much. This why as a long standing and suffering LCFC fan I've become the master of pessimism so that I'm never ever disappointed and if by chance we do achieve a degree of success it is so much sweeter.

I'm from the Davie G school of thinking.

[Uncle Phil]

I'd have taken 12-14th at the start of the season and I don't think I'd be too disappointed if that's where we finish. As long as the team continue to be positive and don't start putting in lacklustre performances when the going gets tough, I'll be happy. We ask that the team put in 100% every week, and if that doesn't get us top 6 or whatever, then so be it.

[marbelladave]

Interesting thread!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say despite getting some pretty decent results this season we have not been playing particularly well.

Many forummers have commented on the QPR game as being one of our best performances and although circumstances conspired for me to miss the game, I have since seen the video and I have to say I was not that impressed.

Sure we battled well and were very solid after the first half hour but for 30 minutes or so we were sloppy and QPR's midfield ran the show. King took all of that time to get started and when we were under pressure there was still far too much hoof from the back with Weale, Neilson and Hobbs the worst offenders. We settled down better after Fryatts first goal and for the remaining hour we were decent (rather than outstanding) although there were still times when QPR were quite dominant.

Decent at Loftus Rd, wretched at the Madjewski and elsewhere yet just a few points off the top of the league.... :dunno:

If we improve, and we have been, we could easily be fighting for automatic promotion but I bet my bottom dollar that there are a fair few other teams feeling exactly the same way. Newcastle, WBA, Preston, Boro, Cardiff are inconsistent, yet are all strong enough to go on good runs and leave us chasing one of the last play-off spots.

Additionally this division is so tight a run of poor games could leave us floundering in mid table, quite possible were we to lose a player or two to injury, particularly in midfield where we have little cover.

I remain completely torn, I know we can play better than we did the other evening, but equally I know how easily teams can go off the boil and lose confidence (Boro anyone?).

After the first few games of the season, when it was clear that we could be competitive, I said quite clearly that if we were 'in the mix' for a playoff spot come April I would be well pleased and for the moment I stand by that.

[Bert]

This is why I'm not getting over excited right now. By the end of the month we could be out of the play-offs. If we end up outside the play-offs come December I won't be disappointed because I'll happily settle for a top 10 finish this season, but it'll be a massive reality check to those who are getting carried away right now.