Inevitable Comedown

[DB11]

I've take avoiding relegation. I couldn't even have dreamed of where we are now pre-season!

[Russell352]

Bit early but ....

The most ammount of points a team has finished 6th with (if that makes sence) since the 03/04 season is 75

The least ammount being 70

So 75 is a good target.

I'd be happy with anywhere in the top half of the table mind.

[Corky]

If we don't finish in the play-off places, then so be it. It would be more disappointing if we didn't having been in them for a long period of the campaign, but I predicted about 9th before the season started so around that would suit me.

[Raj]

Never expected to reach the heady heights of 2nd,and dont really think we'll finish that high come May.

Would be very happy with a comfortable mid table position and i hope this good run has not given some of our fans too high an expectation considering the players we have and that most seasons in the CChip has resulted in utter shite and relegation battles.

Would be good to have the same manager for 2 seasons,keep off Sky Sports News and out of the tabloids and play some half decent football now and again....would also be great to see Oakley whip in some decent corners and free kicks but that would be asking TOO muhh!!!!

[Milky]

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.

Bloody hell, have a word with yourself.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

To be honest after this start I would be disappointed if we didnt finish in a single placed position.

[marbelladave]

Bloody hell, have a word with yourself.

I fully appreciate that watching the video and being at the game are very different but I have seen 9 of our 15 league games 'in person' plus one live on Sky and a full video of the QPR game. Whilst the energy and commitment of a performance are difficult to judge unless actually present, watching a video, in the cold light of day, allows a degree of analysis often not possible at the game itself.

From the reaction on this and other sites I genuinely thought we had upped our game massively and I guess compared to the rubbish served up at Reading there was significant improvement but overall, after all the hype, I was slightly disappointed.

QPR bossed big chunks of the game with their passing game and going forward at least, were the more skillful side. We competed and harassed them quite superbly, which was great to see but if QPR had defended properly we would have been lucky to get a point.

In addition, we have played better, the first half at Watford comes to mind (and there are other examples) but I continue to use that 45 minutes as the benchmark that we need to achieve on a regular basis to be genuine promotion candidates.

[The Doctor]

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.

don't mean to sound pernickty, but it was 6-0 to preston not 5-0.

[Corky]

I fully appreciate that watching the video and being at the game are very different but I have seen 9 of our 15 league games 'in person' plus one live on Sky and a full video of the QPR game. Whilst the energy and commitment of a performance are difficult to judge unless actually present, watching a video, in the cold light of day, allows a degree of analysis often not possible at the game itself.

From the reaction on this and other sites I genuinely thought we had upped our game massively and I guess compared to the rubbish served up at Reading there was significant improvement but overall, after all the hype, I was slightly disappointed.

QPR bossed big chunks of the game with their passing game and going forward at least, were the more skillful side. We competed and harassed them quite superbly, which was great to see but if QPR had defended properly we would have been lucky to get a point.

In addition, we have played better, the first half at Watford comes to mind (and there are other examples) but I continue to use that 45 minutes as the benchmark that we need to achieve on a regular basis to be genuine promotion candidates.

QPR were on a great run of form, banging goals in, yet we never allowed them the space, had plenty of the ball ourselves, were inventive and attack-minded. Did you expect us to boss large parts of the game?

If we defended the second ball for their goal, we'd have prevented it, so we could say the same.

This was the type of performance we need to repeat.

[dandannieldanok]

As long as the team is positive and always goes out to win (and starts performing a lot better at home) then I won't be unhappy regardless of the finishing position. If we strive for the top but come up short then fair enough, but if we start turning in negative performances then I'll be disappointed.

[Cobbo]

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.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

We are Leicester City fans, this is how it is. Enjoy

[Lillehamring]

wonderful stuff

maddog, you are a very special boy

i like those stats, and further more, i think you only have to look at the spirit in the camp to realise that if we have a bad patch (p'boro, preston, watford?), that's all it will be, a blip...

sure we might get hit with injuries/suspensions, but so will every club.

if we don't make it, fair enough... but i like maddog's confidence and positivity, and i'd rather read pages of that than one post about how the premiership is a gosh-forsaken heck-hole best avoided...

[maddog]

don't mean to sound pernickty, but it was 6-0 to preston not 5-0.

I thought it may have been, was going to put 5-0 or 6-0 but in the end committed to 5-0

[Captain...]

We are not going to win every game, but I have been impressed by the reactions to disappointing results so far this season.

We started well, then lost to Newcastle away - Not a bad performance and probably the toughest game of the season on paper but a defeat non the less.

We came back from it and didn't let it affect us.

We lost to Preston twice (our bogey side) we came back from it and didn't let it get us down.

We threw away a 2 goal lead against Watford we came back in the match to draw.

We couldn't beat a Derby side we dominated we followed it up with 2 great away wins.

We have a team of battlers and a great team spirit, if this continues, and I believe it will with NP in charge, we have every chance of challenging the top 6, but as long as everyone on the pitch plays with pride and passion I will not get upset about where we finish.

[marbelladave]

QPR were on a great run of form, banging goals in, yet we never allowed them the space, had plenty of the ball ourselves, were inventive and attack-minded. Did you expect us to boss large parts of the game?

If we defended the second ball for their goal, we'd have prevented it, so we could say the same.

This was the type of performance we need to repeat.

From what I saw, that is a reasonable summary of our performance.

It is just that some of the after match comments suggested rather better and I guess I fell for it.

Really should know better......

[haraven]

I back MadDog! Tremendous research showing a nice pattern I am more than willing to embrace. Will I be disappointed if we end up 8th as was my original prediction? No, good season, but that won't stop me from dreaming of a top 6 at this moment.

Cheers for nice work MadDog - great perspective, and thanks for looking back into previous seasons!

[Finnegan]

Got to love a bit of fresh faced naivety and optimism in the younger generations. My old man keeps reminding me "we could still go down you know."

[Lillehamring]

Got to love a bit of fresh faced naivety and optimism in the younger generations. My old man keeps reminding me "we could still go down you know."

don't even start me on my old man's pessimism

[shen]

*Maddog research*

Well at least the stats show we won't get relegated

[Katy]

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.

I was thinking this exact thing this morning (obviously before I'd read this post). You just know when, and it will be when, we go on a bad run people will be booing and calling for Nigel's head etc as usual. We are exceeding all my hope and dreams at the start at the moment and of course I want it to continue but I'm big enough and ugly enough to know that it probably won't. I'm not going to kick off about it though and I never have. A good confidence boosting season is all I require, maybe a decent FA Cup run to boot. If we finish outside the play offs, I think we will have had a good season all told.

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.

Same here. I have no desire to go up at all. I loved last season and promotion, but that was different. Sky has ruined the Prem for me, as one of many people who actually attend games I don't want to be priced out of going and never having a 3pm KO on a Saturday. The Premier League can screw off.

[Head Honcho]

I was thinking this exact thing this morning (obviously before I'd read this post). You just know when, and it will be when, we go on a bad run people will be booing and calling for Nigel's head etc as usual. We are exceeding all my hope and dreams at the start at the moment and of course I want it to continue but I'm big enough and ugly enough to know that it probably won't. I'm not going to kick off about it though and I never have. A good confidence boosting season is all I require, maybe a decent FA Cup run to boot. If we finish outside the play offs, I think we will have had a good season all told.

Same here. I have no desire to go up at all. I loved last season and promotion, but that was different. Sky has ruined the Prem for me, as one of many people who actually attend games I don't want to be priced out of going and never having a 3pm KO on a Saturday. The Premier League can screw off.

My only concern about not getting promotion would be the potential loss of NP.

I reckon a top 6 finish without promotion may tempt him to stay for another year but anything else, then I wouldn't blame him if he went to another club.

He'll be top of many clubs lists come the end of the season of that you can be sure.

[Dr The Singh]

My only concern about not getting promotion would be the potential loss of NP.

I reckon a top 6 finish without promotion may tempt him to stay for another year but anything else, then I wouldn't blame him if he went to another club.

He'll be top of many clubs lists come the end of the season of that you can be sure.

Agreed, That's the downside to success, if we don't meet expectations of our playing staff or management, we will lose them!!

All in all, the club setup is geared towards promotion, not just for financial reasons, but because Pearson is also ambitious, aiming for promotion is key to keeping what we currently have!!

[Head Honcho]

Agreed, That's the downside to success, if we don't meet expectations of our playing staff or management, we will lose them!!

All in all, the club setup is geared towards promotion, not just for financial reasons, but because Pearson is also ambitious, aiming for promotion is key to keeping what we currently have!!

Although I'd like to think of NP in the same mould as MON when it come to moral standards I'd hate for him to do a McGhee on us. Surely no one could blame him if a top club came in for him and he went.

[Dr The Singh]

Although I'd like to think of NP in the same mould as MON when it come to moral standards I'd hate for him to do a McGhee on us. Surely no one could blame him if a top club came in for him and he went.

Same here, but NP is still learning his trade and hasn't been in the game too long, I doubt he would want to move up a level so quickly, but give it a couple of seasons, if then a more prominant club were to come in..........................................

[Katy]

My only concern about not getting promotion would be the potential loss of NP.

I reckon a top 6 finish without promotion may tempt him to stay for another year but anything else, then I wouldn't blame him if he went to another club.

He'll be top of many clubs lists come the end of the season of that you can be sure.

Yeah and this is a massive problem for me. Do we miss out on the play offs and Nige goes? Do we get into the play offs and horrifically lose in the semi's or final? or do we get promotion and the soul goes out of our game? Oh the dilemma!