Can't see a promotion surge unless City are an attacking threat. At the moment we're not playing enough in the opposition 3rd.
I agree with that Nin, but it'll be interesting to see how we play against the more average sides in the division. Warnock has started with 2 tough games against good sides bang in form. Both of them much better in possession than us. That wont be the story every week and I think we might be able to impose ourselves a bit more when the opposition is of a lesser calibre. The other massive difference is when we do get to the final 3rd (not that we ever did under Trollope) we look a threat. 30% possession on Wdnesday but we made some excellent chances. That's promising and we can build on that.
We've seen a number of our players find the back of the net in years gone by. Whitts, Noone, Pilks, Ralls have all had their day but seem bereft of confidence. With Colin getting them playing further up the field allbeit with a small petcentage of posession some work is needed on their confidence for them to get the goals we need but they will come together with Hoilett and Lambert. Never believed in the 20+ a season scorer. Much preferred to goals to come from all over. Big need for Colin to get the midfield quickly in support of Lambert for the goals to flow.
Correct Stevo. The Wurzels and Wendies are both quality sides in this division and to get 4 points from such opposition would not have been possible under Trollope. It would also suggest that it's reasonable to expect at least an equal or better return from some others we'll face this next 6 months. It's still early days and that can't be guaranteed but it all looks far more positive than a fortnight ago. For whatever reason we've seemed to stumble in the past against less quality opposition but I can't see Warnock accepting that as the norm - he will be most annoyed (putting it mildly!) if we capitulate to bottom half teams. There will be 12 teams in the bottom half of the Championship come May and I don't expect us to be one of them. How far we can get up the top half we'll find out in due course. If we get above half way come the New Year (there's another 11 games before then) I expect us to push on toward the top 6 with some additional financial comittment from Tan to support it. That seemed an improbable dream a few weeks back, but now it's not just sheer fantasy. Remote - I agree with not relying on a single high scorer for results - goals from all over is far better. In our promotion season, I think Helguson was our top scorer with just 9. We've seen Bristol City climb the table through goals from Abraham in the main. He's had a couple of below par games just now and failed to score - Bristol lost both.
Much harder to defend against multiple scorers. You can mark one man out of the game. We failed to make the playoffs when Whitts and then Chopra scored 20+. All playoff campaigns no one got to that Mark. And as you rightly say sparks, no one in double figures the year we won the league. Would be nice to have 2 or 3 strikers with 15 each in them though. We might have one if we can keep him fit.
After Forest and Wigan we have: - Newcastle - away International break Udders - Home Villa - away Brighton - home Ipswich - away Some very tough games there, none of the lesser fodder we would like to pile on some goals and gain confidence although 6 or 7 points from those 5 would represent a reasonable return. For me, this season: - Ambition - Play offs Reality - Mid table comfort
Newcastle will be tough. Udders having a wobble, villa will pick up under bruce and the other two wont be easy either. Any points at Newcastle and villa will be a bonus.
Let's be honest here there are never any easy games in this division. We've seen bottom beating top season in season out.
Never said there were any easy games in this division. The point is that if we can get 4 points out 6 from tough opposition like Bristol and Wednesday, we should be able to at least emulate that sort of trawl from "lesser" teams in this league. Nothing is a given and I can understand the cautionary posts on here but maybe the "Warnock effect" is being underestimated - or maybe I'm over estimating it....
Okay let's be positive. It's not so long ago we were talking about relegation. Now we are promoting survival and may be more. If nothing else that is down to Colin's actions in the last 2 weeks. We have some belief back.
I agree it's a tough schedule for November with both Newcastle and Villa away and (my team ) Huddersfield home. If we get 3 or 4 points out of that potential 9, we'll have got through a very difficult November. Before them though, there's surely another "4 points" from Forest and Wigan on the cards IMO which will certainly see us outside the bottom 3 before that difficult November schedule Then there looks to be a decent chance of climbing the table through the 6 fixtures in December befor the New Year. Cardiff V Brighton Sat 3 Dec 15:00 Ipswich V Cardiff Sat 10 Dec 15:00 Cardiff V Wolves Tue 13 Dec 19:45 Cardiff V Barnsley Sat 17 Dec 15:00 Brentford V Cardiff Mon 26 Dec 13:00 Brighton V Cardiff Fri 30 Dec 19:45 Top half by the New year must surely be more than just a possibility?
Important win and 3 points yesterday, especially away from home. Only City and Villa in the bottom half won their games - all the others lost and didn't even get a point. City and Villa 3 points each - Rotherham, Wigan, Blackburn, Derby, Forest, Wolves, Ipswich, Fulham and QPR nil points between all of them. With Warnock at the helm there is no reason why we can't get into the top half by the New Year - and then, who knows?
City won't play as poor a team surely again this season. Even so they were hanging on against 10 men. Warnock has got a decent defence together but there are serious concerns as to the offensive part. Also not convinced with allowing the opposition so much possession. If we had pace on the break fair enough but we haven't. Just cannot see us scoring enough; can't rely on virtually all our goals coming from set pieces. Best we can aim for is mid table by end of year and in January bring in some players with pace and ability to finish.
Defensively they were a shambles - as already said we should have got at least five and I suppose that supports yout point about our lack of potent strikers. On the other hand and apart from that stupid Gunner penalty giveaway, we stopped a very prolific team from scoring on their own patch. Now that's the real positive to take away from this - the other end of the pitch is solvable once you got that right. I expect Warnock to continue concentrating on defending games and winning them almost by default of the other side. You rightly say we have a problem up front, but no good scoring like Forest have been and letting more in at the back. Malky built from the back and it's interesting to hear Warnock constantly praising his centre backs performances. Gunner is also his type of player and I expect him to go for a similar bruiser up front in the January window. For now I'll take what we're getting to climb out of the ****.
We were only hanging on in injury time when they literally threw everyone forward. Up to that we were in total control and should have had won by 4 or 5. If theyd scored with 30 mins to go we would gained control again. We were miles better than them. Reality is still mid table though.
The important thing was getting bodies in their box. Besides the 1 on ones which are down to individual technique, it was noticable on the highlights I saw how many times we had 2,3,4 players in the box when a ball came in. In weeks gone by when the ball was won for Ralls goal there would have been no one to cross to. I think as more chances come we'll see some better finishing. winning the ball high up the field and getting players in the box will create opportunities. As confidence builds, the chances will be converted. On the down side. The Lambert injury doesn't sound good. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...ull-gruesome-details-rickie-lamberts-12066386