It's never ever happened in 30 years for a club to come from 4th from bottom to 6th place after 15 games. it wouldn't be an amazing turnaround. it would be a goddamn miracle.
Some questions need addressing here. This paints the true picture and I don't think anyone could argue with this.
1. Have we looked a good side at all this season? (and I am not talking about the odd spell in a game here) -
NO
2. Do we score enough goals? -
NO (5th worse side in the division)
3. Is the defence solid enough?
NO (6th worse defence in the division)
4. Have we dominated any team this season? (apart from that first 45 mins against Bury) -
NO
5. Have we any history at all of an sustained good run in the last 10 years (won 6 in a row, unbeaten in 12, that sort of thing) -
NO
6. Have we shown any consistency at all as a side in the last 10 years? -
NO
7. Is there enough pace in the team? -
NO
8. Do we more often than not get outpaced by opposition teams and caught on the break? -
YES
9. Have we curtailed this tendency to lose points from winning positions? -
NO
10. Have we known any success whatsoever in the last 20 years? -
NO
This is a club that has been in terminal decline for over 10 years, has shown no consistency whatsoever, has no money, has had no success, has only won 3 games out of 15 this campaign, has a manager who has said it is going to take time, has a manager who says many things are wrong at this club that he needs to put right ...... yet some still seem to feel we can do something
no other club has ever done in the last 30 years and put in this superhuman effort unknown to mankind, with us almost certainly having to win about 15 out of 31 games and only being able to lose just about 3 more games all season.
It is delusional. It truly is.
We have shown nothing to suggest we even begin to do this. Nothing.
The only team who has ever got close is Southampton (7 points adrift come the end of the season). But they were in a false position. They were only in the bottom 4 because of a 10 point deduction.
So after 15 games, although in the bottom 4 they had already won 5 of their first 15 games and drawn a further 7, losing just 3! We've already lost 7 games this season after 15 games.
That season Southampton received a massive cash injection due to a takeover. Southampton spent £3m on players that season. Much more than any other club. And they still finished short of 6th place. And in doing that they won 4 games in a row on 3 occasions.
That shows what task lies ahead. As I say, not just a massive, massive ask, but a bloody miracle!