Dovin has genuinely made the difference for me.
We've had some good spells and good performances recently but I don't think we're actually playing that much better than earlier in the season. We've just got a keeper that doesn't let everything in.
Collins or Wilson concedes at least one last night.
(and before anyone says, no this is not a pro Robins/anti Lampard post or anything like that).
Exactly, I'm not trying to be as negative or anti Lampard as I sound either, just trying to be objective.
I do actually think we'll make the playoffs - how is that negative or anti Lampard?! Just not getting carried away that we're now suddenly a brilliant team under him.
Yes, we're getting results now - which is brilliant. Every season recently we've had a good run of results at some point (I think last year we had a sustained 2-3 month run of top 2 form?), and Lampard has mostly done it, so far, off the brilliance of Dovin and making us a bit tighter at the back. 2 Seasons ago Robins did it off the brilliance of Gyokeres and Hamer and making us more solid at the back. There's nothing wrong with either of those methods, and credit to Lampard for doing so, especially while we have our better players out. But I'm not suddenly claiming we have transformed into a fantastic team putting in unplayable performances (like we have at times previously), and maybe we will do that when we get EMC/Wright/Sheaf and Grimes firing on all cylinders and this is just a solid platform to build off?
I'll be delighted if we get promoted grinding out results against the midtable teams and below all season and shithousing the playoffs, with Dovin being the star. Just acknowledging it's just a different way to skin a cat, instead of harnessing periods of immense momentum and performances following runs of subpar/indifferent results/performances.