Goal Difference (6 Viewers)

[edgy]

We've got to improve it over the next 3 games, I'd say at least to +9. It's likely to take a knock back somewhere along the following 3. I think it's going to be crucial.

 

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[lord_garrincha]

To improve it, we have to win games... so it tends to look after itself over time.

Wright coming back will help it.

 

[edgy]

To improve it, we have to win games... so it tends to look after itself over time.

Well yes, but I just have a feeling we'll need to have racked up more than +3. Then a couple of defeats along the rest of the way, won't damage us as much.

 

[Ricketts]

Mathematically, going for more goals to improve your goal difference is brilliant, but if on only one occasion throughout the season you get sucker-punched and go from a win to draw, that’s two points lost and far more damage done.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

We've got to improve it over the next 3 games, I'd say at least to +9. It's likely to take a knock back somewhere along the following 3. I think it's going to be crucial.

I don’t think we need to worry too much. We’re one GD behind Blackburn & Bristol, 4 behind Norwich and finally 9 behind WBA. WBA have some tough away fixtures coming up so we could easily get close to parity.

If we keep the wins coming we’ll break into the playoffs this weekend as I can’t see WBA winning away at Leeds. From there, it’s just keeping above them.

 

[clint van damme]

Most of the teams around us have at least 2 of the top 4 to play so if those games are going to damage our goal difference then it probably applies to our rivals as well.

Only Watford only have just 1 of the top 4 to play and we're already 7 better off than them.

 

[edgy]

I don’t think we need to worry too much. We’re one GD behind Blackburn & Bristol, 4 behind Norwich and finally 9 behind WBA. WBA have some tough away fixtures coming up so we could easily get close to parity.

If we keep the wins coming we’ll break into the playoffs this weekend as I can’t see WBA winning away at Leeds. From there, it’s just keeping above them.

I guess that bit is my point really. It's all very close and after WBA's difficult game they will probably be closer. 4 teams on very similar GD.

I get that winning games is the most important bit, but the next 3 presents us an opportunity to add a few more than just +1 each time.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I guess that bit is my point really. It's all very close and after WBA's difficult game they will probably be closer. 4 teams on very similar GD.

I get that winning games is the most important bit, but the next 3 presents us an opportunity to add a few more than just +1 each time.

Agreed but GD isn’t worth fixating on because it’s always a nice to have. If we win the next 3 our GD will be +7 at a minimum and the GD will largely take care of itself because the teams around us are playing themselves/the top 4 teams.

If we play the way we did at the weekend against Oxford, we probably would batter them 3 or 4 nil.

 

[Robinshio]

if we win the next 3 1-0 , then dont worry

 

[lord_garrincha]

if we win the next 3 1-0 , then dont worry

I get the thinking behind the OP, and I may look silly not worrying about it come the end, but I'd take that now over a 6-0 win & 2 1-0 defeats with a +4!

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Agreed but GD isn’t worth fixating on because it’s always a nice to have. If we win the next 3 our GD will be +7 at a minimum and the GD will largely take care of itself because the teams around us are playing themselves/the top 4 teams.

If we play the way we did at the weekend against Oxford, we probably would batter them 3 or 4 nil.

Hate this over confidence

 

[Pezza]

Love how we jump on the play off push and assume we should smash Oxford, Stoke and Deby to get the GD up. Because that is exactly how this league works...

 

[edgy]

Love how we jump on the play off push and assume we should smash Oxford, Stoke and Deby to get the GD up. Because that is exactly how this league works...

I haven't said that at all. I've said I think we need to improve it.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Hate this over confidence

We played excellently on Saturday and in all honesty, we should’ve ended 3 or 4 that weekend. That calibre of performance would beat most teams in the league.

The underlying point was that if we keep winning games, the GD will take care of itself. On points, we will overtake WBA on Saturday if we beat Oxford and they fail to beat Leeds away.

When people talk about our results, there’s a tendency to overestimate what we need because a lot of people don’t account for who the teams are playing. For example, Blackburn play Norwich and someone has to drop points. Looking at some of the run ins, we don’t really have many teams around us to play now bar WBA and Sunderland if we somehow catch them up.

Again, our away games is a strong run too, after Oxford, we play the bottom 4 of the bottom 5 and then Sheff U. Our away form should be as close to 5-0-1 as possible towards the end of the season. Home is trickier but I’d rather be playing Sunderland, Boro, WBA and Burnley at home at this stage of the season. Especially since Lampard has turned the home form around.

 

[skybluecam]

Goal difference is worth less than a point. It's not worth thinking about.

 

[SAJ]

Hate this over confidence

Me too. It’s not so long ago people had their neck in a noose as we were getting relegated. In the last 3 weeks we seem to have gone in so many people’s mind to clear favourites to make the play offs. Just enjoy it and start worrying about these things come Easter.

 

[JimmyHillsbeard]

Love how we jump on the play off push and assume we should smash Oxford, Stoke and Deby to get the GD up. Because that is exactly how this league works...

Also in the season when our bogey teams (Swansea and Preston) are finally laid to rest, everyone assumes our hoodoo over Sunderland and Middlesbrough will continue.

 

[lord_garrincha]

Just enjoy it and start worrying about these things come Easter.

Exactly... and if it is looking like GD might come into play, just use the old South American / Italian tactic of good, old, bribery!

Who saw Coventry 12 Boro 0 coming???

Almost as contrived as Coventry 0 Morecambe 0... hey, Bees fans??!

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Me too. It’s not so long ago people had their neck in a noose as we were getting relegated. In the last 3 weeks we seem to have gone in so many people’s mind to clear favourites to make the play offs. Just enjoy it and start worrying about these things come Easter.

The team has earned the right to feel confident because they are starting to perform at a level in line with the hype going into this season where we were fancied to finish top 4.

We’ve got a good run-in too so the reasonable expectation now is to finish in the top 6 and we’re well in control of our destiny.

 

[SBAndy]

The team has earned the right to feel confident because they are starting to perform at a level in line with the hype going into this season where we were fancied to finish top 4.

We’ve got a good run-in too so the reasonable expectation now is to finish in the top 6 and we’re well in control of our destiny.

Add to that we now seem to be the ‘best of the rest’ pick for the bookies (excluding current top 4).

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Add to that we now seem to be the ‘best of the rest’ pick for the bookies (excluding current top 4).

Exactly, Sunderland are probably out of reach but considering we’ve got them at home soon, there’s an outside chance we could catch them. Though I wouldn’t bet on it.

Putting past results against Sunderland aside, on form alone, Sunderland would hate to meet us in the Playoff semi-final.

I’d like to see a Blackburn v Burnley SF and somehow Burnley bottle it.

 

[Warwickhunt]

You watch WBA beat Leeds! It's Cov innit!

 

[Lamps]

Exactly, Sunderland are probably out of reach but considering we’ve got them at home soon, there’s an outside chance we could catch them. Though I wouldn’t bet on it.

Putting past results against Sunderland aside, on form alone, Sunderland would hate to meet us in the Playoff semi-final.

I’d like to see a Blackburn v Burnley SF and somehow Burnley bottle it.

I think it will be Sunderland in the SF and Burnley in the final. I'd settle for that right now as well.

A fresh Wright and Simms in the middle up front. EMC on the left with Saka on the right. Rudoni charging through midfield at them. Grimes controlling midfield. Even footballs 0-0 specialists will struggle to contain this.

 

[bawtryneal]

Football is a “funny old game” as Jimmy Greaves once said
I am sure Frank and the team are taking each game as it comes. Never under estimate the likes of Oxford and Derby etc.
We cannot win every week. It’s how you bounce back that matters.

 

[SonofErnie]

You watch WBA beat Leeds! It's Cov innit!

Those type of results will happen out of nowhere, but the best they can hope for is probably a draw.

 

[play_in_skyblue_stripes]

Our goal difference is likely to be one of the poorer ones in play off push.A bit late to change that and don't have the players to produce 4 or 5 nil wins.
Just have to try and win as many as possible and avoid losing. Totally obvious I know.

 

[Lamps]

Our goal difference is likely to be one of the poorer ones in play off push.A bit late to change that and don't have the players to produce 4 or 5 nil wins.
Just have to try and win as many as possible and avoid losing. Totally obvious I know.

I can't see anything other than finishing 4th or 5th and clear of 6th. So not worried about GD.