rubberman

Blimey!

5th in the form table under Bruce. It feels like we are really beginning to build something here. For years our teams have been less than the sum of their parts. I'd say now it feels we're on a par. Still need to step up to make us play above our capability - we need to open up the goal scoring soon and really turn it on. From now till Jan we've got a run of games that should see us winning and winning well. Bring it on Steve. (and keep a slice of that humble pie for me please).

Given where we were and the fixtures we've had since Bruce came in, 4 points from every 6 is a fine return. Now is the opportunity to get 3 straight wins and put the pressure on those above us. Draw away at Norwich and we have another good run of games that should be winnable. After the Christmas games I expect us to be right in the mix.

Waaay too much information!

Finally! (Would take a draw now)

This. Great if Gabby can contribute with the odd cameo or covering injury, but as well as getting ourselves back where we belong, we need to continue to bring though and develop talent. Gabby will be gone in a couple of years so use him if and when he can help, but don't let it impact the development of others.

Name Home Team Away Team Guess Brighton 1 1 Villa Draw Barnsley 1 0 Wigan Barnsley Birmingham 1 1 Bristol Draw Blackburn 0 1 Brentford Brentford Cardiff 0 1 Huddersfield Huddersfield Derby 2 1 Rotherham Derby Fulham 1 1 Wednesday Draw Preston 1 0 Wolves Preston QPR 1 2 Norwich Norwich Reading 1 0 Burton Reading Ipswich 1 1 Forest Draw Leeds 1 2 Newcastle Newcastle rubberman

It's tight in the playoff places!

The higher we climb, the more we'll be playing teams below us and therefore the easier it gets.

Pfft. Not for me. I hold him fully responsible for where we are now - he broke the team. And because of that QPR are now a direct rival. Hope he has a 10 game losing streak.

To the end of the Christmas period we've got Brighton and Norwich away - tough. Leeds home and away - tough-ish but winnable. Then 5 other games against those level or below us - Cardiff x2, QPR, Burton and Wigan. Would be disappointed to lose more than once in that run, but also expect 6 wins. 40 points by 2nd Jan please...It's gonna be good!

Bloody international breaks. I'll take 0-0 and a point for now - continue the 4 from 6 rate of points accumulation.

Give you the win now BOF - well done.

Me too! Over to you @BOF...

Would have preferred RHM there. Give the kid a chance.

Have we all picked now?

Ah yes. I've heard tales of such a thing, but not witnessed it myself. Like unicorns.

Good post. I agree with that. One thing they should consult on is acoustics. Increase capacity and fill in etc, but (generalising here) a lot of the extra fans are not usually as vocal as the, let's say, more committed fans. This makes places like the Emirates deathly quiet. We need to build a stadium that concentrates and amplifies the noise to make it an intimidating place for teams to visit.

This is exactly the point I made in the Gabby thread. I really hope it was just a particular tactic for the Blues game, but if we lose a promising youngster because we push Gabby ahead of them I'll be very disappointed. Alternatively it does imply we are playing a bit more hardball on the contracts side of things and not just handing them out with whatever clauses and £$£$£ the agent asks for which is better in the long term.

As long as our goals number is more than theirs I couldn't care less if we have 15% possession at this point.

Not sure how accurate this is... ^ Transfermarkt has some info. I used to look at Physioroom, but that seems to be PL only.

Crikey - everyone going for a Villa win. Must be a first.

Well this form can surely not last... Name Home Team Away Team Guess Brentford 2 2 Fulham Draw Wolves 1 1 Derby Draw Villa 2 0 Blackburn Villa Burton 0 1 Barnsley Barnsley Huddersfield 1 1 Birmingham Draw Newcastle 2 0 Cardiff Newcastle Norwich 1 1 Leeds Draw Forest 1 1 QPR Draw Rotherham 0 1 Preston Preston Wednesday 2 1 Ipswich Wednesday Wigan 0 2 Reading Reading Bristol 1 1 Brighton Draw rubberman

It's almost like there should be some sort of middle ground where players can play well in parts, not so well at other times. No - it'll never catch on.

Well in, Watford! Was a slightly nervous result.