Football league 2014/15

[st_brendy]

Just starting to look like two mini groups of four, one fighting automatic, the other fighting play-offs - although if Watford were to lose to Boro on Monday, and Bmouth and Norwich both win at home, then they'd be an equal argument of one group of three and one group of five.

[sussexpob]

Ends 2-2... Derby havent won a game in 8 now!!

Far from finch being the reason, I think this corresponds with the time when Chris Martin got injured..... arguably the best player in the league, so understandably they are missing him

[sussexpob]

Just starting to look like two mini groups of four, one fighting automatic, the other fighting play-offs - although if Watford were to lose to Boro on Monday, and Bmouth and Norwich both win at home, then they'd be an equal argument of one group of three and one group of five.

Middlesbrough have the worst goal difference, and have to go to Watford and Norwich and still have a tough home game to an on form Wolves... apparent from Middlesbrough games, not sure any other teams really have any games you expect them to drop points in.

I still with Bournemouth and Norwich.... easiest schedules, and Middlesbrough could end up losing 3 games in the next 4

[budgetmeansbudget]

Ends 2-2... Derby havent won a game in 8 now!!

Far from finch being the reason, I think this corresponds with the time when Chris Martin got injured..... arguably the best player in the league, so understandably they are missing him

I think their problems are at the back, have been conceding a lot of poor goals in recent weeks, and its having a bad effect on the rest of the team. Have a stack of real quality in midfield and while they have missed Chris Martin, they should have enough goals in them to win more games than they have been.

[budgetmeansbudget]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

[sussexpob]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

Makes a huge difference that all three teams below you play each other though..... it is going to give you at least an advantage against 1 team, best case scenario is a draw in both games givs

[sussexpob]

Ends 2-2... Derby havent won a game in 8 now!!

Far from finch being the reason, I think this corresponds with the time when Chris Martin got injured..... arguably the best player in the league, so understandably they are missing him

I think their problems are at the back, have been conceding a lot of poor goals in recent weeks, and its having a bad effect on the rest of the team. Have a stack of real quality in midfield and while they have missed Chris Martin, they should have enough goals in them to win more games than they have been.

Well they havent scored in half of the 8 games they havent won (losing them all), and in the Norwich game it was Ruddy throwing in its own net (their only chance in the game) that scored for them..... tbf, I seen them three times recently inculding the Norwich game, and they looked very poor going forward. Martin is such a beast they throw it up aerial or to his feet, and he brings that midfield in. Today it was a penalty that finally got them going.

Darren Bent is rubbish, Im surprised McClaren brought him in. They miss Jordan Ibe too maybe?

[Gingerfinch]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

I don't know your run in, but playing a team scrapping for points is never easy.

[sussexpob]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

I don't know your run in, but playing a team scrapping for points is never easy.

Dont play anyone in the top 10, dont play anyone within 8 points of relegation.... = 6 matches vs teams that have nothing to play for but the difference of 13 to 14th play

[Gingerfinch]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

I don't know your run in, but playing a team scrapping for points is never easy.

Dont play anyone in the top 10, dont play anyone within 8 points of relegation.... = 6 matches vs teams that have nothing to play for but the difference of 13 to 14th play

Sounds ok, doesn't it.

I won't predict Bournemouth to go up

[Alviro Patterson]

Bradford responding to a dire 1-0 defeat to playoff rivals Chesterfield with a 3-0 win over playoff rivals Doncaster Rovers. For added amusement, two of the goals scored by Blackpool loanees (McKenzie and McMahon).

The League One playoff run in looks ridiculous, 5th and 6th place are very much up for grabs and each round contains at least one "six pointer" game. Peterborough and Fleetwood have a kinder run in with games mostly against bottom half League One sides. Barnsley's run-in virtually consists of playoff rival opposition. Sheffield United have a mixture of playoff rival and lower half sides. Bradford, Rochdale and Chesterfield have a mixture of automatic promotion/playoff contenders and lower mid-table sides.

[budgetmeansbudget]

It's starting to worry me that a lot of pundits are saying Bournemouth are nailed on automatic promotion!

We have got a relatively straight forward run in, but at this time of the year, that can mean diddly.

I don't know your run in, but playing a team scrapping for points is never easy.

Dont play anyone in the top 10, dont play anyone within 8 points of relegation.... = 6 matches vs teams that have nothing to play for but the difference of 13 to 14th play

Sounds ok, doesn't it.

I won't predict Bournemouth to go up ;-)

You don't need to, everyone else is!

If we stick to the way we have been playing most of the season we should be fine, but although we aren't playing against anyone with a chance of promotion or relegation, that can mean we play teams who do not have any pressure on them and that can present its own problems.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Ends 2-2... Derby havent won a game in 8 now!!

Far from finch being the reason, I think this corresponds with the time when Chris Martin got injured..... arguably the best player in the league, so understandably they are missing him

I think their problems are at the back, have been conceding a lot of poor goals in recent weeks, and its having a bad effect on the rest of the team. Have a stack of real quality in midfield and while they have missed Chris Martin, they should have enough goals in them to win more games than they have been.

Well they havent scored in half of the 8 games they havent won (losing them all), and in the Norwich game it was Ruddy throwing in its own net (their only chance in the game) that scored for them..... tbf, I seen them three times recently inculding the Norwich game, and they looked very poor going forward. Martin is such a beast they throw it up aerial or to his feet, and he brings that midfield in. Today it was a penalty that finally got them going.

Darren Bent is rubbish, Im surprised McClaren brought him in. They miss Jordan Ibe too maybe?

I don't rate Bent either. I think they brought about 6 loan players in in January, won a couple of games and have then gone on a run where they have not won in 8. Perhaps the new arrivals have upset the camp in some way?

[st_brendy]

It's not just Bmouth's run in though. They are also, by a mile, the best attacking side in the league.

Being the best attacking side in the league, despite starting the season as big underdogs, is what got us promoted automatically from the Championship in 2012, and I think it will be what gets Bmouth promotion automatically from the Championship in 2015. They might not win the division (just like we didn't), but who cares. You take 2nd place every day of the week.

[Aidan11]

Three different teams topped the Championship today.

Budget will be happy that Bournemouth are the ones on top at the end of the day.