Being Realistic

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northoltsteve

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Being Realistic

Ok i don't know if this thread has been done elsewhere.

Fantastic first half to the season, way beyond any brentford supports expectations, but let's be a bit realistic for a moment.
Where do you think we will finish in the championship? I will be happy with a top ten finish just outside play off's.
Start of season i was predicting us to finish bottom half just avoiding relegation. Ok thats not going to happen now. What's everyone's prediction for second half off this season?
 

Being Realistic

Promotion
 

Being Realistic

After playing 21 of 23 opponents, how many better teams than us have we seen this season? One. Just one. Injuries permitting, that's not going to suddenly change. Make no mistake, we're in a promotion battle... and Warbs strikes me as a winning general. Happy (if unbelievable) days indeed :)
 

Being Realistic

Don't see why top 6 is beyond us this season. The team has the confidence and the will power to do it.

But anything above 10th would give us a good platform for next season.
 

Being Realistic

northoltsteve said:
Ok i don't know if this thread has been done elsewhere.

Fantastic first half to the season, way beyond any brentford supports expectations, but let's be a bit realistic for a moment.
Where do you think we will finish in the championship? I will be happy with a top ten finish just outside play off's.
Start of season i was predicting us to finish bottom half just avoiding relegation. Ok thats not going to happen now. What's everyone's prediction for second half off this season?
Click to expand...
Having viewed a recent BeesPlayer interview with MW, i believe our esteemed Manager would consider that he, and the players, would think of this as an insult.
 

Being Realistic

We're as good as anyone in this league, better than most.
Obviously if we get a run of injuries/suspensions that could change, but we're not likely to be back in League One next season are we? :sorted:
 

Being Realistic

January player movements will decide a lot - at the. Moment we deserve a playoff spot on merit
 

Being Realistic

I said at the beginning of the season that we would finish 12th. Well were nearly half way and my expectations have risen and the top six is achievable.
I think that Middlesborough will win the league with Derby taking second spot. Other teams in the play off spots will be Bournemouth, Watford and possibly a team on a good run like Birmingham.
We may drop some more points at Griffin Park soon. We have had the convincing wins against Wolves and Blackburn lately, but the course of these games may have changed had Wolves not hit the bar before we scored or had Blackburn not crashed one against the post when we were 2-1 up. So with a change in luck there will be home games where we are dominant but Lady Luck does not smile on us.
Away from home we are doing ok but need to pick up a few more points at the northern outposts.
We need to stay injury free to key players.
 

Being Realistic

We are playing without fear at present. I just hope we do not choke when the realisation sets in. How we deal with this will all be down to the breadman and his team, so no real concerns at all.

Keeping the dream alive.
 

Being Realistic

Top 6. With the exception of slightly better finishing (something we are doing better as well) and a quicker pace of game. I see a much smaller gap between League one and the championship I was expecting. Only Midldlesborough have made me sit up and take note and thought wow this is going to be tough this season. It seems the reason why this division is so tight is every other teams seems to set out not to get beat whilst we go for the win, hence why we are winning.

Maybe I'm getting snobby but I watched the 2nd half of Brighton v Milwall and thought the standard was appalling both teams just hoofed it forward all the time and Danny sh*ttu who looked like a pub player against us was made to look like a world beater. We are so far ahead of teams like that it is untrue.
 

Being Realistic

Just enjoying the ride right now. Enjoying each game as it comes. If we're still in the mix come February then I'll start to dream
 

Being Realistic

With the addition of a couple of players in the window, keeping what we have, and a little bit of luck with injuries, we could make the play offs, no problem on what I have seen to date.
 

Being Realistic

We are playing in a league below our level..

We need promotion .. so we can test ourselves properly.
 

Being Realistic

halibutbee64 said:
I said at the beginning of the season that we would finish 12th. Well were nearly half way and my expectations have risen and the top six is achievable.
I think that Middlesborough will win the league with Derby taking second spot. Other teams in the play off spots will be Bournemouth, Watford and possibly a team on a good run like Birmingham.
We may drop some more points at Griffin Park soon. We have had the convincing wins against Wolves and Blackburn lately, but the course of these games may have changed had Wolves not hit the bar before we scored or had Blackburn not crashed one against the post when we were 2-1 up. So with a change in luck there will be home games where we are dominant but Lady Luck does not smile on us.
Away from home we are doing ok but need to pick up a few more points at the northern outposts.
We need to stay injury free to key players.
Click to expand...

if anything I thought luck was going against us on Saturday - well on top and one of the flukiest deflections going - yet we still responded and won - increase our ruthlessness in front of goal and anything is possible.
 

Being Realistic

Certainly top half and with a bit of luck we can get into the top 6 - yet to see a better team than us this season (didn't go to Boro). Our home form is fantastic so I think the difference will be if we can replicate this away from home at some big grounds (starting on Saturday).
 

Being Realistic

My expectation is to enjoy what's happening to the max. At Griffin Park anything is possible. A couple of away games we've choked a bit (Boro where we didn't turn up and as result got outclassed) and Bolton where we appeared to be playing the badge for the first hour and a couple of games we were unlucky to not get something out of (Bournemouth and Huddersfield) but to sit here in December thinking if we'd won instead of lost one game we'd be leading the pack is unbelievable. We've already got more points than Yeovil did in their entire season last year.

If decisions had gone our way, we'd be top - but that's football, you could say similar about any team and any division "if that ref hadn't awarded that penalty we'd have won that" etc. I for one haven't seen a team that could do well in the Prem other than Brentford when we're firing on all cylinders, the fact that we took it to Blackburn without really getting out of third gear for the majority shows that this squad are top drawer and I reckon they'd do well in the Prem (if mid-table is classed as well). If you go with win at home and draw away for promotion - we've had enough wins away to offset the away defeats, a couple more and we'll offset the dropped points at home as well. I think our remaining away games will be tough (Wolves I'm a bit weary of, Brighton and Reading might well be strong at home too) but we've already played the other away games I had thought would be difficult ones (Boro, Bolton, Watford and Millwall) and I reckon when we play the three we lost to again at home we'll give them one hell of a shock.
 

Being Realistic

northoltsteve said:
Ok i don't know if this thread has been done elsewhere.

Fantastic first half to the season, way beyond any brentford supports expectations, but let's be a bit realistic for a moment.
Where do you think we will finish in the championship? I will be happy with a top ten finish just outside play off's.
Start of season i was predicting us to finish bottom half just avoiding relegation. Ok thats not going to happen now. What's everyone's prediction for second half off this season?
Click to expand...

If anyone had listened to MB or MW, then they would know that we will be a driving force in this division.
They have a plan and are sticking to it, therefore we will continue the way we started this season.
A top 6 finish and possibly a play off final.
 

Being Realistic

Will be disappointed not to be promoted as Champions by mid April :)
 

Being Realistic

The beauty of this season is that it just KEEPS getting better. Personally, I do not see any reason why we shouldn't be in the top 6th, if we made top 2 that would be just amazing.

'Boro will go up automatically IMHO, so one other with them plus the play offs. Our home advantage is always worth a bit to us so I'd not fear anyone in the play offs. The management had made the players believe, the fans have made us believe - ie everyone thought we'd still win last Saturday at h-t despite being on level terms and dominating.

Just so incredibly proud of the Club, loving being just about under the radar, seeing GP nearly full every week, its just a dream, but it's real, we are serious players in THE CHAMPIONSHIP and you know that The Premiership is the next aim, it's a matter of when and not if, we're in a great position now and with luck on our side we just might make promotion this term.
 
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Being Realistic

Flipping the argument around slightly, if this team /squad had been put together in L1 how many point clear do you think we would be?

With regards to the Championship season I think a lot may depend in any comings and goings in the January window but I think the top 6 should be well within our sights
 

Being Realistic

I don't think the word IF exists in the bread mans vocabulary. The bread man is gonna make us play amongst the big boys next season!!
 

Being Realistic

I'll be happy with anywhere in the top half. If we keep Andre fit and add another striker we could finish top 6 which would be an unbelievable achievement
 

Being Realistic

I was thinking about this last night. At the start of the season, I'd have bitten your hand off for a top 10 finish. I wouldn't take that now though - we've shown we're at least a top 6 team IMO.
 
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Being Realistic

Holysmit said:
Top 6. With the exception of slightly better finishing (something we are doing better as well) and a quicker pace of game. I see a much smaller gap between League one and the championship I was expecting. Only Midldlesborough have made me sit up and take note and thought wow this is going to be tough this season. It seems the reason why this division is so tight is every other teams seems to set out not to get beat whilst we go for the win, hence why we are winning.

Maybe I'm getting snobby but I watched the 2nd half of Brighton v Milwall and thought the standard was appalling both teams just hoofed it forward all the time and Danny sh*ttu who looked like a pub player against us was made to look like a world beater. We are so far ahead of teams like that it is untrue.
Click to expand...

Holloway said we were FOUR YEARS ahead of Millwall.
 

Being Realistic

Markybee said:
The beauty of this season is that it just KEEPS getting better. Personally, I do not see any reason why we shouldn't be in the top 6th, if we made top 2 that would be just amazing.

'Boro will go up automatically IMHO, so one other with them plus the play offs. Our home advantage is always worth a bit to us so I'd not fear anyone in the play offss. The management had made the player believe, the fans have made us believe - ie everyone thought we'd still win last Saturday at h-t despite being on level terms and dominating.

Just so incredibly proud of the Club, loving being just about under the radar, seeing GP nearly full every week, its just a dream, but it's real, we are serious players in The Championship and you know that The Premiership is the next aim, it's a matter of when and not if, we're in a great position now and with luck on our side we just might make promotion this term.
Click to expand...


Even when we're a goal down with 15 mins left I still believe we gonna win. Andre said in his last BP interview that the boys are going for automatic promotion.............WHY NOT ?.
 

Being Realistic

Our success, unlike some other teams, is massively down to preparation. It's the old Jack Nicklaus quote about hard work making our luck. So occasionally fortune will be against us but most of the time our organisation, fitness and skill will out. Because of this I reckon we are well in with a chance of automatic promotion, top 6 at least. Even injuries and suspensions are pretty well covered with our squad. Although we're short on goalscoring forwards, we don't actually rely on an out and out goalscoring forward, using our CF mostly for setting up other players. would be nice to find another top forward in January though.
 

Being Realistic

sponshagga said:
Our success, unlike some other teams, is massively down to preparation. It's the old Jack Nicklaus quote about hard work making our luck. So occasionally fortune will be against us but most of the time our organisation, fitness and skill will out. Because of this I reckon we are well in with a chance of automatic promotion, top 6 at least. Even injuries and suspensions are pretty well covered with our squad. Although we're short on goalscoring forwards, we don't actually rely on an out and out goalscoring forward, using our CF mostly for setting up other players. would be nice to find another top forward in January though.
Click to expand...

Wasn't it Garry Player who said "the more I practice, the luckier I get"?
 

Being Realistic

The squad is good enough, in terms of raw talent, to finish in the top six. The question will be whether it is strong enough mentally. Will it retain its self belief when the going gets tough? Can it handle the pressure of big games away from home in front of big crowds? At the moment it's all a great big adventure with everything to win and nothing to lose. But it won't stay like that, especially as the season grinds on and players get physically and mentally tired.

In individual games I always feel that the last twenty minutes are when the real business is done. Similarly, in a whole season, the last ten games are where the men are separated from the boys. How many times have we seen teams challenge strongly for thirty odd games before slowly fading? A forty-six game season is an incredible marathon which tests every ounce of skill, strength and belief. It takes more than just footballing ability to survive!

Can we do it? Yes, but boy will it be tough!!!
 

Being Realistic

Before the season started I would have been happy with c15th, a few scalps and a cup run. If we finished in our position without a cup run I'd be ecstatic.
 

Being Realistic

Holysmit said:
Top 6. With the exception of slightly better finishing (something we are doing better as well) and a quicker pace of game. I see a much smaller gap between League one and the championship I was expecting. Only Midldlesborough have made me sit up and take note and thought wow this is going to be tough this season. It seems the reason why this division is so tight is every other teams seems to set out not to get beat whilst we go for the win, hence why we are winning.

Maybe I'm getting snobby but I watched the 2nd half of Brighton v Milwall and thought the standard was appalling both teams just hoofed it forward all the time and Danny sh*ttu who looked like a pub player against us was made to look like a world beater. We are so far ahead of teams like that it is untrue.
Click to expand...

I agree top 6 finish well within our capabilities on the basis of the season so far. As it stands the top 6 are all very close and there's a pool of half a dozen clubs which take turns dipping in and out of the top 6 depending on runs of results. If we can keep out of that group and carry on being one of the 4-5 who don't have a run of defeats to take them out of the top 6 we could end up in literally any of the top 6 spots including the auto promotion ones. Which is frankly incredible.

Not sure I agree that the gap between L1 and Championship that small, just that we have improved massively even since last season. The difference is the level of consistency and the increased risk of being punished (and punishing) for errors which you would get away with in L1. Having seen too many years of L1 there was always a lot of skill mixed in with the comedy errors and hoofing, and it was possible to do well by very disciplined hoofing. That isn't an option in the Championship and that's why both we and Bournemouth have done so well so far.
 

Being Realistic

I agree with much of the above.
But much depends on us keeping our stars.
Also, I fear we are vulnerable in the goalkeeping cover department.
And vulnerable in the striker cover department. After the two late substitutions on Saturday it seemed like we were down to 9 men for the final stage of the game.
All else is brilliant, though!!
 

Being Realistic

Markybee said:
The beauty of this season is that it just KEEPS getting better. Personally, I do not see any reason why we shouldn't be in the top 6th, if we made top 2 that would be just amazing.

'Boro will go up automatically IMHO, so one other with them plus the play offs. Our home advantage is always worth a bit to us so I'd not fear anyone in the play offs. The management had made the players believe, the fans have made us believe - ie everyone thought we'd still win last Saturday at h-t despite being on level terms and dominating.

Just so incredibly proud of the Club, loving being just about under the radar, seeing GP nearly full every week, its just a dream, but it's real, we are serious players in THE CHAMPIONSHIP and you know that The Premiership is the next aim, it's a matter of when and not if, we're in a great position now and with luck on our side we just might make promotion this term.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't argue with anything you've written Markybee but think I'll be happy with top 10 place this season with the current squad as think we'll struggle and get outmuscled in midfield away at times and I'd be amazed and pleasantly surprised if at some stage we don't lose Andre for a period of games through injury, suspension or fatigue. I would caveat and say that if we continue to play like we are we and keep the players fit we will go very close.
 

Being Realistic

We are where we deserve to be and to some degree we may have 4-6 points than we should. I suppose a few sides will argue that but what I mean to say is that the season so far hasnt been a fluke.
I'm not going to get carried away but what I will say is that on the evidence ive seen thus far, we are comfortably a top 12 side and I cannot see us finishing anywhere below that
 

Being Realistic

To Bee Someone said:
We are where we deserve to be and to some degree we may have 4-6 points than we should. I suppose a few sides will argue that but what I mean to say is that the season so far hasnt been a fluke.
I'm not going to get carried away but what I will say is that on the evidence ive seen thus far, we are comfortably a top 12 side and I cannot see us finishing anywhere below that
Click to expand...

we " should " have had more points Muff, Brum , Norwich , Watford , Wigan , Hudds

" Top 12 side " ??

Blimey
 

Being Realistic

It could be said that teams didn't know too much about us for the first half of the season and when we play sides for a second time they will prepare better. For all the strength of our squad, we cannot afford to lose our main striker but I have every confidence in the management team and I'm sure they are prepared for that. Watford, who are a fancied side, recently lost four in a row and I can't see us doing that and I expected to be tested more than we have been by the supposed bigger sides, Boro apart. Play offs are a realistic aim now, I don't know how this season will play out but am happy to be here for the journey.
 

Being Realistic

Wise old Bee said:
It could be said that teams didn't know too much about us for the first half of the season and when we play sides for a second time they will prepare better./QUOTE]

Just what I was thinking, but it won't necessarily do them any good. I think we will finish in the top third of the table, just not sure where.
Click to expand...
 

Being Realistic

To Bee Someone said:
We are where we deserve to be and to some degree we may have 4-6 points than we should. I suppose a few sides will argue that but what I mean to say is that the season so far hasnt been a fluke.
I'm not going to get carried away but what I will say is that on the evidence ive seen thus far, we are comfortably a top 12 side and I cannot see us finishing anywhere below that
Click to expand...

Could have got something from B'Muff, fine margins when nil nil with Norwich, should deffo have got more from Wigan and deserved something from Watford.
Don't think we've got more points than we deserve but agree we left it late against Derby and in "that game".
 

Being Realistic

sonofabee said:
Could have got something from B'Muff, fine margins when nil nil with Norwich, should deffo have got more from Wigan and deserved something from Watford.
Don't think we've got more points than we deserve but agree we left it late against Derby and in "that game".
Click to expand...

Someone told me we played well at Wigan lol
 
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