Are we capable of winning 7-8 of our remaining 14 games?

Junior_BentsPlatformShoes

Well-known member
If we're aiming for a play-off spot, then 75-6 points is usually enough. Win 7 games along with some draws and we're thereabouts. Looking at the remaining fixtures, it's doable. Critchley does indeed now need to start turning draws into wins and being braver. The second half last night showed we are capable of the play needed, now is the time we need to start being braver.
 
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I think we're a hard team to beat, that is made clear by the tiny amount of goals we concede.

Whether we can turn draws into wins is the main thing, its glaringly obvious to us all that we need to start scoring more goals to have a shout. I'd rather us take the risk in an attempt to win games, even if it means in the end we'd fall shorter of the play-offs than if we played it safe and hope for the 1 nil wins. The 2nd half last night was a great example of how we CAN play.
 
I think we perform to the level we are, an mid table division 1 team, maybe upper mid table.
Which is ok for this season, we have gone through a complete change of personnel and in my opinion we aren't yet ready for the step up.
 
I very much doubt it. Do we play to win? Perhaps for 45 mins of each game. Critchley is too conservative in his approach and selects players out of position. Real creativity and goals are still in short supply.
 
The back five for the last 2 thirds of the season have been immense even with the chopping and changing....its a shame we dont have the quality of strikers we had 10 years ago because if we had....we would piss this league.
Ten years ago we had Prem/top of the Championship strikers. If they'd decided to play for a League One team I'd be wondering why.
 
I think we perform to the level we are, an mid table division 1 team, maybe upper mid table.
Which is ok for this season, we have gone through a complete change of personnel and in my opinion we aren't yet ready for the step up.
Probably agree with that but.....it may yet happen.
 
My heart says YES, my head says NO
agreed - we have an easy run in (in theory) v the likes of Northampton and Bristol Rovers etc - its what we do on Saty at Oxford, Donny, Sunderland x's 2 and Lincoln - knowing us, we'll still be the Nathan Delfonso Nearly Team' and we might be seeing Blackpool Old Boys next season mighten we (Bolton W)
 
Waiting for next season after consolidating this one could be disastrous, it's never too soon & we are in with a shout of the playoffs, we have to go for it. If we were to do so & be promoted then we need to do all that's reasonably possible to stay there. I'm certainly not giving up on us until it's mathematically not possible.
 
I really hope we don't do a '96 Allardyce and go into our shells. Like the OP says, it's time to take some risks. Scoring one goal per game isn't going to cut it!
 
If you get to within a few points of the playoffs after 30 games, you have to go for it and not start thinking about making a push for promotion next season, because next season anything could happen and a promotion challenge might never materialise.
 
Of course we can. Unless we win all 14, Critchley should be sacked according to some.
Imagine next League One all of us together the atmosphere and backing from us he will have, part of me wants to wait until next season to be promoted, the other half wants us to go up either way, imagine Wembley next season all together final whistle and we are a championship club OMG unreal
 
I wrote this before in reply to a comparison to our last LG1 promotion season, I think from about half way down is the best way I could describe why I don’t think we can do it this year. I’m not even sure 8 wins gets us over the playoff line.


The final 14 games of the 06/07 seasons were slightly easier and our projections don’t look good either.

06/07 final 14 Games

Top 10 teams - 5

Bottom 10 teams - 8 ( 2 in the relegation zone)

We scored 32 goals at a rate of 2.2 a game

20/21 final 14 games

Top 10 teams - 7

Bottom 10 teams - 5 (3 in the relegation zone)

Our goal ratio currently is 1.1 a game

In 06/07 we had three players who got into double figures for goals in the League. This season we’re going to have one.

We have two more home games this season, but this is literally the one time in history that doesn’t mean much.

In those final 14 games we picked up points at a ratio of 2.5 per game. (Which is absolutely outstanding over that period of games).

We’re currently at 1.5 points per game.

34% of our points this season came against the top ten, I’m not sure if that is a good ratio, it’s sounds it, maybe it is as they’re the higher quality teams. But our points per game against the top ten actually drops to 1.4 per game. But then again we haven’t played Sunderland at all so our first meeting could increase or decrease that percentage and ratio.

It’s really difficult to predict what points tally it will take to get to the play offs but looking at what the teams in and around 6th are projected to get I’d say it will be 76 points need to get into 6th. At our current rate we’re on course to get 70

Of course none of this takes into account momentum and the confidence something like a last minute winner on Saturday could provide.

Just don’t think we have enough goals in us to make it to the play offs.
 
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We can get to the pay offs but goals are the only problem at the minute
We don't score enough and ultimately that problem msy not get us there.
A proven striker at this level s the top priority in the summer .
The jerry gaz madine combo was derailed by mads injury they were doing really well up to then
But the focus now must move to the strike force which needs bolstering
 
The more we attack against half decent teams, the more the defence will become a bit more at risk. So in looking for a win a defeat might follow.

Worth a go though, absolutely nothing to lose.
 
It's very do-able but do I think we will, answer has to be no. Too many bad and inconsistent performances.
 
I would suggest that 72/73 pts will be enough for a top six finish. The top three look good, Lincoln are wobbling, and the next 8 Clubs are all in with a shout. All the teams in mix will be playing each other, and sharing points accordingly.
 
I would suggest that 72/73 pts will be enough for a top six finish. The top three look good, Lincoln are wobbling, and the next 8 Clubs are all in with a shout. All the teams in mix will be playing each other, and sharing points accordingly.
The issue for us has been demonstrated perfectly in the last 5 games. 4 draws and 1 win. Unbeaten, but we needed at least 1 more win, preferably 2.
4 goals scored. That's not good enough. It's cost us 4 points in games where we were in winning positions and then conceded late and we didn't have enough to get over the line versus the Cods.
The only way we're going to change that trend is by scoring more than a goal a game on a consistent basis. The only way that is going to happen with the squad is for Madine to be fit and playing.
 
The team we had in 07 was better than this one by a stretch. If Critchley gets us up I’d be amazed. Least he’s willing to adapt like he did on Tuesday. That’s a good sign.
 
Bottom line is team who don't score goals don't make the play offs.
To put our current form (last 5 games) into context, if it was repeated to the end of the season, we would have less than 70 points.
If Fleetwood repeated their current form to the end of the season, they'd have 76 and would make the play offs.
If Gillingham repeated their current form to the end of the season, they'd have 77...
 
The squad is more than capable. It is whether the head coach and his team are able to step up to the plate. To do so Critchley will have to pick the best available players on a consistant rather than random basis, that we will not try to be clever but will propose a simple but flexible strategy that the players will understand and believe in, he will not over egg the abilities of the opposition, and will send the team out with confidence and the freedom and indeed instruction to get stuck in and play to win. Lets see what comes in the pre-match interview. Will it be the usual "Oxford are the best footballing side in the division" and a general eulogy on how good the opposition is, or will it be a more appropriate "We are Blackpool, we are, special, more than good enough and we will win this" Time will tell
 
To answer the question, yes. Starting on Saturday against a team that will actually play football and not play for throw ins
Really interesting point @Athers - we do play better against footballing teams. That said, Crewe and Burton are a reminder of how we need to be more clinical in front of the onion bag.
 
Always live in hope. I actually believe we have a decent run in if you compare it to others.

Goals are key as mentioned. Fundamental is our injury situation tho. I am also nervous about Ballard being away with NIreland. He's been huge - not least by notching 2 of our rare goals.
 
Pompey have an easy run of games to end of the season so maybe they will get top 6 instead of charlton ,will donny or Lincoln miss out? Who do we think will be top 6 sides ?
 
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