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The Race to the Big League

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,148 ✭✭✭✭KnifeWRENCH


    The race is utterly unpredictable, so I'll just go with the teams I'd like to get promoted rather than who I think will get promoted (which could be any!)

    CHAMPIONS - BRISTOL CITY
    Remarkable season, having just come up from League 1. They've been fairly consistent throughout the season, and 2 promotions in a row would be a fantastic achievement.

    2ND - HULL CITY
    They're on a fantastic run and have been outperforming the other teams in the top 6 of late. Stoke had an excellent chance of finishing in the top 2 but I think they've lost their momentum and will have to settle for a playoff place.

    PLAYOFFS - CRYSTAL PALACE
    Unlikely to finish in the top 6, but I hope they get through for two reasons:
    1. I felt very sorry for them when they were relegated from the 04-05 season. I felt that, out of the 4 teams batttling relegation (them along with Norwich, Southampton and eventual survivors West Brom) they were the most deserving of survival.
    2. Neil Warnock - ok he can be a bit of a gobsh**e at times, but he's one of the most passionate coaches out there. He did a great job with Sheffield Utd. and has turned Palace around since he arrived.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    This is the way I think it will end.

    Automatic Promotion - Watford and West Brom

    Play offs - Palace

    I reckon the experience of having done this before will put West Brom and Watford up.

    Have a really good thought that Palace will go up through the play offs.
    They've hit form at the best time possible and i reckon they could go up just like Dowie brought them up a few seasons ago.

    Think Hull will be the other team with a great chance of going up in automatic spots or play-offs.

    I reckon Bristol City and Stoke will bottle it to be honest.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,148 ✭✭✭✭KnifeWRENCH


    West Brom back on top, with a game in hand over Bristol City and Stoke.
    Here's how I think the last games of the title contenders will pan out:

    West Brom:
    Watford (Home) - Draw
    Wolves (Away) - Draw
    Norwich (Away) - Win
    Southampton (Home) - Win
    QPR (Away) - Draw
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    Bristol City:
    Wolves (H) - Win
    Stoke (A) - Draw
    Sheff Utd (A) - Win
    Preston (H) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 80

    Hull City
    QPR (H) - Win
    Barnsley (A) - Win
    Sheff Utd (A) - Win
    Crystal Palace (H) - Draw
    Ipswich (A) - Draw
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    Stoke City
    Coventry (A) - Lose
    Bristol City (H) - Draw
    Colchester (A) - Draw
    Leicester (H) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 74

    Watford
    Barnsley (H) - Win
    West Brom (A) - Draw
    Crystal Palace (H) - Draw
    Scunthorpe (H) - BIG Win
    Blackpool (A) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    So I'm still taking Bristol City to win it!! West Brom 2nd on Goal Difference (though I'd prefer to see Hull get 2nd)
    Hull, Watford, Stoke and Palace for the playoffs.
    Ipswich's away form will kill them.
    Wolves would be worse than Derby in the Premiership.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    West Brom:
    Watford (Home) - Draw
    Wolves (Away) - Draw
    Norwich (Away) - Win
    Southampton (Home) - Win
    QPR (Away) - Draw
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    Bristol City:
    Wolves (H) - Win
    Stoke (A) - Draw
    Sheff Utd (A) - Win
    Preston (H) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 80

    Hull City
    QPR (H) - Win
    Barnsley (A) - Win
    Sheff Utd (A) - Win
    Crystal Palace (H) - Draw
    Ipswich (A) - Draw
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    Stoke City
    Coventry (A) - Lose
    Bristol City (H) - Draw
    Colchester (A) - Draw
    Leicester (H) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 74

    Watford
    Barnsley (H) - Win
    West Brom (A) - Draw
    Crystal Palace (H) - Draw
    Scunthorpe (H) - BIG Win
    Blackpool (A) - Win
    FINAL POINTS - 79

    :eek: Didn't realise we(Watford) had such a good run in compared to everyone elses.
    Knew ours was good but I didn't realise how tough Hulls and West Broms were.
    Looks like it'll be coming down to the last day.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 23,139 Mod ✭✭✭✭Bounty Hunter


    Watford and Ipswich both losing 1-0 at half time


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Lost three nil to Barnsley:(
    Odejayi got two.

    Huge game on Saturday. Would have taken the draw if we have won tonight. Now we definitely need the win.

    Going over for this and I can't wait!:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,148 ✭✭✭✭KnifeWRENCH


    SantryRed wrote: »
    Lost three nil to Barnsley:(
    Yikes! That's pretty shocking:eek:
    Looks like the Hornets will have to settle for playoffs now...it's a shame, they started the season so well.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Yikes! That's pretty shocking:eek:
    Looks like the Hornets will have to settle for playoffs now...it's a shame, they started the season so well.

    I know, it looked as if we were going to run away with it at one stage.
    Wouldn't be giving up on automatic promotion just yet, if we could get a win against WBA, who are just as incosistent as us, we'd still be in with a shot of going up.

    Our home forms terrible though, shocking stuff.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 348 ✭✭watman


    Yes we are unfancied , yes we dont play like real madrid
    3 to go :) We Are Stoke !!!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Cracking game at the Hawthorns last night.
    Atmosphere was top notch and the game matched it.
    Glad I got a ticket.:D

    However, we were lucky to get a draw out of there but with the other results that happened yesterday I take the draw happily.
    Play offs look most likely for us now because I can only seeing us getting 6 points at most from our last three games. Wouldn't surprise me if we get only two points though.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,575 ✭✭✭✭dsmythy


    Have a go of the bbc's predictor and see who you think will go up.

    My top ten came out as:

    1-Stoke.............81
    2-West Brom......80

    3-Watford..........76
    4-Hull................75
    5-Bristol City......74
    6-Cardiff............72

    7-Wolves...........71
    8-Ipswich...........68
    9-Crystal Palace..67
    10-Plymouth.......66

    I'd go with Watford going up through the playoffs beating Hull in the final. It's probably a good thing for Bristol City to spend another year in the Championship before going up. Can't be good for a League One team two years back to make it to the Premier.

    And as a side effect going down were Sheffield Wednesday and obviously Colchester and Scunthorpe.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,148 ✭✭✭✭KnifeWRENCH


    ^^^ Nice find dsmythy!:cool:
    Here's how my table turned out:

    1 West Brom.........78
    2 Bristol City.........78
    3 Hull..................77
    4 Stoke...............77
    5 Watford............76
    6 Crystal Palace....70
    7 Cardiff.............68
    8 Plymouth..........67
    9 Wolves.............67
    10 Ipswich............65
    11 Charlton...........62
    12 QPR.................62
    13 Sheffield Utd......61
    14 Burnley..............60
    15 Preston .............57
    16 Barnsley ............56
    17 Norwich..............54
    18 Sheffield Wed. ......53
    19 Coventry..............53
    20 Leicester..............52
    21 Southampton........52
    22 Blackpool.............51
    23 Colchester...........42
    24 Scunthorpe..........40

    I was probably a bit harsh on Blackpool!
    As for the playoffs, whoever wins between Hull and Palace would beat Watford in playoff final.
    That said, my predictions are usually very wrong!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Wolverhampton v West Brom,
    Norwich v West Brom
    Stoke v Bristol City,
    Watford v Crystal Palace,
    Hull v Crystal Palace,


    They are the biggest games left before the final day of games.
    West Brom have two massive games coming up in the next week.
    If they can get 4 points out of them games I reckon the league will be theirs.

    Crystal Palace still have a big say in who goes up with having to play Hull and Watford away.
    With the run there on, I wouldn't be surprised if they won both.

    Plenty of twists and turns left in this seasons run in, much better than the Premiership's one:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,478 ✭✭✭Bubs101


    Wolves seem to have a pretty easy run in after WBA. Would give them a good chance of making the premiership if they did actually reach the playoffs


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    West Brom and Hull both won their game in hands last night.

    Looks as if West Brom will be going up as champions now aslong as they win on Saturday.
    It's only right because they have players who can play brilliant football. I'd reckon they'll do well in the Prem.

    Stoke and Hull are both on 72, Bristol on 71 and Watford on 69.

    Stoke against Bristol's on Sky at 5.20 on Saturday.

    Hoping for a draw:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,860 ✭✭✭ditpoker


    would love hull to go up! dean windass ftw!!!

    once coventry stay up im happy! but its looking dodgy!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 348 ✭✭watman


    Nerves are beginning to tingle. 3 Hours to Kick Off , as i listen once more to the Battlecry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmsRwj6Iu04

    Come on Pulis - Just Do It !!


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