Where did it go wrong for the top 10 on 1st Jan

[andrew1957]

On first of Jan the top 12 were as below and their results since then are in brackets.
Wolves 57 (1-4-4)
Reading 51 (2-2-3)
Birmingham 51 (2-4-3)
Cardiff 44 (2-3-1)
Burnley 43 (2-3-4)
Sheff Unt 41 (4-2-2)
Preston 41 (4-3-2)
Palace 40 (1-1-5)
QPR 38 (2-4-2)
Ipswich 35 (4-3-2)
Swansea 35 (5-2-1)
Bristol City 34 (6-2-1)

Of the top 10 only Sheffield, Ipswich and Preston have made any ground and have only won 4 games each. The only teams to have seriously gained are Swansea and Bristol who were 11th and 12th - with 5 and 6 wins respectively. In fact the top 10 on 1st Jan have only won 24 games out of 81 games between them. Before Christmas most of the top 10 were winning at least 50% of their games each month.

This is quite bizarre and the only two reasons I can think of are
1. Is it an FA Cup hangover. Teams panic about the cup. Do we play our best team or call up the reserves (like Reading). Perhaps this causes a lack of momentum and makes me wonder if it would be best to play the first team after all and NOT to give the first team players a break.

2. After New Year a lot of young PL players are loaned out to bottom of the table Championship clubs - could this partly explain why all the clubs who have done well since then were in the bottom 14 at the start of the year?

[Snowball]

I just wish he'd play the best team in the cups.

I posted elsewhere, comparing our position before KO December 1st (when the gap was so big I think we all thought Wolves and Birmingham were certs for the top two spots.

Not only are we seven points and four points closer than then, but we have two games in hand too!


Reading's improved position since Noon December 1st


Reading are 15 points better off, GD +22 +2 Games in Hand v Plymouth.
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +0 Games in Hand v Crystal Palace
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +2 Games in Hand v Wolves.
Reading are 05 points better off, GD +05 +1 Games in Hand v QPR
Reading are 04 points better off, GD +09 +2 Games in Hand v Birmingham.
Reading are 03 points better off, GD +10 +2 Games in Hand v Burnley
Reading are 02 points better off, GD +06 +1 Games in Hand v Ipswich
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +03 +1 Games in Hand v Sheffield Utd
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +02 +1 Games in Hand v Swansea
Reading are 00 points better off, GD +05 +2 Games in Hand v Preston

Reading are 01 points better off, GD -01 -1 Games in Hand v Cardiff

Reading are 03 points worse off, GD +01 but they have two Games in Hand v Bristol

ONLY ONE SIDE HAS GAINED POINTS ON US (BRISTOL) (in their win at our place)
BUT THEY HAVE PLAYED TWO GAMES MORE.

THE ONLY OTHER SIDE TO HAVE POSSIBLY IMPROVED ITS POSITION IS CARDIFF. THEY ARE A POINT WORSE OFF BUT HAVE A GAME IN HAND.

[SteveRoyal]

Snowball I love it when you have your CAPS LOCK moments.
Just embolden the text.

[Arch]

I think you've got your Preston numbers wrong. They should be +3 points on us (I think)

[facaldaqui]

This would all be very encouraging if it looked remotely like we could capitalise on it. Some team will go on a Fulham sooner or later and spear us.

[Fezza]

I'm so disappointed with our current form that I have passed through disillusionment and am almost back to fanatical optimism, I mean it can't get much worse can it?

[biscuitsrus]

I just wish he'd play the best team in the cups.

I posted elsewhere, comparing our position before KO December 1st (when the gap was so big I think we all thought Wolves and Birmingham were certs for the top two spots.

Not only are we seven points and four points closer than then, but we have two games in hand too!


Reading's improved position since Noon December 1st


Reading are 15 points better off, GD +22 +2 Games in Hand v Plymouth.
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +0 Games in Hand v Crystal Palace
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +2 Games in Hand v Wolves.
Reading are 05 points better off, GD +05 +1 Games in Hand v QPR
Reading are 04 points better off, GD +09 +2 Games in Hand v Birmingham.
Reading are 03 points better off, GD +10 +2 Games in Hand v Burnley
Reading are 02 points better off, GD +06 +1 Games in Hand v Ipswich
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +03 +1 Games in Hand v Sheffield Utd
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +02 +1 Games in Hand v Swansea
Reading are 00 points better off, GD +05 +2 Games in Hand v Preston

Reading are 01 points better off, GD -01 -1 Games in Hand v Cardiff

Reading are 03 points worse off, GD +01 but they have two Games in Hand v Bristol

ONLY ONE SIDE HAS GAINED POINTS ON US (BRISTOL) (in their win at our place)
BUT THEY HAVE PLAYED TWO GAMES MORE.

THE ONLY OTHER SIDE TO HAVE POSSIBLY IMPROVED ITS POSITION IS CARDIFF. THEY ARE A POINT WORSE OFF BUT HAVE A GAME IN HAND.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics!!!!!!!!!!!

[cmonurz]

Interesting that Snowball chose 1st December, just before Reading won 5 games in a row. Would be much more telling with regard to current form to see how many points we have gained/lost on our rivals since 1st Jan.

Here we go - points since 1st Jan:

Bristol City 20
Swansea 17
Preston 15
Sheff Utd 14
Cardiff 11
Birmingham 10
Reading 8
Wolves 7

And points since the transfer window closed, 1st Feb:

Bristol City 13
Preston 8
Sheff Utd 7
Swansea 7
Birmingham 5
Cardiff 2
Wolves 2
Reading 1

[Archie's penalty]

I'm so disappointed with our current form that I have passed through disillusionment and am almost back to fanatical optimism, I mean it can't get much worse can it?

It's strange but that's an incredibly apt statement which sums up how I feel as well.

[papereyes]

Interesting that Snowball chose 1st December, just before Reading won 5 games in a row. Would be much more telling with regard to current form to see how many points we have gained/lost on our rivals since 1st Jan.

Here we go - points since 1st Jan:

Bristol City 20
Swansea 17
Preston 15
Sheff Utd 14
Cardiff 11
Birmingham 10
Reading 8
Wolves 7

And points since the transfer window closed, 1st Feb:

Bristol City 13
Preston 8
Sheff Utd 7
Swansea 7
Birmingham 5
Cardiff 2
Wolves 2
Reading 1

/remembers the post-1st Feb points tally thread last year with a mix of burning hatred and fond remembrance.

[Snowball]

I think you've got your Preston numbers wrong. They should be +3 points on us (I think)

You're right. Thanks

[Snowball]

I just wish he'd play the best team in the cups.

I posted elsewhere, comparing our position before KO December 1st (when the gap was so big I think we all thought Wolves and Birmingham were certs for the top two spots.

Not only are we seven points and four points closer than then, but we have two games in hand too!


Reading's improved position since Noon December 1st


Reading are 15 points better off, GD +22 +2 Games in Hand v Plymouth.
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +0 Games in Hand v Crystal Palace
Reading are 07 points better off, GD +07 +2 Games in Hand v Wolves.
Reading are 05 points better off, GD +05 +1 Games in Hand v QPR
Reading are 04 points better off, GD +09 +2 Games in Hand v Birmingham.
Reading are 03 points better off, GD +10 +2 Games in Hand v Burnley
Reading are 02 points better off, GD +06 +1 Games in Hand v Ipswich
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +03 +1 Games in Hand v Sheffield Utd
Reading are 01 points better off, GD +02 +1 Games in Hand v Swansea
Reading are 00 points better off, GD +05 +2 Games in Hand v Preston

Reading are 01 points better off, GD -01 -1 Games in Hand v Cardiff

Reading are 03 points worse off, GD +01 but they have two Games in Hand v Bristol

ONLY ONE SIDE HAS GAINED POINTS ON US (BRISTOL) (in their win at our place)
BUT THEY HAVE PLAYED TWO GAMES MORE.

THE ONLY OTHER SIDE TO HAVE POSSIBLY IMPROVED ITS POSITION IS CARDIFF. THEY ARE A POINT WORSE OFF BUT HAVE A GAME IN HAND.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics!!!!!!!!!!!

There's no lie there, and these are not "clever" statistics despite what idiots like cmonurz would like you tell you.


I chose the point in time when we at our worst deficit 12 points behind Wolves with NO games in hand.

I've done that before and said why I chose those dates, BECAUSE THEY WERE OUR WORST-EVER SITUATION, despite being third.

The fact that we have had a terrible run DOES NOT MATTER. That's right, it does not matter.

The absolute facst are we have improved our position over the last three months

Bristol City and Preston alone have gained 3 points each on us (but by playing two games more)
and they are three points behind us, AND we have two games in hand on them AND we have a better goal difference.

Cardiff have fallen back by a point but have a game in hand to catch up.

Other than that we've gained on every other seriously competing team

[Snowball]

Interesting that Snowball chose 1st December, just before Reading won 5 games in a row. Would be much more telling with regard to current form to see how many points we have gained/lost on our rivals since 1st Jan.

Hey DUMBO. I explained why.

[Snowball]

Interesting that Snowball chose 1st December, just before Reading won 5 games in a row. Would be much more telling with regard to current form to see how many points we have gained/lost on our rivals since 1st Jan.

Here we go - points since 1st Jan:

Bristol City 20
Swansea 17
Preston 15
Sheff Utd 14
Cardiff 11
Birmingham 10
Reading 8
Wolves 7

And points since the transfer window closed, 1st Feb:

Bristol City 13
Preston 8
Sheff Utd 7
Swansea 7
Birmingham 5
Cardiff 2
Wolves 2
Reading 1

Here's another set of points

P 35 64 20 Wolves
P 35 61 10 Birmingham
P 33 59 29 Reading
P 35 56 04 Preston
P 34 55 15 Sheffield Utd
P 35 54 07 Bristol City
P 32 53 14 Cardiff City
P 34 52 13 Swansea City
P 35 52 -1 Burnley
P 35 50 10 Ipswich Town
P 34 48 01 QPR

[Rex]

The absolute facts are we have improved our position over the last three months


Only by the points deficit though Snowball. It's now time for the team to start taking the slight advantage of the games in hand that we have. Actually slight advantage is not quite correct - the tally of games this month means it will only be an advantage if we get those 6 points and no injuries sustained.

[Snowball]

Fairy Nuff, but back on the morning of December 1st if someone had said:

"In three months we will be in a situation where it will be totally in our hands
to win the championship..."

[Rex]

Fairy Nuff, but back on the morning of December 1st if someone had said:

"In three months we will be in a situation where it will be totally in our hands
to win the championship..."

I agree with that Snowball, the glitch that all the top teams have at the moment is unfathomable, are all the teams now sussed out. Lets hope that Reading push on eh.

[Snowball]

This is a serious thought, and could apply to Reading AND the opposition clubs.

I got smacked by a series of viruses starting December 18th
(I know the date because I was due to go North via the Birmingham game)

I managed to get to that game but was so rough I had to leave my seat for ten minutes.

Since then my health has been up and down and every time I've tried to run
I've been breathless and feel like sh!t

I am NOT making excuses for any of our players, but I wonder if various players
on various teams at various times have had one r more of these viruses?

When I road-raced competitively a bug would stay in the system for 6-9 months
if you came back too quickly.

A layman (I mean non-athlete) often gets over a cold or something fluey
but for an athlete, they appear to be over it when not pushing the red line
but when they do go to the max, something is missing.

When you think that Wolves, Birmingham and Reading have all had these quite awful runs (no pun intended!)
and yet almost all the chasing pack have NOT made up ground on Reading, it makes me wonder...

[The 17 Bus]

You might almost think that the players are unsure about promotion, lets face it we keep hearing how poor they are, and that is at all clubs, and that very few are Prem quality.

The couple that we have seem to have a get out clause to leave should we fail to gain promotion, could this lessen the hunger, eg try that little bit less, in case of injury ruining a summer move?

[Snowball]

You might almost think that the players are unsure about promotion, lets face it we keep hearing how poor they are, and that is at all clubs, and that very few are Prem quality.

The couple that we have seem to have a get out clause to leave should we fail to gain promotion, could this lessen the hunger, eg try that little bit less, in case of injury ruining a summer move?

I guess, it's JUST possible, but not likely.

Blokes are blokes. We want to win.