 Time For Our Fate to Be DecidedWritten by paulthebluealien on Friday, 30th Jan 2015 19:08 We are now over halfway through the season which can mean only one thing. That's right folks, a good old league positioning/predicting/guesswork debate. Town currently sit in fourth position, which in truth, is incredible really, especially when we consider some of the doom and gloom that surrounded the club after five games where we sat on a paltry five points or after the dismal defeat to 'that lot' up the road. We have hauled in 50 points over our 27 league games. From this we can suggest that we'll be breaking the 80-point barrier by the end of the season. Of course, 90 points are not unthinkable and actually, if we were to achieve 90 points or more I cannot see us not just coming in the top two but also not winning the league. So, this aim I will analyse, albeit rather briefly, and I will set out whom I think are Town's main challenges in the weeks and months to come. Naturally, as I cannot predict the future, I will concentrate the blog on the top eight teams. Also, because I cannot see past these top eight coming in the top eight. Teams such as Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn simply lack the consistency required. If anyone breaks in it will be Birmingham. I do not believe this nonsense about tempting fate and I think if we finish in the top two, that is where we finish. Nothing can dictate our season now other than the team's focus, drive, determination and concentration from now until May. Of course, a bit of luck will do nicely. So, here we go. [b]Bournemouth: Current position - First. Predicted finish - Fourth[/b] That's right folks. Our current league leaders for me, anyway, will not win the league title. In fact, I cannot see them coming in the top two. My reasoning is simple. I believe teams are starting to find Bournemouth out. The style of football they play, the way that they go about their business. I also think experience is key, Eddie Howe has not been in a position like this with a side in the Championship before and is relatively inexperienced as a manager. His team play attractive football and in Matt Ritchie have an exceptional player. I can just seem them falling off the pace, but only ever so slightly. [b]Derby County: Current position - Second. Predicted finish - First[/b] This team will win this league. It really is as simple as that - Derby are by far, with Ipswich in close running, the most brutally efficient side in the Championship. They do not win games by five, six, seven or eight which we have seen from the likes of Bournemouth and Watford. Instead, Steve McClaren has 'professionalised' his side into a team of skillful and hard working pros. When Chris Martin is on form he is often a real handful and with the goals Darren Bent will bring I think it will be tough to catch them. They will not annihilate teams but they will beat teams - which you need in this division. [b]Middlesbrough: Current position - Third. Predicted finish - Third[/b] If I based this on their visit to Portman Road they definitely would not be third. As it is they have responded well to that and are playing some highly attractive football. In terms of the strikers available to them, Kike, Tomlin, Bamford etc, Middlesbrough have some real ability and goals. The reason I place them third is for the simple reason that I believe that Town are more capable of grinding out key results. Whether that is nicking a draw or a win. Speaking to a few Middlesbrough fans they note they are either brilliant or awful - the middle ground is just not there. I don't really see Middlesbrough winning ugly. My tip, however, to win the play-offs. [b]Ipswich Town: Current position - Fourth. Predicted finish - Second[/b] Optimism? Maybe. Bias? Undoubtedly. Realism? Most likely. Despite our recent slight wobble, and in truth losing to a decent Derby outfit is nothing to be ashamed of, Town have been nothing short of extraordinary. Brighton was, a disappointing result but one that arguably was long overdue. It is now about a response and I think it will be positive. Town are, as aforementioned, brutally efficient and effective in how they play and nine times out of 10, defensively sound. Our only concern is to lose silly games like Brighton more regularly or a lack of squad depth catching up. For me, this only exists in defence. Our midfield now has a bit of quality and up front we are, in my opinion, the best in the league. Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick and now joined by Noel Hunt and Freddie Sears for me is formidable. Let us hope, pray that I'm right. [b]Brentford: Current position - Fifth. Predicted finish - Sixth[/b] A surprise package? I think so for most but not for those who saw them last season in League One. A real classy outfit and Mark Warburton deserves all the credit in the world for the job he has done there. For me, if they were going to falter they would have done so before 27 games. I do not think they have the quality to keep pace with the top two, but I do think they will remain in the play-offs through a mixture of themselves and a lack of challenge from elsewhere unless Wolves and Norwich buck up their ideas. A real success story and I take my hat off to them. [b]Watford: Current position - Sixth. Predicted finish - Fifth[/b] Bizarre team. They are sitting in sixth right now but have a +25 goal difference. Netting 56 goals, 10 more than Town and only one fewer than Bournemouth they really do have attacking finesse. As Blackpool found out last weekend, conceding a hefty seven in one half, Watford when they turn it on, really are special to watch. But this is the issue, when they turn it on. They were two-down at home to Blackpool and a better opposition would simply not have let them back into the game. It would have been a defeat, dead and buried. No matter how good Watford are up front (with Vydra, Deeney etc), defensively they are still occasionally suspect. They also seem to have a tendency to slip up against promotion rivals; having not beaten ourselves, Derby, Bournemouth, Naaaaaarwich, Wolves nor Middlesbrough this season. Top six awaits them still, though. [b]Wolves: Current position - Seventh. Predicted finish - Eighth[/b] Simply not good enough to keep up with the teams at the top. A difficult outfit to break down, no doubt. But the fact they sit in seventh with a -2 goal difference suggests either an issue with either scoring or conceding. In truth, it is the goalscoring side of it. With a mere 31 goals, (Bournemouth have 57 to put that in prospect and Town have 46) they simply do not score enough goals to keep up with the pace of the Championship. Defensively a reasonable side, their real issue is in midfield where creativity is seriously lacking. Not play-off contenders for me, but will see a top eight finish as a success in their first season back. [b]Naaaaaaarwich: Current position - Eighth. Predicted finish - Seventh[/b] I hate this club, I really do. Which is why it gives me real joy to announce that I cannot see them coming in the top six. Of course, this is slightly biased. But my real issue with Norwich is no matter how good they are up front, where they do have some real quality, their main issue is their home form. Which is fantastic news ahead of the derby I hope. Norwich have lost sloppy home games to the likes of Charlton, Brentford and Reading and have dropped numerous points against the likes of Brighton and Leeds. This is where the real issue lies as their away form is actually reasonable to an extent. It may be a close run thing and they may sneak into the play-offs but in no way are they are a formidable outfit, much to the disgust of their fans who seem to be in the mood to cause a revolution after any defeat (and my personal delight). If you don't believe me have a read of the EDP after their 2 - 1 home defeat to Brentford, thoroughly enlightening. So, folks, there you have it. Disagree? Of course you do. Or at least, I'd be surprised if you didn't. Of course, this is the Championship so is predictably unpredictable and truly anything could happen. As I mentioned before the reviews, Birmingham are one to keep an eye out as under Gary Rowett they really do look a useful side. Thank you for reading and let us know your thoughts. Unless you're superstitious, of course. Give us a follow if you haven't already - https://twitter.com/Puffman180 Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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