| Our 'easy' run-in ... 12:46 - Mar 22 with 4504 views | El_Fenix |
We will mostly be playing teams in the lower third of the table. Do we have an easy run-in? Perhaps not. To begin with, 7 out of the 11 games are away from home. Beyond that ...
The bottom 6 clubs in League One are separated by 2 points. Four teams will go down, two will stay up. ITFC will be facing a series of teams who are fighting for their lives. This is not the type of challenge that the team embraces ...
Next Saturday away at Wigan, the 'form' team will be Wigan, who have 7 points from their last 5 games, compared to 4 points for ITFC. Wigan has scored the same number of goals this season (39) as ITFC. Former Town striker Will Keane has scored 5 of the goals and will be motivated to score against a former club.
Masochistic ITFC supporters (a potential oxymoron ...) may enjoy making their personal assessments of Paul Hurst's failed efforts to sign Curtis Tilt ...
We live in interesting times ...
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| ITFC shall rise like a phoenix from the ashes of its long decline! |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 14:58 - Mar 22 with 1420 views | jayessess |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 14:47 - Mar 22 by ArnieM |
Yes but playing against teams with something to fight for are notoriously difficult to play against . It won’t be an easy run in by any stretch of the imagination will it ! Our lot are a bunch of snowflakes , who struggle to score one goal and incapable of keeping them out . Plus our away form isn’t great . |
Bit of a myth this one actually. Statistically, relegation-threatened teams don't improve much during their run-ins. |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:11 - Mar 22 with 1407 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 14:51 - Mar 22 by Herbivore |
How rubbish we are is a reflection on us, not a reflection on the fixtures we have left. Our run in is by any measure an easy one. If we don't pick up many points it doesn't mean they were actually really tough games, it means we're not up to it. I don't see how a run of 11 games where 10 of them are against sides in the bottom half can be seen as anything other than an easy run of games. |
It really couldn't be any kinder.
7 of the 11 against teams in the bottom 6. Only one of them against a side in the top half.
Our 7 away games are against sides that are in the bottom 9 of the home league table. Wigan, Rochdale and Wimbledon have won 7 home games between them in 51 games.
3 of our 4 home games against teams in the bottom 7 of the away form table. MK Dons are 12th. |  | | |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:15 - Mar 22 with 1401 views | Illinoisblue |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 13:38 - Mar 22 by Herbivore |
That's a separate issue. The games we have are objectively about as easy as could be. We might well balls it up but that doesn't mean we have a difficult run of fixtures. Despite us being rubbish we've won 6 and drawn 1 of our 8 games against the bottom 8 this season. I really don't see any argument that this isn't an easy run in to be honest, pessimism about our chances of winning these games is a reflection on how you feel about us. |
The “easy” assumption comes from looking at the totality of the season so far - league placings - but ignores any recent uptick in form ( see Burton’s recent rise as one example ).
Anyway let’s hope you’re right and it is indeed an easy, winning, end to the season! |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:20 - Mar 22 with 1388 views | Herbivore |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:11 - Mar 22 by tractorboy1978 |
It really couldn't be any kinder.
7 of the 11 against teams in the bottom 6. Only one of them against a side in the top half.
Our 7 away games are against sides that are in the bottom 9 of the home league table. Wigan, Rochdale and Wimbledon have won 7 home games between them in 51 games.
3 of our 4 home games against teams in the bottom 7 of the away form table. MK Dons are 12th. |
Indeed. The only game that is 'tough' from now on in is the Charlton game, and even they have lost more home games than they've won.
I think people have fallen into a bit of a binary already when it comes to this season. Some are saying it's a complete free hit, some are saying it's a failure to not at least make the play offs. I'm somewhere in between. Based on our run in and the sqaud we have on paper we ought to be able to scrape into the top 6. That said, Lambert left us with a bloated and mentally fragile squad that, for all its good footballers, lacks drive and isn't well balanced.
On paper and on historic performances we should be right in contention for the top 6, but I also don't think missing out would represent a catastrophic failure. It's not a total free hit as I'd be disappointed if we fall away and end up with nothing to play for. Cook and the players should be good enough to keep us right in the mix despite our issues. That said, the issues we have mean sustaining the kind of form we need to sustain will be a fairly big ask even against relatively weak opposition, so I'm willing to cut Cook slack if we fall short. |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:32 - Mar 22 with 1379 views | Chrisd |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 12:57 - Mar 22 by Herbivore |
Maybe. Our record against the bottom 8 this season though is played 8, won 6, drawn 1, lost 1. Whilst those sides might show a bit more over the rest of the season we shouldn't really be fearing our run in. It is an easy run in by any measure. |
It might be considered an easy 'run-in' on paper, but we don't do easy at ITFC. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:38 - Mar 22 with 1373 views | Herbivore |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:15 - Mar 22 by Illinoisblue |
The “easy” assumption comes from looking at the totality of the season so far - league placings - but ignores any recent uptick in form ( see Burton’s recent rise as one example ).
Anyway let’s hope you’re right and it is indeed an easy, winning, end to the season! |
Although Burton are the only ones in that bottom half on a genuinely decent run and we've already played them twice. It genuinely is an easy run in, our capacity to balls it up is of course huge, but sides who are in the bottom 8 after 35 games are there for a reason and that reason is they aren't very good. Wigan have improved a little but they're not exactly tearing it up, beyond that it really is a poor crop. The bottom 6 in particular are all averaging under a point a game and we still have to play 7 games against those sides. It couldn't be a much easier run in. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:39 - Mar 22 with 1369 views | Herbivore |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:32 - Mar 22 by Chrisd |
It might be considered an easy 'run-in' on paper, but we don't do easy at ITFC. |
Glad you agree it's an easy run in. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:44 - Mar 22 with 1360 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:20 - Mar 22 by Herbivore |
Indeed. The only game that is 'tough' from now on in is the Charlton game, and even they have lost more home games than they've won.
I think people have fallen into a bit of a binary already when it comes to this season. Some are saying it's a complete free hit, some are saying it's a failure to not at least make the play offs. I'm somewhere in between. Based on our run in and the sqaud we have on paper we ought to be able to scrape into the top 6. That said, Lambert left us with a bloated and mentally fragile squad that, for all its good footballers, lacks drive and isn't well balanced.
On paper and on historic performances we should be right in contention for the top 6, but I also don't think missing out would represent a catastrophic failure. It's not a total free hit as I'd be disappointed if we fall away and end up with nothing to play for. Cook and the players should be good enough to keep us right in the mix despite our issues. That said, the issues we have mean sustaining the kind of form we need to sustain will be a fairly big ask even against relatively weak opposition, so I'm willing to cut Cook slack if we fall short. |
I'll be really disappointed if we don't make the top 6 from here. Not in 'Cook out' way but in a 'Christ this lot are feeble and I can't wait to ship most of them out' way. Hopefully we can manage Norwood and KVY through this last 11 games as I think they are the two most important players and change the dynamic of the side. Regardless of formation and tactics this team has to back itself to go out there and win games against the standard of opposition we will be facing. [Post edited 22 Mar 2021 15:45]
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:48 - Mar 22 with 1354 views | clive_baker |
I think there's an important distinction between 'easy' and 'easier'. There's no easy games as everyone at this level is half decent, and we're not playing well enough to consider any game a given. I'm sure the odds would probably support that. However it is fair to say of the games we could've had, we do have an easier selection, on balance. I guess another way of looking at it is who, of those around us, would you swap our set of fixtures with? I dare so most would stick.
Doesn't mean we'll turn them all over though by any stretch. We need to get our house in order if we're going to be anything other than mediocre over the next 7 weeks. |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:49 - Mar 22 with 1352 views | Herbivore |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:44 - Mar 22 by tractorboy1978 |
I'll be really disappointed if we don't make the top 6 from here. Not in 'Cook out' way but in a 'Christ this lot are feeble and I can't wait to ship most of them out' way. Hopefully we can manage Norwood and KVY through this last 11 games as I think they are the two most important players and change the dynamic of the side. Regardless of formation and tactics this team has to back itself to go out there and win games against the standard of opposition we will be facing. [Post edited 22 Mar 2021 15:45]
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I think if we can keep KVY fit that is huge for us as he offers so much getting forward from right back. Norwood for all his limitations has a goal in him and we need that. I'd like to try to find a way to accommodate Jackson as I think his pace and movement in that inside right channel is a great creative outlet for us. Against Plymouth he got in down that channel several times and produced some good cut backs that his teammates weren't able to finish off. If we could do that with Norwood in the side we'd look much more or a threat. I'd be tempted to play him on the right with Judge or Bishop as a 10 being asked to drop in on the right when we lose possession to cover for Jackson staying fairly high up the pitch.
I think I'd be disappointed not to make the top 6 as well but I'd be willing to cut Cook some slack for it. He should be able to get us there but this squad's capabity for fooking it up seems to know no bounds. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:25 - Mar 22 with 1317 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:48 - Mar 22 by clive_baker |
I think there's an important distinction between 'easy' and 'easier'. There's no easy games as everyone at this level is half decent, and we're not playing well enough to consider any game a given. I'm sure the odds would probably support that. However it is fair to say of the games we could've had, we do have an easier selection, on balance. I guess another way of looking at it is who, of those around us, would you swap our set of fixtures with? I dare so most would stick.
Doesn't mean we'll turn them all over though by any stretch. We need to get our house in order if we're going to be anything other than mediocre over the next 7 weeks. |
I hear what you are saying but we really couldn't hand pick a much better list of 11 games. We really should be expecting to make the top 6 from here. | | | |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:28 - Mar 22 with 1312 views | Chrisd |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:25 - Mar 22 by tractorboy1978 |
I hear what you are saying but we really couldn't hand pick a much better list of 11 games. We really should be expecting to make the top 6 from here. |
We should, but the way we are playing would you expect us to get the job done? | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:29 - Mar 22 with 1310 views | jayessess |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:44 - Mar 22 by tractorboy1978 |
I'll be really disappointed if we don't make the top 6 from here. Not in 'Cook out' way but in a 'Christ this lot are feeble and I can't wait to ship most of them out' way. Hopefully we can manage Norwood and KVY through this last 11 games as I think they are the two most important players and change the dynamic of the side. Regardless of formation and tactics this team has to back itself to go out there and win games against the standard of opposition we will be facing. [Post edited 22 Mar 2021 15:45]
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If we don't and then the usual suspects all get contract extensions then alarm bells are ringing. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:30 - Mar 22 with 1310 views | Dubtractor |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 15:11 - Mar 22 by tractorboy1978 |
It really couldn't be any kinder.
7 of the 11 against teams in the bottom 6. Only one of them against a side in the top half.
Our 7 away games are against sides that are in the bottom 9 of the home league table. Wigan, Rochdale and Wimbledon have won 7 home games between them in 51 games.
3 of our 4 home games against teams in the bottom 7 of the away form table. MK Dons are 12th. |
Even allowing for our flakey form, I would put money on us making the top 6.
Alas, I'd put more money on us getting knocked out in the semi finals of the play offs. |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:33 - Mar 22 with 1307 views | Mullet |
I said a few weeks back we’d finish 7th. Our luck seems Bob on for that to continue as planned. |  |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:36 - Mar 22 with 1291 views | pistonbroke |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 14:51 - Mar 22 by Herbivore |
How rubbish we are is a reflection on us, not a reflection on the fixtures we have left. Our run in is by any measure an easy one. If we don't pick up many points it doesn't mean they were actually really tough games, it means we're not up to it. I don't see how a run of 11 games where 10 of them are against sides in the bottom half can be seen as anything other than an easy run of games. |
It is an easy run in ,, if we don’t make it Questions need to be asked of cooks ability | | | |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:52 - Mar 22 with 1280 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:28 - Mar 22 by Chrisd |
We should, but the way we are playing would you expect us to get the job done? |
I still expect us to make the top 6, yes. If we don't then honestly speaking it will have been some underperformance and I can't see many of this lot being here next season. Momentum shifts quickly, we need to beat Wigan next Saturday. [Post edited 22 Mar 2021 17:53]
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:54 - Mar 22 with 1277 views | pointofblue |
We’ll be fine as long as we can take the lead and don’t let the opposition level. Our mentality is so fragile at the moment. | |
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| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 13:04 - Mar 23 with 1193 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| Our 'easy' run-in ... on 17:28 - Mar 22 by Chrisd |
We should, but the way we are playing would you expect us to get the job done? |
Yes. For all our flaws over the past two years, we generally have not had a problem beating the bottom teams and no reason for that to change now. |  |
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