End of season Syndrome

[fbm]

We as a club generally just do not play that well in the last 4 matches of the season.

In our 2 relegation seasons, we got 1 and 2 points from the 12 available.

Last year, we got 4 and blew automatic promotion, but got through the play offs.

Lets look at the other promotion and relegation seasons -

1971/2 - LDDD - promoted
1975/6 - DWDL - relegated
1977/8 - WWLW - promoted - but promotion was won with 3 games left so the pressure was off
1979/80 - WDLL - relegated
1980/1 - WWWD - Champions - but promotion gained with 7 games left so no pressure
1983/4 - WLDL - relegated
1986/7 - LLWW - promoted (this one is the exception as we needed to win our last 2 games - and did)
1988/9 - DLLW - relegated
1989/90 - LLWW - promoted (another exception)
1990/1 - DWDL - promoted

Let's also look at the 3 seasons before last season -

2001/2 - WDLD
2002/3 - WLLL
2003/4 - DLDL



So, the omens aren't great, are they?


We need Brentford and Col U to slip up.


The saving graces...

Swansea will be under more pressure than us so we may stand a chance of getting something from that.

Brentford have Hartlepool on Saturday who will be fighting for their lives. The will to survive is greater than the desire to go up automatically (especially when there's the play-offs). They then have to win at Bournemouth.

Col U have Rotherham (same scenario as Brentford v Hartlepool) and then a very tricky trip to Yeovil.

We still have the points - both Brentford and Col U would swap with us if they could.

However - how about the ultimate "painkiller" bet. A 6 match accumulator - Southend to lose both games and Brentford and Col U to win both theirs. At least the financial reward would ease the pain of ending up in the play offs.

 

[MightyShrimper]

Quote[/b] (fbm @ April 24 2006,01:33)]However - how about the ultimate "painkiller" bet.  A 6 match accumulator - Southend to lose both games and Brentford and Col U to win both theirs.  At least the financial reward would ease the pain of ending up in the play offs.

As I always lose every single bet I place i'm going to put £10 on Brentford and Col******r both winning there next two games.

I dont agree though about your theory of the financial reward easing the pain because no amount of money would ease my pain if we dont get promoted in the automatic spots!

 

[fbm]

Quote[/b] (Mighty Shrimper @ April 24 2006,01:40)]I dont agree though about your theory of the financial reward easing the pain because no amount of money would ease my pain if we dont get promoted in the automatic spots!

Depends how much you stake.

How much would you be willing to pay to see SUFC up?  £100?

That bet would have to be done as two triples as I don't think the prices are done that early.  So - Brentford and Col U would be odds on this week, say 4/7 each, and Swansea would be evens I guess.

£100 on that would return -

£57 on Brentford(plus £100 stake), turning into £89 on Col U(plus £157 stake), and becoming £246 (plus £246 stake) if Swansea win.

That makes £592 going onto the last round of matches.

I reckon all 3 teams would be evens with their final fixtures.

So, a stake of £592 on a 3 match accumulator all with evens as the odds will return £4736.

I don't know about you, but that would sweeten the blow considerably thanks.

 

[MightyShrimper]

If I were to do a bet on this I wouldnt include Southend in the bet as we could draw against swansea, doing nothing for us really in terms of getting promoted if Col******r and Brentford both win so in that case i'd lose my bet aswell as losing out in a way as i'd still be sh!tting myself with no money coming my way from the bookies! I'd just bet on Col******r and Brentford winning the next two games because if one of them loses or draws I think we'll pick up at least 1 point from the next two so in that case i'd either be in the money or in the hospital suffering a heart attack from the stress of it all.

 

[Angell Delight]

People are going to look at our last 2 games and think they're tricky and they'd be right, however we're top of the table so if anyone is to pick up a solitary win over the last 2 then we'd have to have a great chance. If Swansea win on Saturday (which I hope to God they don't) it will finish Bristol City's play-off bid which however much we hope we pick up points Saturday would be a pretty good consolation.

Also people will look at Brentford/Col U's games and think "easy" but each of them are playing sides who are fighting for survival and thats NEVER easy. Brentford in particular have dropped a fair few points already recently to sides at the bottom (Blackpool/Rotherham etc) and Hartlepool HAVE to go to Griffin Park and get something or they'll be relegated, now I'd rather Brentford had a game like that than a mid-table side. Col U have Rotherham at home and they're no pushovers any more and they still need points to be safe from the drop. Final day sees Brentford go to Bournemouth which is no guaranteed victory (hopefully it won't matter by then) and Col U are at Yeovil and if they lose on saturday they'll DEFINITELY still have something to play for as they could still face the drop.

Think of it this way, even if we don't pick up anything from these 2 games just ONE defeat for Brentford OR Col U will see us win promotion to the Championship

 

[* ORM *]

I have no opinions - It's hard to concentrate whilst sh!tting your pants !

 

[South Bank Hank]

Having seen the other crap that's invaded the board this morning, I dived into this post. Half-way through Angell Delight's post and I happened to notice my body language and general feeling. Biting the nails on both hands and nursing butterflies in my gut!!!

It's great to be top - but how scary does this feel right now?

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (Mighty Shrimper @ April 24 2006,01:40)]I dont agree though about your theory of the financial reward easing the pain because no amount of money would ease my pain if we dont get promoted in the automatic spots!

No, but it'd pay for another trip to Cardiff though...

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

I'm gutted and deflated after saturday. in fact if it all goes wrong i've already dealt with it.

We didn't look sharp. WE played the ball as if we had a divine right to own it, and Donnie wanted it...and took it, much to our players frustration, it was if we were saying, we're top of the league so we'll play at our pace, the Rovers showed no such respect and stuck the boot in. Passes too weak and lazy, charges on the goal too hesitant and nervous.
Some comments included, "If we don't want it we don't deserve it." and " Have we been payed to throw promotion and the title?"

I hope the players show they are proffessional and have more confidence than me.

Nice to see Efe coming to all the games and shouting as loudly as some of us. (Even if he's worried he'll have to buy his brother a car.)

IF  we do  "it" , my jump will be higher, my cheer louder.

COME ON SOUTHEND !!!!

 

[Guest]

The Swansea game is 5 days away, and I'm already it occupies most of my thoughts....

We've got the team to pull that one win out of the bag. I'll bet the players are as gutted as we are about our recent form. So, all of us who are going to Swansea, let's all get behind the team and show 'em we're with them all the way.

COME ON YOU BLUES!

 

[Jam_Man]

Indeed, the last couple of home games are a result of the team being under pressure, the good performance against Barnsley when the pressure is less due to the away from home factor backs this up.

It really annoys me to suddenly see people demanding this or that player dropped just because the team as a whole doesnt perform.

Next Saturday will still be a high pressure game, but hopefully as already said the Swans will be feeling far more than us. After all, a draw for us will be a decent result and half the points we need to go up, they are fighting to stay in the play offs.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Jam_Man @ April 24 2006,11:26)]Next Saturday will still be a high pressure game, but hopefully as already said the Swans will be feeling far more than us. After all, a draw for us will be a decent result and half the points we need to go up, they are fighting to stay in the play offs.

Yeah, hopefully Swansea as well as ColU & Brentford will now be feeling a whole lot more pressure.  Both Rotherham & Hartlepool will be eager to perform to try & secure their L1 status.

Now that we're in sight for both Col U & Brentford hopefully they will start to stutter again too.  Even if we only got 1 more point out of 6 (as a whole number of people on here, including myself think we'll get), it's still a big ask for both the Bees & the Ewes to take maximum points from their last 2 games.

KEEP BELIEVING PEOPLE (and if the true support for the team is anything like it was at Barnsley - & also at Cardiff in the p/o final last season) WE CAN STILL DO THIS by getting a result at the Liberty Stadium!!!!!!!!

[This is from a particularly negative pi55ed off Shrimper as well]

 

[Jam_Man]

It does feel tough now and ruined my weekend but we do still only need two draws to get us up (although the title may go to our A12 neighbours).

Id be disappointed not to win the title but lets just get up!

Need a draw at least Saturday, although that will make the last game a nightmare and I think Ill take valium with me....