Next 6 Weeks

[wassy04]

6th Feb - Leicester (H)
9th Feb - Blackburn (A)
12th Feb - Stoke (H)
18th Feb - Bournemouth (A)
22nd Feb - Preston (A)
26th Feb - Bristol City (H) - 6 weeks since Worrall injured
Wed 2nd Mar - FA Cup 5th Round (hypothetically)
5th Mar - Sheff U (A)

So a pretty season defining spell coming up against a mixture of playoff and mid table teams, plus the FA Cup game. All of which without Grabban and with Worrall only returning later on in the run.

So what do we think we can do? Somewhere in the region of 10 points from 18 achievable? Or is that a bit optimistic? I expect we'll see a few draws and tight games, likely going to rely on taking out a few tight victories.

Going to have to lean heavily on Zinc with Grabban out, need him to step it up. I'm assuming he won't play Surridge and Davis (although Leicester might be a good time to trial it). Otherwise, potentially playing 3 CBs including Panzo, Soh or Figs and push Garner further forward? (assuming Cook isn't injured badly)

Samba
Cook
McKenna
Panzo/Soh
Lowe
Layrea
Colback
Yates
Garner
Johnson
Davis/Surridge

[Ciscokid]

6th Feb - Leicester (H)
9th Feb - Blackburn (A)
12th Feb - Stoke (H)
18th Feb - Bournemouth (A)
22nd Feb - Preston (A)
26th Feb - Bristol City (H) - 6 weeks since Worrall injured
Wed 2nd Mar - FA Cup 5th Round (hypothetically)
5th Mar - Sheff U (A)

So a pretty season defining spell coming up against a mixture of playoff and mid table teams, plus the FA Cup game. All of which without Grabban and with Worrall only returning later on in the run.

So what do we think we can do? Somewhere in the region of 10 points from 18 achievable? Or is that a bit optimistic? I expect we'll see a few draws and tight games, likely going to rely on taking out a few tight victories.

Going to have to lean heavily on Zinc with Grabban out, need him to step it up. I'm assuming he won't play Surridge and Davis (although Leicester might be a good time to trial it). Otherwise, potentially playing 3 CBs including Panzo, Soh or Figs and push Garner further forward? (assuming Cook isn't injured badly)

Samba
Cook
McKenna
Panzo/Soh
Lowe
Layrea
Colback
Yates
Garner
Johnson
Davis/Surridge

To me this looks like an interesting young squad with great potential but a squad very much in development. Hate to say this but I think that this season, given the start that we had, will be a bridge too far. This is not a complaint as it looks like we're now finally getting it right and I'm really happy with that but it's just too soon. Hope I'm proved wrong.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

I look around us though at teams like Huddersfield and Coventry even QPR who are flying and I see no reason why we can't do it.

I appreciate that our squad is not the finished article but if we carry on as we have been since Cooper came in then we can do it. Can we maintain that though?

As Wassy said we will know more about where we are after the next 6 games so lets wait and see.

[Strawberry Avenger]

6th Feb - Leicester (H)
9th Feb - Blackburn (A)
12th Feb - Stoke (H)
18th Feb - Bournemouth (A)
22nd Feb - Preston (A)
26th Feb - Bristol City (H) - 6 weeks since Worrall injured
Wed 2nd Mar - FA Cup 5th Round (hypothetically)
5th Mar - Sheff U (A)

So a pretty season defining spell coming up against a mixture of playoff and mid table teams, plus the FA Cup game. All of which without Grabban and with Worrall only returning later on in the run.

So what do we think we can do? Somewhere in the region of 10 points from 18 achievable? Or is that a bit optimistic? I expect we'll see a few draws and tight games, likely going to rely on taking out a few tight victories.

Going to have to lean heavily on Zinc with Grabban out, need him to step it up. I'm assuming he won't play Surridge and Davis (although Leicester might be a good time to trial it). Otherwise, potentially playing 3 CBs including Panzo, Soh or Figs and push Garner further forward? (assuming Cook isn't injured badly)

Samba
Cook
McKenna
Panzo/Soh
Lowe
Layrea
Colback
Yates
Garner
Johnson
Davis/Surridge

To me this looks like an interesting young squad with great potential but a squad very much in development. Hate to say this but I think that this season, given the start that we had, will be a bridge too far. This is not a complaint as it looks like we're now finally getting it right and I'm really happy with that but it's just too soon. Hope I'm proved wrong.

Fair comment.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I look around us though at teams like Huddersfield and Coventry even QPR who are flying and I see no reason why we can't do it.

I appreciate that our squad is not the finished article but if we carry on as we have been since Cooper came in then we can do it. Can we maintain that though?

As Wassy said we will know more about where we are after the next 6 games so lets wait and see.

Also fair comment.

Why them.

And not us?  Ofc.  Ofc.

But QPR have stuck with Warburton and they are further ahead in their path.  And dislodging Wilder's Boro' and WBA will be a challenge.

Huddersfield.  I think we can take them for 7th.  Boro', WBA and QPR.

See how Feb' goes.  If we can get Grabban, Lolley and Mighten back, we might get a strong finish to the season.

I wouldn't write Forest or Cooper off.

SA.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

We are far from perfect but the rest of the competition doesn't look great either so that gives me hope.

4 of our next 6 league games are away so we need to quickly shake off what happened at Cardiff.

[Strawberry Avenger]

We are far from perfect but the rest of the competition doesn't look great either so that gives me hope.

4 of our next 6 league games are away so we need to quickly shake off what happened at Cardiff.

Bar, Fulham, they don't look immutable.  WBA have been rough.  So have Bournemouth.  QPR have been up and down but found some consistently recently.  Huddersfield I don't rate.  But have found some consistency.  Boro' will be tough to get buy.  Will the Wilder honeymoon continue?  But Boro' started from a higher base than Forest as have most of the top 6.

That makes Cooper's achievement even better.

Our away form had been decent until Cardiff.

Though, I may add, we've had a few 'slow' starts and gotten away with it re: comebacks and all.  Sometimes your luck holds and sometimes it folds.

I wondered if Cooper's 'sour' interview after the win vs Barnie re: playing poorly but getting the goals had a knock on effect re: Cardiff.

Perhaps not.  It's just a characteristic performance of a team and a squad in transition from relegation to top 6 wannabes.  Cardiff's 'Hughton' sit back and clog us game plan worked.  But they were lucky the ref' was blind.  And lucky we didn't take our two chances or we'd have won it.

Cardiff kicked two of our best players (and Yates) off the park at times.  They were also all over Brennan like a rash.

The FA distraction will come at the right time to buy the injuries more time to heal up.  If we win.  It will buy us a few postponements.

We're still only 3 points off 5th.

SA.

[Tricky]

6th Feb - Leicester (H)
9th Feb - Blackburn (A)
12th Feb - Stoke (H)
18th Feb - Bournemouth (A)
22nd Feb - Preston (A)
26th Feb - Bristol City (H) - 6 weeks since Worrall injured
Wed 2nd Mar - FA Cup 5th Round (hypothetically)
5th Mar - Sheff U (A)

So a pretty season defining spell coming up against a mixture of playoff and mid table teams, plus the FA Cup game. All of which without Grabban and with Worrall only returning later on in the run.

So what do we think we can do? Somewhere in the region of 10 points from 18 achievable? Or is that a bit optimistic? I expect we'll see a few draws and tight games, likely going to rely on taking out a few tight victories.

Going to have to lean heavily on Zinc with Grabban out, need him to step it up. I'm assuming he won't play Surridge and Davis (although Leicester might be a good time to trial it). Otherwise, potentially playing 3 CBs including Panzo, Soh or Figs and push Garner further forward? (assuming Cook isn't injured badly)

Samba
Cook
McKenna
Panzo/Soh
Lowe
Layrea
Colback
Yates
Garner
Johnson
Davis/Surridge

Any reason why you have left Spence out Wassy or is it just an oversight mate

[wassy04]

We are far from perfect but the rest of the competition doesn't look great either so that gives me hope.

4 of our next 6 league games are away so we need to quickly shake off what happened at Cardiff.

Yes this exactly, it might be too far to overhaul Blackburn/Bournemouth/QPR however WB have dragged themselves back down so there's at least two spots in playoffs still up for grabs.  I would say us, Boro and Hudds are pretty evenly matched. I'd even suggest on paper we have a better team than both. I can't imagine either side has anyone as good as Johnson anyway.

[wassy04]

6th Feb - Leicester (H)
9th Feb - Blackburn (A)
12th Feb - Stoke (H)
18th Feb - Bournemouth (A)
22nd Feb - Preston (A)
26th Feb - Bristol City (H) - 6 weeks since Worrall injured
Wed 2nd Mar - FA Cup 5th Round (hypothetically)
5th Mar - Sheff U (A)

So a pretty season defining spell coming up against a mixture of playoff and mid table teams, plus the FA Cup game. All of which without Grabban and with Worrall only returning later on in the run.

So what do we think we can do? Somewhere in the region of 10 points from 18 achievable? Or is that a bit optimistic? I expect we'll see a few draws and tight games, likely going to rely on taking out a few tight victories.

Going to have to lean heavily on Zinc with Grabban out, need him to step it up. I'm assuming he won't play Surridge and Davis (although Leicester might be a good time to trial it). Otherwise, potentially playing 3 CBs including Panzo, Soh or Figs and push Garner further forward? (assuming Cook isn't injured badly)

Samba
Cook
McKenna
Panzo/Soh
Lowe
Layrea
Colback
Yates
Garner
Johnson
Davis/Surridge

Any reason why you have left Spence out Wassy or is it just an oversight mate

Ha I've genuinely no idea why! I seem to have subbed in Layrea too haha. I think I was confusing myself with the chat about next season there!  :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:

[ozzyten10]

Next 6 games pivotal-
You are going to lose games in the championship but take coopers reign in total and we are top 2/3.
Our record against top 7 however is very poor and will need to change. We have been very good on the whole away from home- do they want it? Strap on in everyone it’s going to be a roller coaster!
Ps- cooper made top 6 from silicate positions last 2 years with swans so he does have pedigree…

[Username]

I think we will learn a lot more about Cooper in this run of games.

We’ve largely had a ‘must win’ mentality so far, I wonder if that will start to become more of a ‘must not lose’ approach.