Can we possibly keep the 2nd place in the league?

[West Acton]

However I am really not sure if it would not be better for us to spend another season in the Championship and then go up. I'm afraid that if we go up this season, we'll come straight back down again.

We could come straight back down Jane if we went up next season so what difference does it make. Go up this season bag the money and hopefully stay up in my book

[ollyhoops]

No, we have had too many injuries to key players being out long term.

Faulin, Austin, Simpson and now Philips.

[Martinmalta]

The injuries to key players are worrying, however I have this feeling that we will not be far behind with the new players coming in. Doyle looks a suitable replacement for Austion; Maiga also looks that can improve the team. Hughes have bags of experience and we still have Holiett and SWP to replace Phillips. So its not all doomed. My biggest worry is the way we conceded the goals against Burnley. It was not like us at all. Hope we are not starting to concede at this crucial part of the season.

[bushcelt1]

Still think we will go up but it could be through the playoffs.

[West Acton]

If we can see out Feb and still be in contention the remaining fixtures look decent enough with arguably three tough fixtures Leicester (where we have a good record) Forest and Blackburn

[West Acton]

Still think we will go up but it could be through the playoffs.

If it play offs mate I fear we will come up short. You need to be free scoring in my view to win the play offs so if one side scores two you need to score three and goals is where we have struggled plus play off is like cup football and we know what out cup record is like

If we can get back to keeping the clean sheets like earlier in the season and keep nicking one the other end as we did I think we can hold on to second if not challenge for first

[bushcelt1]

True westy but we have to win at least one f@ rking game at wembley in my life time.

[HoopDoggyDogg]

Injuries aside, we still have the strongest squad in the league by far.
Some ain't playing to there potential which needs to be sorted out.
Our tight defence looked sloppy against Burnley which was out of character.
Still ages to go in this season, so anything can happen yet.
Leicester do look strong but it can't last, they will have there downs this season as well.

[MYU]

Injuries aside, we still have the strongest squad in the league by far.
Some ain't playing to there potential which needs to be sorted out.
Our tight defence looked sloppy against Burnley which was out of character.
Still ages to go in this season, so anything can happen yet.
Leicester do look strong but it can't last, they will have there downs this season as well.

I agree with you Hoop, I still feel that we have one of the best teams, and now they will fight to to keep us up there and do it for the players that are out.

We also have a much better team spirit than last year, there is a feel good factor about them right now.

[HoopDoggyDogg]

I know Barton has been excellent for us this season but I even expect more from him.
When SWP gets his chance I do not know, but he has the ability to destroy this league.
Hoillet is just frustrating, He could be such a dangerous player and certainly has the ability but never looks like his is firing on all cylinders!!!

[themodfather]

long way to go, burnley will get injuries and suspensions too....leicseter may slip up a bit...we play them and have a game in hand......we'll get snow and ice soon so more games off, form may change when not playing??
to stay 2nd we have to match burnley and derby results, they win, so we then have to, they draw, we need a draw (or a win then puts more pressure on them)
it's got to be a nervy run in for 2 or 3 teams...and there's always a late runner

[stainrodisalegend]

Amazed if we hold on to top two. Love to know what this confidence is based on. Objectively given the squad we NOW HAVE available for selection, Leicester and Burnley are better. Of the players remaining, has our leading scorer got two or three goals this season?

[klonk]

it's a tough ask, but we need to just keep being consistent, average 2 points a game and, unless we're incredibly unlucky, we'll go up.

injuries do concern, but the players that we're left with should still be good enough to deliver. i don't worry about leicester, burnley, derby etc. they're all good teams playing good football and deserving of our respect. what i do worry about is complacency in the squad, assuming that just turning up against, say, bournemouth will be enough for 3 points. of course, we should take three points in those kind of fixtures on paper... it's just that we need to take them on grass.

[HoopDoggyDogg]

it's a tough ask, but we need to just keep being consistent, average 2 points a game and, unless we're incredibly unlucky, we'll go up.

injuries do concern, but the players that we're left with should still be good enough to deliver. i don't worry about leicester, burnley, derby etc. they're all good teams playing good football and deserving of our respect. what i do worry about is complacency in the squad, assuming that just turning up against, say, bournemouth will be enough for 3 points. of course, we should take three points in those kind of fixtures on paper... it's just that we need to take them on grass.

We have lost key players in Austin, Faurlin and Phillips but still do look strong enough to battle for automatic promotion.
If Leicester and Burnley were to lose Nugent and Ings, they would be more at a loss than what we are now.
The main problem is the lack of goals from the rest of the team, we have players capable to score goals in this league but it's just not happening.
If the rest can chip in there share of goals it would improve us loads.

[West Acton]

The main problem is the lack of goals from the rest of the team, we have players capable to score goals in this league but it's just not happening.
If the rest can chip in there share of goals it would improve us loads.

Top point Doggy but since the Ipswich game we have started to have others chipping in with goals outside of Austin and sharing them about. Ipswich 3 goals 3 different scorers, Burnley 3 goals 3 different scorers, Bolton Henry chipped in