Rival Watch

[Hound]

Haven’t hull lost something like 7 in a row at home - which is where we play them

Certainly a strong possibility we’d win there and the it’s a 1 point gap

Not that it makes any real difference but I’d still like to do it

[Stranded]

Haven’t hull lost something like 7 in a row at home - which is where we play them

Certainly a strong possibility we’d win there and the it’s a 1 point gap

Not that it makes any real difference but I’d still like to do it

6 but that includes games against Fulham, Huddersfield and Luton. They would have expected more though from the games against Barnsley, WBA and Preston.

It's their away form that has kept them safe. 12 points from their last 7 (W3 D3 L1) on the road.

[Franchise FC]

We might possibly catch Hull.

C4Y

Translate.

I think others have done that for me

You said ‘easily’, when nothing this season has been easy at any stage

[Whore Jackie]

Would normally talk about taking momentum into the next season as well, but not sure that really counts this year with the massive changes we are likely to see over the summer.

Absolutely nothing against you Stranded, but I do wonder if finishing strongly and taking that momentum into the following season is ever actually a thing. Obviously it can help if that strong finish to a season results in promotion, but does it really matter if you're in the same division the following year?

Our best start to the season in recent years was 2020-21.
First 9 matches, won 7, drew 1, lost 1 – 22 points out of 27 (PPG 2.44)
Last 9 matches of 2019-20, won 2, drew 2, lost 5 – 8 points out of 27 (PPG 0.88)

Our best end to the season in recent years was 2016-17.
Ignoring play-off matches, last 9 matches, won 7, lost 2 – 21 points out of 27 (PPG 2.33)
First 9 matches of 2017-18, won 2, drew 3, lost 4 – 9 points out of 27 (PPG 1.00)

[Franchise FC]

Would normally talk about taking momentum into the next season as well, but not sure that really counts this year with the massive changes we are likely to see over the summer.

Absolutely nothing against you Stranded, but I do wonder if finishing strongly and taking that momentum into the following season is ever actually a thing. Obviously it can help if that strong finish to a season results in promotion, but does it really matter if you're in the same division the following year?

Our best start to the season in recent years was 2020-21.
First 9 matches, won 7, drew 1, lost 1 – 22 points out of 27 (PPG 2.44)
Last 9 matches of 2019-20, won 2, drew 2, lost 5 – 8 points out of 27 (PPG 0.88)

Our best end to the season in recent years was 2016-17.
Ignoring play-off matches, last 9 matches, won 7, lost 2 – 21 points out of 27 (PPG 2.33)
First 9 matches of 2017-18, won 2, drew 3, lost 4 – 9 points out of 27 (PPG 1.00)

Has someone stolen Snowball's login ?

[Stranded]

Would normally talk about taking momentum into the next season as well, but not sure that really counts this year with the massive changes we are likely to see over the summer.

Absolutely nothing against you Stranded, but I do wonder if finishing strongly and taking that momentum into the following season is ever actually a thing. Obviously it can help if that strong finish to a season results in promotion, but does it really matter if you're in the same division the following year?

Our best start to the season in recent years was 2020-21.
First 9 matches, won 7, drew 1, lost 1 – 22 points out of 27 (PPG 2.44)
Last 9 matches of 2019-20, won 2, drew 2, lost 5 – 8 points out of 27 (PPG 0.88)

Our best end to the season in recent years was 2016-17.
Ignoring play-off matches, last 9 matches, won 7, lost 2 – 21 points out of 27 (PPG 2.33)
First 9 matches of 2017-18, won 2, drew 3, lost 4 – 9 points out of 27 (PPG 1.00)

Yes but there are mitigating factors to both those examples.

In the first one, we changed manager right before the season started which seemed to have a massively positive effect and naturally in 17/18 we had a play-off final loss to get over. Would be interesting to know if play-off hangovers are a real thing or just a perceived issue.

[From Despair To Where?]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think there is some logic to it, but I think it has to be taken on a case by case basis.

For example, Tony Pulis' West Brom finished 9th I believe in the PL a few seasons ago on 44 points-ish, however I don't think they won any of their final 8 games (it could have been 1 in 8 ) and the subsequent season they were relegated. Watford, when they reached the FA Cup final, faced a similar issue with league form. Survival was realistically achieved, poor end of season form, hammered in an FA Cup final and they lost the opening game the following season to Brighton at home 3-1. Suddenly, they only had something like 1 win in 9/10 league games, displaying relegation form which carried over into the next season.

What should be said about both cases above is, not a great deal changed over the summer. Yes, incomings and outgoings were there, but largely the same core of players were kept together and it ended up being to the detriment of the clubs, as they were relegated.

Again, because we may be subject to so much change in the summer, our ending to the season may not necessarily impact how we start the next. On the flip side, a strong end to the season under Ince may keep his position as manager permanently, it may be a factor in players' decisions to stay contracted to the club and this may be an attractive factor to incoming players, who may see benefit in playing under a respected and performing footballing manager in a club atmosphere that is improving.

[Snowflake Royal]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is saying one guarantees another, so finding a couple of examples that don't conform doesn’t really prove anything.

I think it's sensible to remember factors outside just the playing squad as well. Even if it has little to no effect on players, it can have a significant impact on the attitude, expectations and patience of fans. It can affect the whole atmosphere around a club.

Maybe it affects signings too.

[Stranded]

Would normally talk about taking momentum into the next season as well, but not sure that really counts this year with the massive changes we are likely to see over the summer.

Absolutely nothing against you Stranded, but I do wonder if finishing strongly and taking that momentum into the following season is ever actually a thing. Obviously it can help if that strong finish to a season results in promotion, but does it really matter if you're in the same division the following year?

Our best start to the season in recent years was 2020-21.
First 9 matches, won 7, drew 1, lost 1 – 22 points out of 27 (PPG 2.44)
Last 9 matches of 2019-20, won 2, drew 2, lost 5 – 8 points out of 27 (PPG 0.88)

Our best end to the season in recent years was 2016-17.
Ignoring play-off matches, last 9 matches, won 7, lost 2 – 21 points out of 27 (PPG 2.33)
First 9 matches of 2017-18, won 2, drew 3, lost 4 – 9 points out of 27 (PPG 1.00)

Yes but there are mitigating factors to both those examples.

In the first one, we changed manager right before the season started which seemed to have a massively positive effect and naturally in 17/18 we had a play-off final loss to get over. Would be interesting to know if play-off hangovers are a real thing or just a perceived issue.

Also the converse to this, in the 2014-15 PL season, Leicester were 20th after 29 games, having won just 4 all season.

In their last 9, they won 7 and drew 1 to finish 14th. No need to remind you where that momentum took them the following season.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

yes, but that achievement, if it comes to pass, will most likely be only possible because Derby had a far greater points deduction

We could easily catch Hull.

We won’t and even if we do big wow

[genome]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Those 3 matches in a row we lost at the end of 2004/5 really set the tone

[Brum Royal]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Those 3 matches in a row we lost at the end of 2004/5 really set the tone

Exactly, we lost the opening game of 05/06.

[From Despair To Where?]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Those 3 matches in a row we lost at the end of 2004/5 really set the tone

It's not me saying it but, to be fair, he might know a bit more about it than everyone on here.

[Hound]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Those 3 matches in a row we lost at the end of 2004/5 really set the tone

It's not me saying it but, to be fair, he might know a bit more about it than everyone on here.

Football managers are slightly inclined to talk nonsense from time to time though - see some of the stuff Ince has come out with recently (Meite not injured etc)

Not saying there isn’t a correlation but wouldn’t take it as a fact because Coppell said it. Can’t remember the context but may have just been a way to motivate for the last few games

[From Despair To Where?]

I wasn't saying its a hard and fast rule and Coppell wasn't either. He meant that if you finish the season strongly, you take that positivity through the summer and into preseason training. That's why I said it sets the tone.

[tidus_mi2]

I wasn't saying its a hard and fast rule and Coppell wasn't either. He meant that if you finish the season strongly, you take that positivity through the summer and into preseason training. That's why I said it sets the tone.

I think there is some truth to it but the reality is that we are likely to be undergoing a massive squad rebuild in the summer, so only a handful of players from this season will be left, that should kill any momentum that might be built from finishing strongly.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I wasn't saying its a hard and fast rule and Coppell wasn't either. He meant that if you finish the season strongly, you take that positivity through the summer and into preseason training. That's why I said it sets the tone.

I think there is some truth to it but the reality is that we are likely to be undergoing a massive squad rebuild in the summer, so only a handful of players from this season will be left, that should kill any momentum that might be built from finishing strongly.

There may be a few players that end up staying on really, I don't see why some of them wouldn't do. We should be able to offer competitive wages that is an increase on what some will have already when they are in a settled environment at the club. Particularly those like Holmes and Rino for example.

[Snowflake Royal]

Steve Coppell always said that the way you finish a season sets the tone for the next.

Those 3 matches in a row we lost at the end of 2004/5 really set the tone

Well we did lose to Plymouth.

[SCIAG]

yes, but that achievement, if it comes to pass, will most likely be only possible because Derby had a far greater points deduction

They only got a bigger points deduction because their cheating was more egregious!