Our next 5 games

[Killiecanary]

If we are going to have any chance of mounting a serious automatic promotion challenge I see the remaining 22 games as 5 'mini-seasons' of 4 or 5 games each.

I think the first of these is the next parcel of 5 matches...

We have Bournemouth A, Cardiff H, Brentford H, Birmingham A and Blackpool H

I think we need a minimum of 10 points from these 5 games - 2 of which are against promotion contenders and an away match against a completely turned round Birmingham side.

We must beat Cardiff, Brentford and Blackpool at home, and look to either draw the two away games or win one of them. If the real NCFC side shows up I think that is possible, but currently unlikely. But I fear if we don't get those 10 or 11 points I'm afraid that will be that.

A good start to this run of games at Bournemouth would be nice, although we then would need to follow it up in the subsequent games to start to show the consistency that has been lacking so far.

However you look at it January is going to be a big month for Neil Adams...

 

[Fenway Frank]

Can't see us getting 10 points from those games unfortunately

 

[Yellow Fever]

The Reading loss was a major blow to our chances. Much will now depend on the front runners faltering as Brentford have done of late. The minimum City need now is 2 points per game, which is what we got in December (10 points from 5 games). IMO, Bournemouth and Ipswich will falter to some extent, so a reasonable target is Derby on 45 points, 8 points ahead of us. Bournemouth will be a test for sure, but a win would revive our hopes of automatic promotion. Of the others, we have Derby, Boro, Brentford, and Ipswich at home, Watford away. Those are the matches we must win to stay in the race for automatic promotion.

More realistically, we are competing against Watford, Brentford, Wolves and Blackburn for one of the final 2 play-off places. I'd say we're co-favourites with Watford for one of those 2 places.

 

[Salopian]

If we "turn up" the 10 points might be just achievable, but if we play as we did against Reading, then there is not much hope. Somehow Adams and Phelan must gee them up.

A possible factor could be a big singing in January, although I don't expect this. Last summer we signed several players of Championship quality at their best, and signed them for reasonable prices in the main. Now I feel that we need what we have not had for some time, - a player who could hope to make a contribution in the Premiership, and in the meantime could fire us by his personal contribution. A new clinical striker, or a new effective CB who will rally those about him, perhaps

 

[eatonparkboy]

We must assume we will turn up. And the next five will be a great opportunity. The Bournemouth game is one I relish. A good footballing side, *bleep* a hoop at their first half of the season, big scorers and entertainers taking on one of the early season favourites and a side, Eddie Howe will be telling his players, who could beat half the Prem on its day and has a habit of toppling the better teams. A draw or win are well part of the equation and the other four are quite winnable.

While I doubt we will get maximum points, it is not impossible and 10 points must be the first target and 11/12 would mean we were on a run again.

 

[Din]

Realistically we need to be aiming to win pretty much all of them. 4 points from Bournemouth and Cardiff, and then wins in all the rest is the only real way I could see us getting back into contention for the automatic promotion spots. Although 10 points would be a decent return.

 

[Killiecanary]

I agree with you Din, especially when you look at the next set of 4 matches after that - 3 of them away from home (Charlton, Watford and Blackburn) and only one at home (Wolves). If we are able to get 10-12 points from the next five thn we will be on a good run heading into those 4 tricky fixtures...again a big if!

Bournemouth first up is huge as I see it - three points would be a big statement before the home games. Wish I had been able to get a ticket!!

 

[Yellow Fever]

We should have an advantage with a large squad with few injuries at the moment. Odjidja-Ofoe coming back into the side might be the 'new signing' in effect, given that he's hardly featured up to now.