Looking at things positively....

Pinched from another site..........


The facts: Championship table looks good for Saints By Benny Younglove
Posted on Wednesday 08 Oct 2008 08:26:00

Any Saints fan with ambitions beyond merely staying up this season might be forgiven for looking at the current Championship table, as we go into the international break, and thinking that it does not look good. Well, in terms of our position, no, it doesn’t. But at this stage of the season what really matters is that we are in touch with the promotion contenders, or at least not that far behind. And even if we are ruling out promotion this season, it would be too early to rule out a play-off spot.

You might already be thinking that this is crazy talk, but let’s look at the facts. Saints are currently 20th out of 24 (not good), on 11 points from 10 games (very average). However, in 22nd, Barnsley only have 8 points, so there is a three point gap. Three points the other way would take Saints into the top half. Four points better off and we’d be, yes it’s true, fifth. Therefore we are practically as close to the play-offs as we are to the relegation zone. A couple of games for better or worse and everything could change.

We may be towards the bottom at the moment, but from 5th to 16th there are only two points. The mid-table positions are really tight and are subject to considerable change. Birmingham, Wolves, Reading, and to some extent Sheffield United are sitting pretty at the top, whereas Nottingham Forest, Doncaster, Barnsley, and to some extent Norwich, languish at the bottom. The other sixteen clubs are separated by just four points, and Saints currently sit at the bottom of that particular pack, as it waits to be shuffled in a week and a half’s time.

Therefore, do not be fooled by Saints’ position. We were warned at the start of the season that it would take months to get things right and we have seen glimmers of things going right already, if not in every game. Poortvliet has spoken this week that “it needs a little bit of time” and though we can’t wait too long, I don’t think there will be many fans who will complain if we are still in our current situation in April. And by that, I don’t necessarily mean 20th position. I mean three points clear of safety, and maybe more inspiringly, just four points behind the play-off places. I’d take that at any time of the season, especially when we’ve still got half a year ahead of us to improve.

Will Saints stabilise in the bottom half, or will we slip under, or even keep pace with the promotion pushers?

We will end up mid table once our team has been established.

I think I may have been a tad optimistic.

After Preston I have no idea what to think. If we can do it again against Bristol City I honestly believe we will start climbing to a position of good health. Most of our defeats have come fom us not being forceful enough. At Preston it looked as if they had suddenly learned just how easy the game can be with a bit more energy being used. Long may it last.

Am I right 2 points from 5 games in October. That tally makes it very hard to remain positive. Let's get November into a double figure score. £ points already, so we've had a good start.