islander200

How are the team approaching those away games with such an inferiority complex, with the exception of the Swansea game we have competed well in all those matches.Created plenty of chances and could and probably should have had more points in them.Not seen the team go away this year looking for a point we have attacked in most those games. I obviously would have liked more points from them but my point is those tough away games are out of the way for us and we are still only 5 points off. Have the other top 6 hopefuls had as tough away fixtures as we have had so far? Don't think they have.

In my opinion we haven't had a squad worthy of finishing in the top 6 until this season. As things stand we are one of the teams competing to be in the top 6.We have the majority of the better sides in the division already played, granted the results in those games have been poor but 5 of the top 6 have to come to Ewood yet. Last night's result was poor but it was on the back of a 7 game unbeaten run.Norwich is a tough match but feel we can get 6 points out of the next two matches. There is more reason to be upbeat rather than downhearted on the evidence so far

Yeah forgot them to be fair,they will be fighting for it too

Who has said we will every game when Dack and Travis are back? Are you suggesting those two players wouldn't improve most championship sides including us? We are 5 points off having played some really tough away games.Seems like half the board are just waiting for an opportunity to moan.We are doing ok nobody can argue that.

Its true we need to tighten up.Im not suggesting top 6 is a given but feel we have shown enough so far to be confident we will be in contention. In my opinion,the three relegated sides will be in the top 6 and then any 3 from ourselves, Swansea, Cardiff, Brentford and Bristol City and possibly Middlesbrough. I think Reading will fall away

Must have missed Buckley creating chances against QPR. Buckley has the technique to create chances, I would have him on set pieces when crossing it into the box.

On paper Douglas wasn't a terrible signing,he has done it in the championship and got promoted twice. No arguments from me that he has been woeful since with us but il give him some more time than the half a dozen games he has started before I label him a terrible signing.

We aren't doing badly though,we are only 5 points off 6th place.Im Not being funny but only a few weeks ago on here we had people saying we could be in relegation trouble, and that we have absolutely no chance of finishing top 6, Luton have more of a chance than us etc. The result was disappointing last night but it was on the back of a 7 game unbeaten run, we have two of our better players in Dack and Travis to come back, I know other teams have players out aswell but Dack could be an absolutely massive boost to this side.He is ruthless when he gets a chance,and one thing nobody can argue with is this team creates plenty of chances.

Like I said in another post we need a sustained period in the top 6 to consider ourselves anything other than outsiders. IV not got the chance to check but not many will have already played Brentford,Watford, Bournemouth,Swansea and Bristol city all away from home at this stage. The season is going ok 5 points is nothing in this league.

Top 6 shows progression even if no promotion. It would show we are moving in the right direction, would aid us in contract negotiations and attracting new players to the club.

Of course until we have a decent spell in the top 6 then we can only describe ourselves as outsiders. I'm still optimistic though, don't think we have seen our best yet.Hopefully Dack can come back with the same goal threat and Travis will add to our midfield.

Yet we are still only 5 points outside the top 6 after only 1 point from those games and them all yet to come to Ewood. I'm of the belief we will only get better as the season goes on,Dack and Travis will add a lot to the team

I get the frustration as last night was a fantastic opportunity to claim 3 points which would have put us 6th,like you as the game went on I would have been satisfied with a point. The season is going ok we are well amongst the teams chasing the top 6 having played Brentford, Bristol City, Bournemouth, Watford and Swansea all away from home already. Prior to the Millwall game you said in one of your posts that a draw would be ok in that game if we followed it up with another 3 draws or better in the following 3 fixtures. Well we beat Millwall,took a point at Brentford,lost last night and still have Norwich to play, we already have the 4 points you suggested would be satisfactory from those 4 fixtures. I want to see a reaction and victory on Saturday,we are at home and if we are serious about promotion we need to be winning our home games no matter the opposition.We can't afford another bad Run where we don't win in 4 or 5 games. Dack and Travis to come back surely reason for optimism?

How did Ayala not get that header on target

Who is playing in the premier league every week forbl Fulham?

Dack, Travis and Brereton would be in our strongest 11 for me

3 points could be massive here with Reading losing 2-0 and Brentford drawing.Cmon lads

Its the sky featured game so don't think it is on ifollow

I do agree that contract should have been sorted out, but what do the likes of Armstrong and Dack want now. Going off the managers comments from last year we had been in negotiations with Dack but he hadn't signed a new deal. Dack has been out with a serious injury for 12 month, will he be the same player? Could anyone have foreseen the improvement in Armstrong the last 10 month? Certainly Armstrong could probably get a multi year contract on at least 30k a week if he was to move on. Rothwell although an obvious talent he hasn't been a regular whilst here, and has been very inconsistent in his time at the club, again how much of an improvement in terms will he want. The Nyambe situation is the one that really gets to me, he should be tied down to a longer contract.Dont think the manager rates him too much though he leaves him out every opportunity he gets. FFP might be taking a back seat for now but if it comes back into play will we be FFp compliant if we give the players what they want. If we don't go up this season then at least one big money sale will most likely have to happen and Armstrong would surely get the most interest and bring the biggest fee in.

Do you know for sure we haven't offered him improved terms?Not doubting it but not seen anywhere we havent offered him improved terms?

I predict you will be wrong about Buckley.Only a few months ago Brereton was destined for a career in the lower leagues according to you.

Was Buckley playing against ten men v QPR?As he didn't look lost in that game . Disagree he looked lost the other night,he did ok. He is a young player finding his feet in the division but he can pick out a forward pass and keeps the ball moving.Would have given him a start today if Holtby was to be rested.

The match is tomorrow

I'm not point scoring at all.Amd as for 2 years ago?It's happened on here this season. Brereton had a poor game and id a poster quote one of my posts which was about Bradley Johnson, celebrating that Brereton had had a poor game, more happy to be proven correct than Brereton coming good. And it's been point scoring for 2 years from posters who never rated Brereton, anyone who gave a positive post about Brereton on here since he joined was rounded on and made out to be ridiculous and stupid for suggesting they could see potential in Brereton. And as for you last sentence, I will say again people within the game rate Brereton and you don't make 50 odd appearances by the age of 19 with nothing about you.An awful lot of people were criticizing him when he signed before he had even kicked a ball for us!

I'm not saying abuse by some fans was the reason for his poor form prior to this season but I'm sensible enough to realise you don't make 56 appearances by the age of 19 in the championship or be valued at 7 million by the selling club if you are "useless", "conference player" "will never make it at this level" etc etc.We can rewrite history all we want but as JBiz said plenty of criticism of him on this thread before he had even kicked a ball for the club and when just played a couple of matches. Brereton is highly rated within the game and although I can totally agree his fee could have been spent improving the first team immediately it's obvious he was bought for his potential and now we are seeing it so statements like I mentioned above are ridiculous