[madsteve]

Derby games are fantastic events, but only when you win them!!!!  As I have said before, there is virtually never a period of time in the over 130 years of both teams being in existence when both have had success at the same time!!!  Sheffield football is a one team having success town, so for now I am happy for them to stay where they are and let us at least put more distance between us!!

---

I think we probably all agree that it is all about next season now so I thought it would be interesting to see how we compare against the teams we might be playing next season so I have worked out a League Table of results for this season, ignoring matches against the three teams that will clearly be relegated (Blackpool, Wigan & Millwall) as this should be a better guide as to how we are likely to perform next season.

                                       Played    Points  
1. Derby                          33         62
2. Middlesbrough              31         55
3. Brentford                     33         55
4. Watford                       32         54
5. Bournemouth               31         53
6. Wolves                        32         52
7. Norwich                      30         49
8. Ipswich                       31         48
9. Nottm F                       30        44
10. Charlton                      32         40
11. Blackburn                    30         39
12. Huddersfield                31         39
13. Leeds                          31        38
14. Cardiff                         32        38
15. Birmingham                 30        37
16. Fulham                        32        36
17. Brighton                      31         36
18. Bolton                         32         34
19. Reading                       30        33
20. WEDNESDAY               30         33
21. Rotherham                  31         29
22. Millwall                       33         27
23. Wigan                         32         24
24. Blackpool                     32        19  

We've got games in hand on the teams above us though 

One more note on this, yes we have a good record against the bottom three this season, so I think its fair to assume we would do just as well next season against the bottom three as well, so we would still have the points we have.  I have always believed that the league table doesn't lie, we are approx 12th place on merit, yes predominantly it because of all the clean sheets the defence has given us, but our very good defence is offset by our poor attacking performances so finishing halfway I think accurately reflects our current team.

The current bottom three are terrible teams & along with Yeovil last season are the worst four teams in this division since we got promoted. It is unlikely that any of the promoted sides will be that bad although it is possible that a current SBC team could become a lot worse.
The League Table might not lie but it doesn't tell the whole story. I am looking for clues as to how we are likely to do next season & if nothing changes then we will finish bottom six. We will spend money so that will lift us closer to mid table but with SG in charge, we will always be held back.

---

Ive just looked at the predictions thread from the beginning of the season. JEEEESUS could we all be any further out with these predictions I had Wigan to win the PO FFS I'm not too far off with auto predictions of Derby/Norwich, and not too far off with us finishing 10th.
On the whole, we are terrible (as a group) at predictions. Some (chezzie, imre, washington, Gambling, Kev, sothernowl , Maddix, charlie) have Fulham getting autos

And to say madsteve has just told us preseason he thought 12th place finish for a team capable of 5th, he obviously didn't think that when making his prediction of 16th

---

Imre varadi
1. Fulham, Cardiff city
2. Norwich Wigan Brighton (w) Forest
3. Brentford Millwall Huddersfield
4. Sheff Wed 16th

There's no **** wonder imre hasn't won a in **** knows how long

I rated the players 5th but our manager 23rd.

I predicted lots of different positions. Maybe I predicted just after we sold Antonio (& our fans down the river).

[Statesideowl]

This ridiculous rumour of Rhodes for 12 mill is still circulating. Now it's become a '15 million' transfer plan. One where we sign Mcgugan, Keane, Rhodes & Knockaert.

It only cost Forest 8 million for a Winger that scores and creates AND a striker that scores regularly in Assombalonga. We're going to spend double hat for the same effect?

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

we will not be signing Jordan Rhodes That story was started in the Daily Star FFS

[Statesideowl]

That makes a bit more sense, lazy hacky journalism.

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

the daily star is 50 pages of tits with 1 page of "article" squeezed inbetween

[madsteve]

Whenever ST go on sale, there is always a story linking us with a big signing, particularly when the prices have gone up six times inflation. If I worked for Wednesday, I would be feeding this kind of story to the media to try to increase ST renewals.

Can't believe anyone gives them any credibility.

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

talking of ST's, I might not be able to get one next season. SWFC have changed the finance group that they work with (from zebra to v12) and this new group are apparently quite strict with credit checks and income.
Me being a student, I'm obviously on low income and don't have the lump sum to just throw away but it also sounds like I might not get finance (despite having it the last 2 seasons).

[Was Wereham Owl]

As an aside , would anyone REALLY want Rhodes ???

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

yes. Considerably better than what we have

---

but not for £12m i wouldn't

---

we wont be getting wickham either before people start. He's on nearly 70k a week

[Was Wereham Owl]

70K a week ..if he scores enough to get us promoted , that's a cheap investment ..

---

Not 12 million quid better tho !!!!