Are we better than last season?

[Ramondo]

I wasn't convinced we were a better side than last season when this campaign kicked off. I've said before that as Thorne was already here and we had to replace Bamford and Wisdom as well, that I didn't see any real improvement in the squad after the summer business.

So it was really going to come down to whether the team has 'grown' within itself, whether the players who were already here have matured both individually and as a group.

And that was always the big unknown. Then we lost Thorne of course!

Now I don't think we are playing as well as we were last season, I'm certainly not as confident at games, the atmosphere seems a little more tense and we don't seem to have got into our flow consistently.

But have we got better?

Well, I just looked at the stats -

28 games this season we are 2nd, 54 points, + 27 GD.

28 games last season we were 4th, 51 points, + 17 GD.

I genuinely think that we would have a better return if a certain Mr Thorne had been fit for most of the season s

[minesahartington]

I think it was after the Norwich game that your mate ratty posted that we had not and that the next few games running up to the end of January would be a real test of whether we had. Apart from the debacle against the dogs I believe we have won them all and conceded 0.? Could be wrong so I will let him check that.
Makes me smile as we have passed his test but I am sure there will be a couple of ah ha's but,
I don't think we are playing as well but we are wining ugly and despite most of the trouble we are caused being self inflicted from sloppy back play have got away with it. If we can continue to hang in there then when we are back to full strength its a real opportunity this year in my opinion.
So in summary doing better without playing better!
Oh and obviously the tough test ratty predicted wasn't actually tough because Al the teams have become weaker since mid December..

[AdiSalisbury]

I'm sure a statto will correct me, but I think last season was our highest ever points haul, more poiints than any championship or promotion season we've ever had. In other words, if last season is the marker then our other 125 seasons were terrible, Charlie George, Roy Mac, Paulo Wanchope et all better hang their heads in shame

[Manofpride]

I'm sure a statto will correct me, but I think last season was our highest ever points haul, more poiints than any championship or promotion season we've ever had. In other words, if last season is the marker then our other 125 seasons were terrible, Charlie George, Roy Mac, Paulo Wanchope et all better hang their heads in shame

Yes i think we're better even though I don't think we've hit peak yet!

[Ramondo]

I'm sure a statto will correct me, but I think last season was our highest ever points haul, more poiints than any championship or promotion season we've ever had. In other words, if last season is the marker then our other 125 seasons were terrible, Charlie George, Roy Mac, Paulo Wanchope et all better hang their heads in shame

Different league though, fewer games

[Ramondo]

I think it was after the Norwich game that your mate ratty posted that we had not and that the next few games running up to the end of January would be a real test of whether we had. Apart from the debacle against the dogs I believe we have won them all and conceded 0.? Could be wrong so I will let him check that.
Makes me smile as we have passed his test but I am sure there will be a couple of ah ha's but,
I don't think we are playing as well but we are wining ugly and despite most of the trouble we are caused being self inflicted from sloppy back play have got away with it. If we can continue to hang in there then when we are back to full strength its a real opportunity this year in my opinion.
So in summary doing better without playing better!
Oh and obviously the tough test ratty predicted wasn't actually tough because Al the teams have become weaker since mid December..

Well I didn't mention Rattea, it was my own obser

[minesahartington]

I want him to. It's amusing

[minesahartington]

I think perhaps a bit lucky. But mainly in getting away with the problems we cause ourselves when we think our defenders comfortable on the ball and hail from Brazil. If we click like last year we will storm this league but it ain't happening yet.

[swaledale]

The question are we better is most likely unanswerable, are we doing better? Then yes we are and the record books show whether a team wins promotion or a cup so we have been consistent in being top 6, we are currently joint top and have won 7 out of the last 8 games and kept clean sheets in 7 of those!

I thought we had got past the theory that the only way to improve a team is by buying better players (or notionally better players - Earnshaw and Claude spring to mind at £7 million for the pair) a good coach improves the players and the tactics and we continue to add good value loans and perm signings to strengthen and add to the team.

For me, its obvious what McClaren and his coaching staff have done, long may it continue!

[Ramondo]

The question are we better is most likely unanswerable, are we doing better? Then yes we are and the record books show whether a team wins promotion or a cup so we have been consistent in being top 6, we are currently joint top and have won 7 out of the last 8 games and kept clean sheets in 7 of those!

I thought we had got past the theory that the only way to improve a team is by buying better players (or notionally better players - Earnshaw and Claude spring to mind at £7 million for the pair) a good coach improves the players and the tactics and we continue to add good value loans and perm signings to strengthen and add to the team.

For me, its obvious what McClaren and his coaching staff have done, long may it continue!

It isn't a criticism, it's just a question.

Is it unanswerable? No it isn't, but it is subjective. There is sufficient evidence to form an opinion - 28 league games and a number of cup matches.

And I have lo