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X'MAS LEAGUE 2006
Rubbish in terms of automatic promotion!
by Cody Wong
02-01-07
Georgie Porgie too much X'mas pudding and pie
The X'mas League (goal difference not considered)
1. Palace WddW 8 points
2. Birmingham lDWw 7 points
3. Derby wWLd 7 points
4. Hull wWLd 7 points
5. Wednesday LwwD 7 points
6. WBA lWWd 7 points
7. Wolves WlwD 7 points
8. Colchester lWW1 6 points
9. Ipswich WlwL 6 points
10. PNE LwlW 6 points
11. QPR WllW 6 points
12. Saints dWDd 6 points
13. Stoke *WLw 6 points (*game postponed)
14. Sunderland wLWl 6 points
15. Luton DdlW 5 points
16. Norwich lWDd 5 points
17. Southend WddL 5 points
18. Cardiff dDDd 4 points
19. Leeds WllD 4 points
20. Leicester LlwD 4 points
21. Barnsley lLWl 3 points
22. Plymouth DldD 3 points
23. Burnley *llD 1 point (*game postponed)
24. Coventry lDLl 1 point
Positives
1. Saints are one of three teams unbeaten over the X'mas period, drawing 3 times and winning once. The other two unbeaten teams are Palace (8 points) and Cardiff (4 points).
2. Saints scored in every game.
Negatives
1. Most importantly Saints did not make up ground on any of the teams above us. Saints lost ground (1 point) to Birmingham (1st), Derby (2nd), West Brom (5th), Wolves (9th) and Wednesday (11th). With 6 points, Saints have tied Preston (3rd), Colchester (6th), Stoke (7th) and Sunderland (10th). Saints put a little distance (2 points) between us and Cardiff (8th) who managed 4 points with 4 draws.
2. Saints conceded in every game but one.
3. The following players were injured:
- Nathan Dyer (suspected ankle fracture)
- Andrew Surman (out for 6 weeks from knee ligament damage)
- Claus Lundekvam (operation in the coming week for depressed fracture of a cheekbone)
- Inigo Idiakez (out for a month)
- Jhon Viafara (whack on ankle)
4. Kenwyne Jones was suspended for 3 games for a red card against Palace, the silver lining being the suspension has run its course in terms of league games as the third game for which he is suspended is the FA Cup game against Torquay.
Analysis
It was up to Saints to take advantage of the run of 4 games to close the gap on the 3 or 4 teams above us and to open a gap on those below. But whilst we managed to score first in each of the games, we conceded the equaliser in the second half in 3 games and drew them. George Burley must ask himself why it is that Saints simply can't hang on to a lead - indeed we let slip a 2-goal lead against Wednesday. It appears that Saints have been too negative in hanging on to a lead by (1) under-estimating the tenacity of the opposing team, (2) defending too deep and inviting pressure, (3) generally switching from a positive to a negative mode after going into the lead.
Conclusion
Saints have had a rubbish X'mas period in terms of automatic promotion. The distance between us and the first two teams has widened to 8 (Birmingham) and 5 points (Derby) from 7 and 4 points previously.
In terms of the playoffs, it can't be said that Saints have done anything to cement their place in the top 6. We have gained 2 points on Cardiff who were level on points with us before X'mas, but West Brom (5th and just a point behind us now) and Wolves (9th) have both gained a point on us. The other teams around us are level with us over the X'mas period - hardly consoling.
It is slightly disturbing, to say the least, that George Burley seems satisfied with our mediocre return of 6 points. Hopefully it is a case of not wanting to slag off the team in public and keeping the barracking indoors. At any rate Saints need to buck up and quickly if we want to be promoted automatically and avoid the lottery of the playoffs. And if we are not careful, it is possible for Saints to slip up - as we often do late in a game - and fail even to make the playoffs.
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