Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:40 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

Given we shipped 50 points a game v SL opposition last year, I really don't have your blind faith in this new system attracting any lapsed fans back or news fans either.

Difficult to compare last year with this years squad. Unfortunately means there is a very big question mark until the season gets into its stride. We should on balance be fine in the Championship, make the top 4 and we'll really see if an improvement in the playing squad. In the 8s think it'll be closer for all four Championship sides than people expect but there is bound to be one or two complete hidings for them probably away from home. New fans or returning fans for us, maybe the odd few particulalry if we look competitive but hardly statistically significant.

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:16 pm  

Lol, I don't have blind faith GF, merely deluded optimism, all fans have to be deluded or we'd all realise what a spectacular rip-off prodffessional sport is, lmao!

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:29 pm  

CrusaderPete wrote:

Lol, I don't have blind faith GF, merely deluded optimism, all fans have to be deluded or we'd all realise what a spectacular rip-off prodffessional sport is, lmao!

I'd respond by the drummer from Green Day wouldn't approve......

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:43 am  

Anyone who thinks some of the top 8 games will be a walk in the park are deluded !

My Team (Leigh), walked the league last year and we are stronger this year and have gone fully FT. If Featherstone make the 4, they too will always be difficult to beat.

I feel all the Champioship clubs who make the 8 will struggle with the away games against SL clubs but I fancy us to upset the like of Widnes or Wakey shoulkd they be in the bottom 4.

Alot of it depends on momentum. If some of the SL clubs have had some hammerings and confidence is low anything can happen.

I must admit though, I do not see 1 champioship club qualifying for SL outright next season. I feel it will be the million pound match.

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 12:44 pm  

I don't seen any SL quality squads in the Champs, and what's more the Champs team are playing weaker teams all year prior to the split so won't be used to the intensity or skill level. I just can't see any club getting promoted.

I don't mind not getting promoted but would very much like to see us smash Leigh and Featherstone a couple of times.

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:13 pm  

Snowy wrote:

Anyone who thinks some of the top 8 games will be a walk in the park are deluded !

My Team (Leigh), walked the league last year and we are stronger this year and have gone fully FT. If Featherstone make the 4, they too will always be difficult to beat.

I feel all the Champioship clubs who make the 8 will struggle with the away games against SL clubs but I fancy us to upset the like of Widnes or Wakey shoulkd they be in the bottom 4.

Alot of it depends on momentum. If some of the SL clubs have had some hammerings and confidence is low anything can happen.

I must admit though, I do not see 1 champioship club qualifying for SL outright next season. I feel it will be the million pound match.

This thread has made me chuckle. In one off games against SL teams the top end Championship teams have more than held their own. Like last season Fax played Widnes and the difference between the teams was really only Kevin Brown. Well this year if Fax did make the 8 they would have spent nearly 500K more than last season and would enter that league in good form where as the teams in the bottom 4 in SL will be on a bit of a downer. I don not think for 1 second that a team from the Championship will get promoted to SL but I also dont expect to see the scorelines mentioned in this thread either.

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:57 pm  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

This thread has made me chuckle.

Good for you. The do say laughter is the best medicine, so it's important we all find a reason to smile every day.

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

In one off games against SL teams the top end Championship teams have more than held their own.

How many championship sides beat SL sides last year in competitive games? I ask, because holding your own in a one off is hardly the same as facing 4 SL sides all fighting for survival and all aware that +/- will be key, but if there was an upset last year, it might point to a part time outfit being able to stand toe to toe with a SL side who just missed the top 8.
As far as I can see, 4 Ties in last years 4th round featured a SL side v an opponent from a lower division.....the points scored by the SL side was 200-32 (50-8).....the 5th round saw 3 ties with the result 170-24 (57-8)....then 2 games 81-18 (40-9). Please feel free to define "holding your own"

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Like last season Fax played Widnes and the difference between the teams was really only Kevin Brown.

No...the difference was 24 points in a loss 10-34 at home. Everything else is simply opinion......you didn't need to be there to know that one side scored 24 more points than the other.

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Well this year if Fax did make the 8 they would have spent nearly 500K more than last season

No matter how much the club spend, there is a finite number of talented players available and a dose of realism would point towards the 14 teams in the UK that are full time professional will have snapped up the best players.....I fully expect London Bradford and Leigh to win 18 games each next year with the 6 games featuring those three sides dictating the placings 1-3.......and I expect some real shallockings to be dished out in the first 23 rounds.....

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

and would enter that league in good form where as the teams in the bottom 4 in SL will be on a bit of a downer.

The teams who finish 9-12th in SL will not be on anything other than the war-path, defending their SL livelihoods. This is not a Challenge Cup scenario where the plucky underdog will throw everything at the SL side in the hope their better financed opponents have a bad day, but a match against a team who are aware that every point for and against will count.....they will face 3 full time sides and a part time outfit and the part time outfit will be the easybeats of that comp.

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

I don not think for 1 second that a team from the Championship will get promoted to SL but I also dont expect to see the scorelines mentioned in this thread either.

I believe the teams who finish 9th & 10th in SL will score over 350 points in their 7 games.....I believe 11th placed SL side will score in excess of 300. Happy to be proven wrong, but statistically I would seem to be on the money....The 4th round in 2013 average scores were 54-10......then 64-4 and then 29-10.......so 700-116 over 13 ties.

To recap... over 2013 and 2014 Lower league sides holding their own in 22 CC ties v SL sides resulted in an overall score-line of 1151-190...or 52-9 if you prefer averages......keep chuckling.

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:52 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

Good for you. The do say laughter is the best medicine, so it's important we all find a reason to smile every day.
How many championship sides beat SL sides last year in competitive games? I ask, because holding your own in a one off is hardly the same as facing 4 SL sides all fighting for survival and all aware that +/- will be key, but if there was an upset last year, it might point to a part time outfit being able to stand toe to toe with a SL side who just missed the top 8.
As far as I can see, 4 Ties in last years 4th round featured a SL side v an opponent from a lower division.....the points scored by the SL side was 200-32 (50-8).....the 5th round saw 3 ties with the result 170-24 (57-8)....then 2 games 81-18 (40-9). Please feel free to define "holding your own"

No...the difference was 24 points in a loss 10-34 at home. Everything else is simply opinion......you didn't need to be there to know that one side scored 24 more points than the other.

No matter how much the club spend, there is a finite number of talented players available and a dose of realism would point towards the 14 teams in the UK that are full time professional will have snapped up the best players.....I fully expect London Bradford and Leigh to win 18 games each next year with the 6 games featuring those three sides dictating the placings 1-3.......and I expect some real shallockings to be dished out in the first 23 rounds.....
The teams who finish 9-12th in SL will not be on anything other than the war-path, defending their SL livelihoods. This is not a Challenge Cup scenario where the plucky underdog will throw everything at the SL side in the hope their better financed opponents have a bad day, but a match against a team who are aware that every point for and against will count.....they will face 3 full time sides and a part time outfit and the part time outfit will be the easybeats of that comp.

I believe the teams who finish 9th & 10th in SL will score over 350 points in their 7 games.....I believe 11th placed SL side will score in excess of 300. Happy to be proven wrong, but statistically I would seem to be on the money....The 4th round in 2013 average scores were 54-10......then 64-4 and then 29-10.......so 700-116 over 13 ties.

To recap... over 2013 and 2014 Lower league sides holding their own in 22 CC ties v SL sides resulted in an overall score-line of 1151-190...or 52-9 if you prefer averages......keep chuckling.

Other than your outstanding contribution to these boards, how do you envisage supporting 'your' London Broncos this season ?

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:35 pm  

Hopefully at least, listening on the radio. If not watching BBC or Sky Sports live updates. Which does raise a question as to whether there will be any radio/internet commentarys to enjoy. Anybody know what level of service Radio London will be providing this year?

Re: Predictions for the Middle 8 : Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:49 pm  

PC Plum wrote:

Other than your outstanding contribution to these boards, how do you envisage supporting 'your' London Broncos this season ?

When available, I will be sorting out a shirt and am currently planning a trip home which if I get it right, I will catch a game again, as I did for the Bradford match last year. I will also tune in, dial up and scour the web for links to any commentary I can listen to.
Alas, because I am not "there", I will not be able to contribute to AK's Hive development fund much more than maybe 3 match tickets if I make it and the replica shirt.......but I suspect this will be more than many of our ex-fans who still live in London.