a quick look back at history....
in the last 13 seasons, the leaders after 8 games turned out to:
be champions 4 times;
be runners-up 3 times;
made the play-offs 2 times;
finished top half 3 times;
finiahed bottom half 1 time;
been relegated 0 times.
2012-13: Brighton (16pts) (after 46 games) 4th (75pts)
2011-12: Southampton (19) 2nd (88)
2010-11: QPR (22) champions (88)
2009-10: West Brom (20) 2nd (91)
2008-09: Wolves (22) champions (90)
2007-08: Watford (17) 6th (70)
2006-07: Cardiff (17) 13th (64)
2005-06: Sheff Utd (21) 2nd (90)
2004-05: Stoke (17) 12th (61)
2003-04: Wigan (19) 7th (71)
2002-03: Portsmouth (22) champions (98)
2001-02: Burnley (21) 7th (75)
2000-01: Foolham (24) champions (101)
more to the point... of the 7 teams that took 20-or-more points from the first 8 games, only 1 (burnley) didn't get automatic promotion at the end of the season.
history means nothing, of course. it's the 38 games that are left that matter now, but we've got something to build on. we're hard to beat and to grumble and make out that we're relegation candidates in disguise seems a bit daft.
in the last 13 seasons, the leaders after 8 games turned out to:
be champions 4 times;
be runners-up 3 times;
made the play-offs 2 times;
finished top half 3 times;
finiahed bottom half 1 time;
been relegated 0 times.
2012-13: Brighton (16pts) (after 46 games) 4th (75pts)
2011-12: Southampton (19) 2nd (88)
2010-11: QPR (22) champions (88)
2009-10: West Brom (20) 2nd (91)
2008-09: Wolves (22) champions (90)
2007-08: Watford (17) 6th (70)
2006-07: Cardiff (17) 13th (64)
2005-06: Sheff Utd (21) 2nd (90)
2004-05: Stoke (17) 12th (61)
2003-04: Wigan (19) 7th (71)
2002-03: Portsmouth (22) champions (98)
2001-02: Burnley (21) 7th (75)
2000-01: Foolham (24) champions (101)
more to the point... of the 7 teams that took 20-or-more points from the first 8 games, only 1 (burnley) didn't get automatic promotion at the end of the season.
history means nothing, of course. it's the 38 games that are left that matter now, but we've got something to build on. we're hard to beat and to grumble and make out that we're relegation candidates in disguise seems a bit daft.
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