Promotion Thread

[Rob_of_the_green]

Definitely looks like the top 3 will come from the top 4 teams now, but with it all so close will we all maintain this form until the end of the season? I feel like a bit of a dip and you could quickly drop out of the running.

Delighted with our position now having just come through what has been a really tough run of games in possibly a better position than we started it, we’ve also now got Sawyer back from suspension which should hopefully make the defence more stable.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Devon Lad could look very silly come the end of the season.

You don’t think he looks “very silly” now then?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I don't think you will be "Grumpy Grecian" come the end of the season but prepared to be proved wrong!

A Devon promotion double?

I hope so.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Sky confirm they’re ‘considering’ the argyle vs Exeter fixture in March.

My mate who works in sports media reckons the Monday night...

Tasty

 

[dedwardp]

Someone has picked up on our mid-season collapses since we got relegated:

2016/17 - 6th (p25, 39 points)
3 wins in the next 10

2017/18 - 8th (p25, 40 points)
2 wins in the next 10

2018/19 - 4th (p25, 42 points)
3 wins in the next 10

2019/20 - 8th (p25, 40 points)
3 wins in the next 9 (and counting)

 

[valefan16]

I’m happy for Devon Lad to keep voicing his views on us to be honest, it seems a lucky charm.

After losing 3-0 at Swindon I looked at the next five

Exeter H
Salford H
Cobblers A
FGR A
Colchester H

I feared for us without Smith but made the point this was a pivotal run against teams around or above us in our outside play off hopes, felt 7-8 points would be an excellent return so to get 13 from them is nuts! VP is buzzing, the fan’s are now buzzing and our form since Christmas is crazy.

Hard work still to be done, next goal is to push on and consolidate a place in the top 7 then see where we are in a few games time. I said I’d be pleased with a play off chase even if we fell short but after this week I’d be gutted if we don’t make the top 7. We’ve beaten everyone in the top 10 this season now and only lost twice, we now head into a run of mainly bottom half sides so it’s crucial now we start putting those sides to the sword. We are good enough and have shown that but have to be getting good returns next two, huge away following at Walsall certain now and Scunny at home.

Not bad with the injuries and suspensions we’ve had over this run too.

Big few weeks ahead.

 

[Pennywise]

Imagine the scenario.

Plymouth v Vale. Last day. Whoever wins, goes up,

Argyle fans would be bricking themselves.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

How tight is it now, late winner for Exeter, Swindon stay top with us losing but we stay top 3. Vale make the top 5... Have Colchester shot their load?

 

[valefan16]

How tight is it now, late winner for Exeter, Swindon stay top with us losing but we stay top 3. Vale make the top 5... Have Colchester shot their load?

Defensively Colchester were all over the place and if you look at Grimsbys goal they backed off and allowed him to run at them; they did it again yesterday, really surprised as they’ve generally built a solid defensive record down there. They will need to sort it if they are to recover and stay in the race.

FGR probably about of it, need a win next time out to stay in the race you’d think.

 

[Chris FGR]

Defensively Colchester were all over the place and if you look at Grimsbys goal they backed off and allowed him to run at them; they did it again yesterday, really surprised as they’ve generally built a solid defensive record down there. They will need to sort it if they are to recover and stay in the race.

FGR probably about of it, need a win next time out to stay in the race you’d think.

Well our next two are Scunthorpe away, and Orient at home. Two wins would probably put us back within 3 points of the top 7 with 10 games to go. So it's still doable but we need to actually win a game to get started and get some confidence back. Not holding my breath...

 

[dedwardp]

Defensively Colchester were all over the place and if you look at Grimsbys goal they backed off and allowed him to run at them; they did it again yesterday, really surprised as they’ve generally built a solid defensive record down there. They will need to sort it if they are to recover and stay in the race.

FGR probably about of it, need a win next time out to stay in the race you’d think.

Before Tuesday night only Cheltenham had a better defensive record and that was with us having played two more games. We hadn't conceded more than two goals in a league game all season.

No idea why we've decided to fall apart this week but it can't be allowed to drag out really. Any slim hopes of pushing the top three have been wiped out in the past five days and it looks set for us to miss out by about a point again for the third time in four years the way it's going.

 

[GTFCfish]

No credit to a good side, even when hit with injuries and suspensions, hitting great form at the right time of the season?

I didn’t know you were at our game against Colchester on Tuesday but thanks for your words of encouragement.

 

[Vale on Trent]

I see a lot of Vale fans getting carried away on here and social media lately! Yes, we are on great form and have given ourselves a good chance but let’s just keep our feet on the ground. Let’s enjoy the ride and see where it takes us. There’s a long way to go yet.

 

[valefan16]

I see a lot of Vale fans getting carried away on here and social media lately! Yes, we are on great form and have given ourselves a good chance but let’s just keep our feet on the ground. Let’s enjoy the ride and see where it takes us. There’s a long way to go yet.

I think the excitement is warranted after such a dire few years, talk of going for the auto's seems far fetched that some mentioned on P&G, we'd need probably 10 wins from 12!

We've achieved nothing yet but now we are in the play offs the next and main goal has to be consolidate it by winning half, we've been in title winning form since Christmas and are averaging 2.09PPG which would more than do it but we have to maintain that which is no easy feat.

The one piece of encouragement is that swathe of players coming back now, Oyeleke, Jake Taylor and Amoo are back in training along with Pope and Gibbons now available... we've got a lot of strength in depth all of a sudden but need to take it a game at a time...

Whatever happens though we have plenty to be optimistic about going forward, new owners have been ace, Lorne Street should be done, Robbie concert, Robbie involvement thats due to be announced soon and a side that is either going to make the play offs or just fall short and thus will only need small tweaks to get there next year hopefully.

It's been a great season, Man City away was an immense night and we've had some great days in the league... ultimately from going because I felt I had to a year ago to being excited to go again is the main feeling.

 

[Rob_of_the_green]

Talk of the autos for Vale is baffling.

With 12 games left, if you win 10 which would be a huge ask and probably unrealistic then you’d be on 84, which I don’t believe would be enough. We think we’ll need 90 to be in the top 3, that would require you to win literally every game this season.

Vale won’t make the autos, there I’ve said it, sorry.

 

[valefan16]

Talk of the autos for Vale is baffling.

With 12 games left, if you win 10 which would be a huge ask and probably unrealistic then you’d be on 84, which I don’t believe would be enough. We think we’ll need 90 to be in the top 3, that would require you to win literally every game this season.

Vale won’t make the autos, there I’ve said it, sorry.

A couple of said it, 79 would have done it last year in which case it is not out the question but the PPG for the top 4 is higher this so unlikely.

If only we had held on to some of those 25 points we've thrown away from leading!

 

[Indian Dan]

Every club has sob stories

 

[valefan16]

If we hadn't lost concentration in injury time against Gary Neville, Mansfield, Orient and another side I can't currently recall we'd be about fucking 3rd. Fucksticks.

Other one was Mansfield again in the Leasing though thankfully they were terrible from 12 yards.

Could well end up being the difference though, led at Grimsby, Macclesfield and Scunthorpe in our losses too.

 

[Trapdoor]

With 12 games left, if you win 10 which would be a huge ask and probably unrealistic then you’d be on 84, which I don’t believe would be enough. We think we’ll need 90 to be in the top 3.

Latest predictions on exeweb were suggesting a 50% chance of automatic promotion at 85 points. ~80% chance of getting an auto spot at 87 points.

 

[valefan16]

Latest predictions on exeweb were suggesting a 50% chance of automatic promotion at 85 points. ~80% chance of getting an auto spot at 87 points.

It is set to be a high bar this time out, sure we went up with less than 80 in 2013!

 

[GTFCfish]

Our season has a very similar feel to Vale’s with chucking lots of silly points away earlier in the season. Through October November and December where we didn’t win a single game (D5 L6) if we had just found a way to turn 9 or 10 of those games into victories we’d be top now.
Just feels so unfair.

 

[valefan16]

Our season has a very similar feel to Vale’s with chucking lots of silly points away earlier in the season. Through October November and December where we didn’t win a single game (D5 L6) if we had just found a way to turn 9 or 10 of those games into victories we’d be top now.
Just feels so unfair.

We are not suggesting it’s unfair, it’s our own short coming in lack of game management and that’s the fine line. If we fail to get promoted that’s what we will look back on being costly.

The points we’ve dropped from winning positions is crazy (something like 23).

 

[GTFCfish]

We are not suggesting it’s unfair, it’s our own short coming in lack of game management.

I know, I just put it being daft as I’m bored out of my mind at work.

 

[E10rifle]

If we’d’ve had a proper goalkeeper in the first six months, two better fullbacks, two better central midfielders, two better strikers and Jobi McAnuff fit all season we’d be 12th right now. It’s not fair.

 

[Chris FGR]

If we’d found a way not to be shite, we’d be top now. Unfortunately we haven’t and so we aren’t.

 

[JJ1532]

Tighter than a gnats arsehole in that top 4. We have Macc, Morecambe and Stevenage in 3 of our next 4. Absolutely have to win at least 2, probably even 3 of them.

I wonder what will be needed to finish in the top 3? 85? 90?

 

[Indian Dan]

3 out of next 4 at home plus Mansfield away. Had our winter break, hopefully a few knocks cleared up = 12 points please.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Think Swindon with their run in are comfortably taking 1 of the 3 places.

2 from us, Crewe and Exeter.

Crewe with some tough fixtures coming up and so many youngsters, so going on that alone I think they're favourites for the playoff spot.

 

[Indian Dan]

Tuesday March 3

Exetér v Crewe
Plymouth v Grimsby
Swindon v Scunthorpe

The loser, if there is one, of that first game is outta here I reckon.

 

[Rob_of_the_green]

Definitely wouldn’t fancy Crewe’s run-in, if they come out of that with enough points to be in the top 3 then tbh they’ll deserve it