2023/24 League Two Promotion Thread

[joethegill]

3 wins in a row, up to 8th. Still mostly shite performances but I'll take it. If we can start scoring more than one goal on a regular basis then there's absolutely no reason we can't challenge. Only 9 points off Mansfield in 3rd with 20 games left, it's still very open.

 

[Ainsty]

How on earth have Harrogate ended up there?

Forget Barrow, they're the true team flying under the radar.

Crazy isn't it? I never expected to read Harrogate and promotion in the same sentence.

 

[Optipez]

A lot of games to go still but I'd definitely rule out automatics for Notts. I never expected it from the off but we were in the mix until late November.
Playoffs are doable if we keep our best players this window, get a head coach who works out for us and sign a couple of players who are good enough from the off.
We've signed Scott Robertson in midfield and he wasn't a stand out upgrade on what we have and Luca Ashby in goal who surely has to be better than what we have.
We do need a leader to come in if only to give us direction, the longer it goes on the more the club is likely to drift into mid table.

 

[AdamStag]

Think the next 4 games could be really big for mansfield’s season.

FG and sutton at home and wimbledon away before the circus that is notts county rock up at field mill for the derby.

We’ve been here before, done well until the turn of the season and then we turn into a pumpkin, the wheels fall off and we fail, all very Mansfield, whereas other fans will readily remind us of that we’ve all got it seared in our footballing conscience.

On paper the 3 home games look friendly, but it’s clearly not that easy and given our form has dipped (matching this daft change of tactic of 2 holding midfielders) it won’t be that easy.

Interesting fortnight or so infront.

 

[Crewelad87]

Barrow away this weekend, is a big game, we struggled when we played them a few weeks ago, but we were really down to the bare bones that night. Things look much better now, still not perfect though and every chance Joe White won't be back by the time we play them (if he comes back at all) if we can get a result out of this game the next few after that look fairly good fixtures, before we have another tough run coming mid Febuary.

I'm confident we can stay roughly where we are, not sure we've got enough nor are we consistent enough to challenge the top 3, but as long as we don't get hit by any more mega injury crisis, I can't see us dropping much either, we're very strong at home and bar Wrexham in our last home game, our home games are very favourable for the rest of the season, so we should pick up plenty of points there.

 

[Conker]

This week feels very important to me, 6 points and we will be looking strong but if we drop anyway the pressure is going to mount.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

This week feels very important to me, 6 points and we will be looking strong but if we drop anyway the pressure is going to mount.

Who do you fear overtaking you? I honestly can't see Barrow being there till the end of the season...

 

[Conker]

Who do you fear overtaking you? I honestly can't see Barrow being there till the end of the season...

If anyone is gunna put us under pressure I reckon it may be MK.

 

[Stocky]

MK Dons are most likely to break into the top 3 if any of the current 3 drop out.

 

[Stocky]

If anyone is gunna put us under pressure I reckon it may be MK.

Read my mind, Conker.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

I'd have said MK as they seem to have clicked, what about dark horses Bradford?

 

[Conker]

By us, I mean all three too. All it takes is a drop in form and all three are capable of that.

 

[AdamStag]

Who do you fear overtaking you? I honestly can't see Barrow being there till the end of the season...

Everyone keeps saying barrow will fall away, well they’re not. If we can win the game in hand tomorrow it’ll put us 4 clear of them with a better GD.

There’s still the best part of half a season to go, though it’s ridiculous we’re going at nearly 2 points a game and not further clear.

 

[DippyDon]

I saw something on the Bradford forum though that suggested our good run has been helped by the teams we've played being mainly bottom half teams. That could just be coincidence and we storm up the table but that mixed with what will be an awful February/March fixture run with top teams, bogey teams and an away trip to that lot is now giving me pause despite my earlier optimism...

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

Everyone keeps saying barrow will fall away, well they’re not. If we can win the game in hand tomorrow it’ll put us 4 clear of them with a better GD.

There’s still the best part of half a season to go, though it’s ridiculous we’re going at nearly 2 points a game and not further clear.

Agreed, Stockport are on another level compared to us and Mansfield and the rest of the pack. Mansfield are still looking a little light up front. Barrow keep grinding results out but stumble when Wild is not on the touchline.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I'd have said MK as they seem to have clicked, what about dark horses Bradford?

What about them?

15 points off top three and haven’t won in five games.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

What about them?

15 points off top three and haven’t won in five games.

My bad, thought they were higher up the table. *Must check table before spouting shit*

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Everyone keeps saying barrow will fall away, well they’re not. If we can win the game in hand tomorrow it’ll put us 4 clear of them with a better GD.

There’s still the best part of half a season to go, though it’s ridiculous we’re going at nearly 2 points a game and not further clear.

They would have started to fall away had others been in good form. One win in their last five.

I just don’t see them as top three contenders and Wilf’s teams have form for this. Think they will make the playoffs though.

 

[Stocky]

They would have started to fall away had others been in good form. One win in their last five.

I just don’t see them as top three contenders and Wilf’s teams have form for this. Think they will make the playoffs though.

We've won 3 in 9 and the injury situation can't get more dire. Barrow have missed an opportunity IMO. They were 2-0 up against a very on the ropes team on Boxing Day, I was certain that was 2 dropped for them.

Bradford no chance of automatics, I don't think they'll get play offs.

Crewe have done well. I think Lee Bell has done a really underrated job there. Everyone talks about Wild, Barrow were a play off team this time last year and fell away, Crewe looked like they may go down to NL this time last year. Bell dragged them through unscathed and recruited well. If they got play-offs, they've had a brilliant season though, automatics would be something else.

 

[LS Bantam]

Hahaha, it’s sweet that we’ve been mentioned but don’t worry about us having anything to do with this thread.

 

[Conker]

Agreed, Stockport are on another level compared to us and Mansfield and the rest of the pack. Mansfield are still looking a little light up front. Barrow keep grinding results out but stumble when Wild is not on the touchline.

We are definitely light upfront but, I highly doubt we will end January like that (barring injuries) I cannot see Radford letting us go light considering the position we are in.

Tomorrow night is important though, got to get three points.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

Hahaha, it’s sweet that we’ve been mentioned but don’t worry about us having anything to do with this thread.

As I said, should check the table and form before spouting my mouth.

Sorry for waking you guys up

 

[WhiteRussian]

I saw something on the Bradford forum though that suggested our good run has been helped by the teams we've played being mainly bottom half teams. That could just be coincidence and we storm up the table but that mixed with what will be an awful February/March fixture run with top teams, bogey teams and an away trip to that lot is now giving me pause despite my earlier optimism...

Short of FGR who can't buy a win at the moment and the top 2 who seem to be winning regardless, every other club is both capable of winning and losing against everyone so I don't regard there being as many 'difficult' games as you suggest.

I hope it doesn't come down to last day shoot out between Mansfield and us like the last time we were in this division. I have a soft spot for them after losing out in that season.

 

[AdamStag]

I think there’s

Short of FGR who can't buy a win at the moment and the top 2 who seem to be winning regardless, every other club is both capable of winning and losing against everyone so I don't regard there being as many 'difficult' games as you suggest.

I hope it doesn't come down to last day shoot out between Mansfield and us like the last time we were in this division. I have a soft spot for them after losing out in that season.

We’re away at barrow last game, so could be a shootout with those instead haha.

 

[chipmunx]

IF the rumoured signing of Cole Stockton pans out that could make things interesting

 

[Conker]

Very much under the radar signing.

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

Absolutely no chance we’re going to finish in the top 3 with Clough doing his usual mid year collapse. He’s changed formation and started to try to fit players into the team no matter how bad it makes us

 

[Conker]

Absolutely no chance we’re going to finish in the top 3 with Clough doing his usual mid year collapse. He’s changed formation and started to try to fit players into the team no matter how bad it makes us

I think that’s going to end tomorrow night, but I agree if he’s still making up a formation to fit in Brunt, Cargill and Reed by then we may have an issue, considering he’s got so much bang on this season he deserves some slack for getting it a bit wrong recently.

For me it’s pretty easy now, Flint and Cargill is our best available CB pairing. He must put his big boy pants on and drop either Brunt or Reed in midfield. We need the likes of Clarke, Quinn, Maris all starting IMO.

 

[AdamStag]

I think that’s going to end tomorrow night, but I agree if he’s still making up a formation to fit in Brunt, Cargill and Reed by then we may have an issue, considering he’s got so much bang on this season he deserves some slack for getting it a bit wrong recently.

For me it’s pretty easy now, Flint and Cargill is our best available CB pairing. He must put his big boy pants on and drop either Brunt or Reed in midfield. We need the likes of Clarke, Quinn, Maris all starting IMO.

Agreed, When those 3 play were soooo much better, it’s all pretty obvious.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Some of our lot are becoming a proper bunch of entitled c***. The groaning at everything we did wrong at Morecambe, I get it’s frustrating but look at the bigger picture, not like we’re sat where Salford are

4 wins in last 7, 2 draws and 1 loss and 4 of those games were away, and those who thought we should’ve sacked Clough last season all of a sudden getting louder because the last 2 games haven’t gone our way, despite a point away at Morecambe who have only lost 2 at home all season. No surprise really.

The 4231 is abit naff but all those 7 games have been played using that formation and 14/21 is a good return.

2 very important home games back to back now against the bottom 2. Forest Green also bottom of the form table so we have to beat them tonight and back that up Saturday just to keep a few fans from imploding. You can tell the crowd are nervous in our last 2 home games, can’t be good for the players to play in imo.