2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[loz]

This is very true, which was why we had such a poor December. Missing Byers and Garrity, our Captain and vice Captain at the same time decimated us in a key area. Patching it up could only last so long and eventually we crumbled. It's no coincidence our form has turned since their return. By having Byers or Garrity available, we become a much much better team. Garrity out for a few weeks means we're all nervously praying nothing happens to Byers in that time.

We tend to get areas of the pitch where everyone just gets injured or sent off all of a sudden. Midfield wiped out December, the other week wing backs were either injured and / or suspended. Now it's our strikers injured or suspended.

But in the words of other posters on here..."no point crying about it".

To clarify WB, I know you're not crying, it's a topic worthy of discussion. It's frustrating seeing your best players out, and inevitably has you thinking, if only.

You've had loads of injuries but keep winning, Notts are supposedly playing poor but keep winning, Wimbledon have just conceded a goal so probably won't let another in for the next few games, Donny keep having purple patches, we keep winning at home so we'll see what the next week brings. Have any of us got finger nails left?

 

[jacobncfc]

I just think it’s going to be incredibly close for those two spots from five teams all the way through now. I don’t think there’s much to choose between any of us. Probably come down to who times a little run of wins right at the end of the season.

 

[1862]

As long as we stay in touch after we play Wimbledon, Grimsby, Chesterfield and Crewe over a 2 week span I think we've got a great chance. I suspect that might be a lot to ask though with the form everyone else is in

 

[Son of Cod]

If their is anyone in this division playing better than Sarcs right now then he is a hell of a player.

Yep you're correct, he certainly is one hell of a player...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893369408409518548

 

[Son of Cod]

I just think it’s going to be incredibly close for those two spots from five teams all the way through now. I don’t think there’s much to choose between any of us. Probably come down to who times a little run of wins right at the end of the season.

Yep, and therein lies the reason that there's only really a single playoff place up for grabs. Really can't see the current top 6 not being the final top 6, just the order that needs sorting out.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I just think it’s going to be incredibly close for those two spots from five teams all the way through now. I don’t think there’s much to choose between any of us. Probably come down to who times a little run of wins right at the end of the season.

We need to get our run of wins in March, because April looks a lot more difficult. If we win 5 or 6 of the 8 games in March then we should be in a good place. We've got to target wins at home to Harrogate, Morecambe, MK Dons and Barrow. The latter 2 will be playing for nothing really. Colchester away suddenly looks much tougher and Tranmere might trip us up if we're not on it. Fleetwood looked good when I watched them the other night, but have they got anything to play for? Crewe to round the month off....they've got a really tough run of fixtures coming up, so could be well in the hunt or completely out of it by then.

 

[Pie and chips]

March looks tricky for notts with Wimbledon (a) Chesterfield (h) crewe (h) and games against barrow and Newport throw in as well if we can pick up some decent points there we could have a chance going into the final month of the season getting a auto spot. our last 4 games of the season are
Bradford (a) Cheltenham (h) Harrogate (a) donny (h) the game with donny could be winner takes all match

 

[jacobncfc]

March looks tricky for notts with Wimbledon (a) Chesterfield (h) crewe (h) and games against barrow and Newport throw in as well if we can pick up some decent points there we could have a chance going into the final month of the season getting a auto spot. our last 4 games of the season are
Bradford (a) Cheltenham (h) Harrogate (a) donny (h) the game with donny could be winner takes all match

Chesterfield and Crewe are the ones I’m really looking at there. A point at Wimbledon would be a fantastic result with their home record, but home games against decent teams but ones a bit below you in the table are ones we have to find a way to win if we want top three.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Only Doncaster and Notts concern me.

Can do without the play-offs - have to aim for Auto’s.

Bit of a weird take that one.

They're the only two I'm not worried about.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Bit of a weird take that one.

They're the only two I'm not worried about.

Matter of opinions, isn’t it.

Donny are the only team to beat us at VP. Notts seem to spank us everything we play ‘em.

 

[FiRTHYY]

 

[pontoonlew]

We’ve won 4 in a row but it doesn’t really feel like we’ve made up much ground, we’ve just simply separated ourselves from the rest of the pack behind us.

We’re definitely a different force since the Gillingham game, but it does feel a lot like the teams above us aren’t going to allow us much of a slip up between now and the end of the season.

Win the next 2 and pick up 4-6 points v Notts, Salford & Walsall and we’ll be in a fantastic position.

 

[jacobncfc]

Matter of opinions, isn’t it.

Donny are the only team to beat us at VP. Notts seem to spank us everything we play ‘em.

You just don’t see other teams enough of the other teams to be able to make a proper judgment. We’ve been pretty poor against Vale twice, so wouldn’t expect one of their fans to be that worried about us, while we have some sort of weird Indian sign over you lot at the minute and seem to hammer you every time. Wimbledon were pretty dreadful when we played them but are clearly a good team.

There’s a reason there’s five teams basically exactly level this far into the season. Very little to choose between them.

 

[kieran_vale]

You just don’t see other teams enough of the other teams to be able to make a proper judgment. We’ve been pretty poor against Vale twice, so wouldn’t expect one of their fans to be that worried about us, while we have some sort of weird Indian sign over you lot at the minute and seem to hammer you every time. Wimbledon were pretty dreadful when we played them but are clearly a good team.

There’s a reason there’s five teams basically exactly level this far into the season. Very little to choose between them.

Wouldn’t say you were poor against us at all. Moved the ball nicely just didn’t have much cutting edge and when it came for a plan B there didn’t seem one.

I’m very certain there isn’t any club we’ve played this season who would have said we looked the best (or even close) team but we grind out results and if we get a lead against someone it’s rare now we’ll lose the game. Some like Grimsby would be amazed we’re even in the playoff conversation given our lousy performance there.

 

[Optipez]

As long as we stay in touch after we play Wimbledon, Grimsby, Chesterfield and Crewe over a 2 week span I think we've got a great chance. I suspect that might be a lot to ask though with the form everyone else is in

We've got to keep winning because everyone else looks like they're going to keep winning. At some point very soon we need to get a result against at least one of the top six. We just aren't going to go if we don't pull a couple out the bag.
That's why I think it's top three or bust, we don't look likely to play 3 win 2 and draw 1 in the playoffs.

 

[bantamjay]

I think this week will tell us a lot as to whether we can be serious about top 3 or not.

If we can get at least 4 points going into the home game next Tuesday, I think confidence will be sky high.

The thing that seems apparent to me is the bloody determination that Alexander seems to have instilled in this squad that’s been lacking for so long. Streetwise, ruthless and hard working. Counts for a lot at this level.

It is however, nice to be discussed in this thread and not as one of the perennial underachievers for once! (So far anyway!)

 

[GTFCfish]

Some like Grimsby would be amazed we’re even in the playoff conversation given our lousy performance there.

On the same train of thought I’m sure Notts County fans must be scratching their heads seeing us just a point outside the play offs with a game in hand.

 

[Grimsby Road]

On the same train of thought I’m sure Notts County fans must be scratching their heads seeing us just a point outside the play offs with a game in hand.

We are a different team now tbf but I do agree to a point - every team bar Walsall are wildly inconsistent to a point - us and Bradford are a fair summary imo battered them at our place thought we looked a better side , they battered us at there's and I thought they were by far the better side ; I guess maybe that's league 2 for you maybe ?

 

[Kauto Star]

I think Bradford will win the Play Offs at Wembley, personally.

Id take a re-run of the 3rd tier play off final of 1996 and beat Notts County again.

 

[Kauto Star]

Pattison is better than Sarcevic, although he’s not far behind at the moment. But they’ve certainly been our top two in recent months. Both missed 3 months of the season earlier in the season, our record is ridiculous with those two in the side. I think we’d be above Walsall and away had they been fit all season. For all the clubs who’ve gone on about injuries on here, for me it’s not always about the number of injuries but who they are. Our injuries forced us to have no midfield and no control on any game for 3 months, plus think we had 10 out at one stage, we’ve certainly already had our fair share of bad luck so hopefully no more.

I love both Pattison and Sarcevic, and they are both vital to our chances of promotion. If they hadn't have both missed 3 months of the season each, then I reckon we would head the table now.

Personally I think Sarcevic just edges it for me as our best player. He is so classy for this level and the more all round player in my opinion.

Let's hope they can both stay fit for the rest of the season as Graham Alexander manages their minutes during this very hectic spell of matches.