2025 promotion thread

[Hudders]

Our run in on paper is not too bad, only 3 of the current top 12 to play away and we are finished with playing Birmingham now. It’s the never ending injuries that kill us.

 

[White horse]

Bolton had 63 points from 31 games last season, exactly the same as Wycombe have now, we still managed to balls it up. So the promotion pack can all take comfort from that. The trouble is Wycombe don't have the technical genius of Evatt ,I really need to get over him,

 

[thewwfc]

In the short term, things are looking slightly better for us.

The new midfielder Simons (loanee from Hull signed in Jan) seems to be a strong replacement for Aaron Morley, we had been missing some creativity in midfield which he seems to have restored.

Also we have Kone to come back imminently, so we should be more up to full strength soon, I mean Brum away on 1 March is pretty much a write-off but it's better if we can at least give it a go.

Wxm at home on 15 March will be a biggie as well, then we have Hudds away the following week.

But we will certainly drop points along the way, especially at home.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

I've almost written us off for the autos. Wycombe don't like dropping many points and they seem to capitalise on our lack of wins. On the other hand if Wycombe do drop points, then we can't capitalise.

Our tactics are getting the ball out wide to Barnett and get a cross in. He hasn't done well for a few weeks as teams have cottoned on to what we do. Macca on the left doesn't offer anything going forwards. So teams nullify the threat down our right so we go to plan B which is play out from the back and aimlessly hoof it to the forwards and hope for some luck. If teams want to press us, we really shit ourselves and hoof it some more aimlessly. We have been found out and its so easy to play against. PP talks about getting the midfield to drive us forward but the ball bypasses them by every single time.

Still think we're good enough for PO but we'll soon crumble as we've never won any in our history.

 

[masi51]

We simply have to win Saturday against the form team in the division......98th min og will do.

 

[Hudders]

In the short term, things are looking slightly better for us.

The new midfielder Simons (loanee from Hull signed in Jan) seems to be a strong replacement for Aaron Morley, we had been missing some creativity in midfield which he seems to have restored.

Also we have Kone to come back imminently, so we should be more up to full strength soon, I mean Brum away on 1 March is pretty much a write-off but it's better if we can at least give it a go.

Wxm at home on 15 March will be a biggie as well, then we have Hudds away the following week.

But we will certainly drop points along the way, especially at home.

Our game will get pushed back to mid week April, can’t move for Northern Ireland internationals over here.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Fancy Bolton to go on a great run. Orient have blown it, Huddersfield doing themselves no favours at home. Wrexham somehow, keep plugging away.

You expect that's pretty much the end for Barnsley, Reading and Leyton Orient (without knowing their fixtures).

7 go into 6 with Huddersfield the most likely to miss out at the moment.

 

[thewwfc]

Vital win for us tonight to keep us in the auto spots by the skin of our teeth, wish Wxm would fuck off with their late 1-0s but we are where we are, and if nothing else it keeps the tension building up to our home game vs them on 15th March.

 

[E10rifle]

Fancy Bolton to go on a great run. Orient have blown it, Huddersfield doing themselves no favours at home. Wrexham somehow, keep plugging away.

You expect that's pretty much the end for Barnsley, Reading and Leyton Orient (without knowing their fixtures).

7 go into 6 with Huddersfield the most likely to miss out at the moment.

Not really blown it. Just leaking goals with a reserve defence. We’ve no right to be involved at this end of the table with our budget, so, short of losing every game until the end of the season, we’re still heavily in the realms of over-achievement.

 

[Master D]

View attachment 21720

Vital win for us tonight to keep us in the auto spots by the skin of our teeth, wish Wxm would fuck off with their late 1-0s but we are where we are, and if nothing else it keeps the tension building up to our home game vs them on 15th March.

We will keep grinding, we've been in promotion battles last 3 seasons so know what we're doing. I reckon you lot have the more difficult run-in.

 

[thewwfc]

We will keep grinding, we've been in promotion battles last 3 seasons so know what we're doing. I reckon you lot have the more difficult run-in.

Yes, agreed.

 

[EnglishRed]

We will keep grinding, we've been in promotion battles last 3 seasons so know what we're doing. I reckon you lot have the more difficult run-in.

You can never tell but our April does look a little more straightforward than Wycombes- we've got a lot of clubs who will have nothing to play for, or in the relegation zone- and we do tend to finish seasons strongly.

We just need to get through March still in touch with the top two. The games against Wycombe and Stockport look huge.

 

[folletto]

Think we technically have the toughest run in based on League Position of sides left to play but if we keep playing they way we are, there's no reason we can't beat anyone. I am still worried that we could go on a bad run but that's just habit of being a football fan.

 

[Luke Imp]

I think the only side that might let someone else in the PO's are Huddersfield, who seem to be making hard work of it but from memory, Barnsley were the same when Duff was there as well.

The Top 7 seem pretty well set with Barnsley, Orient and Reading to keep having a nibble.

 

[masi51]

Stockports next few games are horrendous.....They may fall out of the top six in the next month

 

[The Terminator]

Not really blown it. Just leaking goals with a reserve defence. We’ve no right to be involved at this end of the table with our budget, so, short of losing every game until the end of the season, we’re still heavily in the realms of over-achievement.

Alot of people forget that back in November we was 4th bottom and there were crys from certain people for Wellens to go, Ling to go, McCormack to go, Travis to go etc etc.

The players to their credit got alot of wins against middle of the road/bottom four sides and did it without conceding goals too - as you pointed out 3/4 of those defenders have been out the last few weeks for various reasons. We are still slightly punching, but where we are in the table is where we should be.

I mean any team relying their playoff hopes on Sonny Perkins and Diallang Jaiyesimi is going to have their work cut out.

The top 6/7 are in the places they should really be too IMO. Bolton could be a dark horse under Schumacher to get over the line I think.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Stockports next few games are horrendous.....They may fall out of the top six in the next month

I'd back us against any side in the top 8.

It's teams in the bottom 8 that give us trouble...

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

I'd back us against any side in the top 8.

It's teams in the bottom 8 that give us trouble...

Even away at our place? You normally lose at ours and we return the favour losing at your place.

 

[chief]

Wycombe
Wrexham
Stockport
Charlton
Bolton

Who's your money on then?

 

[Muzzle]

Wycombe
Wrexham
Stockport
Charlton
Bolton

Who's your money on then?

I would still say Wycombe, as bad as they were today, they still got the draw, and out of the five, i would say the most consistent....unless we go unbeaten until the end of the season

 

[Super_horns]

Wycombe
Wrexham
Stockport
Charlton
Bolton

Who's your money on then?

The current Bolton and Charlton managers to replace one of their former teams struggling in the Championship?

 

[EnglishRed]

The race for second is still wide open after yesterday. Realistically it's between us, Wycombe, Stockport and Charlton. On paper ourselves and Stockport have the marginally 'easier' Aprils- playing more bottom half teams and less of the top 7, and it's also significant that both Stockport and Charlton have to travel to Wrexham AND Wycombe.

Squeaky bum time etc.

 

[Bobbin']

The race for second is still wide open after yesterday. Realistically it's between us, Wycombe, Stockport and Charlton. On paper ourselves and Stockport have the marginally 'easier' Aprils- playing more bottom half teams and less of the top 7, and it's also significant that both Stockport and Charlton have to travel to Wrexham AND Wycombe.

Squeaky bum time etc.

Second to last game of the season has the potential to be ridiculous. One thing for sure is it will not be 3pm on the Saturday.

 

[Stocky]

The race for second is still wide open after yesterday. Realistically it's between us, Wycombe, Stockport and Charlton. On paper ourselves and Stockport have the marginally 'easier' Aprils- playing more bottom half teams and less of the top 7, and it's also significant that both Stockport and Charlton have to travel to Wrexham AND Wycombe.

Squeaky bum time etc.

I've only ever really been looking down but if I was to look at the top two, I'd say our chances are pretty slim and will be pretty much defined by our result at yours next week. Win and you'd have to say we're well in the shout, lose and it's all over. Draw still mentioned in dispatches I suppose but would be a long shot.

I'd take a draw at yours personally, would be a good draw in the play-off chase. We have a decent run on paper after next weekend so we'd look in solid shape for holding off the teams we need to hold off out of Huddersfield, Bolton, Reading, Leyton Orient. Just need to finish above three of them four and we can have a little tickle at the play-offs which would be a great season.

 

[thewwfc]

It’s important not to over-react to a poor result yesterday, and to acknowledge that if (if) we win our game in hand on Tuesday we go back second.

If we do choke this season, it won’t be the likes of yesterday that screwed us, it’ll be the games vs the numerous bottom-third sides we couldn’t figure out how to break down at home - you have to earn the right to win all games, and too many times we haven’t.

I’m sure everyone in the relegation zone, or those who are nearly on the beach, would roast me for whining with plenty still to play for on our end - but the signs are not good.

Doddsball seems to me to be curiously hoofy, when we haven’t got the players for that…and the one striker we do have that fits that, Vokes, only came on for 5 mins at the end.

I’ve said it already but the Charltons, Stockport, Boltons etc are coming into form right when we’re throwing it away - vital for any play-off hopeful to hit the lottery stages with a bit of confidence.

I don’t blame Dodds (yet) on recent poor showings, any new manager needs to be given time, these are not his players and he’s never been a full (non-interim) head coach before.

But I can’t help feeling we’re going to end up looking back on this season as a seriously wasted opportunity.

 

[Conker]

Do you think it's the managerial loss that's ultimately seen you dip in form, it really did come at a terrible time for Wycombe. Going for a inexperienced manager straight in to a automatic promotion battle is a big ask, but at the same time if you get someone experienced in they cant help but stamp their own style on it that can cause issues too.

 

[thewwfc]

We had started to tail off a little before Bloomfield left, but after our purple patch we still looked pretty good.

Before that, going from Ainsworth to Bloomfield mid season caused an immediate drop in form too, but it’s too simplistic to blame a drop in form on one factor alone.

Especially since we’re now run under a “Director of Football” model where the head coach is just supposed to implement someone else’s tactics - and you get the likes of Brighton who can just continue on after a manager has gone, because the manager only has a limited influence.

So a long-winded way of saying I don’t know what the loss of form/confidence is down to, but there clearly is one, and we need to find answers ASAP.