2025 relegation dogfight thread

[BRFC_Gas]

Yeah Wigan have pissed all over us twice, surprised they are so low.
Cambridge probably done for now
Peterborough were probably the worst ive seen this season.
Burton looked decent in spells as did Crawley
We have been shit for 2 seasons yet havent really been troubling the spots below the dotted line

 

[AdamStag]

I’d have suggested burton are best bets for me given recent form and with home games against mansfield and shrewsbury in the next month.

Cambridge 2nd last game could be massive

 

[Conker]

I haven’t considered Mansfield part of it to be honest, but at the same time probably only a few more defeats and my mind will be swayed.

Saturday is still such a shame for me, we were like the top 10 Mansfield in the first half of the season, battered Blackpool, Brucey himself said the first half in particular was the best they’ve come across this season.

The fact we got that sort of praise but didn’t get three points worries me more than the awful defeats beforehand in some ways.

next two are Lincoln and Wrexham at home, if say we get less than two points I will probably start being concerned to be honest. The aim this season for me personally should be avoid a relegation battle, we’ve exceeded that for the entirety of the season so far so I’m hoping we can keep it that way.

 

[thewwfc]

Looking at form over the last 10, Mansfield's run has obviously been concerning.

Looks like Burton and Shrews still have a chance, Posh is well in front in terms of the contenders most likely to get right into the shit.

Exeter a bit of a question mark, given that their only recent win was v Cambridge.

Crawley are doing OK but those draws are not good enough to keep them up.

Not that it will be any consolation to any of the teams, but I think the relegation contenders this time are the least bad crop I've seen for a while, Shrewsbury were pretty terrible when we played them but Ainsworth had barely got his feet under the table when we played them and they're a lot more resilient now.

Otherwise I haven't seen a genuinely terrible shambles of a side this season where they're as fragile as hell, can't string two passes together, and heads drop and the fanbase starts whining the minute things go against them.

 

[Gassy]

Out of interest, where do you draw the line? Blackpool? Three points ahead in 11th but played a game more.

Personally I’d say anyone from Exeter down

Mansfield surely only need 7/8 points from 16 games. If they can’t get that then they frankly deserve it

 

[Stocky]

Otherwise I haven't seen a genuinely terrible shambles of a side this season where they're as fragile as hell, can't string two passes together, and heads drop and the fanbase starts whining the minute things go against them.

Apart from us when you came to E.P in November.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Looking at form over the last 10, Mansfield's run has obviously been concerning.

Looks like Burton and Shrews still have a chance, Posh is well in front in terms of the contenders most likely to get right into the shit.

Exeter a bit of a question mark, given that their only recent win was v Cambridge.

Crawley are doing OK but those draws are not good enough to keep them up.

Not that it will be any consolation to any of the teams, but I think the relegation contenders this time are the least bad crop I've seen for a while, Shrewsbury were pretty terrible when we played them but Ainsworth had barely got his feet under the table when we played them and they're a lot more resilient now.

Otherwise I haven't seen a genuinely terrible shambles of a side this season where they're as fragile as hell, can't string two passes together, and heads drop and the fanbase starts whining the minute things go against them.



View attachment 21632

That was pretty much us under Matt Taylor, although the performance against Wycombe was not as bad as most!

 

[AdamStag]

I wouldn’t want to test it out but i can’t see 50 being required.

As said elsewhere, league 2 has a live table, like prediction promotion/playoffs etc, shame there isn’t one here.

 

[thewwfc]

Apart from us when you came to E.P in November.

well OK, you weren't great that day but there's a big difference between a decent side having a bad day at the office, and one that looks like a shitshow week in, week out.

I didn't see our game v Posh, but it sounds like maybe they could be that side this season, certainly I've read a bunch of reports where Ferguson chews them a new one post-game.

 

[Stocky]

well OK, you weren't great that day but there's a big difference between a decent side having a bad day at the office, and one that looks like a shitshow week in, week out.

I didn't see our game v Posh, but it sounds like maybe they could be that side this season, certainly I've read a bunch of reports where Ferguson chews them a new one post-game.

We got a real humbling that night, fair play to Wycombe.

Might have done us some good though.

 

[dannylad01]

I’d have suggested burton are best bets for me given recent form and with home games against mansfield and shrewsbury in the next month.

Cambridge 2nd last game could be massive

Burton come to us on 15 March, we lost there 2-0 when we were without a manager

 

[BRFC_Gas]

well OK, you weren't great that day but there's a big difference between a decent side having a bad day at the office, and one that looks like a shitshow week in, week out.

I didn't see our game v Posh, but it sounds like maybe they could be that side this season, certainly I've read a bunch of reports where Ferguson chews them a new one post-game.

He did that after we beat them, blamed the players saying they will cost people at the club their jobs. He blames everyone but himself

 

[AdamStag]

I wouldn’t want to test it out but i can’t see 50 being required.

As said elsewhere, league 2 has a live table, like prediction promotion/playoffs etc, shame there isn’t one here.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Burton come to us on 15 March, we lost there 2-0 when we were without a manager

That is a huge game. I can’t see us winning that but a draw I suppose would be something.
Trouble is. Draws are no good when the pack above pick up wins and draws. Peterborough still look the most vulnerable but I’m expecting them to pull away, because it’s Peterborough right ?
It’s going to be hard to escape this. We left it too long. Had we got bowyer in earlier we might be closer but we will never know. The damage was done.
Shrewsbury look the most probable to catch those above.

 

[Gassy]

Thought I’d do the old fishy predictor (win/draw/loss only). Turns out I really don’t rate Exeter or Peterborough! Bloody Shrewsbury!

 

[Conker]

I wouldn’t want to test it out but i can’t see 50 being required.

As said elsewhere, league 2 has a live table, like prediction promotion/playoffs etc, shame there isn’t one here.

Hopefully Deji is back sooner rather than later, losing our best two players is very much classic Mansfield, Gregory is going under the knife so he’s done for the reason but I’m hopeful for Deji to back sometime in March, our player of the season imo.

 

[dannylad01]

Thought I’d do the old fishy predictor (win/draw/loss only). Turns out I really don’t rate Exeter or Peterborough! Bloody Shrewsbury!

What is there to worry about for us if we'll got to 54 points!

Our podcast has a spreadsheet going, splitting the games between must win, free hits and 12 points needed from 9 games, with the aim of getting to 50 points. Been going a few weeks now and we're just ahead of that target. Tonight is deemed a "free hit" so anything is in theory a bonus.

 

[Gassy]

What is there to worry about for us if we'll got to 54 points!

Our podcast has a spreadsheet going, splitting the games between must win, free hits and 12 points needed from 9 games, with the aim of getting to 50 points. Been going a few weeks now and we're just ahead of that target. Tonight is deemed a "free hit" so anything is in theory a bonus.

Zero mate, put your feet up and let all this blow over

From what I can see though looking at your fixtures again, most of your home games are very winnable and even a lot of 6 pointers away

 

[dannylad01]

Zero mate, put your feet up and let all this blow over

From what I can see though looking at your fixtures again, most of your home games are very winnable and even a lot of 6 pointers away

I think that's why Ainsworth is so bullish about our position. He keeps saying to stay in touch now and focus on the (in theory) more friendly run of games coming up after the end of the month. In reality probably more pressure on those games.

 

[Conker]

Next two is Wrexham at home and Burton away, anything less than 3 points ans we are in it in my opinion.

Got about 7 defenders out too so it seems unlikely.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Next two is Wrexham at home and Burton away, anything less than 3 points ans we are in it in my opinion.

Got about 7 defenders out too so it seems unlikely.

I’d still be surprised to see you dragged in.
Even if we beat you. The buffer you have might be enough. You probably need 3 wins.

 

[Conker]

I’d still be surprised to see you dragged in.
Even if we beat you. The buffer you have might be enough. You probably need 3 wins.

We haven’t won in about ten games, even when we comprehensively outplay a side like Blackpool we manage to mess it up.

If we don’t get a win soon it’ll never come, the biggest problem about tonight isn’t even the abysmal result it’s the fact we played a back three with two full backs in it due to injuries then we proceeded to lose all three of them to injury.

Lee Gregory being done for the season is a massive blow too, but Evans on 12 goals and Vickers looks decent so should be OK if those two stay for upfront.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Nah, you'll be reet.

Stop panicking. Even if it doesn't feel good right now.

 

[Conker]

Nah, you'll be reet.

Stop panicking. Even if it doesn't feel good right now.

I’m not panicking that the whole point, but if we don’t win a game of football soon we will be in it.

 

[E10rifle]

I’m not panicking that the whole point, but if we don’t win a game of football soon we will be in it.

Feel free to start on Sunday x

 

[Laker]

Mansfield will be fine. When teams below are averaging less than a point a game and you’re already nine clear than you don’t have too much to worry about. Of course if Mansfield fail to win any of their next 10 games then that changes but I think even the most negative fan would be surprised at that.

I think Northampton are in it but not Rovers. The sweetest thing for us would be hitting outrageous form and overhauling both Boro and Northampton but it’s just not going to happen. Best we can hope for is beating Posh in a few weeks time and taking them down with us.

 

[Conker]

What a shitshow from Peterborough this season, I don’t look at the table much (even when we are on good form) I had no idea they were just above the relegation spots.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Looking at form over the last 10, Mansfield's run has obviously been concerning.

Looks like Burton and Shrews still have a chance, Posh is well in front in terms of the contenders most likely to get right into the shit.

Exeter a bit of a question mark, given that their only recent win was v Cambridge.

Crawley are doing OK but those draws are not good enough to keep them up.

Not that it will be any consolation to any of the teams, but I think the relegation contenders this time are the least bad crop I've seen for a while, Shrewsbury were pretty terrible when we played them but Ainsworth had barely got his feet under the table when we played them and they're a lot more resilient now.

Otherwise I haven't seen a genuinely terrible shambles of a side this season where they're as fragile as hell, can't string two passes together, and heads drop and the fanbase starts whining the minute things go against them.



View attachment 21632

Yes our only win was against Cambridge but that was our last game and we are much improved now the transfer window has ended and we have got some defenders in. We must now have one of the biggest squads in the league.
I'm usually a miserabilist but I'm confident we will be OK