League 1 Promotion Thread

[Luke_ciderhead]

Why we lose every playoff were in

You seem to really raise your game for the big occasions under Clough and I think youll be a real threat this year in the playoffs.

 

[blademan89]

You seem to really raise your game for the big occasions under Clough and I think youll be a real threat this year in the playoffs.

We lose every big game we ever play 7 playoffs and 6 cup semi finals in the last 25 years lost every single one

 

[City169]

We lose every big game we ever play 7 playoffs and 6 cup semi finals in the last 25 years lost every single one

Thats more playoffs and cup semi finals than most/all other clubs in this division

 

[Bottega Don]

Interesting statistics posted on our forum...

We seem so out of place in that form table.

 

[blade1889]

cant see us challenging automatic but agree with the posters that say we will be dangerous in the play-offs. For once we seem to have a manager who can motivate us for big games...and our shocking PO form has to end sometime, doesn't it?

just to pick up on an earlier point a Swindon fan mentioned about them loosing but using them having their two best players out whilst we had Coutts and Brayford starting as a bit of an excuse. We made 10 changes, Coutts hasn't played for a while (or at least hasn't been starting) along with most of the XI we put out so please don't think you played our first team yesterday. McNulty, Murphy, Harris, Doyle, JCR, Baxter and Scougall were all missing from our starting line up. We had two lads making only their second starts since signing from Ilkeston FFS.

 

[hodge]

View looks pretty good now, top and with a game in hand. Even if MK do beat us we still have the chance to go back to the top.

 

[This Charming Mike]

cant see us challenging automatic but agree with the posters that say we will be dangerous in the play-offs. For once we seem to have a manager who can motivate us for big games...and our shocking PO form has to end sometime, doesn't it?

just to pick up on an earlier point a Swindon fan mentioned about them loosing but using them having their two best players out whilst we had Coutts and Brayford starting as a bit of an excuse. We made 10 changes, Coutts hasn't played for a while (or at least hasn't been starting) along with most of the XI we put out so please don't think you played our first team yesterday. McNulty, Murphy, Harris, Doyle, JCR, Baxter and Scougall were all missing from our starting line up. We had two lads making only their second starts since signing from Ilkeston FFS.

Re-read the post. I didn't use it as an excuse for defeat, I used it to put things into context. Given our squad and budget, that we are still competing at the top of the league and within a few points of the top two is incredible and defeat to a Sheffield United squad packed with quality and depth isn't going to shape our season.

Yes, you made 10 changes but look at the players you brought in. Brayford, Coutts, Davies, Wallace, Freeman and Higdon are all good players at this level and some even at the level above. Adams and Reed are talented youngsters destined to play in higher divisions. It's not like you played a load of kids from the academy.

 

[blade1889]

Fair enough, just how it came across when I read it. And yes I agree you have made some very good signings for minimal expenditure and are doing a lot better than expected (think I had you down as top 10-playoffs but not automatic) and we're somewhat underperforming, again.

agree about Coutts (to an extent although he is lacking match fitness) and Brayford. Davies is decent back-up, nothing more. You are thinking of James Wallace but we played Kieran who we signed from Ilkeston, Freeman-again decent backup but not played much and Higdon...I really don't know what to make of him. He should be good but he hasn't shown it yet.

 

[Agombar stool]

Given you can spend 1.5 million on a full back and I presume you have a generous budget you are under-performing in the league. Yes, you have and are having good cup runs and likely to push on in the league towards the end of the season, in fact if I were a betting man, I'd have a couple of quid on United getting promoted.

 

[blade1889]

Given you can spend 1.5 million on a full back and I presume you have a generous budget you are under-performing in the league. Yes, you have and are having good cup runs and likely to push on in the league towards the end of the season, in fact if I were a betting man, I'd have a couple of quid on United getting promoted.

its a generous budget we've only just started to see. If we'd had it in the summer I dare say we'd be looking a lot stronger, still need a good attacker mind. Don't think any Blade would disagree with you that we're underperforming...Although I did have a bet on TFF as someone didn't think we had a squad/manager capable of getting us into the top6, cant remember who against though. We're an outside bet for promotion id say now but we're giving ourselves a chance at least.

 

[Agombar stool]

its a generous budget we've only just started to see. If we'd had it in the summer I dare say we'd be looking a lot stronger, still need a good attacker mind. Don't think any Blade would disagree with you that we're underperforming...Although I did have a bet on TFF as someone didn't think we had a squad/manager capable of getting us into the top6, cant remember who against though. We're an outside bet for promotion id say now but we're giving ourselves a chance at least.

You are the biggest team in this league by some distance so for you not to get promoted would be a bit of a surprise.

That said, on my pre-season promotion bet I had orient to go up, so what the hell do I know!

 

[dh625y]

I wouldn't want to face Sheff. Utd. in the play-offs, regardless of your past record. By that time all your January signings will have bedded in, your players will be fresh, and you'll have momentum. Which we won't have if we're the one of the current top three who misses out.

 

[blade1889]

You are the biggest team in this league by some distance so for you not to get promoted would be a bit of a surprise.

!

becoming an all-to familiar sentiment. We've made a hash of getting promoted despite being either the biggest or 2nd biggest team in the league the last 4seasons. Ah well, we'll get it reight one day.

for the record I hope we don't get you in the play-offs...so I should probably wish you luck with getting promoted xD

 

[City169]

Just how much did the swindon squad change from last season? I keep seeing people saying they were expecting to be around the relegation zone and thinking that is complete and utter bollocks considering you finished 8th last season and only 8 points off the playoffs

 

[Agombar stool]

Just how much did the swindon squad change from last season? I keep seeing people saying they were expecting to be around the relegation zone and thinking that is complete and utter bollocks considering you finished 8th last season and only 8 points off the playoffs

To be honest looking at the team from the end of last season, it's not dramatically different. We lost mceveley and Archibald-henville and Alex Pritchard went on loan to Brentford. We got Stephens back from Southampton and turnbull also from the saints who is miles better than TAH. The loan market has worked well for us with tofollo becoming a very good left back.

I think the pre-season doom and gloom was because of the boardroom power struggle and the budget being reduced to 1.5 million. We sold Louis Thompson to Norwich for a million plus but got him back on loan, which I think has sorted us money wise for this season.

I'll be honest, this season has been a joy to watch, we play some great stuff at times and have scored goals. City and Mk Dons I'm sure have a bigger budget, but we're giving it a bloody good go which is all we can ask!

 

[This Charming Mike]

Just how much did the swindon squad change from last season? I keep seeing people saying they were expecting to be around the relegation zone and thinking that is complete and utter bollocks considering you finished 8th last season and only 8 points off the playoffs

We lost several experienced heads (McEveley, Archibald-Henville) and our best player last year (Pritchard) and replaced them with youngsters. I, along with nearly all Town fans, predicted a season of struggle because of the lack of experience within the squad and the 'you can't win anything with kids' footballing cliche. More than happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Heisenberg20]

Just how much did the swindon squad change from last season? I keep seeing people saying they were expecting to be around the relegation zone and thinking that is complete and utter bollocks considering you finished 8th last season and only 8 points off the playoffs

I agree, Swindon were always in my prediction to be top 6, they had a good team from last season and were play offs in 2013 so I couldnt ever see them struggling.
Just an excuse for them to say when they lose.

 

[City169]

To be honest looking at the team from the end of last season, it's not dramatically different. We lost mceveley and Archibald-henville and Alex Pritchard went on loan to Brentford. We got Stephens back from Southampton and turnbull also from the saints who is miles better than TAH. The loan market has worked well for us with tofollo becoming a very good left back.

I think the pre-season doom and gloom was because of the boardroom power struggle and the budget being reduced to 1.5 million. We sold Louis Thompson to Norwich for a million plus but got him back on loan, which I think has sorted us money wise for this season.

I'll be honest, this season has been a joy to watch, we play some great stuff at times and have scored goals. City and Mk Dons I'm sure have a bigger budget, but we're giving it a bloody good go which is all we can ask!

We lost several experienced heads (McEveley, Archibald-Henville) and our best player last year (Pritchard) and replaced them with youngsters. I, along with nearly all Town fans, predicted a season of struggle because of the lack of experience within the squad and the 'you can't win anything with kids' footballing cliche. More than happy to be proved wrong.

Fair enough comments although from my perspective the negativity was far too ott, just going by the squad and last seasons finish I would have had you down as competing for playoffs, but i didn't expect you to be challenging for the title. Then again I predicted city to finish 7th and while that's still not out the question it looks less and less likely by the week

 

[Agombar stool]

Fair enough comments although from my perspective the negativity was far too ott, just going by the squad and last seasons finish I would have had you down as competing for playoffs, but i didn't expect you to be challenging for the title. Then again I predicted city to finish 7th and while that's still not out the question it looks less and less likely by the week

I'm always glass totally empty when it comes to STFC!

 

[City169]

I'm always glass totally empty when it comes to STFC!

I try and be a realist, last year I was being called a happy clapper when I said I didn't think we would go down and this year ive been called a miserable bugger

 

[dh625y]

I agree, Swindon were always in my prediction to be top 6, they had a good team from last season and were play offs in 2013 so I couldnt ever see them struggling.
Just an excuse for them to say when they lose.

Apart from that typical Heisenberg dig at the end, that's a quite understandable point of view from the outside. But on the inside, we were very worried about the boardroom struggles over the summer. That, more than anything else pushed down expectations. There were a couple of people who thought we'd have a great season. Personally I thought we'd make the playoffs, but as a latecomer.

 

[Ciderhead]

Nah I've got to be honest Swindon are the best team in the west country

 

[plops]

I'm always glass totally empty when it comes to STFC!

We should be suicidal.....oh wait we have cleared relegation threat not much beyond midway point. Next Swindon fans thought is always the relegation points total plus 10 points for administration......getting closer to glass half......um.....yes half........
I think the second half depends on whether everyone's next manager due to his phenomenal success to date Karl Robinson achieves his.........really....first promotion.........hey oh you got to laugh its funny how he's always top of rumour list.

I am really looking forward to next couple of months to see what we can do with a full squad. Saturday is massive though now as really need to get that blip out of our system.

Still have brizzle as champions elect....got a feeling we are the orient of last season. Not the financial muscle of the others (no ffs don't try and give all the BS MK and brizzle about wages, transfers etc.) not angling......

 

[plops]

More importantly 12 euro for one drink ffs and they want a tip....never eat yellow snow I'd say

 

[redjed]

Matt Smith is going to be the biggest lose for City, IMHO, at the moment he is the lynch pin of all that is good about your side, is there talk of another striker coming in. With Smith going you could be struggling to keep up with the performances that you have been putting in, and therefore could be in need of all the points you can get between now and when he goes.

 

[Ciderup]

Matt Smith is going to be the biggest lose for City, IMHO, at the moment he is the lynch pin of all that is good about your side, is there talk of another striker coming in. With Smith going you could be struggling to keep up with the performances that you have been putting in, and therefore could be in need of all the points you can get between now and when he goes.

Wilbraham will be back before Smithy returns to Fulham which isn't a bad replacement. No news or rumours of any incomings but it wouldn't be a shock if we did sign someone tomorrow although we would still have loan option.
Don't forget, our supposed main strike force of Wilbs and Agard have been absent throughout Smithys loan period and they didn't do too badly.

 

[BCFC Jordan]

Matt Smith is going to be the biggest lose for City, IMHO, at the moment he is the lynch pin of all that is good about your side, is there talk of another striker coming in. With Smith going you could be struggling to keep up with the performances that you have been putting in, and therefore could be in need of all the points you can get between now and when he goes.

I agree, he will be a loss when that time comes, but we were top of the league without Smith. He only came into the team because of Wilbraham and Agard's injuries. Then him and JET came in and there own partnership thrived. It will be a loss, but not the end of the world. We will just have to enjoy his presence whilst he's here, there's not much else we can do.

 

[City169]

I think Cotts made a comment with regard to another loan coming in if needed but spoke about timing, sounds to me like wilbrahim will be back in time, but if it looks like he won't be then another loan will be brought in

 

[redjed]

I think while you have had Matt you have looked a better side than when you had Agard and Wilbrahim, you seemed to seem a more confident side as if the team knows that all is well "Matt's up front" and wont let us down, funny what 1 player can do to a team, no disrespect but ive a feeling you might just struggle a touch when he goes.

 

[hodge]

Don't think we will, like others have said, we were top before Smith arrived so no reason we couldn't continue