Promotion thread

[valefan16]

Notts County may benefit by style of play whereas Luton moaned about our heavy pitch (believe their manager is still mentioning it in interviews this week). It’s not the worst pitch they’ll play on but this time of year these happen and if VP was a problem they may struggle a bit, all be it the cushion to go up should still be comfortable.

Notts were poor at our place but looked very much a solid, ugly side that will win at any cost be it dig deep or even delve into the darker side of the game at theirs on Monday... as I said on the match day thread think Stevenage of a few seasons back under Westley and I think that will see them through.

Rest of it is very open, Coventry seem crap and their fans moan about being crap yet are 3rd so doing something right. The league is poor though and everyone else bar the bottom three or four is much a muchness.

The smallest tweaks have turned us into a team that would be capable of easily making the play offs if not higher had we started the season in October after being as dire as we’ve been in our 142 year history so it doesn’t take much to turn it around such is the lack of quality there.

Wycombe best side we’ve played probably... all be it even then they nearly blew a 3-0 lead with two minutes left against us so would fancy them purely on what I’ve seen but hard to judge on one game of course!

Think Lincoln will struggle to maintain as they’ve lost a couple of big players haven’t they so will be down to how they adapt to that, I dare say others may attract suitors in January too.

Much as I hate to say it I think Evans will turn the screw with Mansfield and maybe nick third, he has a knack at this level of doing it with Creepy and Rovrum being prime examples.

Colchester need to keep Szmodics to have a challenge you’d expect which might be a challenge, someone like Ipswich will probably take a punt on him.

If we keep Whitfield and can sustain our form of the last three months we might be an outside bet for the play offs but we would need to bit of luck with injuries. We’ve played the top three twice and have a few very winnable games so need to pick up a good January to have any hope although despite Exeter and Blackpool’s efforts last year in similar circumstances I’d take stability and a build ahead of an assault on league two under the old legends next season.

 

[shoddycollins]

For Notts the window is crucial.
We need a striker or two and equally as important , to hold onto Yates and Grant.
Our squad is pretty thin, against Swindon five of the seven on the bench wouldn't have strengthened any team in the division. We've played out of our collective skins most games this season scoring lots of late goals, but have had at least our share of the breaks on the way.
At some point , without a little depth and class being added we are going to hit the buffers.

As to the league in general, all the teams you'd expect to be up there are now.
Lincoln and Mansfield look like stayers, Luton to be comfortably going up. Coventry, Wycombe and Exeter pretty steady.
Colchester looked good at our place and wouldn't be at all surprised to see them climb and nudge out Wycombe or Exeter.
It's a shame for Accy, good team and manager but lack of resources over a long season just wears the smallest clubs down.

Sounds worryingly reminiscient of us then, at this stage last season. Seeming from the outside like one of a breakaway group all of whom will romp to automatic promotion, but internally fans feeling we've been outperforming our squad's natural level, and with not much strength in depth, a couple of injuries and a high-profile departure in January, the transition from good to poor was pretty drastic.

I like Notts though, you seem to have been through most of the same stuff, and indeed same personnel, that we have, so hope you manage to hold on and go up.

 

[jacobncfc]

Sounds worryingly reminiscient of us then, at this stage last season. Seeming from the outside like one of a breakaway group all of whom will romp to automatic promotion, but internally fans feeling we've been outperforming our squad's natural level, and with not much strength in depth, a couple of injuries and a high-profile departure in January, the transition from good to poor was pretty drastic.

I like Notts though, you seem to have been through most of the same stuff, and indeed same personnel, that we have, so hope you manage to hold on and go up.

Having had both of them, there couldn’t be more of a difference between the two men in the dugouts. Hopefully that can see us through.

 

[Luke Imp]

Think Lincoln will struggle to maintain as they’ve lost a couple of big players haven’t they so will be down to how they adapt to that, I dare say others may attract suitors in January too.

Just Raggett.

January's a big month for us in the transfer market but I think with our dealings not quite being right in August, it's given us a lot to do at a time that, IMO, isn't exactly a great time to be bringing lots of players in. Had we got to the end of August with another 2 or 3 bodies in, which meant January was just about replacing Raggett and a couple of changes, then I'd be more confident but there's a genuine case for us to be seeing 6, 7 or 8 coming in.

We knew January was going to be tricky back in September and as it's crept up on us, it's looked likely to be even more tricky. Raggett's loan was up, as was Dickie's, JMD had a break clause in his loan deal and likewise Ginnelly if that's used at some point. Then there's Cameron Stewart whose short term deal runs until some time in the month.

 

[AdamStag]

I pretty much wrote Notts Co off after their "lucky start" and said come the New Year if they were still there, i'd re investigate. Well, they are there and they deserve their plaudits for doing so - maybe more should have looked at them after their impressive ending of last season.

Lincoln have impressed recently, and I expected Luton to finish top 3.

Regarding us, I think we've a very realistic chance if we start converting the chances we create, we draw too many. Only Notts and Luton have lost less (4) than our 5, just the difference is we've drawn too many, our record against the top 7 is decent also, Luton got away with a very, very lucky draw, we beat Notts at home, Coventry, Wycombe and Lincoln away and again battered Exeter but didn't take our chances. If we can master the art of converting more chances, we won't be far off.

 

[GTFCfish]

I still fancy us to win the league this season, were only 20 points off Luton having also played a game more and our goal difference compared to Luton is -47, the striker we're bringing in tomorrow or Tuesday (rumour it's a lad called Vernam who's scored 1 goal in his whole career) will fire us to glory, I mean what could possibly stop us.......?

 

[oakroader]

I still fancy us to win the league this season, were only 20 points off Luton having also played a game more and our goal difference compared to Luton is -47, the striker we're bringing in tomorrow or Tuesday (rumour it's a lad called Vernam who's scored 1 goal in his whole career) will fire us to glory, I mean what could possibly stop us.......?

3...2...1....awake....

 

[AdamStag]

I still fancy us to win the league this season, were only 20 points off Luton having also played a game more and our goal difference compared to Luton is -47, the striker we're bringing in tomorrow or Tuesday (rumour it's a lad called Vernam who's scored 1 goal in his whole career) will fire us to glory, I mean what could possibly stop us.......?

Hey, Newcastle are still celebrating after beating a much rather club 3-1 on Saturday

 

[Trapdoor]

Our season is over already.

 

[thewwfc]

Our defence is pretty much decimated by injury at the moment (playing our 4th choice right back? Yum) - and add to that we’ve lost a loan midfielder (Eze from QPR) who did well for us, so the transfer window will be crucial for us.

We’ve got a tendency towards second half of the season slumps too, so I’d rate our chance of promotion at about 5-10% as it stands - not impossible but unlikely. Don’t think we’ve got any chance of an auto slot but we all know what a bunch of chokers we have down here.

 

[Youpies]

Why does a team in league two have a third, never mind a fourth choice right back?

 

[mowgli]

Why does a team in league two have a third, never mind a fourth choice right back?

Bean is a midfielder but plays there when we have a lot of defenders out injured like now as we're missing 4,it's not ideal by any means as he's shit in defence but needs must unless we bring a defender or two in before tomorrow.

 

[jacobncfc]

Huge few weeks for us now - we’ve got three successive home games and after Exeter next Saturday the only top half team we play in eight games is Newport. We’ve got a really tough run in though, so need to maintain and ideally extend the gap to fourth before we host Mansfield on 17th March.

 

[Kenneth E End]

All Luton and Notts need to do is average close to 2 points a game. And that's it. No one below us seems to be able to put any sort of run together.

 

[jacobncfc]

Even 1.5 points a game would get us both to 80 points which would probably be enough.

After seeing them yesterday I would probably back Lincoln to get the other automatic spot, not many teams will be able to deal with their physicality and they’re organised enough to keep picking up points.

 

[Luke Imp]

Adding Frecklingon and Rowe have certainly given us a half decent chance of automatics now, although slightly offset by losing Raggett. It's also important we keep Woodyard.

Our record against those in and round us will let us down. 1 point against Luton, Notts and Wycombe, beat Accrington but lost against Mansfield, Exeter, Coventry. We're where we are because we've basically beaten everyone in the bottom half.

We haven't got too bad a February, but March looks a make or break month - Exeter, Coventry, Mansfield and two other local games against Grimsby and Chesterfield.

 

[Davidimp]

Even 1.5 points a game would get us both to 80 points which would probably be enough.

After seeing them yesterday I would probably back Lincoln to get the other automatic spot, not many teams will be able to deal with their physicality and they’re organised enough to keep picking up points.

80 might not be enough I've thought 85 will do the job nicely.
Luton are a cut above the rest, everyone is much of muchness its who can put a run together.
You need some younger more mobile players you only just held out yesterday.

 

[Optipez]

We've only just held out all season and definitely need a fresh striker and a centre half as cover.. Not at all sure that Noble is good enough either, he looked terrible yesterday.
I would think 86 points is a minimum ask for automatics which means maintaining form for the rest of the season. If I were a chasing team I certainly wouldn't think it's done and dusted, even for Luton.

 

[jacobncfc]

86 points would’ve been enough for promotion every season bar one in the last 15 - that third automatic place makes a massive difference. I’d be surprised if 80 wasn’t enough this season, personally, would require two of the chasing pack to go on a very impressive run for it to be more than that.

 

[Youpies]

I agree on 80 being enough. It's a very open division where any of the top ten can beat each other on their day.

Luton are pretty much there. Notts just need to not lose it completely which we shouldn't. I think our home form and ability to grind it out away should be enough. We do need a striker and a CB to keep things fresh and give us impetus.

Exeter Saturday is a big game. Win that and it sets us up nicely. Lose and suddenly doubt can creep in. We are doing ok form wise. Certainly keeping up with the chasing pack

 

[Vanni]

Going on what I've seen obviously, I'd say Luton and Notts plus either Coventry or Mansfield, and right now I'd go with the Staggies. Lincoln to make the play offs, actually I think they'll miss out on the autos by a whisker. If it turns out so, then I wouldn't bet against them in the semis/final as I reckon Cowley thrives on the high stake games.

 

[GTFCfish]

Despite picking up 1 point from 6 games Slade was still talking about play offs in his interview so I guess we're still well in the mix eh...........?

Oh he also said he thought we were the better side yesterday despite us having to clear FOUR Newport shots off the line, the clueless fucking imbecile.

 

[Conker]

We have a good record against the teams around the top, it’s the lower end clubs we tend to struggle with which is infuriating.

We have drew more than anyone in the league by a couple, not being able to finish games off and ending up with just a point has been our main downfall.

 

[AdamStag]

All Luton and Notts need to do is average close to 2 points a game. And that's it. No one below us seems to be able to put any sort of run together.

We've put a run together, we've only lost 1 in 20! - the problem being is we draw too many.

Our next 3 are cheltenham (h) morecambe (a) (if not in the cup) and Barnet (h). Hoping for 6 or more from those 3 - as Conker mentions though, it's the lower sides we struggle against - we lost to Cheltenham away, drew away at Barnet and were mighty lucky to beat Morecambe at home.

 

[Agombar stool]

3rd to 11th are seperated by only 5 points.

We play our game in hand away to Accrington on the 6th Feb which is a huge game. Currently we are going under the radar a little bit, I'd like to think we would be at least good enough for a play-off place.

 

[darren gregory]

We have a good record against the teams around the top, it’s the lower end clubs we tend to struggle with which is infuriating.

We have drew more than anyone in the league by a couple, not being able to finish games off and ending up with just a point has been our main downfall.

Yeah, you really struggled to beat us

 

[AdamStag]

Yeah, you really struggled to beat us

That scoreline was ridiculous though, had you taken the lead in the first half it would have been much different.

 

[rudebwoyben]

86 points would’ve been enough for promotion every season bar one in the last 15 - that third automatic place makes a massive difference. I’d be surprised if 80 wasn’t enough this season, personally, would require two of the chasing pack to go on a very impressive run for it to be more than that.

So we're still in with a chance? Cool...

 

[darren gregory]

That scoreline was ridiculous though, had you taken the lead in the first half it would have been much different.

i agree, it would of been 1-4

 

[Chris FGR]

Despite picking up 1 point from 6 games Slade was still talking about play offs in his interview so I guess we're still well in the mix eh...........?

Oh he also said he thought we were the better side yesterday despite us having to clear FOUR Newport shots off the line, the clueless fucking imbecile.

If you're still in it, so are we I reckon. Only 11 points behind you, just 21 off the play-offs. It's definitely still on.