Promotion Thread

[EricSabin]

Well, the relegation thread has started so why not. I’m also pretty sure starting this thread means we get turned over by Grimsby tomorrow now.

Anyway, who’s your tip out of the runners and riders?

 

[valefan16]

The promotion picture is quite intriguing, for example Vale in 8th could be level with FGR in 2nd tomorrow. 7 points between the top 11 leave it very open.

You'd look at January as to staying power I guess, Bradford, Plymouth would likely spend maybe even FGR.

Crewe may get pillaged with Artell advertising his players again... keeping their key players will be crucial.

Cheltenham seem a team greater than the sum of its parts so may not have the same January worries Crewe fans will have and that might help them.

Swindon look certain to lose Doyle which will be a blow but seem to have options.

As for the Valiants we are currently in form, similar to Cheltenham we are less about stand out individuals although clubs are allegedly sniffing around James Gibbons... in fact Vale have got to this position without their best player in Oyeleke who is due back in January. We seem to have strength in depth that we've lacked in recent years and have coped well with a huge injury crisis in September but the last three years we've had awful form between Jan-March.
One plus side for the Vale is we havent relied on a certain player for goals (huge change from recent seasons with Pope) and our top scorers only have 5 a piece but most have chipped in so maybe wont be hit like Swindon losing Doyle or Bradford with Vaughan for example.

Similar to Vale Cobblers have been on an upward curve.

Its so open its impossible to call but this could be the most open promotion picture in a long time, no Lincoln or Luton this time.

 

[kieran_vale]

If were making a call on it today would say FGR, Bradford and Northampton for automatic promotion and then Swindon or Crewe via the playoffs.

Would keep an eye on Salford though as much as it sticks in the throat to say it, they are very much within touching distance of certainly the playoff spots. With their resources if they needed to make a push am sure they would spend big in January.

 

[Indian Dan]

Salford were pants last Saturday.

Top 3 - in no particular order - Bradford, Plymouth, Swindon

POs - Vale or Cobblers

 

[GTFCfish]

I’m gonna stick my neck on the line here and say we’re probably not gonna make the autos.

 

[LS Bantam]

The promotion picture is quite intriguing, for example Vale in 8th could be level with FGR in 2nd tomorrow. 7 points between the top 11 leave it very open.

You'd look at January as to staying power I guess, Bradford, Plymouth would likely spend maybe even FGR.

Crewe may get pillaged with Artell advertising his players again... keeping their key players will be crucial.

Cheltenham seem a team greater than the sum of its parts so may not have the same January worries Crewe fans will have and that might help them.

Swindon look certain to lose Doyle which will be a blow but seem to have options.

As for the Valiants we are currently in form, similar to Cheltenham we are less about stand out individuals although clubs are allegedly sniffing around James Gibbons... in fact Vale have got to this position without their best player in Oyeleke who is due back in January. We seem to have strength in depth that we've lacked in recent years and have coped well with a huge injury crisis in September but the last three years we've had awful form between Jan-March.
One plus side for the Vale is we havent relied on a certain player for goals (huge change from recent seasons with Pope) and our top scorers only have 5 a piece but most have chipped in so maybe wont be hit like Swindon losing Doyle or Bradford with Vaughan for example.

Similar to Vale Cobblers have been on an upward curve.

Its so open its impossible to call but this could be the most open promotion picture in a long time, no Lincoln or Luton this time.

Vaughan’s our top scorer with 5, the next has just 3 and financially Doyle coming back is far from a given (since we won’t get any FA Cup money now I’d say he’s more likely to stay at Swindon).

 

[Indian Dan]

Vaughan’s our top scorer with 5, the next has just 3 and financially Doyle coming back is far from a given (since we won’t get any FA Cup money now I’d say he’s more likely to stay at Swindon).

But you’re not exactly short of goals. Probably better off than us where 2 players have scored 24 of our goals.

 

[Kauto Star]

But you’re not exactly short of goals. Probably better off than us where 2 players have scored 24 of our goals.

He was responded to a post from a Vale fan who said they are not reliant on one player scoring their goals like Swindon and us. We were hoping for much more from Vaughan, so 5 goals is a poor return so far and has the same as Vale's top scorer

 

[The_Boss]

Well we're a point closer to the play offs than we are bottom of the league so I guess we should really be in here, not the relegation thread.

 

[Si Robin]

I refuse to believe we're contenders yet - I'll revisit this in February if we're still in the playoff positions.

 

[GTFCfish]

If Swindon can turn us over next week then I’ll have them down as a good bet for promotion as in the 4 games against them since they were relegated they have had proper rotten luck against us.
3 wins and a draw for us in those but the only one we deserved was the 3-2 when Dembele was on fire, the other 2 wins and a draw Swindon should have won all 3.

 

[denzel ecfc]

No ones mentioned us yet!!

Ok, fair enough

 

[HutchECFC]

If we can get Ajose firing when fit, we'll be up there... But it's a big IF.

 

[GTFCfish]

No ones mentioned us yet!!

Ok, fair enough

Or us, I just don’t understand it.

 

[Crewelad87]

Pretty good day for the teams at the top apart from Bradford who lost to a decent Plymouth side.

Forest Green Vs Crewe on Tuesday night, winner goes top, should be a good watch.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Things starting to click now. 1 defeat in 8. We’ve taken 10 points from Crewe, Bradford, Forest Green and Swindon which is very good going.

I do think we’ll go up, and hopefully we should strengthen further in January. The midfield pairing of Danny Mayor and Antoni Sarcevic is top class. Even George Cooper can’t get in the first 11 at the moment.

 

[LS Bantam]

We should hang in there until the new year, after that we’ll see the return of about half a dozen first teamers that we’ve been without for so long, the likes of Devitt, Donaldson, McCartan, Jake Reeves, Matty Palmer, dare I say Doyle (probably not). Either way we should be ten times stronger in a few weeks just in time for when things get serious.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Things starting to click now. 1 defeat in 8. We’ve taken 10 points from Crewe, Bradford, Forest Green and Swindon which is very good going.

I do think we’ll go up, and hopefully we should strengthen further in January. The midfield pairing of Danny Mayor and Antoni Sarcevic is top class. Even George Cooper can’t get in the first 11 at the moment.

I know it is only two games, but I felt we were much more balanced as a side when Cooper was in and Mayor was suspended/on the bench. Sarce is absolutely flying, and it is because he is doing what Mayor needs to do more of: run straight at goal and frighten the life out of the defence.

 

[GEORGE]

If we stay up I'm hoping for Swindon,Argyle,Exeter & either Forest Green or Cheltenham.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

If we stay up I'm hoping for Swindon,Argyle,Exeter & either Forest Green or Cheltenham.

Brovers will be fine surely?

 

[Indian Dan]

If we stay up I'm hoping for Swindon,Argyle,Exeter & either Forest Green or Cheltenham.

Could be a good season next year. Chuck Reading in there, too.

It’s mind numbing down here.

 

[Sydney Posse]

I reckon Bradford will go up automatically and fancy Swindon if they don't lose Doyle. We are definitely in with a shout if we avoid injuries and start taking our chances. Plymouth seem to have turned things around after the hammering they got at our place. Crewe and FGR I'm not so sure about, I think Crewe may drop a bit if they get asset stripped in January, and I think the FGR team may be another year away. Newport and Northampton ?? who knows.....bloody open this year, and there's probably a couple more like Cheltenham or even Vale at a push........

 

[The Jovial Forester]

I reckon Bradford will go up automatically and fancy Swindon if they don't lose Doyle. We are definitely in with a shout if we avoid injuries and start taking our chances. Plymouth seem to have turned things around after the hammering they got at our place. Crewe and FGR I'm not so sure about, I think Crewe may drop a bit if they get asset stripped in January, and I think the FGR team may be another year away. Newport and Northampton ?? who knows.....bloody open this year, and there's probably a couple more like Cheltenham or even Vale at a push........

I feel we're just a little bit short too, but mainly consistency and that does seem to be growing. Team were largely strangers at the start of season and seem to be growing. Plymouth definitely look like they're on an upward trajectory after a shaky start.

 

[Agombar stool]

As I am sure it will be the same with many clubs, January is going to be an important one for us. With the additions of Zakuani, Caddis and Donohue we now have a very decent squad of players that has held up with the injuries we've suffered.

The first 35 minutes on Saturday was the best I have seen us play in years and Mansfield couldn't live with us. If we can keep Doyle, Yates and Grant for the season I see no reason why we can't take one of the automatic slots. Crewe are the best side I have seen so far and I would expect Plymouth, who were good in the second half at the Country Ground to be up there as well. Of the sides I haven't seen, my pre-season pick Northampton and Bradford are going to be there or thereabouts.

 

[Indian Dan]

Teams don’t want to be losing more than, say, 10 or 11 games all season. Drawing more than is usual also is a no no.

85 points should get you 3rd at least. Lincoln only lost 5 - including a poor end to the season.

No one team looks anywhere near invincible, so it’s down to either steering clear of injuries/suspensions or having good back up players.

 

[EricSabin]

Sounds like we should be ahead at half time in Exeter. Would take a point but feel all three are there for the taking.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Come off it, Northampton play awful football. Hoof it up and hope for a mistake. It did work for the first goal. They started playing when 3-1 down. If they go up I give up.

 

[EricSabin]

I’ve changed my mind, we were lucky to be allowed on to the same pitch as Exeter this afternoon.

 

[F!RTHY]

Still undecided whether we’re actually any good or whether this league is just incredibly poor - possibly a bit of both.

We rarely receive any praise from our own fans and those of the opposition, not that it matters much if we’re still picking up points.

I still feel we haven’t even got going yet. The season has been a bit stop start for us, what with postponements and cup fixtures - I know it’s not just us; not to mention the amount of injuries we’ve incurred this season, so much so that we haven’t been able to field our strongest possible XI, IMO.

We’re still without Jackson Longridge, Jordan Gibson, Clayton Donaldson, Shay McCartan, Matty Palmer and Jamie Devitt.

Palmer returned to the bench at the weekend, but he’s obviously not 100%. Reeves has come back and has won MOTM every game he has played. Matty Palmer and Jake Reeves in midfield is a very exciting prospect.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to next year, once the window has closed and we have strengthened accordingly.....and Eoin Doyle back in City colours.

Strongest XI if fit:

GK: Richard O’Donnell

RB: Adam Henley
CB: Paudie/Anthony O’connor
CB: Ben Richards-Everton
LB: Connor Wood

RW: Harry Pritchard
CM: Jake Reeves
CM: Matty Palmer
LW: Jamie Devitt

ST: James Vaughan
ST: Eoin Doyle

I’ll take 3rd place now!

 

[Vanni]

I’ve changed my mind, we were lucky to be allowed on to the same pitch as Exeter this afternoon.

Nah, you don't write off anybody after one poor showing. Or the other way round. If I did that then I can name you a good 6 sides at the very least that will be playing NL footy next year when the truth is only one relegation spot is up for grabs. And that only two sides will be going up when 4 are going to.

I stand by what I said in the summer. The Cobblers will reach the play offs, and can possibly challenge the top 3 as well, esp. if Curle adds wisely to the squad in January.