Promotion thread

[EricSabin]

Too early?

Forest Green going very well, some big games coming up over Christmas

 

[denzel ecfc]

Too early?

Forest Green going very well, some big games coming up over Christmas

We are playing the teams 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 10th in our next 6 matches.

Squeaky bum time

 

[kieran_vale]

Just hope we can remain in touching distance for when we get Wilson and Proctor back. The latter is having to have another operation now unfortunately. If we can do that then I think we can get top 3.

Of other clubs FGR look the best by far and would be the only ones I’d confidently put money on. As for a club who have flown under the radar but think will challenge as the season goes on will throw Newport out there. Their new manager is doing a great job.

 

[valefan16]

Having no Wilson or Proctor for weeks now it’s a huge blow. Need to shithouse through it and hope we can stay in touch until they are back.

 

[EricSabin]

We are playing the teams 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 10th in our next 6 matches.

Squeaky bum time

Bit early to say that’s make or break?

Our run over Christmas:

Exeter (a) - 3rd
Harrogate (a) - 7th
Barrow (h) - 20th
Walsall (h) - 14th
Scunthorpe (a) - 24th
Swindon (a) - 4th

We could also be very nicely positioned in the autos or clinging on to the playoffs. Exeter and Harrogate are two massive away trips before 3 very winnable fixtures.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Bit early to say that’s make or break?

Our run over Christmas:

Exeter (a) - 3rd
Harrogate (a) - 7th
Barrow (h) - 20th
Walsall (h) - 14th
Scunthorpe (a) - 24th
Swindon (a) - 4th

We could also be very nicely positioned in the autos or clinging on to the playoffs. Exeter and Harrogate are two massive away trips before 3 very winnable fixtures.

I don't know, win them all and we are title favourites. Lose them all and we'll be moving to the relegation thread....

 

[FGR Stroud]

SkyBet current promotion odds: -

A few years ago FGR were in similar or even position [Conference} but failed to secure promotion that year.
Best to wait till last game of season with 4 points more than the best of the rest. Then one can celebrate.

 

[electrode113]

Too early?

Forest Green going very well, some big games coming up over Christmas

Too early. Bolton were still languishing in the lower half of the table around this time last season.

 

[Sydney Posse]

FGR have set the pace and are looking strong. I suspect Swindon will eventually resolve their home form and when they do could be champion contenders. We are very good when on top of our game and expect us to challenge for the auto’s if we don’t lose anybody important in January. Vale were flying a few games back, but Vale posters are saying key injuries are affecting them, so maybe a squad depth issue?. I must confess I don’t know much about Northampton this season but they climbed right up of late. I personally thought Sutton looked good at our place but maybe they are inconsistent, but if they play as well as they did at ours for the remainder of the season I would consider them a dark horse. Do Bradford have the resources to do what Bolton did in the January window last season?. I thought Orient were gonna be hot but not quite doing it consistently yet. Bottom line, FGR and Swindon with us or Northampton possibly in the mix as well

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Either genius research or stroke of luck picking Rob Edwards as manager, think we must have been influenced by how well blokes like Duff have done as young and inexperienced but with the right attitudes and personality, because it's largely Cooper's players (and he could assemble a good squad before promptly falling out with half of them) but he's getting a better tune out of them and the spirit is second to none, though of course not without cock-ups like the FA Cup exit. At least there the concentrating on the league excuse doesn't look quite as laughable as usual.
We are a bit thin squad wise though, recent good run is surely in part due to the couple of lengthy breaks between games allowing all the first team to get back to fitness. Lose a couple in January to injury etc and it won't be plain sailing, especially if it's someone like Jamma who is in imperious form.

 

[masi51]

This time last year the top 6 consisted of Newport, Exeter ,FGR Tranmere Cheltenham and Cambridge.
Morecambe was going to implode and drop down the league Carlisle had 8 games in hand and only needed to win three more to get into the play offs. Clough had started at Mansfield and they would go the rest of the season unbeaten.Salford sacked Wellans and had Mourinho lined up if he was to leave Old Trafford. Bradford had the best young management duo in the country and promotion was all but guaranteed. Port Vale engine had caught fire and was returning to port for another season and I was getting laughed at on here because Bolton was heading out of the league. Grimsby was every Grimsby fans outsiders for the play offs and last but not least the only consistency was Scunthorpe were shit then and nothings changed.

 

[Indian Dan]

It’ll come down to squad depth. Once teams lose 2 or 3 to injuries/suspensions their form drops off.

I can’t see how our home form will turn around. It’s 9 games now and they’ve all, essentially, been the same. No intensity, too slow and seemingly no intention to change a thing. We’re a one trick pony that works almost perfectly away but is shown up, shockingly, at home.

 

[kieran_vale]

This time last year the top 6 consisted of Newport, Exeter ,FGR Tranmere Cheltenham and Cambridge.
Morecambe was going to implode and drop down the league Carlisle had 8 games in hand and only needed to win three more to get into the play offs. Clough had started at Mansfield and they would go the rest of the season unbeaten.Salford sacked Wellans and had Mourinho lined up if he was to leave Old Trafford. Bradford had the best young management duo in the country and promotion was all but guaranteed. Port Vale engine had caught fire and was returning to port for another season and I was getting laughed at on here because Bolton was heading out of the league. Grimsby was every Grimsby fans outsiders for the play offs and last but not least the only consistency was Scunthorpe were shit then and nothings changed.

To be fair two of that lot in the top six quoted got promoted automatically and three of the others made the playoffs. Memory is hazy now but were Grimsby considered dark horses by anyone after their disaster of a preseason last time out?

The majority of teams in this league are incredibly well bunched together and I see that staying the same throughout. Personally I can see it being a record low points total needed for autos this seasons.

 

[EricSabin]

It’ll come down to squad depth. Once teams lose 2 or 3 to injuries/suspensions their form drops off.

I can’t see how our home form will turn around. It’s 9 games now and they’ve all, essentially, been the same. No intensity, too slow and seemingly no intention to change a thing. We’re a one trick pony that works almost perfectly away but is shown up, shockingly, at home.

Bodes well for us then, yesterday we were missing 5 senior defenders, our best midfielder and our best striker limped off after 20.

The teams up there, other than FGR, seem to be grinding wins out rather than playing well every week.

 

[valefan16]

To be fair yesterday we won without our three best striker options, best central midfielder and centre half but the striker issue may bite us (Conlon was banned and Smith was due to a baby birth) so the longer term issue. That said we have scored 4 goals in 3 games without the two big men so doesn’t have to be critical as we have spread goals throughout the side.

May be worth seeing if we can get a young free agent as cover though.

We’ve a tough December on paper (that said our record against the better sides is very good as we are better in those types of games than the physical ones against sides less quality laden).

If we can get through that relatively well maybe 7-8 points from 5 games get to January and get Wilson and Proctor back by then I’d assume we should be able to challenge for the top 3 still.

Just frustrating we got done against Oldham when we should of been out of sight last weekend as we’d be in 2nd still!

 

[JaredSUFC]

19 games is a little too early IMO. But then again 19 games is a good indication of how the season is going.

Our previous manager believed that to be considered title contenders it was best to be averaging 2 points per game. At the moment only FGR are doing that.

Looking at the table currently, I would say too many teams have similar points totals to say who’s firmly in the running for the automatic and playoff spots, however a busy December will give a clearer indication.

League wise between now and New Years Day Sutton have got Newport and Bradford away, Harrogate at home, Bristol Rovers away and Exeter at home. Some very difficult games there, and tbh I’m more concerned about getting to 51 points first and then consider where we’ll be in terms of promotion and the playoffs. Lots of Football still to be played

 

[Indian Dan]

The home form is a real dilemma. We are often completely nullified for a large chunk of games but manage to offer up chances to the opposition. Then, last 20 minutes or so, we step up a gear and create loads - yesterday being a prime example. Why we don’t play with that intensity from the off I have no idea. The atmosphere is flat, the fans get pissed off with the slow play and we create very little.

Without checking, I’d guess we’ve only scored 3/4 goals in the first half of games.

 

[northstandexile]

Looks like Mansfield will be last season’s Bolton and come with a second half run to smash into the promotion spots.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Dale's record after 19 games is W5 D9 L5.

53 years ago, Dale's record after 19 games was W4 D11 L4. We ended up promoted...

 

[Greenacres]

Either genius research or stroke of luck picking Rob Edwards as manager, think we must have been influenced by how well blokes like Duff have done as young and inexperienced but with the right attitudes and personality, because it's largely Cooper's players (and he could assemble a good squad before promptly falling out with half of them) but he's getting a better tune out of them and the spirit is second to none, though of course not without cock-ups like the FA Cup exit. At least there the concentrating on the league excuse doesn't look quite as laughable as usual.
We are a bit thin squad wise though, recent good run is surely in part due to the couple of lengthy breaks between games allowing all the first team to get back to fitness. Lose a couple in January to injury etc and it won't be plain sailing, especially if it's someone like Jamma who is in imperious form.

What impresses me about RE is that he acknowledges that he is still learning as a manager, it is after all his first real shot at the role after a career coaching, but he also appears grounded and humble. His predecessor, as you point out seemed to fall out with players on a regular basis and was always quick to find someone else to blame for his own failings...on one occasion I think he even blamed the fans, as if we train the players, pick the starting line up and define the tactics!

There is a real feel good factor around the club at the moment, which is of course far easier to create and maintain when a team is successful, but it feels totally different to seasons where we made it to the play-offs. I don't think anyone is getting ahead of themselves here, many of us have been around football to know that success should never be taken for granted and nothing is permanent. As many others have alluded, in relation to their own clubs, the loss of a key player or two during the January transfer window or an injury at the wrong time can derail success.

Early days certainly, with only eighteen games played, but I am really happy with how things are going...certainly optimistic in outlook...but not even looking at a chicken, let alone starting to count any.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Of course they cancel your season ticket if they catch you looking at a chicken.

 

[Chris FGR]

SkyBet current promotion odds: -
View attachment 15974

A few years ago FGR were in similar or even position [Conference} but failed to secure promotion that year.
Best to wait till last game of season with 4 points more than the best of the rest. Then one can celebrate.

We won our first 9 games and still didn’t go up!

We’ve done brilliant so far but we’re almost guaranteed to hit a bad run at some point, the main thing is making sure it doesn’t last too long and what’s also absolutely massive is keeping Wilson, Cadden, Stevenson and Matt fit. They are crucial to how we play and if we lose any of them for a while their replacements are not at the same level. Also not selling players in January would help.

Losing Kitching and Winchester last January and having the likes of Wilson and Matt out for long spells really buggered us last season.

 

[RLC]

Five of the top seven at this stage last season ultimately finished in the play-off positions or higher.

However, in 2018-19 we were in twelfth place at Christmas, before going on a run with our new January signings which resulted in promotion. So all is not lost for the teams currently in mid-table (he says hopefully).

 

[Boz]

Very surprised those Sky odds don’t quote a figure for us, Tranmere Rovers. While we suffered from poor pre-season recruitment, things are starting to fall into shape and we should be at least strong enough to stay in touching distance with the top seven then see what January brings.

Generally Forest Green’s form is impressive and Northampton and Swindon looked decent in their games against us. As it’s so tight at the top, almost any team could do a Bolton with a decent transfer window and muscle themselves into the promotion places.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Very surprised those Sky odds don’t quote a figure for us,

 

[RLC]

Very surprised those Sky odds don’t quote a figure for us, Tranmere Rovers. While we suffered from poor pre-season recruitment, things are starting to fall into shape and we should be at least strong enough to stay in touching distance with the top seven then see what January brings.

Generally Forest Green’s form is impressive and Northampton and Swindon looked decent in their games against us. As it’s so tight at the top, almost any team could do a Bolton with a decent transfer window and muscle themselves into the promotion places.

You have also got to factor in Mellon's record with promotions at this level, and the fact we have always been stronger in the second half of the season than the first under his management.

However, there does not seem to be much money to spend in January this year, unless we have an FA Cup run.

 

[Robshep]

You have also got to factor in Mellon's record with promotions at this level, and the fact we have always been stronger in the second half of the season than the first under his management.

However, there does not seem to be much money to spend in January this year, unless we have an FA Cup run.

We have no idea how much money is available in january.

 

[RLC]

We have no idea how much money is available in january.

Palios hinted in the recent Facebook meeting that the budget is largely fully spent. We only had considerable extra sums to spend in 2019 and 2020 because of big FA Cup ties. In January 2021 we did not have much to spend, and as a result our recruitment was crap.

 

[masi51]

You need to speculate to accumulate if you dont want to fester in lge 2

 

[Robshep]

Palios hinted in the recent Facebook meeting that the budget is largely fully spent. We only had considerable extra sums to spend in 2019 and 2020 because of big FA Cup ties. In January 2021 we did not have much to spend, and as a result our recruitment was crap.

He is hardly going to shout about how much money is available.