Promotion thread

[kieran_vale]

realistically FG are up.

I was going to say exeter have an easy run in and then realised 3 of the last 4 are against tranmere northampton and port vale that could be fun.

If there’s a winner between mansfield and exeter friday they’d temporarily go into the top 3, though both of us will have 3 games in hand on northampton and tranmere come 10 tonight

Aye forget any blip in form they may be in right now it would take the kind of chokejob they probably never get over as a club if they missed out from here.

From there I think it’s Mansfield and Exeter in the other auto spots.

Playoffs if making the pick today would say Sutton, Tranmere, Vale and Northampton not necessarily in that order. That will likely change each week though.

 

[leedsvaliant]

My take.

Autos FGR, Mansfield, Exeter

POs Tranmere, Cobblers, Vale, Swindon/BRovers/Salford

I think you'll be pretty close with that. I think Salford are terrible though, can't see them getting in.

 

[AdamStag]

I don’t think there’s much change we will go up.

Exeter home tranmere away and port vale away next 3 games, we’ve got sutton, northampton and forest green at home, forest green away, it’s hard to see.

 

[valefan16]

Plenty of twists and turns to come I would expect, we've managed to be pretty poor, arguably as poor as we have been all season in terms of performance levels (attacking wise) yet are 8 unbeaten so its a weird season.

We probably need to average 1.5 points a game to make the play offs which is fairly average making use of games in hand but we will see, we have three winnable games then a possibly pivotal spell with Mansfield, Exeter and Sutton all visiting VP in 10 days. (with Bradford Away in between).

If we can get through that spell still well in the hunt then we have a good chance. More points from the next three would make less pressure on those humdingers.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My prediction for what it's worth...

Forest Green
Exeter
Northampton
Mansfield
Tranmere
Swindon
Sutton

 

[LordJord]

I think our lack of goals is going to mean we miss out on the autos and end up in the playoffs. Its almost hilarious how little we create and yet we are still sat second in the league. Clean sheets can obviously take you a long way but in recent weeks we have been so aimless in our approach that I just cant see us getting over the finish line.

Even if we do manage to go up, it would take serious changes to our approach, having been promoted twice in recent seasons it would be inevitable we would come straight back down if we saw similar play in L1.

Huge game today for us to keep us with a chance of top 3. Our remaining fixtures actually look pretty kind but we have to find a way to start scoring consistently.

 

[EricSabin]

I think our lack of goals is going to mean we miss out on the autos and end up in the playoffs. Its almost hilarious how little we create and yet we are still sat second in the league. Clean sheets can obviously take you a long way but in recent weeks we have been so aimless in our approach that I just cant see us getting over the finish line.

Even if we do manage to go up, it would take serious changes to our approach, having been promoted twice in recent seasons it would be inevitable we would come straight back down if we saw similar play in L1.

Huge game today for us to keep us with a chance of top 3. Our remaining fixtures actually look pretty kind but we have to find a way to start scoring consistently.

I also see us in the playoffs due to the lack of goals, but I do think we’d be better prepared than the last time we went up. Even when Brady took over mid way through last season we immediately created a lot more. Recruitment going forward hasn’t been great and I think that’s hampered us a bit.

Should we go up we’ll have a good defensive base to build on but you're right unless something changes I see playoffs for us.

 

[kieran_vale]

Good evening for those who weren’t playing you’d say. And Bristol Rovers of course. It’s almost impossible to call the promotion race other than the top spot. Any number of things are still possible.

We are 9 unbeaten which is good but 6 of them draws which is less so. We are tough to beat again at least.

 

[northstandexile]

If Mansfield win the two games in hand over FGR and beat them twice then Mansfield would only be two points behind FGR.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

If Mansfield win all their games in hand AND beat us twice, they'll still be two points behind!
Delighted to have stopped the rot with a better second half tonight (by sounds of it, couldn't stay up v late local time for commentary)

 

[AdamStag]

If Mansfield win all their games in hand AND beat us twice, they'll still be two points behind!
Delighted to have stopped the rot with a better second half tonight (by sounds of it, couldn't stay up v late local time for commentary)

We won’t finish in the top 3 let alone catch you.

Tranmere and northampton are bigger and better than we are, we’re just in a good run.

It would be theres to lose and realistically it’s something they should both do and be expecting we’ve not been in league 1 for 20 years

we’ve not been exeter at home since 1998 (though we have a very good record at St James park) let’s see how friday goes.

We could easily lose friday results go against us and be 9th/10th saturday teatime

 

[Richard Cranium]

I feel even if you keep saying we won't go up we'll still get the piss taken out of us if you're proved right at the end of the season

 

[Agombar stool]

Really exciting at both the bottom and the top of the table. Realistically FGR have amassed enough points and should be forgotten about in the discussion. 2-11 are separated by just 10 points and you could probably make a case for all of them. It's tough to call but I don't both Northampton and Tranmere have enough for the autos, however clearly they should be good enough for the play-offs and will be tough nuts to crack when they get there. Based on what I have seen Tranmere looked the better side and I will take them to get autos in third and Northampton to go into the play-off places. Interestingly Tranmere and Northampton have very similar statistics in the table, even down to Goals scored and conceded. I personally think Exeter will take the second automatic spot, they were excellent against us and in Jevani Brown have one of the best number 10s in the league.

The play-offs is a difficult one to call. I've long expected Sutton to fall away but they just haven't and sit proudly in 5th. Vale just don't appear to be good enough to get into the pack, however I don't rule out a late surge. So with all that in mind i'll plump for this............

1. FGR
2. Exeter
3. Tranmere
4. Northampton
5. Mansfield
6. Newport
7. Swindon/Bristol Rovers/Port Vale

I really can't decide on the final play-off spot. I've seen us be unplayable and stink the place out this season and I worry about our lack of experience. I think Rob Hunt is our oldest player at 26 and this concerns me. Vale and Rovers seem more 'rugged' and I wonder if that might be the difference in the end. Whatever happens it should be a hell of a ride from here on in!

 

[kieran_vale]

Really exciting at both the bottom and the top of the table. Realistically FGR have amassed enough points and should be forgotten about in the discussion. 2-11 are separated by just 10 points and you could probably make a case for all of them. It's tough to call but I don't both Northampton and Tranmere have enough for the autos, however clearly they should be good enough for the play-offs and will be tough nuts to crack when they get there. Based on what I have seen Tranmere looked the better side and I will take them to get autos in third and Northampton to go into the play-off places. Interestingly Tranmere and Northampton have very similar statistics in the table, even down to Goals scored and conceded. I personally think Exeter will take the second automatic spot, they were excellent against us and in Jevani Brown have one of the best number 10s in the league.

The play-offs is a difficult one to call. I've long expected Sutton to fall away but they just haven't and sit proudly in 5th. Vale just don't appear to be good enough to get into the pack, however I don't rule out a late surge. So with all that in mind i'll plump for this............

1. FGR
2. Exeter
3. Tranmere
4. Northampton
5. Mansfield
6. Newport
7. Swindon/Bristol Rovers/Port Vale

I really can't decide on the final play-off spot. I've seen us be unplayable and stink the place out this season and I worry about our lack of experience. I think Rob Hunt is our oldest player at 26 and this concerns me. Vale and Rovers seem more 'rugged' and I wonder if that might be the difference in the end. Whatever happens it should be a hell of a ride from here on in!

Can't speak for Rovers but it is definitely true to say we have gone for more a functional or efficient approach I suppose you'd call it. Early in the season we were really attacking opponents and frankly other teams were left hanging on for dear life at times. The problem was we were becoming too easy to score against. Couple of examples were at Sutton and Oldham where we played some really good football but then lost both of in high scoring thrillers. I wonder if we have tried to over-compensate too much the other way as a knock on of that.

It's an impossible race to call. You'd say the only spots secured are top and bottom and the rest all to play for. Definitely the most interesting L2 season in a long time.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Its nice that many of you are positive towards us. Personally I'm nervous as hell that we will miss out.
Friday is a big game for us, as is the Tuesday after.

 

[Spanishstag]

Don't really believe the way some stags fans are in denial about going up can't see us losing too many games now ,this squad is as good if not better than most in this league,Friday night won't define the outcome but a win would be massive .I just can't see us failing to get up automatically

 

[Gassy]

Any way to watch Mansfield v Exeter? From what I’ve seen so far - Exeter are miles ahead as a team, but should be a great game

 

[The Evil Dead]

Am I the only one who thinks at least two of the play off places will still be up for grabs heading into the final day? Wouldn't surprise me if a few teams from 3rd-5th could still mathematically get automatic promotion too. It's going to be stupidly close.

 

[chipmunx]

I'll go for

FGR
Mansfield
Port Vale
===========
Northampton
Bristol Rovers
Tranmere
Newport
===========

Exeter repeat last season and fail to beat us at home - costing them a play-off place.

 

[masi51]

Who can stay up once you get up. Looks like 3 out of the 4 from last year will be ok
Decent enough in lge1 top end but the bottom half anyone can beat anyone

 

[valefan16]

Our hopes depend a lot on Tom Conlon coming back, he is due any time now but he is probably the missing cog from draws to wins at the moment as we miss his creativity in the midfield.

 

[kieran_vale]

Who can stay up once you get up. Looks like 3 out of the 4 from last year will be ok
Decent enough in lge1 top end but the bottom half anyone can beat anyone

Most could do certainly the first season as can ride momentum through it. With the budgets some of them have at the top end no doubt it is much harder to compete there though.

 

[AdamStag]

Any way to watch Mansfield v Exeter? From what I’ve seen so far - Exeter are miles ahead as a team, but should be a great game

It’s on i follow i believe.

We lost 2-1 down there when we were still in our bad run of form, we took the lead and we really shouldn’t have lost the game but it’s how it was running at the time.

Exeter haven’t lost at field mill since 1998, we haven’t lost a league game since 26th november and are going for a 10th straight home win.

Draw it is then.

We’re the outsider here, to go from the relegation zone to this is an epic achievement of itself, to finish in the playoffs in itself would be remarkable.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'll go for

FGR
Mansfield
Port Vale
===========
Northampton
Bristol Rovers
Tranmere
Newport
===========

Exeter repeat last season and fail to beat us at home - costing them a play-off place.

You're slightly obsessed with us

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I think this is the first time i've seen opposition fans talk about us being in the promotion shake-up.
We may sneak in the play offs but I still think we will be in L2 next season.
We certainly have a sizable and quality squad to deal with Sat-Tues-Sat fixtures that may give us an advantage

 

[masi51]

Most could do certainly the first season as can ride momentum through it. With the budgets some of them have at the top end no doubt it is much harder to compete there though.

i think vale maybe will be ok and i think FGR play decent football what i have seen........Northampton seem the yo yo club as do Swindon.
Exeter seem to bring good youngsters through and may well survive.
The gas have the Barton effect and that can go either way.
Mansfield i dont know to much about and Tranmere and Newport seem to implode at this time of year.
Impressed with Sutton this year

 

[valefan16]

i think vale maybe will be ok and i think FGR play decent football what i have seen........Northampton seem the yo yo club as do Swindon.
Exeter seem to bring good youngsters through and may well survive.
The gas have the Barton effect and that can go either way.
Mansfield i dont know to much about and Tranmere and Newport seem to implode at this time of year.
Impressed with Sutton this year

Its hard to say, Vale would invest under the new owners I am sure but its a competitive league up there now, a lot of big clubs. We went up in third last time, improved under a tight arsed owner a little that summer and finished 9th in the first season so momentum can count for a lot... its the second season that's the tougher, as say Crewe are finding out now, we struggled in our second season.

 

[kieran_vale]

i think vale maybe will be ok and i think FGR play decent football what i have seen........Northampton seem the yo yo club as do Swindon.
Exeter seem to bring good youngsters through and may well survive.
The gas have the Barton effect and that can go either way.
Mansfield i dont know to much about and Tranmere and Newport seem to implode at this time of year.
Impressed with Sutton this year

I think with Sutton it depends on Matt Gray or if they could hold on to him. For me if there was a vacancy he is someone I'd be looking at given the job he's done there. Most of the others could compete or rather consolidate no doubt.

That league will be a right bitch next season at the top. At some point Sunderland and Sheff Weds have got to sort themselves out properly and go up. Add in Derby despite all the usual worrying about them going out of business - in reality they'll be taken over, spend a shit ton of money and go back up first time of asking.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I personally think Exeter will take the second automatic spot, they were excellent against us and in Jevani Brown have one of the best number 10s in the league.

He is out for a few weeks with a hamstring problem

 

[Gassy]

It’s on i follow i believe.

We lost 2-1 down there when we were still in our bad run of form, we took the lead and we really shouldn’t have lost the game but it’s how it was running at the time.

Exeter haven’t lost at field mill since 1998, we haven’t lost a league game since 26th november and are going for a 10th straight home win.

Draw it is then.

We’re the outsider here, to go from the relegation zone to this is an epic achievement of itself, to finish in the playoffs in itself would be remarkable.

When we’re Mansfield in the relegation zone this season?

Your winning run started in November which is 4 ago now, let’s not make out that you’re minnows with a small budget upsetting the entire league creating upsets week after week.

For the majority of the season you’ve been in better form than you have had and you’ve won double the games you’ve lost - so I’d hardly say it’s remarkable. The table doesn’t lie.