Race for the Title...

[Luke Imp]

Well, we'll be out the FA Cup a week tomorrow and in the FA Trophy we're playing our second team so our league team only really has one additional game, which is Burnley.

Depth wise we're not too bad now (21 I think with the 3 loans coming in) but the only slight concern is up-front if we can't extend Southwell's loan or get somebody else in. Tonnes of midfielders, mind!

 

[John Still]

So where are we after this weekends fixtures? Some falling away now I can't see anyone outside the top four getting top spot at this stage.

Our game against Imps is now early April but a lot can happen before then no point getting excited about that game yet.

 

[Luke Imp]

FGR and Dagenham play 3 league games in the next couple of weeks, whilst we play once.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

FGR and Dagenham play 3 league games in the next couple of weeks, whilst we play once.

Nerves will really start to bite for you lot once we go ahead of you. Oh yeah

 

[CrazyImp]

FGR and Dagenham play 3 league games in the next couple of weeks, whilst we play once.

No - Ferriby (A) 21/02 and York (H) 28/02 - we can still maintain a lead, and I'm sure Danny and Nicky will absolutely make sure of the importance of remaining there.

 

[Davidimp]

No - Ferriby (A) 21/02 and York (H) 28/02 - we can still maintain a lead, and I'm sure Danny and Nicky will absolutely make sure of the importance of remaining there.

York depends on cup replays but hopefully it'll be on. We've been behind before this season and taken top place back so I'm not that worried.
If you look at the form guides on flashscores we are top of all them bar the last 5 games form, where we are 2nd to Dagenham.

 

[FGR Stroud]

FGR Chairman Dale Vince spoke to the BBC with his opinion that there should be more than two promotion spots between non-league and the EFL.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38993233
Ignore the bit about FGR and it remains a very interesting piece to all football fans of non-league football.
Until I read it I did not realise that Lincoln & Sutton were the only two representatives left in FA Cup from tier 4 & 5. That strengthens his argument of the high standard of Conference football and call for more clubs to be promoted.
But of course it will fall on deaf ears.
The EFL will not vote such proposal through - it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

He's not wrong but I reckon statements like that would look better if we were top of the league. From the playoff positions looks like special pleading.

 

[Chris FGR]

Tbf he has been making that point for a long time now, including when we were top.

It's obvious that there is an inbalance, and it's also obvious that any chairman of a club at this level would want to see more promotion places. Problem is it isn't up to them, it's up to the EFL clubs and I don't think enough of them are likely to vote it through anytime soon.

 

[chipmunx]

If Lincoln and Sutton both get through somehow - then draw each other so one is guaranteed a semi-final place then the powers that be might force them to accept it. Especially if it's Lincoln and they don't get promoted.....

 

[Chris FGR]

If Lincoln and Sutton both get through somehow - then draw each other so one is guaranteed a semi-final place then the powers that be might force them to accept it. Especially if it's Lincoln and they don't get promoted.....

Looking at who they're up against, I'd say Sutton probably have the better chance of the two of getting through. If Lincoln could somehow snatch a draw at fortress Turf Moor they'd have a great chance in the replay imo.

Wouldn't be that shocked if both got through though, it would definitely be great for the league if they did.

 

[Luke Imp]

R.e. 3 up/down, there was (another) brief chat about it in the L2 forum the other week in the Rumours/Confirmed thread.

http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk/i...ours-confirmed-transfers-2016-2017.9/page-313

 

[chipmunx]

I wouldn't rule us out on any of the top 4 positions either to be honest - we have only 4 games left against teams in the top 10 - all at home, and after the comeback at Aldershot the self belief is back in the team. The only advantage Lincoln have is that they don't have to play us again in the league....

 

[RLC]

I am not actually in favour of three up, three down. I think promotion and relegation from the League is different to routine promotions within the League, certainly a much bigger trauma for those clubs that come down.

Personally, I would like to see two automatic promotion places in the NL but there is no way the majority of clubs would agree to that.

 

[EnglishRed]

R.e. 3 up/down, there was (another) brief chat about it in the L2 forum the other week in the Rumours/Confirmed thread.

http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk/i...ours-confirmed-transfers-2016-2017.9/page-313

What's that Mansfield fan going on about? "There are a lot of big clubs in L2 now". Looking at that league I'm struggling to count too many. Portsmouth, Plymouth, Luton...Carlisle? Blackpool and Notts County I guess. That's a quarter of thee league, hardly loads.

 

[CrazyImp]

I wouldn't rule us out on any of the top 4 positions either to be honest - we have only 4 games left against teams in the top 10 - all at home, and after the comeback at Aldershot the self belief is back in the team. The only advantage Lincoln have is that they don't have to play us again in the league....

Best of luck to you if you think you can overturn an 11-point deficit, with significant GD disadvantage, having played a game more.

You're an impressive side in a vastly different manner to us, being polite, but you've proven all season long you draw too many games.

 

[chipmunx]

Best of luck to you if you think you can overturn an 11-point deficit, with significant GD disadvantage, having played a game more.

You're an impressive side in a vastly different manner to us, being polite, but you've proven all season long you draw too many games.

yes 1st is a big ask....

But - If you don't finish top we want you in the play offs.....

 

[MTFC_07]

I think Barrow's place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed. Having seen both Dover and Barrow this season, I would think Dover, particularly with their January signings are favourites to grab that 5th spot.

 

[Chris FGR]

I think Barrow's place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed. Having seen both Dover and Barrow this season, I would think Dover, particularly with their January signings are favourites to grab that 5th spot.

Played both twice. Been to both. That's two trips you don't want to be doing too often. I would say Dover looked the better side, were very close to taking 6 points off us. Barrow were lucky to get 1. Will be a close battle between those 2 and Aldershot for that last play off place.

 

[KHFC_Shaun]

FGR Chairman Dale Vince spoke to the BBC with his opinion that there should be more than two promotion spots between non-league and the EFL.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38993233
Ignore the bit about FGR and it remains a very interesting piece to all football fans of non-league football.
Until I read it I did not realise that Lincoln & Sutton were the only two representatives left in FA Cup from tier 4 & 5. That strengthens his argument of the high standard of Conference football and call for more clubs to be promoted.
But of course it will fall on deaf ears.
The EFL will not vote such proposal through - it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Don't know why its such a problem for him? Once you are crowned champions this year, i'm sure he'll be one of the turkeys.
Very short-sighted man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36302581

 

[CrazyImp]

I think Barrow's place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed. Having seen both Dover and Barrow this season, I would think Dover, particularly with their January signings are favourites to grab that 5th spot.

Don't quite rate Ricky Miller FC as highly, but agree that the Barrow fan is getting somewhat ahead of himself.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Still hoping that Gateshead can sneak into 5th so I get all my playoff predictions correct!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Still hoping that Gateshead can sneak into 5th so I get all my playoff predictions correct!

Had they kept hold of Sam Jones then possibly but gaining 0/6 from North Ferriby is unforgivable

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Of course we aren't gonna win the league. I agree we've probably got the best run-in to grab fifth, and I'd give us a 50/50 chance against anyone in the play-offs.
I think we're over our poor patch now, and the rest of the season will be just dotted with the odd defeat. Rochdale aside, we've not been outplayed at home for a very long time, and that should count for us with most of the big games still to come at Holker Street.#

We'll probably get stuffed at home by Torquay today now.

 

[Chris FGR]

Lincoln might as well start clearing space in their trophy cabinet.

 

[Davidimp]

I don't actually think we've got one! Apart from the odd county cup we haven't won anything since the GMVC in 1988 when I was 15!

 

[Jemfy]

Wow today could have hardly gone better for Lincoln! Maybe it Tranmere had dropped points too...

The end of the season might get a bit hairy with a lot of games in a short space of time, but if nobody takes advantage of playing first to push ahead then it probably won't be a problem.

 

[Master D]

The usual contenders had better hope Lincoln go up this season because their transfer WARCHEST for next season will be ridiculous now.

 

[Davidimp]

We've already made at least a million from it, if we do get Man United away in the next round it could be double or treble that.

 

[Imp in Branston]

We've already made at least a million from it, if we do get Man United away in the next round it could be double or treble that.

It could, but as the draws have been unkind so far, wouldn't surprise me for us to get Millwall. I think I am right in saying that all quarter finals are on live tv regardless. That is something I wasn't really ITK about (no idea why) so that's getting on for half a million from today's win alone before gate receipts in the next round.

It still concerns me we will have lots of Sat/Tues/Sat games as the season gets nearer to the end, but if some others aren't going to take that chance to put extra pressure on like Daggers and FGR today, we will hopefully be ok.

IF we remain unbeaten at NFU on Tuesday night, we will have played 30 games in either league or cup and only lost twice, that's some consistency.