Relegation Thread 2017/18

[rudebwoyben]

I don't rate him really. He's VERY shady on coming for crosses - he'll start to come, then change his mind about 10 times, then eventually make a hash of a punches clearance. As with most L2 keepers, shot stopping wise he's good (made a great one today, a few from range against Luton) and he's got a better kick on him than Stephens does/did (he's injured half the time with a bad hip issue which affects his kicking when fit) but his indecision is a big issue. You don't want him if you're looking to push up from midtable, definitely.

Yep, I’m of the same opinion about Ross. He’s not League 2 standard and he was to blame for the goal we conceded today. He provokes mass panic in our penalty area whenever the opposition cross the ball in.

 

[valefan16]

Win Monday and failure of Grimsby or Chesterfield to win and I think we will be safe. If we win and Grimsby lose with our GD they’d need 8 points from 5 games which seems unlikely.

Playing well of late to be fair and to finally get the result and in that fashion hopefully will be a massive confidence boost going into the final games. Pope and Kay returning are also welcome.

Chesterfields problem may be mentally after losing today against ten men having had us pegged back to 1-1. May take a lot out of them.

Crewe A then two home games against Crawley and Lincoln. Chance to get the 3 or 4 points needed to be safe IMO.

Saw grown men cry today with pride and relief that was massive for us. Best build on it... get the job done then rather than celebrate let’s ensure this situation never fucking happens again!

 

[PaulHaddock]

Knew we wouldn’t win today (despite all our efforts) and we won’t win on Monday, against a slowly deteriorating Wycombe. Our season rests on the Chesterfield and Barnet games. And both have more about them than us. Chesterfield have two games in hand ffs!

 

[JJ1532]

Both penalties looked clear-cut to me.
Your team seemed to be very loathe to use the wings for some reason and played at a tempo suggestive of a end of season mindset. Plus your right-back, Ng, acted like a bit of an idiot all match.

Having seen a replay of the 2nd decision, I think it's a shocker from the ref. Our lad clearly comes in and wins the ball. Oh well, not going to go crazy, we've had the odd bounce go our way in the last few weeks.

 

[BeesKnees]

Having seen a replay of the 2nd decision, I think it's a shocker from the ref. Our lad clearly comes in and wins the ball. Oh well, not going to go crazy, we've had the odd bounce go our way in the last few weeks.

From where I was it looked like he got the ball but it was a challenge from behind.

 

[rudebwoyben]

He had to go through Coulthirst to win the ball, a clear penalty to me.

 

[JJ1532]

51 - Safety 2013
50 - Safety 2014
49 -
48 -
47 - Safety 2017
46 -
45 - Safety 2012
44 -
43 - Crewe(40)
42 - Safety 2015 Predicted Safety 17-18 Yeovil(37), Morecambe(39), Port Vale(40)
41 -
40 - Forest Green(39)
39 -
38 - Grimsby(40)
37 -
36 -
35 - Safety 2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34 - Chesterfield(38)
33 - Barnet(40)

Forthcoming fixtures:

17th Crewe(40) - 43 points. Port Vale(H), Mansfield(A), Luton(A), Morecambe(H), Crawley(A), Cheltenham(H)
18th Yeovil(37) - 42 points. Coventry(A), Luton(H), Swindon(A), Wycombe(H), Accrington(A), Notts County(A), Mansfield(H), Lincoln(A), Forest Green(H) TBA
19th Morecambe(39) - 42 points. Cambridge(H), Cheltenham(A), Chesterfield(H), Carlisle(H), Crewe(A), Barnet(H), Coventry(A)
20th Port Vale(40) - 42 points. Crewe(A), Crawley(H), Lincoln(H), Mansfield(A), Carlisle(H), Cambridge(A)
21st Forest Green(39) - 40 points. Colchester(H), Barnet(A), Cheltenham(A), Chesterfield(H), Luton(A), Grimsby(H), Yeovil(A) TBA
22nd Grimsby(40) - 38 points. Wycombe(A), Chesterfield(H), Barnet(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H), Forest Green(A)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23rd Chesterfield(38) - 34 points. Newport(H), Grimsby(A), Morecambe(A), Mansfield(H), Exeter(A), Forest Green(A), Wycombe(H), Barnet(A)
24th Barnet(40) - 33 points. Stevenage(A), Forest Green(H), Grimsby(A), Newport(H), Morecambe(A), Chesterfield(H)

Working from the bottom, Barnet give themselves the shot in the arm they need to maybe start a run to safety. Never rule out Martin Allen, although they probably won't play a team as poor as we were today. Still, their fixtures of so so kind, they could easily get another win on Monday at the out of form Stevenage. Then things really would get interesting. Chesterfield's defeat to the Vale was a killer. Playing one of their nearest rivals for safety, Vale have a man sent off just before half time. They get it back to 1-1, but then go and lose it. Their home form might keep them in the hunt, but they have got to get wins on the road and if they blew a chance like today, then they've got no chance. Their margin for error is almost nil at this stage.

Not a great result for Grimsby, only drawing at home to out of form Stevenage. Still, regardless of what happens on Monday at Wycombe, they will be out of the drop zone come their home game with Chesterfield next Saturday. What a huge game that is for both sides. Loser goes down? The Vale get a huge win given the circumstances of how it came about. A win on Monday and they are all but safe.

Morecambe keep grinding their way to safety, another draw makes it 5 unbeaten. Still not totally secure, but they'll get the win or 2 they need to stay up I'm sure. Crewe blew their best chance of securing survival for a few weeks. Winnable game at home to Port Vale on Monday though, need a result there otherwise things will get nervous, given their next 2.

Yeovil and FGR was called off, Yeovil will be happy to have that game in the middle of their truly shocking run in. FGR will need a win on Monday though given their away form. Once that game is gone, 4 of their last 6 are on the road.

So, another huge set of games on Monday. Crewe v Port Vale, Stevenage v Barnet, Chesterfield v Newport. Looking to be another cracker, as long as the snow doesn't see any games called off.

 

[spireite]

You know what, I'm starting to give up on this bet now...

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Sick of being the side that always gives down and out teams a chance at survival, we do it most seasons. Especially Newport last year and now Barnet this year.

We're not out of danger yet due to how quickly teams can pick up points but a win against Vale and I'm confident 46 will be enough given the bottom four all have to play one another in the last month of the season...

 

[valefan16]

Sick of being the side that always gives down and out teams a chance at survival, we do it most seasons. Especially Newport last year and now Barnet this year.

We're not out of danger yet due to how quickly teams can pick up points but a win against Vale and I'm confident 46 will be enough given the bottom four all have to play one another in the last month of the season...

Grimsby are the fall guys at the moment. Point for you or three for us would see safety assured, assuming Grimsby lose at Wycombe they would be 7 points behind us with a win 8 effectively with GD. Can’t see them winning 3 of 5 or winning 2 and drawing 2 of 5.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

We need to win on Monday to stay alive for me. Anything less than three points and we are goners.

 

[AdamStag]

Grimsby against chesterfield next week is the big one - if Grimsby win that it'll be massive for them, both in gap in points but for confidence. Chesterfield win, and with their games in hand, Grimsby will be in all sorts of bother.

You've then got a full house against us the week later, which in sure you'll all be up for

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

If we can't score against a Stevenage side who clearly couldn't give a shit then we have absolutely no hope against Chesterfield or Barnet who will be a lot more up for it than us. There's not even a question of us going down, it's more a question of how many points adrift at the bottom we will be and who will be joining us.

 

[dedwardp]

Chesterfield's fixture congestion worsens with their game against Newport postponed today.

 

[Dave-Vale]

I’d prefer to have points on the board rather than games in hand.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Think Chesterfield are almost as good as down if they lose to Grimsby on Saturday now, if that happens then that run of fixtures will surely kill them off with such appalling away form and only 3 home fixtures left.

Still fancy Barnet to go on a run despite being one of the worst sides I've seen this season all because of that prick Martin Allen. But I can't see them picking up more than 45 points at best which means that 46 is the magic number in my eyes for survival.

 

[spireite]

Think Chesterfield are almost as good as down if they lose to Grimsby on Saturday now, if that happens then that run of fixtures will surely kill them off with such appalling away form and only 3 home fixtures left.

Still fancy Barnet to go on a run despite being one of the worst sides I've seen this season all because of that prick Martin Allen. But I can't see them picking up more than 45 points at best which means that 46 is the magic number in my eyes for survival.

Results are not going bad for us so far! You can not lose if you do not play!

We're all part of Lester's Army;
We're not gonna win the league;
But we don't give a fuck, cos the Blues are staying up;
The Spireites are the greatest football team.

.. Etc etc

 

[Vanni]

I'm not one who takes things for granted until it's over but surely that's Barnet down now? They simply had to get a result today. They can beat both Grimsby and FGR and they'll still go down, though they can decide which side joins them but that's about it.

 

[Urban]

We're finished as a club at this level. We won't ever be back. Cya folks.

 

[PaulHaddock]

WHS^

 

[Dave-Vale]

Almost, just almost a full house of results that would have removed us from this thread.

Said before the weekend that 4 points would probably do it and I do think we will be alright just totally gutted to lose a lead so late, again.

Barnet look dead and buried after today. 5 games left and they realistically need 4 wins, which might still not be enough. Grimsby can’t buy a win and Chesterfield have games in hand but need points on board and having loads of mid week fixtures to catch up on probably makes it even harder for them.

 

[Vanni]

I thought Vale and Crewe were out of danger a long time ago, but yeah I know what they say. Something to do with a fat lady

Next week should be very interesting. I reckon FGR could get a very valuable 3 points if they set up the right way at Barnet, as the latter don't have any other option but to go all out to get the win, so FGR should look to keep it tight and hit on the break and maybe inflict some serious damage.

The other pivotal match is the Grimsby one. I'm not Jack Lester but I wouldn't be that disappointed if my side came away with a point, seeing that Grimsby have played three more games. Of course, Grimsby must win as they can't depend on Chesterfield to not make up that 4 point deficit in the three games they've got over them. But on the flip side, while 4 points aren't that big a deal to most sides, they are not easy to come by when you're struggling.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

Cleethorpes won't be for the faint-hearted next week.

 

[Chris FGR]

We're determined not to get safe the easy way, big chance missed to pretty much seal the deal.

It's now looking like one of us or Grimsby will go down with Barnet. Chesterfield are a better side and have games in hand. The good thing about that is that Grimsby are incredibly shit so finishing above them isn't impossible. One win should do it.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

We're determined not to get safe the easy way, big chance missed to pretty much seal the deal.

It's now looking like one of us or Grimsby will go down with Barnet. Chesterfield are a better side and have games in hand. The good thing about that is that Grimsby are incredibly shit so finishing above them isn't impossible. One win should do it.

I'd like to think we can be, but it's happened so infrequently there's no confidence in us being able to prove it.

If we can win next week though it should be a nail in the Grimsby coffin. A draw is better for us, I think. A home win and it's very bad news for us.

 

[AdamStag]

We're safe, thankfully

 

[Andy Proctor]

I’d prefer to have points on the board rather than games in hand.

We had games in hand last season and did us no good lost at rochdale northampton and won at walsall.

 

[springerbfc]

Last chance saloon for us next weekend. Anything other than a win and the inevitable is confirmed.

I thought we’d win last Friday and lose today and so it turned out. But we still picked up points on FGR, Grimsby and Chesterfield so we move on to the next game.

We really are an abomination of a side so survival would be shameful but until it’s confirmed, we keep hoping for a miracle.

Back to back wins against FGR and Grimsby would be rather nice

 

[valefan16]

We had games in hand last season and did us no good lost at rochdale northampton and won at walsall.

Yep, the issue with games in hand is that your usually down the bottom because your shit so unlikely to get much from them as we found out!

 

[CFC91]

It would be typical of us to lose at Grimsby now after somehow keeping ourselves in with a shout.

Massive game though, loser goes down in my eyes. Draw puts the pressure back on us to win a couple of our games in hand.