The 1/2 way point

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I have been shocked by Wycombes antics, but it is refreshing to have fans that know this is an issue and actively don't like it. If it gets you up then it will be worth it.

I know I'll be in a heavy minority here, but I completely disagree with this. And I'm talking generally, not in regards to Wycombe who I know nothing about. Most teams justify it by referencing their smaller playing budgets, but if you get promoted, then surely you play against teams with even bigger budgets and the problem is exacerbated. You end up having to resort to even more underhand tactics. At what point do you just accept living within your means and focus on providing something enjoyable for fans to watch?

I accept there is some trade off - if you're about to drop down into the conference if you don't start winning, for me. But would I want to win league two at the expense of having to watch us play more cynically? No. The mere status of being in League One is not a transformative event in my life.

I saw Stoke under Pulis, surely one of the better examples of this, and I've never had less fun at a game of football.

 

[thewwfc]

I know I'll be in a heavy minority here, but I completely disagree with this. And I'm talking generally, not in regards to Wycombe who I know nothing about. Most teams justify it by referencing their smaller playing budgets, but if you get promoted, then surely you play against teams with even bigger budgets and the problem is exacerbated. You end up having to resort to even more underhand tactics. At what point do you just accept living within your means and focus on providing something enjoyable for fans to watch?

I accept there is some trade off - if you're about to drop down into the conference if you don't start winning, for me. But would I want to win league two at the expense of having to watch us play more cynically? No. The mere status of being in League One is not a transformative event in my life.

I think this is a fair summary. I actually wasn't that upset when we lost the playoff final last season, sure it was deflating on the day itself, having come within a whisker of promotion.

But we would have had nowhere near enough money to strengthen enough to become a competitive L1 side, and if you're reliant on loans to bolster the squad then you're skating on thin ice - you can't always guarantee there will be good loan players to snap up.

I dislike the cynicism of our tactics just because it shows a poor attitude to the game. I would hate to see us become a bunch of doe-eyed innocents that never put any grit into a tackle or tried to play tippy-tippy football that resulted in no end product (and we've done that in the past too).

But there has to be a balance, and we are at the wrong end of the scale at the moment. I see enough cynical, self-serving crap in the workplace, I don't want to see it coming from the team I support and feel more of a personal attachment to. Sorry, bit of a thread derail.

 

[mowgli]

I think this is a fair summary. I actually wasn't that upset when we lost the playoff final last season, sure it was deflating on the day itself, having come within a whisker of promotion.

But we would have had nowhere near enough money to strengthen enough to become a competitive L1 side, and if you're reliant on loans to bolster the squad then you're skating on thin ice - you can't always guarantee there will be good loan players to snap up.

I dislike the cynicism of our tactics just because it shows a poor attitude to the game. I would hate to see us become a bunch of doe-eyed innocents that never put any grit into a tackle or tried to play tippy-tippy football that resulted in no end product (and we've done that in the past too).

But there has to be a balance, and we are at the wrong end of the scale at the moment. I see enough cynical, self-serving crap in the workplace, I don't want to see it coming from the team I support and feel more of a personal attachment to. Sorry, bit of a thread derail.

I hate our antics as much as you do mate. You can be sure our game is the last to finish unless another match has a serious injury,problem is us fans have no say in tactics which is right but we can make our views known.
As for our season so far i'll go 6/10.

 

[AdamStag]

Id say 8.

Pretty much covered by other stags fans, but we've gone from a hopeless train wreck of a side to one that's pretty alright, and impressed by our better style of play than before.

Good goalie, solid defence and exciting midfield options, as said by others - just the attacking at home needs to be addressed, it's all getting rather tedious

 

[rudebwoyben]

Id say 8.

Pretty much covered by other stags fans, but we've gone from a hopeless train wreck of a side to one that's pretty alright, and impressed by our better style of play than before.

Good goalie, solid defence and exciting midfield options, as said by others - just the attacking at home needs to be addressed, it's all getting rather tedious

Although going by Soccer AM's goals of the year list your lot have a knack for scoring spectacular goals!

 

[Baratheon]

Although going by Soccer AM's goals of the year list your lot have a knack for scoring spectacular goals!

Best of the bunch scored by Mal Benning earlier in the season, who is injured long term.

 

[AdamStag]

Although going by Soccer AM's goals of the year list your lot have a knack for scoring spectacular goals!

Correct, which is has helped is exasperate the issue that Murray only plays 1 upfront at home when the regulars much prefer the idea of 2. Completely behind Murray in total, and if that's our biggest problem is shows things are alright tbh. Whereas he/we should respect the opposition, we've lost games at home - Exeter to name one of a few, when we should have set up with 2 upfront and let them worry about us

 

[Beast]

Id give us a 9 top of the league so can't complain but could've been further clear had it not been for injures to key players hopefully they'll all be back soon as we don't have a big enough squad especially with our 2 main scoring threats Carey and Reid out.

 

[Laker]

Up to the end of October, I'd have given us a 4 or 5 but the last few weeks have changed that and I'd say a 7 would be more accurate - still some way short of the States aim of play off but on the tail and therefore still in with a shout.

We do need a turnaround of a few in January and we also need another couple of decent results in the next couple of games to retain our play off charge but fingers crossed hey. I'm so much more positive than I was a couple of months ago.

 

[Judge Red]

I'll give us 7/10, mainly because my expectations were pretty low to start with. I was expecting a relegation dogfight, but with 31 points at the half way point, that should see us safe even if the second half of the season is poor. I originally reckoned on finishing around 16th. I reckon that might still be about right. We've won 6 of the last 7 at home. I think away games should be banned.