The bells and whistles promotion thread

[Carver]

Are Accrington going to start playing away like Carlisle

No, you see we had a devastating flood which ruined our whole ground so we were allowed to play our home games away, whereas Accrington just have poor grounds staff looking after a tinpot non-league type of pitch.

 

[EricSabin]

Hopefully it will be out of both of our hands, either way, by the time we get down to you...I don't fancy our chances if we need something...

Praying we're up by then.

 

[Richard Cranium]

What's Oxford squad like for numbers? 2-0 up currently v Millwall, Both goals from Roofe. Looks like they'll be rearranging another game at this rate!

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Praying we're up by then.

Exactly, a good sized away end to fill for a promotion party, hopefully with us joining in!

 

[PlymouthCasual]

Jesus its going to be tight this season. A few of our long term injured players are starting to creep back into the squad which is a bonus. Pompey and Cambridge are our last two away games. Hoping to have promotion pretty much tied up by then though as I don't fancy sitting through both of those games needing 3 points

 

[AdamStag]

No, you see we had a devastating flood which ruined our whole ground so we were allowed to play our home games away, whereas Accrington just have poor grounds staff looking after a tinpot non-league type of pitch.

Well it's not really like that is it? (I think and prove me wrong if I am) you are much like Shrewsbury used to be and your close to a river which is why you flood, Accrington isn't near a river but probably gets more rain than you and it just has poor drainage

 

[EricSabin]

Wins for the top two, and Pompey's postponement today means we are 11 points clear of them in 4th. Not a great deal of movement elsewhere today.

 

[womble76]

I won't check us into here yet as we will probably lose our next three. Still I shall keep on eye on here.

 

[LordJord]

Hoping for a draw between oxford and brizzle.

 

[cufc17]

Ah crap, Bristol Rovers get the 3 points. I was hoping for an Oxford win as there's little chance of us getting into the autos now, but now a couple of sides are cementing their places in the playoffs.

With so many postponements this winter, the table is a little disjointed (though Accrington still hold a play-off place!). For example, Brizzle are 8 points ahead of us, though have played 3 more games (I'm not saying we'll win all three - highly doubtful.

Our next 2 games are York and Dagenham, a great chance to get back into the playoff positions.

 

[daviejones]

Play-off contenders are starting to either drop or cement their places now. Cambridge have a very big job to get back in contention, as do Mansfield and Orient. Wimbledon have played a couple more games than us and only have a point more to show for it so we'll probably overtake them when we play the Hartlepool/Accrington games.

It's looking like 4 or 5 teams for the play-offs now then; assuming Northampton, Plymouth and Oxford deservedly go up we're left with Portsmouth, Bristol, Accrington, Wycombe and us. Out of those 5 I'd say it's a rat race between us and Wycombe to fill the last spot up; Accrington will surely win a couple of their games in hand at least to take them a bit higher, Bristol have played the most but then have a better points tally meaning we would have to win all three games in hand to go a point ahead whilst Wycombe would have to win both of theirs to go level on points.

Looking at our fixtures it stands out that we've got a lot of the away games against top 10 teams out of the way already meaning we've got a slighly easier ride for the rest of the season. Add to that the freshly laid pitch and hopefully much bigger home attendances and we could actually build some good momentum if we get a couple of wins soon, hopefully enough to see us into the play-offs which I feel like our ridiculous style of play at the start of the season has merited.

 

[womble76]

Play-off contenders are starting
to either drop or cement their places now. Cambridge have a very big job to get back in contention, as do Mansfield and Orient. Wimbledon have played a couple more games than us and only have a point more to show for it so we'll probably overtake them when we play the Hartlepool/Accrington games.

It's looking like 4 or 5 teams for the play-offs now then; assuming Northampton, Plymouth and Oxford deservedly go up we're left with Portsmouth, Bristol, Accrington, Wycombe and us. Out of those 5 I'd say it's a rat race between us and Wycombe to fill the last spot up; Accrington will surely win a couple of their games in hand at least to take them a bit higher, Bristol have played the most but then have a better points tally meaning we would have to win all three games in hand to go a point ahead whilst Wycombe would have to win both of theirs to go level on points.

Looking at our fixtures it stands out that we've got a lot of the away games against top 10 teams out of the way already meaning we've got a slighly easier ride for the rest of the season. Add to that the freshly laid pitch and hopefully much bigger home attendances and we could actually build some good momentum if we get a couple of wins soon, hopefully enough to see us into the play-offs which I feel like our ridiculous style of play at the start of the season has merited.

There is a long way to go yet. Its too early to say only 4 or 5 involved. Over half the league could still make playoffs.

 

[Carver]

I'd say once teams have played their games in hand we'll have a clearer view on who the main play off contenders will be, right now it's all just muddled up with some teams having played something like 4 more games than other teams.

 

[EricSabin]

Portsmouth v Oxford and Rovers v Plymouth look like huge games next week.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Yup, after Oxford dropped points if we can beat them next week and win our game in hand then we'll go into the automatics.

 

[StagsForLife]

Unless we sort our inconsistencies out we'll finish midtable. Promotion should be our aim next year.

 

[miagsygas]

Starting to get quite excited about this. Up to fourth although obviously teams have games in hand on us. Squeezing into the playoffs would be a massive success for us having been in the conference last season but even having a sniff of top three this season is incredible and testiment to what a top young manager Darrell Clarke is.

We perhaps not as flashy a team as some at this level, but organised, with a exceptionally strong defence and strikers who can pop up with a goal, we're a match for anyone at this level.

I don't want to get too excited, we've still got some very hard games coming up and need to keep hold of everyone in Jan, but last season we went from strength to strength with a ridiculous run in the second half of the season, we're in with a chance if we can do similar this season

 

[Sergei from IT]

Yup, after Oxford dropped points if we can beat them next week and win our game in hand then we'll go into the automatics.

And that is a big IF. Personally I am hoping your FA cup replay goes to extra time and penalties and you are absolutely knackered by next weekend.
It would also help if you managed to pick up a few yellow cards and a couple of sendings-off.

As it happens we have a weeks recuperation.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

amazing anyone from Luton in 18th upwards could easily be in top 7, be interesting to see which sides rise out of it all in 2nd half of season.

Plymouth and Northampton fair play to them are holding out so strong at present. Oxford probably need to get to Wembley I think as it'll give their team a fresh engine and probably spur them into a pretty good run (wembley usually brings energy to a side) but at same time they have to really watch out for that post wembley rut that can happen.

 

[LordJord]

How many points do you normally need to go up automatically?

 

[EricSabin]

How many points do you normally need to go up automatically?

Bury went up in third with 85 last year.

 

[Don Tonberry]

And that is a big IF. Personally I am hoping your FA cup replay goes to extra time and penalties and you are absolutely knackered by next weekend.
It would also help if you managed to pick up a few yellow cards and a couple of sendings-off.

As it happens we have a weeks recuperation.

I can see Appleton playing for a draw already.

There's still plenty of time for us to crash the top three. Most of the main promotion chasers have got to come to Fratton Park yet.

 

[Sergei from IT]

How many points do you normally need to go up automatically?

2015 - 85
2014 - 81
2013 - 78
2012 - 84
2011 - 80


And to get into the play offs.

2015 - 71
2014 - 71
2013 - 69
2012 - 72
2011 - 68

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I can see Appleton playing for a draw already.

The first time I've read that accusation about us in 18 months

 

[Richard Cranium]

Who is it that does the table with all the old points totals of teams in this league? So you can see how far off you are the points totals of teams that have finished 7th etc

 

[Don Tonberry]

18 months? When we stole a draw at your gaff earlier in the season all I heard on the radio was your fans squinnying about Appleton not being positive enough. It was an accusation levelled at him when he was our manager, too.

The thing is, you guys would probably take a draw at ours, right? If you play for one then you'll probably get it, too. Every other negative team has and that has been our problem all season.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

I'm really surprised Oxford aren't dominating this league. Fair play to Plymouth who have punched well above their weight from day one.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

The thing is, you guys would probably take a draw at ours, right?

Before a game, no. But that's what I like about supporting my local team.

I really can't agree with the defensive, playing for a draw comment. We had 13 shots to your four. You're one of the best teams in the division. I don't really know what to make of using Radio Oxford callers as evidence.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I'm really surprised Oxford aren't dominating this league. Fair play to Plymouth who have punched well above their weight from day one.

Can't finish chances innit

 

[Don Tonberry]

Before a game, no. But that's what I like about supporting my local team.

I really can't agree with the defensive, playing for a draw comment. We had 13 shots to your four. You're one of the best teams in the division. I don't really know what to make of using Radio Oxford callers as evidence.

I think it relates to when we got reduced to ten men and Appleton didn't go for it. Made a couple of bizarre substitutions if I remember rightly.

I hope you do come and have a go. Should be a cracking game if you do.