The League 2 Promotion thread

[Richard Cranium]

MK, Bury and Colchester the best 3 sides I’ve seen us play this season in that order.

 

[AdamStag]

Exeter were the best side I’ve seen us play but also helped by flitcrofts tactics at the time.

The current top 3 all matched Mansfield, though in fairness none of them were better than us, but none were worse either.

 

[Indian Dan]

Pretty much agree, although I think Bury could also go up automatically. Their squad must be one of the best - and most expensive - in the division. We will see how good they are tomorrow.

I also think Newport are more likely to make the play-offs than FGR, with their two prolific strikers.

Newport were pants the other week - and their manager is off to B Rovers apparently. Lincoln are the best side I’ve seen so far.

We’ve been so poor in the Brown games it’s hard to actually know if the sides we’ve been beaten by are any good or not.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Burys results obviously mean something and they wouldn't be where they are without having something about them but against us they were blunt, both in attack and defense, except for a 15 minute spell.
We saw nothing to fear there.
As for Colchester our game was kamakazi and we ended up drawing 3 all. Good going forward but still conceding 3 made me.think they wouldn't cut it.
Finally mk is difficult to judge. Opening day, a game I thought we could have won but too many injuries across our back line meant we played 4 kids all under 21 ( I think). Granted they had opening day issues as well probably but it just means it was difficult to form an opinion on.

Basically what I'm trying to say is none of the top teams scare me. I'd go into any game against any team in this division home or away and be looking to get something.

It's just not that good

 

[Attila the hun]

I think the best 3 sides we have played this season are MK Newport and Carlisle who where excellent on the day but seem to be very inconsistent Lincoln and MK look nailed on for automatic so 1 place up for grabs apart from when they played us Bury have been the side that stands out so I will go for them play offs still all to play for for half the division

 

[Davidimp]

Colchester are very good at home and have probably had the away win of the season on Saturday so I'm not writing them off for a top 3 finish.
Mid 80s should get a top 3 finish so we 38/39 points from 24 games.
Just hope we don't do a Notts County after Xmas!

 

[Tranmerewhite]

If we continue our home form we have a chance, because surely our away form will improve at some stage?!

Basically what I'm trying to say is none of the top teams scare me. I'd go into any game against any team in this division home or away and be looking to get something.

It's just not that good

Then you lose 6-0 at Carlisle. Even our away team beat them

 

[AdamStag]

Think today proved anyone can beat anyone and put a decent run together you’ve a chance.

Lincoln losing at Crewe, MK to Cheltenham, Colchester to Stevenage Newport to forest green.

I wouldn’t say anyone’s nailed on after recent results at all, a team goes on a good run and then it all falls to pieces.

We’re 3rd and 2 points better off than 7th (admittedly with games in hand) but it’s that close

 

[getoutofit]

Think today proved anyone can beat anyone and put a decent run together you’ve a chance.

Lincoln losing at Crewe, MK to Cheltenham, Colchester to Stevenage Newport to forest green.

I wouldn’t say anyone’s nailed on after recent results at all, a team goes on a good run and then it all falls to pieces.

We’re 3rd and 2 points better off than 7th (admittedly with games in hand) but it’s that close

Hardly a surprising revelation but it really is just a matter of who performs/does what's needed most often, who's most organised the most consistently. Then throw a bit of luck in and there you go. Sounds simple but of course it's not, it's bloody tough.

However, this division is unlike the top flight for example, where the gulf between the teams at either end of the table is huge. When Man City lost at home to Palace I was genuinely shocked, but if I see MK Dons have lost against Cheltenham I hardly bat an eyelid.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Hardly a surprising revelation but it really is just a matter of who performs/does what's needed most often, who's most organised the most consistently. Then throw a bit of luck in and there you go. Sounds simple but of course it's not, it's bloody tough.

However, this division is unlike the top flight for example, where the gulf between the teams at either end of the table is huge. When Man City lost at home to Palace I was genuinely shocked, but if I see MK Dons have lost against Cheltenham I hardly bat an eyelid.

This will be exaggerated when we lose to Macclesfield (away of course) before dispatching Tottenham 3-0 at home.

 

[Franchisor]

This has to be the most balanced L2 season in years. Like others have said, there are so many teams that are a fairly even standard with each and it seems any of the top half look like they can beat each other on any given day.

It's no coincidence for us that being without our two first choice CBs (Walsh and JMT) has coincided with two back to back defeats as we're playing others out of position. Thank fuck we have a game in hand.

 

[Sydney Posse]

All about January for us. When we have our best 11 we could challenge for the top 3, when we have key injuries we have shown we can be pretty average. Lots of talk of Pym and Stockley leaving, and they are DEFINITELY good enough for at least the division above and will be very hard to replace like for like. It's always been tricky convincing the up and coming best guys to move all the way down, especially when others can pay more. I really hope we keep them until the end of the season even if they can walk on a free, as in my view we need them to achieve promotion aspirations this time round. As for the others, Mansfield never seem to lose, MK Dons and Lincoln have been the most consistent, Bury were very good against us recently by all accounts.......

 

[AdamStag]

Advantage Lincoln seemingly.

Sounds like they were lucky to beat Cambridge but 3 points is 3 points.

MK drawing conceding in the last minute, Mansfield and Colchester drawing at home to limited opposition, bury being held by the worst club in the football league, forest green being held at cheltenham and exeter losing to Grimsby

 

[Luke Imp]

Well, now we've reached the magical 50 point mark, we can focus on a top 7 finish...

 

[Davidimp]

We've won a lot of games this season without really playing too well, today sounds like the latest example.
Been loads Northampton, Bury, Stevenage, FGR, Crewe (home ),Macclesfield spring to mind.

 

[Laker]

This has to be the most balanced L2 season in years. Like others have said, there are so many teams that are a fairly even standard with each and it seems any of the top half look like they can beat each other on any given day.

It's no coincidence for us that being without our two first choice CBs (Walsh and JMT) has coincided with two back to back defeats as we're playing others out of position. Thank fuck we have a game in hand.

After having seen you and Lincoln both beat us, I’d say there’s not much to choose between you. But perhaps to back up your point about the league being even, I haven’t seen a single side that’s impressed me in the way Luton, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Southend, Shrewsbury, Burton etc have in previous years.

 

[Luke Imp]

After having seen you and Lincoln both beat us, I’d say there’s not much to choose between you. But perhaps to back up your point about the league being even, I haven’t seen a single side that’s impressed me in the way Luton, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Southend, Shrewsbury, Burton etc have in previous years.

Surprised by that, for no other reason than it didn't sound like we were anywhere near ourselves (again) and I've not read too many positive comments from our side either. Don't get me wrong, it's no fluke that we win as many as we do without playing that well but I don't think either of our games this season have been an accurate reflection of us.

 

[Son of Cod]

 

[shoddycollins]

I may be a little drunk, but we have something you fuckers don't. We've got John fucking Sheridan. Aaaaah!

 

[Franchisor]

Think the current top 3 is how it will finish at the end of the season, with perhaps us in third and Mansfield second.

We've properly ballsed up in the past three games. From having the best defence in the EFL to conceding 5 in two games, 2 defeats and throwing away a 2 goal lead today, all against mediocre sides.

Now we're starting to see who the real contenders are. Lincoln have that edge that all good eventual promotion winners have - the ability to consistently come back and find a win when a goal down.

Mansfield are the real team to watch though, 15 undefeated, 1 defeat all season and look solid. The chasing pack are too inconsistent to maintain a challenge to the current top 3 I feel.

 

[Laker]

Surprised by that, for no other reason than it didn't sound like we were anywhere near ourselves (again) and I've not read too many positive comments from our side either. Don't get me wrong, it's no fluke that we win as many as we do without playing that well but I don't think either of our games this season have been an accurate reflection of us.

We had 24 shots against MK Dons and they scored theit goal a little against the run of play, didn’t create a ton either. The contrast is that for example we drew with Luton at home last season and were largely second best throughout and it was only a red card for them that evened it up for us.

 

[AdamStag]

Think the current top 3 is how it will finish at the end of the season, with perhaps us in third and Mansfield second.

We've properly ballsed up in the past three games. From having the best defence in the EFL to conceding 5 in two games, 2 defeats and throwing away a 2 goal lead today, all against mediocre sides.

Now we're starting to see who the real contenders are. Lincoln have that edge that all good eventual promotion winners have - the ability to consistently come back and find a win when a goal down.

Mansfield are the real team to watch though, 15 undefeated, 1 defeat all season and look solid. The chasing pack are too inconsistent to maintain a challenge to the current top 3 I feel.

We do have games in hand but I’d rather the points on the board. We’ve had a good Christmas with wins away at Stevenage at home to bury and a slightly disappointing but weary draw with Swindon.

We’re away to inform Grimsby and Carlisle next which are both hard places to go to, if we can get 4 or more from that I’ll start to believe.

Lincoln should go up but too early to call for anyone else.

 

[dedwardp]

We're always rubbish after Christmas and judging by the two home games this week against Stevenage and Morecambe it doesn't look like changing again this season.

 

[GTFCfish]

Hard to judge MK Dons from the 2 games we’ve played against them this season in league and FA Cup as both games have seen the away side dominate the first half but the home team dominate the second. First half away at MK is probably the best we’ve played all season and we should really have been out of sight but then second half they were all over us and we were hanging on for dear life at the end just for a point.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I’ll wait until January is finished before coming back to this thread. It was only a couple of weeks ago that snuck out of the relegation thread. We’re injury-ravaged and going into an incredibly tough month. There’s also a chance we won’t have 3 of our first XI by the end of the month. Apart from that, the Town are going up!

 

[shoddycollins]

I may be a little drunk, but we have something you fuckers don't. We've got John fucking Sheridan. Aaaaah!

Fuck sake

 

[gijsbert_bos]

Fuck sake

Seems like you don't even need him. Thanks for beating Mansfield

 

[wangle]

I didn't even consider Carlisle as potential play off candidates but they've stormed up the league. The league is starting to get a bit more conjested. Could be interesting!

 

[Chris FGR]

We've got Oldham, Bury, Grimsby
, Stevenage and Mansfield coming up this month. If we're still in and around it after those then reckon we've got half a chance.

 

[Carver]

I fancy us, MK and Forest Green for the autos with Exeter through the play offs.