The League 2 Promotion thread

[denzel ecfc]

Exeter were shite today

Can't argue with that, we were.
Not looking brilliant at the moment but don't write us off, we've been in worse positions the last few seasons and still got to the playoffs.
Macclesfield on Tuesday, goodness knows what team we will have available for that

 

[denzel ecfc]

Devon Lad, kindly post in the mid table thread from now on please instead of wasting your time in the promotion thread that you’re no longer involved in.

That’s all.

Not sure what you're doing here tbfl

 

[AdamStag]

To be fair to them though if they had just walked off at the end and not acknowledged the fans they would’ve been slated for that too.

Fair point.

 

[AdamStag]

Oh come on, it's not quite slit your wrists time yet.

Theres only 1 point between you and us and win your game in hand you are only 3 behind Bury.

Plenty of time for things to change massivly yet with 10 games/30 points to play for.

Play like we’ve done since the turn of the year there’s no chance they’ll go up.

 

[RLC]

If Tranmere make the PO's with their run of fixtures, they deserve it. FGR, Lincoln, MK, Bury, Newport, Colchester etc. April's a killer for them.

True, but we have got a reasonable record against the top sides this season, beating yourselves, Carlisle and Exeter (twice) and drawing with MK, Mansfield and Colchester. We were also the better team at Bury and were very unlucky to lose that game. We achieved most of those results before we strengthened in January.

However, six points from the next two matches would be welcome (Grimsby and Oldham) before we hit the run-in from Hell.

In reality, I can hardly believe we are in this position. Mellon has done an incredible job with us.

 

[Stringy]

Can't believe we are only one place above Tranmere. Obviously must be doing well but I thought McNulty and that other guy who played right back seemed too large to be professional footballers. They still felt very non-leaguish in their outlook and thought they might need a season or two more before challenging for the play-offs but fair play as in a good position!

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

Where is that mid table thread? No point posting in here when you have Flitcroft as manager.

Ollie Plamer to score a few on Tuesday and then Lincoln will score a few penalties on TV to end any top 3 hopes we have.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Can't believe we are only one place above Tranmere. Obviously must be doing well but I thought McNulty and that other guy who played right back seemed too large to be professional footballers. They still felt very non-leaguish in their outlook and thought they might need a season or two more before challenging for the play-offs but fair play as in a good position!

That was one of our worst performances of the season where we went down to 10 men early on, McNulty was playing through injury and I doubt Jake Caprice is too large given he's easily the fastest player in this league.

Not too concerned what we do from here this season. We've cleared a lot of the debt we accumulated during non league years and we'll be stronger next year as a club and as a team from this position.

 

[GTFCfish]

If your band could kindly put a half hearted Solihull-esque performance in on Tuesday to help our GD...

It won’t be quite the Solihull 9-0 but should still be a home banker, our losing runs are always 3 or 4 games with a 6 game streak thrown in for good measure at the start when we were feeling ultra generous, and given our current losing streak is only at 2 games and throw in with that that our players are already on the beach you should be able to fill your boots.

 

[Stringy]

Caprice was decent. I meant the guy who playing RCB, think his name was Sutton. He wasn't terrible just large. Not a criticism of Tranmere just a little surprised that they are 5th as most other teams haven't had overweight players. Suppose overweight doesn't necessarily mean bad!

 

[Dean]

Caprice was decent. I meant the guy who playing RCB, think his name was Sutton. He wasn't terrible just large. Not a criticism of Tranmere just a little surprised that they are 5th as most other teams haven't had overweight players. Suppose overweight doesn't necessarily mean bad!

Adam Buxton and yeah he’s straight from the Steve McNulty fitness school.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Fair!

Buxton is technically a very good player but his lack of athleticism lets him down. He did well for Accrington when they were around the playoffs a few years ago but hasn't featured too much for us this year, mainly injury cover.

 

[Dean]

Previous matches have no influence whatsoever on future games and points. Based on the current table, we will make the play offs, as we're in them.

By your reckoning does this now mean Exeter will not make the play offs, due to the fact they’re not actually in them?

 

[Lborostag]

Oh come on, it's not quite slit your wrists time yet.

Theres only 1 point between you and us and win your game in hand you are only 3 behind Bury.

Plenty of time for things to change massivly yet with 10 games/30 points to play for.

True, however its more the way we have played since January! Colchester are not my favourite team...breaking our RWB's leg has had a huge difference on our ability to play the formation Flitcroft is incapable of changing.

 

[AdamStag]

True, however its more the way we have played since January! Colchester are not my favourite team...breaking our RWB's leg has had a huge difference on our ability to play the formation Flitcroft is incapable of changing.

That’s the problem.

He plays the wrong formation for the players available and won’t change.

Maybe if he played a formation that would suit the players at his disposal maybe they wouldn’t lose so often.

But obviously keeping the same tactics work despite the consecutive 3 away defeats .

The lack of a plan B and another choke are deeply concerning. For flitcroft promotion this season is mandatory, given last season and the budget this season anything less would be a spectacular failure.

I hope to god he gets it right from the bottom of my heart, but most fans today were deeply concerned

 

[KeithH]

The moment Futcher starts to argue with your players you are lost, it cannot be far off if it hasn't happened already.

 

[DippyDon]

Mansfield are still in this yet with our April/May looking really difficult. Lincoln H, Tranmere A, Notts County A, Port Vale H, Colchester A and then Mansfield on the last game of the season could give us plenty of places to slip up.

I still think it'll be a straight cup final like game on the last game of the season.

 

[JJ1532]

98 - Guaranteed Champions 2019
97 -
96 -
95 - Guaranteed Automatics 2019
94 -
93 - Champions 2018
92 - Predicted Champions 2019
91 -
90 - Champions 2015
89 -
88 -
87 - Champions 2016, 2017
86 - Guaranteed Play Offs 2019
85 - Automatic Promotion 2016
84 - Automatic Promotion 2018
83 - Predicted Automatics 2019
82 - Champions 2014
81 -
80 - Champions 2013
79 -
78 - Automatic Promotion 2017
77 - Automatic Promotion 2013, 2014
76 -
75 - Play Offs 2018
74 -
73 -
72 - Predicted Play Offs 2019, Lincoln(36)
71 -
70 - Play Offs 2016, 2017, Bury(37)
69 - Play Offs 2015
68 - Play Offs 2013
67 -
67 -
66 -
65 - MK Dons(36)
-------------------------------------------------------------
64 - Mansfield(36)
63 - Play Offs 2014
62 -
61 -
60 -
59 -
58 - Tranmere(36)
57 - Colchester(36)
56 - Carlisle(36)
------------------------------------------------------------
55 - Exeter(36)
54 -
54 - Forest Green(36)
53 -
52 -
51 -
50 - Swindon(35)

Forthcoming fixtures:

1st Lincoln(36) - 72 points. Oldham(H), Mansfield(A), Crawley(A), Macclesfield(H), MK Dons(A), Cheltenham(H), Carlisle(A), Tranmere(H), Newport(A), Colchester(H)
2nd Bury(37) - 70 points. Cambridge(H), Grimsby(A), Swindon(H), Carlisle(A), Colchester(H), Newport(A), Northampton(H), Tranmere(A), Port Vale(H)
3rd MK Dons(36) - 65 points. Morecambe(A), Stevenage(H), Yeovil(H), Forest Green(A), Lincoln(H), Tranmere(A), Notts County(A), Port Vale(H), Colchester(A), Mansfield(H)
---------------------------------------------------
3rd Mansfield(36) - 64 points. Crawley(A), Lincoln(H), Crewe(H), Exeter(A), Cambridge(H), Northampton(A), Morecambe(H), Oldham(A), Stevenage(H), MK Dons(A)
5th Tranmere(36) - 58 points. Grimsby(H), Oldham(A), Colchester(A), Carlisle(H), Newport(A), MK Dons(H), Forest Green(H), Lincoln(A), Bury(H), Crawley(A)
6th Colchester(36) - 57 points. Newport(H), Forest Green(H), Exeter(A), Tranmere(H), Cambridge(A), Mansfield(A), Bury(A), Grimsby(H), Yeovil(A), MK Dons(H), Lincoln(A)
7th Carlisle(36) - 56 points. Notts County(H), Forest Green(A), Cambridge(H), Tranmere(A), Bury(H), Stevenage(A), Lincoln(H), Grimsby(A), Crawley(H), Yeovil(A)
--------------------------------------------------
8th Exeter(36) - 55 points. Northampton(A), Macclesfield(A), Colchester(H), Notts County(A), Mansfield(H), Cheltenham(A), Port Vale(H), Stevenage(A), Oldham(H), Forest Green(A)
9th Forest Green(36) - 54 points. Colchester(A), Carlisle(H), Port Vale(A), MK Dons(H), Crawley(A), Macclesfield(H), Tranmere(A), Cambridge(H), Crewe(A), Exeter(H)
10th Swindon(35) - 50 points. Stevenage(A), Port Vale(H), Morecambe(H), Bury(A), Yeovil(H), Newport(A), Oldham(A), Cambridge(A), Crewe(H), Cheltenham(A), Notts County(H)

Working in the opposite order, the top 10 stay the same, but the order flips around a fair bit. Swindon stay in 10th after losing at Carlisle. Still, 2 winnable home games coming up. A point at Stevenage and a decent return from those 2 and they could still be in with a shout.

Exeter slip out of the top 7 after a defeat at Northampton, need something from their next 2 games, given they have tough 6 pointers at home to Colchester and Mansfield coming up. They've lost form at the worst possible time. FGR continue to slowly slip off the pace with their 3rd straight defeat, this time getting battered by Morecambe. A tough few weeks coming up for them.

Carlisle get an important win over Swindon. Their home run in looks favourable, so if they can win those games and pick up a few points here and there, they could well be back in the promotion race. Colchester do the classic Colchester thing and pick back up just when things were looking a bit shaky.

Tranmere have really hit form at the right time, keep Norwood fit and they could spring a surprise or two. Looking good bets for the play-offs the way they are going.

The top 4 continue to pull away, although Mansfield have slipped to 4th due to their suddenly problematic away form. Only 1 win in their last 6 on the road, out of the top 3. Could this cost them 3rd come the end of the season?

MK Dons take advantage of that slip up and move into 3rd. Really clicking into gear now, do we reckon they can chase down the top 2 and make a push for the title? Bury also are bang in form, tidy return of 4 points from 2 long away games. Got a tricky run in mind, so it'll be interesting to see if they can keep up this pace.

Lincoln are doing their best to go for the title mind, 13 game unbeaten streak is damn impressive. Hard to see them blowing a top 3 spot at this point, unless they have the mother of all meltdowns.

So, play-off race is wide open from 5th down to 9th. That 3rd spot could still be in the balance as could the title. Going to make for an exciting last 10 games that's for sure.

 

[T.A]

Bury are also 13 unbeaten.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Tough on us having to go to Northampton again when we have only just got back...

 

[AdamStag]

Mansfield are still in this yet with our April/May looking really difficult. Lincoln H, Tranmere A, Notts County A, Port Vale H, Colchester A and then Mansfield on the last game of the season could give us plenty of places to slip up.

I still think it'll be a straight cup final like game on the last game of the season.

Can’t see us going up mate, we’re choking - again.

After being shit at Newport county they said they’d repay the 4300 Mansfield at notts county, instead they got worse and didn’t have a shot on target. After notts county the manager and players said they owe the fans again, 1500 go to port vale to see that miserable shower of shit yesterday.

It’s like Groundhog Day

 

[DippyDon]

Can’t see us going up mate, we’re choking - again.

After being shit at Newport county they said they’d repay the 4300 Mansfield at notts county, instead they got worse and didn’t have a shot on target. After notts county the manager and players said they owe the fans again, 1500 go to port vale to see that miserable shower of shit yesterday.

It’s like Groundhog Day

Honestly I thought the same when we went on our bad run in December/January, but now we've won 5 in a row and you could argue that we should make that 8 with our next few fixtures. The season still has some twists and turns yet and you have a kinder run in than us in my opinion.

 

[AdamStag]

Honestly I thought the same when we went on our bad run in December/January, but now we've won 5 in a row and you could argue that we should make that 8 with our next few fixtures. The season still has some twists and turns yet and you have a kinder run in than us in my opinion.

We can’t any longer catch bury or Lincoln so it’s just you. It’s hard to see is beating Crawley away or Lincoln at home so you could be 7 clear of us come 2 games

 

[DippyDon]

We can’t any longer catch bury or Lincoln so it’s just you. It’s hard to see is beating Crawley away or Lincoln at home so you could be 7 clear of us come 2 games

Not going to lie I hope we are, I'd give anything for a comfortable promotion, but I think what's hitting you is the usual blues when you lose a game you should always win. We were 8th not so long ago and now we're 3rd. Lots can happen especially with our April.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Not sure why it’d be a surprise from this stage if we make the playoffs? FGR and Exeter are bang out of form while Colchester have a harder run in than we do. Carlisle have to visit Prenton Park.

In the past 6 games we went from mid table to cushioned inside playoffs, whilst unlikely, Franchise are 7 ahead and have to visit Prenton Park.

 

[AdamStag]

Not going to lie I hope we are, I'd give anything for a comfortable promotion, but I think what's hitting you is the usual blues when you lose a game you should always win. We were 8th not so long ago and now we're 3rd. Lots can happen especially with our April.

It’s not a case of the blues mate, we’ve gone from losing 1 in 23 to 5 in 12 or so, it’s reslly concerning.

Had we lost to any of Newport notts or vale and deserved anything from the game I could have got over it, but we haven’t looked close in any of them

 

[Luke Imp]

Bury are also 13 unbeaten.

I think you and us are the only unbeaten sides in 2019 in the top 5 divisions.

 

[Davidimp]

And the game we played in January was a cracker too, brought the best out of both teams imho.

 

[Luke Imp]

Can’t see us going up mate, we’re choking - again.

After being shit at Newport county they said they’d repay the 4300 Mansfield at notts county, instead they got worse and didn’t have a shot on target. After notts county the manager and players said they owe the fans again, 1500 go to port vale to see that miserable shower of shit yesterday.

It’s like Groundhog Day

Tonnes of games left, you're only 1 point off 3rd. If you can come out of the other side sharpish (preferably not the next two games!) and kick on again you'll be fine. MK aren't going to keep winning every week and then you've got them on the final day, too.

 

[T.A]

It'll be interesting to see how we react after losing. We've got some hard away games Newport, Carlisle and Tranmere. Grimsby won't be easy either. I think 4 wins and a couple of draws will do it for us. Very much needed week off while everyone else plays midweek as we've looked tired from the Macc game.