The playoff thread

[EnglishRed]

Out of the last 8 games we still have to play all the top 6. We haven't proved we can beat a good side yet this season so I'm not holding out too much hope of getting into the playoffs based on that. I reckon we are the outsiders of all the sides so I expect we will just miss out and that'll be enough to keep Mills in a job, although it is open to debate whether he should keep it or not.

Perfect time to start.

I'm quite confident for the home games. We can also definitely get points at FGR and Tranmere.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Out of the last 8 games we still have to play all the top 6. We haven't proved we can beat a good side yet this season so I'm not holding out too much hope of getting into the playoffs based on that. I reckon we are the outsiders of all the sides so I expect we will just miss out and that'll be enough to keep Mills in a job, although it is open to debate whether he should keep it or not.

If we miss out on the play-offs we should definitely keep Mills and the majority of the squad. His original plan of being the Barcelona of non-league fell apart on heavy winter pitches. However he hasn't been dogmatic and has instead changed personnel and fundamentally changed our style of play.

With a couple of additions (especially a quality striker) I think this team could challenge for the title next season.

 

[Master D]

He has certainly changed our style of play dramatically. Recently we've played the poorer sides of the league, so we launch it upfield and our striker outpaces everyone to win games for us. We miraculously keep clean sheet after clean sheet even though our defenders are not really that good. We are now the Non League Leicester I believe.

 

[Mr Scooty]

Said it before, but the stats are a bit misleading regarding our form against the top teams. We were incredibly unlucky not to beat Grimsby, with a perfectly decent goal ruled out, and we were the better side against Cheltenham away for 60 minutes,with only shit refereeing and an amazing keeper (who is now injured) keeping them in the match. And we were very close to beating Eastleigh and Forest Green earlier this year.

It's Guiseley away I'm more worried about (not really). They were awesome at The Racecourse.

 

[rudebwoyben]

HaHaha you Barnet fans are so easy to reel in.

Well done you, give yourself a pat on the back.
Still, anything to distract you from the terrible season you're having eh?

 

[iesty wfc]

if we get 3 points over Easter weekend then i will be happy, 4 would be ideal and 6 perfect of course
looking at fixtures i think it will go as follows:
Friday 25th March 2016
BraintreevBromley - BRAINTREE WIN
CheltenhamvBoreham Wood - CHELTENHAM WIN
EastleighvWelling - EASTLEIGH WIN
Forest GreenvAldershot - FGR WIN
GatesheadvMacclesfield - GATESHEAD WIN
TranmerevLincoln City - TRANMERE WIN
Saturday 26th March 2016
DovervTorquay - DOVER WIN
GrimsbyvWrexham - DRAW

Monday 28th March 2016
AldershotvBraintree - ALDERSHOT WIN
Boreham WoodvDover - DRAW
BromleyvForest Green - DRAW
KidderminstervTranmere - TRANMERE WIN
Lincoln CityvGateshead - LINCOLN WIN
MacclesfieldvGrimsby - MACC WIN
TorquayvEastleigh - EASTLEIGH WIN
WrexhamvCheltenham - WREXHAM WIN

so Braintree drop 3, Wrexham and Dover 2, eastleigh and tranmere pick up maximum points. would make things interesting

 

[EnglishRed]

I can't see Macclesfield beating Grimsby, or anyone at the moment for that matter.

 

[GTFCfish]

I can't see Macclesfield beating Grimsby, or anyone at the moment for that matter.

Yup 2 things certain in life:

Death, and Grimsby and Macc winning on each others patches every year.

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

Yup 2 things certain in life:

Death, and Grimsby and Macc winning on each others patches every year.

...and everyone moaning about Eastleigh & FGR being bankrolled clubs, just because we might get a play off spot.

 

[GTFCfish]

...and everyone moaning about Eastleigh & FGR being bankrolled clubs, just because we might get a play off spot.

Well we have played FGR 12 times and lost only 2, and yourselves 5 times......... I'm sure you don't need reminding of those results!
So no moaning from us if we get either of you in the play offs.

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

Yip, if we make PO's and i dont think we will. GTFC are the team to avoid in our opinion.
We can beat all other sides bar your lot.
However, i wasnt getting at that, it was more pointing out that most fans of clubs, not all, will sprout BS about us being bankrolled and having huge budgets. We have a decent budget, but its in line with where we are in the league table right now.
Can all these whinging fans, really say that about their respective clubs?
Most of these ex FL clubs have over spent and spent poorly in recent years, thats why they are down here now..
Im sure the fans all agreed with what was happening back then., now they dont like it when supposedly smaller clubs are above them, or might get promoted ahead of them. Jealousy is a terrible trait.

 

[Chris FGR]

Grimsby are nothing special (on the pitch) at all. Their fans are good though tbf, they'll definitely outnumber and outsing whoever they play. But it's what's on the pitch that counts most.

If it came to it I wouldn't mind playing them in the play-offs. If we turn up and play properly we're better then them.

It would be a fitting end to the season for us to beat them at Wembley via a 95th minute winner off Jon Parkin's backside.

 

[Mariner2015]

This time next week will give a clearer idea in to who will be occupying the final 3 play-off spots. We are 4 wins from confirming a play-off spot so a double over the bank holiday weekend will be a massive step forward into confirming the final spot.

 

[Luke Imp]

Wrexham's downfall will be playing on Saturday then Monday, as opposed to Cheltenham who play Friday then Monday.

 

[White Army]

So going into the Easter weekend, Dover and Braintree hold the two important positions with games in hand. Them two pretty obvious favourites now.

4th. Dover. 65 points 37 games
5th. Braintree. 65 points 37 games
---------------------------------------------------
6th. Tranmere 63 points 39 games
7th. Wrexham 62 points 38 games
8th. Eastleigh 62 points 37 games
9th. Gateshead 62 points 39 games

Easter matches round 1:
Dover v Torquay
Braintree vs Bromley
Tranmere vs Lincoln
Grimsby vs Wrexham
Eastleigh vs Welling
Gateshead vs Macclesfield

Easter matches round 2:
Boreham Wood vs Dover
Aldershot vs Braintree
Kidderminster vs Tranmere
Wrexham vs Cheltenham
Torquay vs Eastleigh
Lincoln vs Gateshead

On paper, kind fixtures for everyone except Wrexham. Wouldnt be surprised to see Dover, Braintree, Tranmere and Eastleigh all to pick up maximum points. Wrexham will have to pull something special out the bag to keep in touch, if they do then fair play. Have to think that its make or break for them. If they lose both then theyre out of it, they win both they will probably go and make the playoffs with momentum. Interesting weekend ahead.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Danny Cowley for England

 

[Chris FGR]

Well we'll definitely be there. Can't wait.

 

[GTFCfish]

Well we'll definitely be there. Can't wait.

Don't worry you will piss them, remember you are "HEAD AND SHOULDERS" above everyone else in the league as you like to keep reminding us, so what are you worried about?⚠

 

[Iron_adam]

Interesting read.

www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/sport/14381818.Braintree_Town_chairman_reveals_the_cost_of_going_up/

www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/sport/14381869.Work_to_be_done_for_Braintree_Town_should__the_unthinkable__happen/

 

[Sparrow]

The National League will have you reffed out in the play-offs anyway.

 

[Iron_adam]

The National League will have you reffed out in the play-offs anyway.

Probably. But I'm happy we still have a chance at this point of the season.

 

[Master D]

“My best guess is that we are talking about the best part of half a million pounds,” he told the Braintree and Witham Times.

“But we are entitled to grants and, heaven forbid, if we did get to the Football League, there would be a significant uplift in central funding (from the league) compared to being in the National League. There is a bit of work to do, but we are on it.

So that's both Dover and Braintree who are saying going up would finish them off. They are trying everything possible to avoid promotion, with this statement the latest of a number of desperate pleas from both chairmen to get reffed out of it at all costs. How about just telling the players to stop playing at 10000% in every game you fools?

 

[Etty Abrics]

I very much doubt we would be able to sustain a full time squad also. I haven't read anything from the club but there isn't the core support down here required. 743 for that Lincoln game is shocking, imagine if we were struggling this season?

 

[Reremnart]

Well we'll definitely be there. Can't wait.

Yeah 2 or possibly 3 extra games to kick and elbow people. Who knows you might even take a thousand fans to Wembley. if you offer free transport that is

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Torquay need to keep winning and could do us a huge favour today. Dover are consistently inconsistent so any result could crop up there. Looking less and less likely Braintree will slip up and they may yet embarrass Grimsby by finishing above them too.

 

[White Army]

Getting a bit sick of Dover now

 

[dedwardp]

Still can't see Braintree holding on to the top five. Six away games in the next seven, including a run of FGR (H) and then Grimsby, Wrexham and Gateshead away all within a fortnight? Would love for them to do it but I think at least Eastleigh will make up the five point gap on them.

 

[GTFCfish]

Getting a bit sick of Dover now

Thats how we have felt about Cheltenham and FGR for the last few months!
Then they finally both start dropping points after we dropped miles behind.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Still can't see Braintree holding on to the top five. Six away games in the next seven, including a run of FGR (H) and then Grimsby, Wrexham and Gateshead away all within a fortnight? Would love for them to do it but I think at least Eastleigh will make up the five point gap on them.

Braintree may drop points but I don't think a team that fails to beat a Welling Utd side at home who were reduced to 10 men for the last 65 minutes of a match are going to do it.

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

Quite right, we will not do it.