Who are finishing in Automatic promotion spots?

[spireite]

I personally think we have been fortunate in a few games this season with the following springing to mind:

Swindon
Morecambe
Carlisle
Barrow

But as we hear most weeks that's because we have character. Plus a top goalkeeper and a solid defence keeps you in games you shouldn't be in entering the latter stages.

Fancy Chesterfield and MK to go on runs and could name so many who look likely playoff bound currently including Notts, very hard past Vale to name those other two.

Once we get a few injured players back you never know (paticularly, Dunkley is a huge miss, Tanton too and Fleck is an unknown, could have a big impact) but there's something not quite there I think for us yet to go on a big run and threaten the top. All the pieces are a little bit out of place, having to play Naylor at CB too often, a winger at right back, the odd silly mistake at the back being punished. Top 7 seems achievable, but I'd expect MK, Vale and potentially Donny to fill the last spot.

 

[Spireitelass97]

Very open league. Don’t think we’ll be top 3 but should be top 7 if we can sort a few niggly things and actually win at home. Of teams we’ve played Walsall were best & Vale effective against us (though we were awful) so I’d say those two atm.

 

[Optipez]

Of the teams we’ve played who you could see being up there, I’d also have Vale as being the best probably. Nothing stand out but they were functional and once they got ahead very good at defending a lead and keeping us at arm’s length. Barrow the others who stood out a bit to me, they pressed us extremely well for a while and played some sharp, fast passing football, but they did massively seem to tire after an hour or so.

Wimbledon looked organised but totally devoid of creativity, Grimsby got a bit of a shoeing, and our game with Chesterfield was great to watch but exposed both teams’ flaws as much as anything else really.

I thought Fleetwood and Port Vale the best so far. Fleetwood for playing good football but Vale have that utilitarian hard to beat look about them and enough quality up front to take chances when they come.

 

[valefan16]

I thought Fleetwood and Port Vale the best so far. Fleetwood for playing good football but Vale have that utilitarian hard to beat look about them and enough quality up front to take chances when they come.

One big positive for us is we’ve been very adaptable and been able to perform and win in different ways depending what we are facing, the performance against you and MK for instance or the footballing 70 plus possession dominance against Harrogate for instance.

 

[Boz]

The ones that I predicted for top 3 seem to have patchy form (Donny), imploded (Gills) and have improved their prospects with a managerial change (Milton Keynes).

Port Vale looked pretty ordinary against Rovers but are now starting to click and have a squad capable of top 3. There are plenty of other contenders who could make it, given the tight nature of this league, at this point there's only a couple of clubs that could be confidently ruled out.

 

[Posh Harry]

Approx. 30% of the season gone, so who do you think are going to finish top 3?

No particular order but I’d go; Port Vale, AFCWimbledon & Doncaster.

Also think MK won’t be far off come May

Not Swindon

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Thats why I put the first sentence, as you can only base it on what you see which is once or twice a season. Doncaster or Barrow fans would think we are terrible defensively for examp,e but we conceded less than we did in those two games (7) in the other 11 combined (6) so clearly not representative of our standard.

A good point. It’s also styles, the way you play suits how we play therefore we had success yet we struggle against teams such as Harrogate because we find it difficult to break teams down and become susceptible to the counter attack.

 

[valefan16]

A good point. It’s also styles, the way you play suits how we play therefore we had success yet we struggle against teams such as Harrogate because we find it difficult to break teams down and become susceptible to the counter attack.

We played way too open and too much of a high line with slow defenders that day. Should have gone 2 at the back for that one and not over run but in fairness to DM we’ve won 8 and drew 2 since that day so he’s got more right than wrong so far, after that game and Barrow before a lot questioned if he was the right man.

 

[Kauto Star]

Very open league and difficult to predict.

I think Port Vale are certs to not only gain promotion but win the league in my opinion.

If we can get all our injured players back soon and add a striker in January, I would really fancy us to finish in top 3.

Notts County under a different manager would be definites for me for top 3 too.

I'm not sure of the depth of Walsall's squad, and I have a feeling they have peaked too soon, but should still be good enough to finish top 7

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Vale : reported biggest budget, talented manager who had operated at a higher level, looks a talented balanced squad. Can win a multitude of ways.
Chesterfield: big budget, talented seasoned manage, incredibly strong squad with so much depth albeit a lot of their talent are 30+. Too many goalscorers not to go up.
Doncaster: because well why not? Manager has operated at a higher level and won promotion, could go on long unbeaten run plus nice stadium

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Vale : reported biggest budget, talented manager who had operated at a higher level, looks a talented balanced squad. Can win a multitude of ways.
Chesterfield: big budget, talented seasoned manage, incredibly strong squad with so much depth albeit a lot of their talent are 30+. Too many goalscorers not to go up.
Doncaster: because well why not?

Cheers although our manager has also operated at a higher level and won promotion

 

[leedsvaliant]

I'm not going to lie, things do look pretty good at the moment, and history tells us that teams with our amount of points at this stage of the season generally get promoted.

Don't really feel that we've played amazingly yet, but seem to have enough. Reminds me a bit of Derby in the league above, who didn't look particular brilliant but just kept grinding out results. Sheffield Wednesday the season before that too.

Doncaster I feel will have enough. I think Molyneux is one of the best in the division and they have plenty of experience.

Chesterfield squad is full of talent and experience. Notts could do it but their manager seems to have odd tactics at times.

Of the rest, I'm not sure whether Crewe will last the pace...I reckon playoffs though again, January is crucial for Walsall. Don't think Gillingham have enough. Johnny Williams wasn't good enough 3 years ago and they seem functional rather than runaway winners.

Bradford are my tip to go close. Seems like they have their shit together a bit more and I think their manager is decent enough. Surely one year it will fall for them eventually. Think mk dons will be playoffs....some of their players look good on paper but they just didn't seem cohesive as a team to me.

 

[valefan16]

I'm not going to lie, things do look pretty good at the moment, and history tells us that teams with our amount of points at this stage of the season generally get promoted.

Don't really feel that we've played amazingly yet, but seem to have enough. Reminds me a bit of Derby in the league above, who didn't look particular brilliant but just kept grinding out results. Sheffield Wednesday the season before that too.

Doncaster I feel will have enough. I think Molyneux is one of the best in the division and they have plenty of experience.

Chesterfield squad is full of talent and experience. Notts could do it but their manager seems to have odd tactics at times.

Of the rest, I'm not sure whether Crewe will last the pace...I reckon playoffs though again, January is crucial for Walsall. Don't think Gillingham have enough. Johnny Williams wasn't good enough 3 years ago and they seem functional rather than runaway winners.

Bradford are my tip to go close. Seems like they have their shit together a bit more and I think their manager is decent enough. Surely one year it will fall for them eventually. Think mk dons will be playoffs....some of their players look good on paper but they just didn't seem cohesive as a team to me.

We were told by Wednesday fans about Darren's famous 1-0 away wins! And seems the case.

 

[クレイグ]

We'd need a very strong January window to have any chance of making the top three. Playoffs maybe.

 

[valefan16]

Cheers although our manager has also operated at a higher level and won promotion

Peterborough are out of form though so they may be back on the phone soon for their rotation!

 

[Grimsby Road]

Of the one's we have played MK,Notts , Walsall and Donny have been impressive assume Vale are at a similiar level so maybe a straight shoot out between them ; thought Chesterfield decent but a bit off the others , so maybe play-offs ?

Wimbledon top 7 with games in hand potentially but still a nagging doubt over Jacskon for me but he's done better than i thought he would tbf .

Barrow i thought meh and we were rubbish but they seem to be doing well and have some decent players .

GIlls , Us , Bradford similiar level with what i have seen a bit off the others maybe Crewe & Fleetwood aswell seem to be doing ok might be a bit of a battle for the last couple of play-off spots If it keeps going like it is .

 

[Grimsby Road]

Going into this season you had a handful of teams with decent budgets who invested quite a bit in their squads yet the overall football hasn't improved and it's still a shit league with not one good team in it.

Im sorry but when you see the likes of Grimsby, Barrow and Walsall up there or thereabouts it just looks tinpot.

The likes of Altrincham , Boston and Eastleigh might be saying the same about your lot next season mate , and that's assuming it goes well

 

[Valeite]

I think Wimbledon will do well, Walsall will be up there as will Bradford and Donnie.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Disregarding Vale as pretty lock in there is only 5 points between Walsall in 2nd and Grimsby in 10th. Easily surmountable with only a 3rd of the season gone. I would hope we are one of the other 2 autos as another playoff humiliation would be too much to bear.

 

[GTFCfish]

Disregarding Vale as pretty lock in there is only 5 points between Walsall in 2nd and Grimsby in 10th. Easily surmountable with only a 3rd of the season gone. I would hope we are one of the other 2 autos as another playoff humiliation would be too much to bear.

Mr reason for having Vale as looking certs isn’t because of their current gap it’s because they keep beating all the other good sides.

 

[valefan16]

Mr reason for having Vale as looking certs isn’t because of their current gap it’s because they keep beating all the other good sides.

Think that is what he is saying as pretty locked in all be it as a Vale fan I am less at ease with that! We can be 30 points clear with 11 to go and I'd still be convinced we will mess it up!

Since losing to Doncaster (which we set up totally wrong and was before Stockley started which made a big difference to us) we've done well beating Notts, MK, Wimbledon but still have concerns for me against the struggling sides who play a low block, if we can be efficient against those we should be ok but a long way to go.

 

[GTFCfish]

Think that is what he is saying as pretty locked in all be it as a Vale fan I am less at ease with that! We can be 30 points clear with 11 to go and I'd still be convinced we will mess it up!

Since losing to Doncaster (which we set up totally wrong and was before Stockley started which made a big difference to us) we've done well beating Notts, MK, Wimbledon but still have concerns for me against the struggling sides who play a low block, if we can be efficient against those we should be ok but a long way to go.

I didn’t know you’d lost to Doncaster I must’ve missed that one although no disgrace there anyway as they are IMO the best team we’ve played so far, after 5 minutes against them I was already hoping we could get to half time only 1-0 down.

 

[valefan16]

I didn’t know you’d lost to Doncaster I must’ve missed that one although no disgrace there anyway as they are IMO the best team we’ve played so far, after 5 minutes against them I was already hoping we could get to half time only 1-0 down.

Both losses came consecutively to Barrow (0-4) and Doncaster (2-3) but this was early doors when we were still gelling and a few key players hadn't got in... for example Stockley is key to how we play and since he has managed to make a start we have yet to be beaten.

Doncaster were decent but we set up completely wrong and were so open, the worry when Byers got injured was as good as Garrity and Croasdale are, that pairing didn't work that day, or at Barrow... but we've won every game since Byers fractured his leg so we've tweaked it to work much better.

The Doncaster game ironically was probably the best thing, in coupling with the Barrow shocker as it really kicked us up the backside and we have been a completely different animal since. (and we've gelled). Many fans started to question if Moore was the right man after that game!

 

[leedsvaliant]

That Barrow game was an odd one really. They deserved to win but it was more a 1-0 game than a 4-0. Just one of those games where every half chance flew in.

Donny looked decent, but again it was early in the season, half our players weren't fit and we employed completely the wrong tactics because I don't think the manager fully knew his team. Play that game again now and I think we have a better chance of winning.

We haven't really had a run of 'easier' games yet. November isn't much better, with Gillingham away and Crewe at home.
We've just played Notts and MK away and Fleetwood and Wimbledon at home...all tough games! I don't feel like I've been to a home game yet where I think 'we're going to win this'.

If we get to New Year's Day in the same spot, I reckon we're in with a big chance.

 

[valefan16]

That Barrow game was an odd one really. They deserved to win but it was more a 1-0 game than a 4-0. Just one of those games where every half chance flew in.

Donny looked decent, but again it was early in the season, half our players weren't fit and we employed completely the wrong tactics because I don't think the manager fully knew his team. Play that game again now and I think we have a better chance of winning.

We haven't really had a run of 'easier' games yet. November isn't much better, with Gillingham away and Crewe at home.
We've just played Notts and MK away and Fleetwood and Wimbledon at home...all tough games! I don't feel like I've been to a home game yet where I think 'we're going to win this'.

If we get to New Year's Day in the same spot, I reckon we're in with a big chance.

Never feels any game is easy at this level, its fairly level playing field wise, Accrington gave us the toughest game in this 10 game run, but we have seemed to play most sides when in form! Probably suits us more than the low block sides in fairness.

Mixed back of fixtures left until the half way point with struggling Morecambe A, Cheltenham A, Carlisle H, Bromley A

Promotion chasing Crewe H, Walsall H, Bradford A

Mid table/play off chasing Gillingham A, Grimsby A

Odd quirk of the fixtures that we have 6 aways in the next 9 though so at the half way point of the season we will have played 13 Away and 10 at home which I assume is the same for most clubs either way but seems lob sided.

 

[Kauto Star]

Never feels any game is easy at this level, its fairly level playing field wise, Accrington gave us the toughest game in this 10 game run, but we have seemed to play most sides when in form! Probably suits us more than the low block sides in fairness.

Mixed back of fixtures left until the half way point with struggling Morecambe A, Cheltenham A, Carlisle H, Bromley A

Promotion chasing Crewe H, Walsall H, Bradford A

Mid table/play off chasing Gillingham A, Grimbsy A

Odd quirk of the fixtures that we have 6 aways in the next 9 though so at the half way point of the season we will have played 13 Away and 10 at home which I assume is the same for most clubs either way but seems lob sided.

Should be a cracker on Boxing Day in front of probably the highest league 2 attendance of the season.

 

[Cloudy]

Never feels any game is easy at this level, its fairly level playing field wise, Accrington gave us the toughest game in this 10 game run, but we have seemed to play most sides when in form! Probably suits us more than the low block sides in fairness.

Mixed back of fixtures left until the half way point with struggling Morecambe A, Cheltenham A, Carlisle H, Bromley A

Promotion chasing Crewe H, Walsall H, Bradford A

Mid table/play off chasing Gillingham A, Grimbsy A

Odd quirk of the fixtures that we have 6 aways in the next 9 though so at the half way point of the season we will have played 13 Away and 10 at home which I assume is the same for most clubs either way but seems lob sided.

Argghhhhhh!!!!!

 

[valefan16]

Argghhhhhh!!!!!

amended! took me ages to even figure out the issue there