2023/24 League Two Promotion Thread

[BarraMatt]

3 wins in a row Morecambe are showing up in the vicinity of the radar.

Last time the radar blipped the detected team had 9 rifled past them the following round of fixtures.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Last time the radar blipped the detected team had 9 rifled past them the following round of fixtures.

The way we played tonight it could well be another thrashing for Harrogate on Saturday. Funny what happens when your wins are all against dross and you've barely played the top sides away from home.

The fact Weaver got MOTM over Bell was hilarious too.

 

[joethegill]

We're still involved in this, and after a mammoth 5 goals in 2 games we've now scored as many goals as we've played games. Watch out for Clemence's free-flowing, big-scoring Gills.

Huge game at Newport this weekend before back to back home fixtures against Stockport and Wrexham to really test us, although we've put in decent performances against the higher placed sides in general this year. I think I'm right in saying we've lost every game we've played against Newport since their return to the league, so that's nice.

 

[jacobncfc]

Barrow crumbling as I expected, reckon it's realistically between the other 6 teams in the top 7. It could all come down to who has that purple patch come the end of the season.

Notts could really do without losing to us on Saturday. 11 points having played an extra game is a big gap to plug.

Top three is gone for us after our last couple of months, we’d take seventh now. But if we can work out a consistent way to be organised behind the ball while having our attacking players involved, we’re a dangerous team.

 

[AdamStag]

Looks like a 3 way race between stockport crewe and wrexham to me for the autos.

 

[Tinpot and proud]

Play offs are an exciting closure to the season, an extra couple of matches minimum with added excitement....usually brings a wee bit of cash as games are always on sky.....could be a great way to bow out for a team like ours. And I do think we could get/stay in playoffs.

 

[chief]

Top three is gone for us after our last couple of months, we’d take seventh now. But if we can work out a consistent way to be organised behind the ball while having our attacking players involved, we’re a dangerous team.

Still lots of football to be played, but granted you will need some outstanding form between now and the end of the season. I think you're capable of putting that sort of streak together, so won't rule you out just yet.

We could do with pushing on after last night's result, we can't really afford another blip like we've seen over the past month.

 

[BarraMatt]

Play offs are an exciting closure to the season, an extra couple of matches minimum with added excitement....usually brings a wee bit of cash as games are always on sky.....could be a great way to bow out for a team like ours. And I do think we could get/stay in playoffs.

In no way do I think we've completely blown our chances but that last night should be a bit of a wake up call, we're in the business end of the season now and Wild should have his best XI out on the pitch if they are available to him.

 

[AdamStag]

In no way do I think we've completely blown our chances but that last night should be a bit of a wake up call, we're in the business end of the season now and Wild should have his best XI out on the pitch if they are available to him.

I also think FG will stop up, they’ve some decent players there and cotterill had them playing some decent football saturday, they could/should have equalised when we were 1 up saturday, and the score line flattered us.

 

[GEORGE]

Fair play to Mansfield that was a hell of a win. And finally promotion looks on. Looking at your squad and I notice you have 5 ex Rovers players. With regards to moving up maybe Clarke possibly Nicholls But the other three Williams, Boateng & Kilgour won't be good enough. Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[gary]

There are probably 3 play off spots up for grabs. Anyone in the top half of the table has a realistic chance. There really isn't a great deal of difference between teams .

 

[AdamStag]

There are probably 3 play off spots up for grabs. Anyone in the top half of the table has a realistic chance. There really isn't a great deal of difference between teams .

the likes of walsall and swindon still have a perfectly good chance on the face of it if they go on a run.

 

[Optipez]

Still lots of football to be played, but granted you will need some outstanding form between now and the end of the season. I think you're capable of putting that sort of streak together, so won't rule you out just yet.

We could do with pushing on after last night's result, we can't really afford another blip like we've seen over the past month.

We need to start with at least a point at yours on Saturday if we're to have any chance of top three.
We are second top scorers in the division so we're right at one end of the pitch. Maynard has made the call to change formation and we did look far better at the back and we've hopefully upgrade the keeper, him just being average would be an improvement.
We were floundering without Palmer in centre midfield but Scott Robertson has after six games become quietly effective in his place and is looking a shrewd signing and covers a lot of ground, winning the ball and a tidy passer.
We've also got a new striker and the useful Cedwyn Scott back in full training, so we should be a stronger team for the run in than we were for the first half of the season.
I've not completely given up hope but we've got to take points from the top teams starting on Saturday.

 

[Jonny12]

the likes of walsall and swindon still have a perfectly good chance on the face of it if they go on a run.

Absolutely no chance

 

[Spanishstag]

Just looking at the table i think anyone below accrington can forget the play offs and anyone below mk dons can forget about a top three place

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

Just looking at the table i think anyone below accrington can forget the play offs and anyone below mk dons can forget about a top three place

You looking for bites intentionally?

 

[Spanishstag]

You looking for bites intentionally?

Not at all, as they say the table doesnt lie ,so teams making up five or so points in the final third of the season is unlikely as theyve not been able to keep up over the first two thirds of it,in fact for the auto places your looking at reeling in a ten point deficit

 

[Less than a mile (WAFC)]

Away form will have to improve if we are to make top 3. Crewe and franchise both away could be our un-doing.

Just stuck a tenner on Stockport at 2.1. Good odds I'd say. Mansfield not clinical enough, Wrexham not good enough away, MK not consistent enough and Crewe probably not good enough.

(Some big assumptions here but that's how I probably see it).

 

[Spanishstag]

Away form will have to improve if we are to make top 3. Crewe and franchise both away could be our un-doing.

Just stuck a tenner on Stockport at 2.1. Good odds I'd say. Mansfield not clinical enough, Wrexham not good enough away, MK not consistent enough and Crewe probably not good enough.

Not clinical enough

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Not clinical enough

As you will have seen that's been the narrative from your fellow Stags fans pretty much all season.

I've got 13/2 on Stockport for the title. 9/2 Stags Top 3 and 3/1 Stags promotion . At least two out of the three look nailed on.

 

[Less than a mile (WAFC)]

Not clinical enough

Went to both away games at your place. In both games you had loads of the ball, moved it round well and created chances, of which the vast majority were wasted and we somehow didn't lose either game.

Just going off what I've watched anyway.

 

[Agombar stool]

Not at all, as they say the table doesnt lie ,so teams making up five or so points in the final third of the season is unlikely as theyve not been able to keep up over the first two thirds of it,in fact for the auto places your looking at reeling in a ten point deficit

Generally agree.

In the 2021/22 season there were a couple of examples where this wasn't the case. On 14 Feb 2022 Tranmere were second and Bristol Rovers 14th. At the season's end Tranmere finished 9th and Bristol Rovers stole third on the last game of the season.

I don't expect such drama this season, but I wouldn't fall off my chair it something bizarre happened.

 

[jacobncfc]

We need to start with at least a point at yours on Saturday if we're to have any chance of top three.
We are second top scorers in the division so we're right at one end of the pitch. Maynard has made the call to change formation and we did look far better at the back and we've hopefully upgrade the keeper, him just being average would be an improvement.
We were floundering without Palmer in centre midfield but Scott Robertson has after six games become quietly effective in his place and is looking a shrewd signing and covers a lot of ground, winning the ball and a tidy passer.
We've also got a new striker and the useful Cedwyn Scott back in full training, so we should be a stronger team for the run in than we were for the first half of the season.
I've not completely given up hope but we've got to take points from the top teams starting on Saturday.

I really like the look of Robertson. He's not Palmer (who is), but he's really neat on the ball, covers loads of ground and wins his tackles. Set up a goal on Tuesday by dominating a Newport player in a 50/50 then playing a lovely ball through to Langstaff - when have we seen a Notts player do that (the 50/50 bit) this season?

Think we might have a difficult decision to make on Bostock in the summer because, for all his obvious quality, his lack of mobility/off the ball work is shown up far more at this level and Robertson/Palmer feels a central midfield partnership that could be automatic promotion standard.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Great post Jacob.

Agree about Robertson, game on game improvement since arriving. We tend not to win 50/50s , which tbh we didn't need to last season.

As for Bostock, big fan, and without him we aren't in L2 this season. We are short of squad depth as we all know especially in midfield so I'd keep him, he's very happy here, all depends on what contract we offer and does he accept it. I'd have more faith in him than bajrami at this level.

 

[jacobncfc]

Great post Jacob.

Agree about Robertson, game on game improvement since arriving. We tend not to win 50/50s , which tbh we didn't need to last season.

As for Bostock, big fan, and without him we aren't in L2 this season. We are short of squad depth as we all know especially in midfield so I'd keep him, he's very happy here, all depends on what contract we offer and does he accept it. I'd have more faith in him than bajrami at this level.

Yeah if he's happy with a slightly reduced role then keeping him is a no brainer (and he probably would be, the main reason he came here in the first place was being so settled in Nottingham), if the game is set up right for him he can still completely run the show.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

I really like the look of Robertson. He's not Palmer (who is), but he's really neat on the ball, covers loads of ground and wins his tackles. Set up a goal on Tuesday by dominating a Newport player in a 50/50 then playing a lovely ball through to Langstaff - when have we seen a Notts player do that (the 50/50 bit) this season?

Think we might have a difficult decision to make on Bostock in the summer because, for all his obvious quality, his lack of mobility/off the ball work is shown up far more at this level and Robertson/Palmer feels a central midfield partnership that could be automatic promotion standard.

I wonder if we’ve already offered Bostock a new contract and he hasn’t signed it, and if so is it still on the table…been poor since Palmer got injured when I would have expected him to step up.

 

[Optipez]

I wonder if we’ve already offered Bostock a new contract and he hasn’t signed it, and if so is it still on the table…been poor since Palmer got injured when I would have expected him to step up.

I'm not sure he's got the mobility to step into Palmers shoes. Him being very one footed also slows down attacks. He did look better on Tuesday, the whole team did partly because he had more cover with a four behind him.

 

[chief]

Between the current top 5 innit. Could see the top 3 comprising of any of these teams.

 

[AdamStag]

Anything other than wrexham winning the league could be a massive surprise let’s stop trying to pretend otherwise!

 

[Master D]

We will be firmly playoffs after our next 3 games, they are all away.