Promotion thread

[valefan16]

You've always had the ability as a team for many years in this league, it's just previously you had a soft underbelly. You were one of the only teams we have played this season that have that chanelled aggression and desire. That, alongside 3 or 4 players with good ability is all you need to get out of this league.

In spite of our upturn in results, I think there are teams above us in a better position to attack the automatics. We really needed to win the other night. I have a nagging feeling that we're a couple of players with ability short. One is Gibbons who should be back soon and the other is Conlon, who we have really missed. With those 2, Wilson and Proctor fit all season I reckon we'd be easily in the top 3 by now.

That and the backlog seems to have started to catch up with us a bit, there was a lot of talk about Exeter and their injuries/illness Tuesday but as mentioned on our forum ours are currently equally as bad hence only a 6 man bench and one of those included a kid in Robinson.

We had 4/5 almost certain starters out, 3 of whom are huge players for us...

Tom Conlon
James Gibbons
Aaron Martin
Chris Hussey
Dan Jones
Lucas Covolan
Lewis Cass
Jake Taylor
Joel Cooper

So big losses and hasn't allowed much maneuver to freshen up.

Hopefully get some back soon but with Salford the last midweek left the longer recovery times after this week should benefit us, the key thing in our favour is hosting some teams above us at home, Sutton, Newport and Bristol Rovers have to visit... the outcome there will probably decide our fate.

I fancy us for the top 7 which if we make it would be remarkable with the things that have gone against us this season but top 3 may just be beyond us.

 

[Moomin]

If we get up to L1, we’d be fine next season and stay up comfortably. I think it’s the second season for a club our size that becomes the issue. All it’d take is to lose 2-3 key players and not adequately replace them and we’d be found out.

 

[Sydney Posse]

You've always had the ability as a team for many years in this league, it's just previously you had a soft underbelly. You were one of the only teams we have played this season that have that chanelled aggression and desire. That, alongside 3 or 4 players with good ability is all you need to get out of this league.

In spite of our upturn in results, I think there are teams above us in a better position to attack the automatics. We really needed to win the other night. I have a nagging feeling that we're a couple of players with ability short. One is Gibbons who should be back soon and the other is Conlon, who we have really missed. With those 2, Wilson and Proctor fit all season I reckon we'd be easily in the top 3 by now.

I thought Vale looked pretty good the other night. Much better than most we’ve played. I’m not sure if it was down to our defence being really strong on the night or it was your front players not being on top form (probably a bit of both), but I felt you missed a cutting edge up front, aside from Wilson who looked dangerous in the first half. I think you are certs for the play offs and with a fair wind still in with a shout for the auto’s

 

[kieran_vale]

I thought Vale looked pretty good the other night. Much better than most we’ve played. I’m not sure if it was down to our defence being really strong on the night or it was your front players not being on top form (probably a bit of both), but I felt you missed a cutting edge up front, aside from Wilson who looked dangerous in the first half. I think you are certs for the play offs and with a fair wind still in with a shout for the auto’s

I think we lacked someone in midfield who could unlock your defence. That would have been Tom Conlon but he’s out for the season. To be honest got to give credit where it’s due your defence did a great job shutting down Proctor and Wilson, when they’re on song it’s not an easy thing to do so shows what a good job they did.

If we were to make the playoffs then would be more than pleased with that whether we went up or not.

 

[Gassy]

Tbh from what I’ve seen, FGR & Exeter would be fine in L1 - presuming they play like they have this year.

The rest of us would struggle on current squads/tactics etc.

Bottom 6 of L1 is pretty poor - mind you, 3/4 who came down last season all look strong to bounce back up. Top half L1 though is a different animal, so so much more clinical

 

[WarwickHunt]

f

Yeah first season you get momentum usually as well, look at Sutton for example this season. Next season may be much harder.

We went up in third and finished 9th in our first season back which in the four seasons up there was the highest we managed.

Obviously Vale, Mansfield, Bristol Rovers and possibly FGR would be able to invest currently, Exeter always have decent kids. Tranmere possibly in the bracket as the bigger clubs. Swindon seem stable now also.

Newport and Sutton would probably find it hardest.

You also have to consider a tiny club like Accrington have comfortably stayed up for a few seasons now.

Having seen us play 5 Legaue One outfits this season the quality doesn’t look that great either. Have to be careful judging cup games but we battered Stanley 5-1, an injury ravaged Vale beat Burton away 2-1 fairly comfortably and our second string took a strong Rotherham side to penalties after missing a hatful of chances. Nothing overly to fear if you look beyond the “big” names.

Tranmere have money to invest.

"Tranmere possibly in the bracket as the bigger clubs" - Do you mean we possibly fall in line with huge clubs like Mansfield, Bristol Rovers and Port Vale? Come on now..

FGR will stay up but think League One is their ceiling.
Exeter are a club who sell, they'll eventually come back down as the jump is too much.
Northampton would come back down.
Bristol Rovers will compete in League One and stay up, Have potentially to compete top end imo.
Tranmere, same as Bristol Rovers.
Port Vale, same as Tranmere and Bristol Rovers.
Swindon, proven themselves to compete in League One.
Newport come back down.
Sutton, no chance.
Mansfield have the dough. After years of failing with a top budget squad, they seem to have got it about right this year and if that continues, probably compete in League One.
Salford, they make me shiver because they do have funds to burn.

To conclude, yeah, most can do it.

 

[Indian Dan]

I reckon FGR and Exeter will take 2 of the 3 auto spots. The 3rd one is up for grabs. I think Sutton and Newport/Cobblers will fail to make the POs.

I’m undecided about our chances. We seem adept at dominating games, creating a host of chances and still end up losing - could go either way.

 

[northstandexile]

Let’s close the season now and do the positions on points per game.

It’s happened before when covid infections were a lot lower than they are today.

You know it makes sense.

 

[valefan16]

Let’s close the season now and do the positions on points per game.

It’s happened before when covid infections were a lot lower than they are today.

You know it makes sense.

we would nick 7th so I could take that after we lost out last time!

 

[Devon_Lad]

Let’s close the season now and do the positions on points per game.

It’s happened before when covid infections were a lot lower than they are today.

You know it makes sense.

No thanks

We don't wanna cheat ourselves into a promotion like Pl*mouth had to do

 

[leedsvaliant]

I reckon FGR and Exeter will take 2 of the 3 auto spots. The 3rd one is up for grabs. I think Sutton and Newport/Cobblers will fail to make the POs.

I’m undecided about our chances. We seem adept at dominating games, creating a host of chances and still end up losing - could go either way.

I agree. I think the 3rd spot is the one up for grabs. I can see at least 1 possibly 2 of Northampton, Tranmere or Sutton dropping out of the playoffs. They seem to have hit patchy form at the wrong time. Bristol are nailed on for minimum playoff spot and I see them as our biggest rivals currently. Newport will also get in and Swindon will do enough.

I think we're good enough and strong enough to get a playoff place as long as key players stay fit. We would need I reckon 7 wins out of 9 for an automatic spot, which feels unrealistic.

 

[denzel ecfc]

No thanks

We don't wanna cheat ourselves into a promotion like Pl*mouth had to do

I don't care, I'd bite your hand off. Those feckers didn't care how they went up, why should we?

 

[leedsvaliant]

I don't care, I'd bite your hand off. Those feckers didn't care how they went up, why should we?

I'm with you there. That season, we were in the playoff positions until the final weekend, when we drew away to Cheltenham. We were in better form than everyone around us and I'm sure we would have made the playoffs.

It was a scandal that the season was decided like that. They could have easily completed in June when things had calmed down again.

 

[RLC]

I'm with you there. That season, we were in the playoff positions until the final weekend, when we drew away to Cheltenham. We were in better form than everyone around us and I'm sure we would have made the playoffs.

It was a scandal that the season was decided like that. They could have easily completed in June when things had calmed down again.

I think we had more reason to feel hard done by in 2019-20 than any other team in this division to be honest.

We have won two and drawn one of the last three, including games against Mansfield and Sutton, so our current form is not patchy. We have a relatively easy run in, with our most difficult fixtures at home, so I would be surprised if we did not at least make the top seven.

 

[Gassy]

Don’t think Newport will drop off, they beat us pretty comfortably.

If I had to guess who’ll miss out from the top 7 right now I’d say Northampton, Sutton & Tranmere.

No actual idea on Tranmere, we played them ages ago - just going in recent form. It might be Swindon if they are losing key players to injury

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think we had more reason to feel hard done by in 2019-20 than any other team in this division to be honest.

We have won two and drawn one of the last three, including games against Mansfield and Sutton, so our current form is not patchy. We have a relatively easy run in, with our most difficult fixtures at home, so I would be surprised if we did not at least make the top seven.

Having looked at your fixtures, you're right. However, you've won 4 in the last 10 which isn't scintillating..similar to us actually. Your last 3 fixtures look attractive but you have some tough games before then. I expect it's between Northampton, Sutton, us and Swindon as to who misses out. Newport are just so strong at home generally that I just can't see them missing out.

 

[RLC]

Having looked at your fixtures, you're right. However, you've won 4 in the last 10 which isn't scintillating..similar to us actually. Your last 3 fixtures look attractive but you have some tough games before then. I expect it's between Northampton, Sutton, us and Swindon as to who misses out. Newport are just so strong at home generally that I just can't see them missing out.

We had a run of five games without a win, but that coincided with injuries to key players and a schedule of two games per week for several weeks.

In the last three matches we have looked like the side from a couple of months ago, and I would be surprised if we did not make the play offs. We have actually got the best home record in the division.

 

[valefan16]

Having looked at your fixtures, you're right. However, you've won 4 in the last 10 which isn't scintillating..similar to us actually. Your last 3 fixtures look attractive but you have some tough games before then. I expect it's between Northampton, Sutton, us and Swindon as to who misses out. Newport are just so strong at home generally that I just can't see them missing out.

Newport have a nasty looking run in, they have to travel to Bradford, Sutton, Vale and Swindon as well as host Exeter so if they do make it they'll have had to really earn it on the run in.

 

[Indian Dan]

Don’t think Newport will drop off, they beat us pretty comfortably.

If I had to guess who’ll miss out from the top 7 right now I’d say Northampton, Sutton & Tranmere.

No actual idea on Tranmere, we played them ages ago - just going in recent form. It might be Swindon if they are losing key players to injury

We’ve got 2 back for Rochdale - Barry and Tomlinson - but have lost McKirdy for a while.

 

[kieran_vale]

Newport have a nasty looking run in, they have to travel to Bradford, Sutton, Vale and Swindon as well as host Exeter so if they do make it they'll have had to really earn it on the run in.

It is but as we’ve got a fair few six pointers ourselves it can also be a good thing as you know if you do win any of them you’re damaging your promotion rivals too. Said it earlier it’s probably just as dangerous if not more to have someone like Barrow or Stevenage during the run in who are just going to scrap like hell against you. I’m fully expecting a number of “surprise” results from them teams during the run-in.

 

[Trapdoor]

I fully expect us to get 2 points from our remaining games.

I'm not allowed to enjoy football.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Tbh from what I’ve seen, FGR & Exeter would be fine in L1 - presuming they play like they have this year.

The rest of us would struggle on current squads/tactics etc.

Bottom 6 of L1 is pretty poor - mind you, 3/4 who came down last season all look strong to bounce back up. Top half L1 though is a different animal, so so much more clinical

True. Teams in L2 have missed so many chances against us this season. Last season the opposition seems to score with every chance they had

 

[valefan16]

It is but as we’ve got a fair few six pointers ourselves it can also be a good thing as you know if you do win any of them you’re damaging your promotion rivals too. Said it earlier it’s probably just as dangerous if not more to have someone like Barrow or Stevenage during the run in who are just going to scrap like hell against you. I’m fully expecting a number of “surprise” results from them teams during the run-in.

That's it isnt it? After walloping Crawley I didn't expect them to beat Swindon for example so you can't really predict these things easily.

 

[AdamStag]

So in short plus FG anyone down to us would be realistically within a shout and none of those teams really stand out being better than the rest.

I’ve seen us absolutely batter port vale at home and we’re relatively even away and got 1 point whereas we’ve got 4 points from bristol rovers and it could be argued we were lucky in both games. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Devon_Lad]

I don't care, I'd bite your hand off. Those feckers didn't care how they went up, why should we?

Just cause they don't care doesn't mean we shouldn't.

 

[Devon_Lad]

I fully expect us to get 2 points from our remaining games.

I'm not allowed to enjoy football

You'll look daft when we get more than that in the next 26 hours

 

[AdamStag]

You'll look daft when we get more than that in the next 26 hours

I’ve got £30 on you to beat stevenage. Basically anything other than a home win is more or less impossible.

 

[WarwickHunt]

7 points from last nine..

We have the easiest run in, in comparison to the 10/11 teams involved.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I think Swindon have the easiest run in. Yes they have to play FGR and Newport at home, but the rest are against teams with nothing to play for

 

[BarrieOwl]

Seems Cam Dawson is having a great season at Exeter, pleased for him.

If we stay in L1 then I'd like FGR, Newport, Sutton and any other up cos I've been to the rest in contention.