[Mr Mercury]

Search & Destroy, on 16 March 2025 - 05:50 PM, said:

Bradford home to Col U next week

Could be 4 behind with a game in hand

We would also need Crewe and Grimsby not to win for that to be the case.

[DIFH]

essexspireman, on 15 March 2025 - 08:52 PM, said:

If we do get in the play offs, we will have the momentum to do well

And some important players rare in to go.

[Spireite93]

Mr Mercury, on 16 March 2025 - 05:53 PM, said:

We would also need Crewe and Grimsby not to win for that to be the case.

Crewe's next 4 = Notts (A), Port Vale (H), Grimsby (H), Bradford (A)

As well as going to Crewe, Grimsby also face Colchester away in a couple of games

If we focus on just picking off the next few teams lower down the table the rest looks like it could take care of itself

[dtp]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 16 March 2025 - 10:43 AM, said:

Perspective.

Yes this division is a week-to-week a step up from the National League - you're far more likely to be punished for cock-ups you'd get away with there - but it's still pretty ordinary.

Look how we've performed against high flying outfits even deprived of most our squad.

Then there's such as Colyoo pushing for the play offs.

We've also a number of relegation battlers to come to ours'.

Confidence is high, players to return and absolutely nothing to lose.

Bradford at Easter will be massive...

Bradford might not be massive if we perform and take maximum points from enough of the other games.

The teams above us will likely knock points out of each other but, at the same time, they need less points than us to reach the magic points total required whatever that may be.

The teams below us will either be scrapping for points in efforts to avoid relegation or being dragged into a relegation battle whilst some will be playing under no pressure at all.

At the end of the day it will be about what we do ourselves. As a bare minimum we need 7 wins but more likely 8 out of the remaining 10 games. It is a big ask but not impossible with 6 of those games being at home. So, it does not matter which of those teams we take the points from but we cannot afford to drop points in more than 3 games unless we draw those 3 and win a minimum of 6 of the other 7.

[Sussex Spireite]

The next 6 games will be season defining.

But do we want to do a 'Crawley'? They had a good run at the end of the season and beat two teams in the play-offs that nobody would've put money on to do so, but look how they are doing now! Are we ready for promotion?

[The Jolly Friar]

Beat Harrogate on Saturday and the question takes on a whole new meaning

This post has been edited by The Jolly Friar: 17 March 2025 - 08:35 PM

[60s 70s Spireite]

Sussex Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 08:10 PM, said:

The next 6 games will be season defining.

But do we want to do a 'Crawley'? They had a good run at the end of the season and beat two teams in the play-offs that nobody would've put money on to do so, but look how they are doing now! Are we ready for promotion?

Crawley scraped into the play offs despite not winning any of their last four league games. If we get into the play offs we will be scraping in by virtue of winning most of our last four matches.
Crawley then lost their manager in September, have crowds of little over 3,000 and very little player drawing power.
We wouldnt be doing a Crawley IF we scraped up.

[JonB]

60s 70s Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 08:54 PM, said:

Crawley scraped into the play offs despite not winning any of their last four league games. If we get into the play offs we will be scraping in by virtue of winning most of our last four matches.
Crawley then lost their manager in September, have crowds of little over 3,000 and very little player drawing power.
We wouldnt be doing a Crawley IF we scraped up.

They lost a fair few of the players that got them up as well didn’t they?

[dtp]

Sussex Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 08:10 PM, said:

The next 6 games will be season defining.

But do we want to do a 'Crawley'? They had a good run at the end of the season and beat two teams in the play-offs that nobody would've put money on to do so, but look how they are doing now! Are we ready for promotion?

First of all let’s do a “Crawley” and worry about next season when we have prepared for it.

Then, next season we will not do a “Crawley” because we will be better prepared than they were.

[60s 70s Spireite]

JonB, on 17 March 2025 - 09:03 PM, said:

They lost a fair few of the players that got them up as well didn’t they?

Yes, Lol Maguire for one. Will Wright (remember him in the first game of the season), Gordon (as in Notts County), Otis (Burton) , Lodos (Bolton), keeper Addai (Stockport) - plus two more out for a fee in January.

[JonB]

60s 70s Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 09:38 PM, said:

Yes, Lol Maguire for one. Will Wright (remember him in the first game of the season), Gordon (as in Notts County), Otis (Burton) , Lodos (Bolton), keeper Addai (Stockport) - plus two more out for a fee in January.

Yep even just getting new players in is difficult let alone replacing a load that got you up.

This post has been edited by JonB: 17 March 2025 - 09:49 PM

[Wooden Spoon]

Sussex Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 08:10 PM, said:

The next 6 games will be season defining.

But do we want to do a 'Crawley'? They had a good run at the end of the season and beat two teams in the play-offs that nobody would've put money on to do so, but look how they are doing now! Are we ready for promotion?

With so many out of contract this season I doubt it would be a problem.


We’d be rebuilding anyway, whichever division we are in

[lindo-spireite]

Sussex Spireite, on 17 March 2025 - 08:10 PM, said:

The next 6 games will be season defining.

But do we want to do a 'Crawley'? They had a good run at the end of the season and beat two teams in the play-offs that nobody would've put money on to do so, but look how they are doing now! Are we ready for promotion?

If we were to go up I’ve every faith in cook and the staff to do what’s required to build a solid enough team to consolidate. A lot of contracts up so there’d be a lot of room for recruitment

[dart in the crossbar]

Looking at the current top 12 teams and games remaining. Looking specifically at the games to be played involving two teams from the current top 12 before the end of this season.

Walsall play 4 games. 2 at home; 2 away.
Bradford play 6 games. 3 at home; 3 away.
Wimbledon play 5 games. 2 at home; 3 away.
Donny play 6 games. 4 at home; 2 away. Donny play the top 3 at home.
NC play 4 games. 2 at home; 2 away.
PV play 7 games. 4 at home; 3 away. PV play 2 of the top 4 at home.
Colchester play 6 games. 3 at home; 3 away.
Crewe play 6 games. 3 at home; 3 away.
Grimsby play 4 games. 1 at home; 3 away.
Salford play 4 games. 2 at home; 2 away.
Bromley play 2 games. 1 at home; 1 away. Bromley play Salford at home and PV away.
Town play 2 games. 1 at home; 1 away.

Which means?

Probably not much... or possibly...

1) That there a lot of points that have to be dropped by the top 10 sides who will play at least 4 others in the top 12. This is probably the most important thing for Town.
2) Bradford, Donny, PV , Colchester and Crewe have 6 or more games against top 12 sides and will have a big say on the promotion places. A lot seems to be 'in their hands' as they can take points of contenders.
3) Bromley and ourselves only play two games v the current top 12. That could be the easier run in. Conversely Bromley and ourselves are obviously less able to take points off the current top 12 sides.
4) At a stretch, it might be argued that the top 10 have played weaker sides so far whereas Bromley and ourselves have played stronger sides so far.
and so on

[Waller is my hero]

Whenever there is a mathematical chance of getting into the play-offs (or to that fact getting automatics), there is always a possibility of achieving that goal. Until it is categorically mathematically impossible, then we believe there is always a chance.

Trick is, don't expect anything, then you'll never be disappointed

There is more pressure on the teams above you to consistently perform to be where they are & remain in the play offs, because there is an 'expectation' they should be there....however, a drop in form, and you could drop out of contention very quickly. Especially in the league this season, when not one team has run away with it & everyone beats everyone.

This post has been edited by Waller is my hero: 18 March 2025 - 10:18 AM

[dim view]

Not sure how congested the fixtures are but our capacity to rotate the squad with fresh quality could give us a big advantage.

[Waller is my hero]

dim view, on 18 March 2025 - 10:17 AM, said:

Not sure how congested the fixtures are but our capacity to rotate the squad with fresh quality could give us a big advantage.

I believe we have players getting into top form at the right time aswell...Pepple is really performing alongside, Boot, Banks, Mandeville, Palmer, Metcalfe, Gordon & Dobra - spine of the side stepping up at a crucial part of the season....in the background we have Grigg & McFadzean edging closer to fitness

[twistedspire]

1st April everyone up there seems to play each other, whilst we play Carlisle, If we can keep a run going until then hope for a lot of draws:
Crewe v Grimsby
Doncaster v Walsall
Port Vale v Bradford
Notts v Mk Dons (played on 2nd)

[Rodney's Moustache]

Definitely doable.

[HaslandBlue58]

The main change we will need is to stop being charitable to teams below us like we have been for many seasons.We usually go toe to toe with rated sides then stumble against struggling sides.
We actually played more than well against 10 man Salford, which, playing against ten has been another of our Achilles heels over many seasons,so I will take that as a positive sign.