[Waller is my hero]

Despite this bad run of form, remarkably our home form will perch us on the precipice of the play offs, teasing us right to the end

It?s all part of the fun & definitely a positive step to where we want to be?I get the frustration, but there is a sense of entitlement with some of the fanbase that we SHOULD be promoted?it doesn?t happen like that

Trust the process, trust Cook, trust the Kirks?this club is going places & doesn?t happen overnight

[Spireite93]

We'll finish 8th, probably one win away

[peakblue]

So true
Brilliant post
And especially about some of our fan base
Some folk need a wobble,this time last year we were still a national league side

[Burgerman]

Waller is my hero, on 22 February 2025 - 10:43 PM, said:

Despite this bad run of form, remarkably our home form will perch us on the precipice of the play offs, teasing us right to the end

It?s all part of the fun & definitely a positive step to where we want to be?I get the frustration, but there is a sense of entitlement with some of the fanbase that we SHOULD be promoted?it doesn?t happen like that

Trust the process, trust Cook, trust the Kirks?this club is going places & doesn?t happen overnight

Couldn?t have put it better myself. 100 percent correct about the sense of entitlement.

[60s 70s Spireite]

Burgerman, on 23 February 2025 - 08:01 AM, said:

Couldn?t have put it better myself. 100 percent correct about the sense of entitlement.

Why is aiming and hoping for promotion, as per Cook also, a sense of entitlement? Without the injuries, surely we would be there or there about. Cant see too many posts stating that we should be promoted.
Recruitment policy has to be reviewed for next time around for hopefully a more successful push.

[Westbars Spireite]

60s 70s Spireite, on 23 February 2025 - 08:34 AM, said:

Why is aiming and hoping for promotion, as per Cook also, a sense of entitlement? Without the injuries, surely we would be there or there about. Cant see too many posts stating that we should be promoted.
Recruitment policy has to be reviewed for next time around for hopefully a more successful push.

There's no sense of entitlement other than amongst the smooth-brains on here and elsewhere who no doubt are the same in all aspects of their life.

The club wanted promotion and planned for it. If we don't make the play-offs, regardless of the mitigating circumstances, it's a failure but one we can handle and learn from next season.

[Burgerman]

60s 70s Spireite, on 23 February 2025 - 08:34 AM, said:

Why is aiming and hoping for promotion, as per Cook also, a sense of entitlement? Without the injuries, surely we would be there or there about. Cant see too many posts stating that we should be promoted.
Recruitment policy has to be reviewed for next time around for hopefully a more successful push.

I think you miss his point mate.

Of course we should aim to be promoted but it?s not a god given right.

[Bonnyman]

The club is going places , home crowds are superb, away support is fantastic but the season has been a nightmare, injuries have plagued , recruitment has been suspect and our form has been inconsistent, it follows a pattern and cook is always imo better in his second season in a league , he will suss it next year I?m sure, if there is a slight criticism of him he has to be a bit more flexible in his firmations

[gordon_brittas]

Current league position says we have underperformed. We are below sides like Cheltenham and Bromley whose objective this season was just to avoid dropping into the National Leegue.

Away performances have been abject for a long time. We have seen some absolute stinkers these last few months.

Whilst I am glad we are back in the league, unless we are challenging next season, question marks should be genuinely raised at Cooks door regarding his long term future at the club.

Recruitment and away performances have not been good at all this season sadly.

[Oldtimer]

Waller is my hero, on 22 February 2025 - 10:43 PM, said:

Despite this bad run of form, remarkably our home form will perch us on the precipice of the play offs, teasing us right to the end

Seriously, you think so ?? Relatively home form is worse than away. Home form alone puts us 14th while away form has us in 11th.


It?s all part of the fun & definitely a positive step to where we want to be?I get the frustration, but there is a sense of entitlement with some of the fanbase that we SHOULD be promoted?it doesn?t happen like that

If you see treading water in the middle of a poor league as positive I?m not going to be the one to burst that bubble. As for sense of entitlement, utter poppy cock. Did some expect promotion ? of course, did many expect play-offs ? of course but that?s not entitlement. We?ve been a lower league club all our life, usually yo-yoing between 3rd and 4th tier so don?t think you?ll find any entitlement around the ground

Trust the process, trust Cook, trust the Kirks?this club is going places & doesn?t happen overnight

That all sounds fine but always remember complete and unfettered trust can sometimes be abused

[stainlessstephen]

For me, obviously finish as high as we can but slow and steady progress is key, staying up is mission accomplished for this season.

[dim view]

Waller is my hero, on 22 February 2025 - 10:43 PM, said:

Despite this bad run of form, remarkably our home form will perch us on the precipice of the play offs, teasing us right to the end

It?s all part of the fun ......

Just looking at the table. Of the 11 teams below us :- 1 won (Swindon), 2 drew. 8 lost.

[DPCFC]

Whilst it may feel disappointing this year. I believe that comes from the incredible high we experienced last season. We?re going in the right direction and that?s what matters.

If someone would have sat us all down in August 2023, the night before the season started and said, you?re going to obliterate the national league as champions in a record breaking season and then finish mid table in the EFL next year - we?d have taken that without question,

[Trigger]

Notts county last season were similar to what we've done this season.

Started well then fell off a cliff. They lost/shifted a load of the national league team at the end of the season and reinvested.

We'll be fine. Just got to be patient. (Doesn't mean I was happy listening yesterday).

[60s 70s Spireite]

Interesting article on the BBC, focussed on Pep, about the way the game is changing at the top. Its becoming more about attacking quickly now.
https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c20l7lw3ypzo
High turnovers have increased from 12.48 in 16-17 to 16.71 per 90 mins last season. (How we miss Markanday for that tactic)

Total fast breaks have increased from 0.63 to 1.58 in the same period.
Is that the same for League Two?

[valemadness]

Waller is my hero, on 22 February 2025 - 10:43 PM, said:

Despite this bad run of form, remarkably our home form will perch us on the precipice of the play offs, teasing us right to the end

It?s all part of the fun & definitely a positive step to where we want to be?I get the frustration, but there is a sense of entitlement with some of the fanbase that we SHOULD be promoted?it doesn?t happen like that

Trust the process, trust Cook, trust the Kirks?this club is going places & doesn?t happen overnight

IMO this is usual 1st full season in a league for Paul Cook, especially with us.
12/13 - finished 8th
13/14 - finished 1st League 2 champions
22/23 - finished 3rd
23/24 - finished 1st National League champions
24/25 - finish 8th-15th???
25/26 - ?????

In his 1st stint, Cook managed 145 games and had a 1.61 points per game average. In this stint, Cook has managed 160 games and has a 1.74 points per game average.
I have faith in Paul Cook to learn from this season and to push on next season.

[azul]

60s 70s Spireite, on 23 February 2025 - 01:55 PM, said:

Interesting article on the BBC, focussed on Pep, about the way the game is changing at the top. Its becoming more about attacking quickly now.
https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c20l7lw3ypzo
High turnovers have increased from 12.48 in 16-17 to 16.71 per 90 mins last season. (How we miss Markanday for that tactic)

Total fast breaks have increased from 0.63 to 1.58 in the same period.
Is that the same for League Two?

I noticed the counter attack was more prominent in the NL, thats where the danger always came from. I don't notice it so much in this league although I do notice a lot of hoof ball

[DIFH]

60s 70s Spireite, on 23 February 2025 - 08:34 AM, said:

Why is aiming and hoping for promotion, as per Cook also, a sense of entitlement? Without the injuries, surely we would be there or there about. Cant see too many posts stating that we should be promoted.
Recruitment policy has to be reviewed for next time around for hopefully a more successful push.

Recruitment policy has nothing to do with what?s happened this season, we sign players and immediately they get freakish injuries or are clobbered out of a game and you still have a 15 man injury list.. Timing has also been devastating whereby you cannot bring reinforcements in because of the transfer window.


Bad luck or what how do you plan for the way our season has fared.

[60s 70s Spireite]

DIFH, on 23 February 2025 - 02:23 PM, said:

Recruitment policy has nothing to do with what?s happened this season, we sign players and immediately they get freakish injuries or are clobbered out of a game and you still have a 15 man injury list.. Timing has also been devastating whereby you cannot bring reinforcements in because of the transfer window.


Bad luck or what how do you plan for the way our season has fared.

Moneyball theory, recruit players statistically less likely to suffer an injury. That would exclude having a glut of over 30 year olds.

This post has been edited by 60s 70s Spireite: 23 February 2025 - 02:49 PM

[born in 1866]

60s 70s Spireite, on 23 February 2025 - 02:47 PM, said:

Moneyball theory, recruit players statistically less likely to suffer an injury. That would exclude having a glut of over 30 year olds.

All the successful sides have a mix of youth and experience. Take out the experience at your own peril.