Half way through the season, a very successful calendar year finished (just read we got 92 league points in 2023)… nail your colours to the mast, where will we finish this season?

None of this “depends what we and others do in the window” - there are always variables and that’s all too sensible.

I’m 100% convinced we go up, I’d like to think as champions (not only because I’ve got a decent amount on us at 8/1 to win the league) but I think Derby will push us all the way.

2nd for me, with Derby as Champions and then Barnsley through the play offs.

2 hours ago, BeeversLeftPeg said:

Portsmouth had a goal set up by a corner flag yesterday as well. When your luck is in...

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/33727/13085875/corner-flag-with-the-assist-portsmouth-score-bizarre-goal

Back to the old adage "play to the whistle".

“Where will we finish?” Is a bit like asking “ How many cup finals will we win in 2 months compared to our rival’s cup finals?” Not a fookin clue.

Anything could happen.

Blackpool could play a big part in whether we go up or not. Already dented us, but they have to play all but Peterborough.

Find some levels of consistency top 2 if not we drop out 

Last nights second half needs to be replicated from the off in games, when we move it forward with pace it’s great clubs can’t handle us 

12 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Blackpool could play a big part in whether we go up or not. Already dented us, but they have to play all but Peterborough.

Derby and Posh definitely got the easiest run in on paper though as we know it doesn’t always turn out like that. I still think Pompey might slip up because they’ve also got a tough run in. At the end of the day it’s what we do and if we show the fight we did at Barnsley we shouldn’t fear anybody.

This is where are season starts down to us now !

4 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

This is where are season starts down to us now !

Your right; last season we were already out of the automatic by a country mile and doubtful if we would reach a playoff place.

 

it doesn’t matter what our run looks like it’s all about winning games and we are good enough if we stop gifting goals and missing sitters.

 

forget the two defeats in our derby games and win the remaining games 

We will know a lot more after this week, entering the international break, especially after playing Oxford and Derby.

However, for as bad as it's felt against the top teams, on paper it's not been too bad.

Results against the top 8 sides this year

Pompey -  L

Derby - W

Barnsley - D, D

Peterborough - D

Stevenage - W

Oxford - D

Blackpool - W, L

 

So 2 losses, 3 wins and 4 draws. Really not that bad at all. If we can continue to win at home and get a draw at the least to teams around us away from home, I think we can do it. 

Saying that there's nothing that I've seen this season from Derby, Peterborough, Stevenage that entails that we cannot win there. It's all down to us, play our way and cut out the mistakes.

31 minutes ago, Lostock Whites said:

Saying that there's nothing that I've seen this season from Derby, Peterborough, Stevenage that entails that we cannot win there. It's all down to us, play our way and cut out the mistakes.

For the purposes of looking at where we can afford to drop points eg draw at Derby, I think we can forget Posh away for now.  Last game of season is such a one off, completely different scenario.  If we were playing them next week, yes a point's a decent result.  Come the last day I'd be amazed if we can afford to draw and still be guaranteed promotion, we'd have to be 3 points clear of both Derby & Barnsley (I think we'd settle for being a point clear going into the last game?).

I was hoping Posh would be out of the top 2 race by then and be preparing for the play offs, but their recent form means that's far from certain.  Going there 3 points clear of them on last day wouldn't do much for my ticker.

We can hope for an automatic spot but our chances of overhauling Derby are slim to none now they have a 4 point advantage and a much easier run in than us, so it's time to look at the playoffs.

Currently a 13 point gap to 7th place so it would require a spectacular crash and burn job not to qualify although I expect Lincoln in 7th to overhaul Oxford and have a crack at Barnsley and Posh despite them having a game in hand. Lincoln are on fire and charging into the playoffs like a runaway train. Joe Taylor in particular can't stop scoring (20 so far?). If their run continues, I'd expect them to be the biggest threat.

Still a chance Stevenage could make the playoffs ahead of Lincoln as they have a game in hand, but I'm not convinced.

 

Lincoln are not a good team but they are on fire right now. They won't be in 7 or 8 games time though, I'd take them all day long

I’ll be honest, I don’t fancy anyone other than Cambridge over 2 legs. 

 

Be more confident this time of getting through the semis

oxford, Lincoln, Stevenage don’t get me worried Blackpool would be tense mind

only issue I see is slipping to 4/5th which Barnsley & Peterborough would be trickier 

If it was on who plays the best football, we would have won the league weeks ago. Unfortunately its not. But i still think were more than capable of finishing 2nd. But need to get everyone back fit for after the international break.

Let’s get Vic, Charles and Baxter back and playing before the playoffs and get them match fit.

The playoff semis are a minefield but if we get to the final, I think on a big Wembley pitch we will beat anybody.

4 hours ago, tomski said:

I’ll be honest, I don’t fancy anyone other than Cambridge over 2 legs. 

 

Fucking hell 🤣. Right now I feel like that 🤣

3 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

If it was on who plays the best football, we would have won the league weeks ago. Unfortunately its not. But i still think were more than capable of finishing 2nd. But need to get everyone back fit for after the international break.

 

2 hours ago, Popeye doyle said:

Let’s get Vic, Charles and Baxter back and playing before the playoffs and get them match fit.

The playoff semis are a minefield but if we get to the final, I think on a big Wembley pitch we will beat anybody.

Positive posts, that aren’t beyond the ridiculous, as some would have you believe.

Are Derby going to drop more than 4 points in their last 7 games? If you had listened to my Derby mate I’ve spent the weekend with, then yes. Can we win our last 7 games? Unlikely but yes, we can. It might not require that if Derby drop more.

Personally I think 3/4th are now more likely and if we go into the play-offs with some form and players back, then we’ll be favourites. 

14 minutes ago, desperado said:

Fucking hell 🤣. Right now I feel like that 🤣

 

Positive posts, that aren’t beyond the ridiculous, as some would have you believe.

Are Derby going to drop more than 4 points in their last 7 games? If you had listened to my Derby mate I’ve spent the weekend with, then yes. Can we win our last 7 games? Unlikely but yes, we can. It might not require that if Derby drop more.

Personally I think 3/4th are now more likely and if we go into the play-offs with some form and players back, then we’ll be favourites. 

That worries me if you do to. It’s hard to think against it. Plenty of football left to play though and the fact it’s could be one of 7 at the moment means I’ll not deep dive to much. 
 

We need to build our momentum up and if we can get to 5/6 wins in the run in I think we will do just that. 
 

Getting Baxter back will be huge. Not a dig at Coleman but it’s clear to see he’s the player we’ve missed most. 

3 minutes ago, tomski said:

Getting Baxter back will be huge. Not a dig at Coleman but it’s clear to see he’s the player we’ve missed most. 

Absolutely.

Wanting Baxter back and acknowledging that Coleman is a reserve L1 keeper shouldn’t mean Coleman is derided.

Next weekend will be an interesting watch, just praying we get a couple of results in our favour to set Stevenage up.

I think when it comes to the play offs form doesn’t really matter to an extent

last season we only lost one (accy at home) towards the end so we went into the play offs in decent form but failed to show

But yes getting Charles & Baxter fit is key also is protecting the side so maybe if it becomes impossible to go up rotate the side 

On 31/12/2023 at 10:39, L/H White said:

3rd or 4th 

Then the lottery off the playoffs

Still haven't changed my mind. 

Think we'll lock up 3rd, hopefully Blackpool don't sneak into 6th or it's another season in league 1

Has there been any update on Baxter?

I've got a sneaking suspicion we won't see him until next season

6 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Has there been any update on Baxter?

I've got a sneaking suspicion we won't see him until next season

Your right; his wrist won’t strengthen in time

I can see Derby losing 4 points away Portsmouth and home Blackpool so if and a big if we can put away our chances and go on a unbeaten winning run 2nd is still up for grabs

Unfortunately I can see us both dropping points