8 games unbeaten with a run of like 8 games that are all "winnable" before an incredibly difficult April/May, each game goes and the gap seems to widen above us and we really are looking at the end game now

We haven't beaten anyone by more than 1 goal since 8th November vs bottom of the league Port Vale (4-0) and our performances recently are mixed, good for a half here and there and needing moments in the last minute to scrape points whilst missing a ton of great chances, I think with this keeper we'd have seen more points earlier in season, in a part I think our performances where much better but we dropped points so much.

If we go into April, 16 unbeaten (that seems far-fetched to say lol), confidence may be sky high playing those teams but when we can't seem to take easy chances and kill games, it's gonna be one hell of a sweat-fest against these tougher teams.

I think part of me feels there's still a chance because nerves play a part, I just don't think given our last 5 games we will get top 2 because we will need Lincoln to have a big slip up whilst we almost go perfect,  if we have a lot of dropped points in these next 8 games, the worst case could be we surrender the playoffs like last season, but I doubt this, you can't be third all season, without really clicking either for it go wrong all of a sudden, if it is to be the playoffs those last 5 games are great preparation at least.

How do you see it going? gonna be nervy.

NEXT 8                              LAST 5

Blackpool  H                 Stockport H

Exeter City A                Cardiff A

Wycombe H                 Huddersfield H

Rotherham A               Bradford A

Doncaster H                Luton H

Port Vale A                  

Stevenage H               

Plymouth A                  

Edited February 18Feb 18 by Didledee
Stockport so good I named them twice

Didn't realise Wigan have, Stockport, Huddersfield & Bradford in their next 6 

Yuk

On 19/02/2026 at 05:04, green genie said:

Nah, we’re shite at home these days. 
Eight wins and a draw in last ten aways is fun though 

Yeah clearly hopeless at home your lot 🤣

3 hours ago, Krimzon said:

Yeah clearly hopeless at home your lot 🤣

First time we have unleashed Tolaj and Pepple together. A week ago we were looking forward to Vertu to rescue season, now looking like a distraction.

On 19/02/2026 at 19:12, masi 51 said:

I do not know why SS cannot see it, would make us stronger at the back and allow us the luxury of having a extra man in midfield even playing two wingers.

We must have conceded double figure goals this season from long punts with our defence in the attacking half.

Playing three centre backs would solve that if we only allowed Firino freedom to go up for corners. We now have both Dalby and Kenny to attack the ball from a corner Throw in Firino its more than enough.

I think the issue here and why there's so much debate on teamsheet and formation is we have an issue with the squad being too big. Means players are being chopped and changed too much imo and some are missing match day squads completely ruining any rhythm.

I get the dilemma, we wanted options in January to freshen it up, but we're carrying 2/3 players too many and it means we still don't really have a clue what our best team is three quarters of the way into the season.

Time to get a settled team and stick with it barring injuries, suspension or horrendous form, to build for the play offs.

8 minutes ago, Stig said:

I think the issue here and why there's so much debate on teamsheet and formation is we have an issue with the squad being too big. Means players are being chopped and changed too much imo and some are missing match day squads completely ruining any rhythm.

I get the dilemma, we wanted options in January to freshen it up, but we're carrying 2/3 players too many and it means we still don't really have a clue what our best team is three quarters of the way into the season.

Time to get a settled team and stick with it barring injuries, suspension or horrendous form, to build for the play offs.

confusing when SS says we are overloaded  and initially in the transfer window we cut numbers then make one or two random loan signings to bring the numbers up to previous levels. Burstow seems to benefited from a rest and the Kenny signing seems confusing with his insistence on only playing one up front

6 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

confusing when SS says we are overloaded  and initially in the transfer window we cut numbers then make one or two random loan signings to bring the numbers up to previous levels. Burstow seems to benefited from a rest and the Kenny signing seems confusing with his insistence on only playing one up front

I have been wondering where Kenny fits in if we're only playing one up front

I'm not sure he's really a winger or a 10  or that we're likely to start with him as the one up front, but I also doubt the intention was for him to come here to come on with twenty minutes to go

12 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I have been wondering where Kenny fits in if we're only playing one up front

I'm not sure he's really a winger or a 10  or that we're likely to start with him as the one up front, but I also doubt the intention was for him to come here to come on with twenty minutes to go

 

I can't imagine (m)any of the players we've signed have come with the idea of playing from the bench. But they can't all play.

Dalby and Burstow have had streaks of scoring goals, but neither should be automatic starters (let alone 90min every week men) for the rest of the season. Kenny will get his chances.

28 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

confusing when SS says we are overloaded  and initially in the transfer window we cut numbers then make one or two random loan signings to bring the numbers up to previous levels. Burstow seems to benefited from a rest and the Kenny signing seems confusing with his insistence on only playing one up front

Different players respond and are motivated in different ways. Maybe Burstow has been re-energised by having some direct competition for his forward spot. Maybe not that confusing that Forss gets injured, SS wants another forward. Already this has resulted in Burstow hitting some goal form and SS having the option of playing  two or one up front.

Makes sense to me.

9 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

Kenny will get his chances.

...and miss them.

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

Different players respond and are motivated in different ways. Maybe Burstow has been re-energised by having some direct competition for his forward spot. Maybe not that confusing that Forss gets injured, SS wants another forward. Already this has resulted in Burstow hitting some goal form and SS having the option of playing  two or one up front.

Makes sense to me.

He has that option.....but never uses it

2 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

He has that option.....but never uses it

4 days ago he started with two up front??

3 minutes ago, desperado said:

4 days ago he started with two up front??

Indeed he did and well done him for doing it once maybe twice in 35 games this season 40 if you count cup games

That is one less than a stopped clock that is right twice a day but thanks for pointing out that he likes to play two up top

28 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I can't imagine (m)any of the players we've signed have come with the idea of playing from the bench. But they can't all play.

Dalby and Burstow have had streaks of scoring goals, but neither should be automatic starters (let alone 90min every week men) for the rest of the season. Kenny will get his chances.

I understand they can't all play but my point was that I can't see where a player like Kenny fits into what is seemingly our first choice starting formation

The same isn't the case for either Dalby or Burstow, or for our other signings in January

8 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Indeed he did and well done him for doing it once maybe twice in 35 games this season 40 if you count cup games

That is one less than a stopped clock that is right twice a day but thanks for pointing out that he likes to play two up top

So not never then 😂

Thanks for admitting you’re wrong 👍

Splitting hairs......Nothing more 

wrong not at all

40 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I understand they can't all play but my point was that I can't see where a player like Kenny fits into what is seemingly our first choice starting formation

The same isn't the case for either Dalby or Burstow, or for our other signings in January

 

I don't think we've seen enough to judge, but seems to me he'lll play as either of the two up top. The central striker or the McAtee not-really-a number 10 role.

It's also fair to say that we probably did prefer Hardie, but with Burstow's form in terminal decline (at the time) we needed something.

5 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I don't think we've seen enough to judge, but seems to me he'lll play as either of the two up top. The central striker or the McAtee not-really-a number 10 role.

It's also fair to say that we probably did prefer Hardie, but with Burstow's form in terminal decline (at the time) we needed something.

I think you're right that he might be asked to play the McAtee role if/when starting, although I'm  less sure we'll start him up top on his own

Neither seem to be his natural position to me though

2 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I don't think we've seen enough to judge, but seems to me he'lll play as either of the two up top. The central striker or the McAtee not-really-a number 10 role.

It's also fair to say that we probably did prefer Hardie, but with Burstow's form in terminal decline (at the time) we needed something.

Good post.

We’ve definitely not seen enough to judge.

But I do understand, when an extra 4 points this week would have been invaluable and we haven’t got a lot of time to allow time to gel, why folk are critical/disappointed with this current run of draws.

But I also think some of the criticism this week is a bit scattergun and lacks consistency from post to post. 

We’re going from one post criticising not having consistency in the starting 11, to other posts offering x, y, z changes that should be made.

 

 

I wonder how often they change their players and tactics?

29 minutes ago, Dimron said:

I wonder how often they change their players and tactics?

A difficult one this.

I don't mind making subtle, tactical changes, especially when up against a top team, or for a particular circumstance. 

Don't understand the bingo machine though.

We recently settled on the same team for 3 games, and did OK.

OK, had we taken our chances, it wouldn't have mattered. Unfortunately though, that is par for the course, but recent tightening up had allowed us to get away with scoring few and still win. We had also played with a couple of strikers.

 

Yesterday was simply confusing.

11 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A difficult one this.

I don't mind making subtle, tactical changes, especially when up against a top team, or for a particular circumstance. 

Don't understand the bingo machine though.

We recently settled on the same team for 3 games, and did OK.

OK, had we taken our chances, it wouldn't have mattered. Unfortunately though, that is par for the course, but recent tightening up had allowed us to get away with scoring few and still win. We had also played with a couple of strikers.

 

Yesterday was simply confusing.

Biggest question mark for me was Dempsey.

Away at somewhere like Cardiff, I could see why you’d have him as a 3rd midfielder who has the legs to get around Dalby when we break, but at home I’m not sure it works. He’s not close enough to Dalby to help him out (probably Dalby’s most ineffective game in the last 10 or so games) and he’s not good enough on the ball to unlock tight situations.

I like him and it’s not a slight on him, I just think that it was a strange game to have him starting in that role - he didn’t seem to be one thing or the other and I don’t think think it helped either Dalby, or Sheehan.

Any word on why RR wasn’t involved? Still probably too early to be starting him but if we’re not playing Kenny or Burstow alongside Dalby in these home games then I think RR looks like the player who could take that illustrious ‘10’ role and be effective with it. Hope it’s not an injury.

13 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A difficult one this.

I don't mind making subtle, tactical changes, especially when up against a top team, or for a particular circumstance. 

Don't understand the bingo machine though.

We recently settled on the same team for 3 games, and did OK.

OK, had we taken our chances, it wouldn't have mattered. Unfortunately though, that is par for the course, but recent tightening up had allowed us to get away with scoring few and still win. We had also played with a couple of strikers.

 

Yesterday was simply confusing.

I believe squad over-rotation did for us over Christmas... the manager appeared more frightened of playing the games in close succession that the players. 

Players should always play based on merit where possible and not because its their turn.

Certainly wouldn't have had him playing further forward. 

Keep him with EE as had been the case previously. 

It had been fine with 2 up top.