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+----- Thread: Can we do it? (/showthread.php?tid=10244)
Can we do it? - Dancingwilldoit - 06-03-2021
The transformation has been astounding since Rowes arrival. We are now a team. So difficult to pick a MOM every game. Can we get the automatic promotion place, or will it be the play offs? 5 months ago either would have been a dream.
From relegation candidates to promotion possibilities. Its a long time since I have felt so positive. Long may it continue.
RE: Can we do it? - spireitematt - 06-03-2021
I agree Dancing and the way we are playing at the moment feels like we could beat anybody. I don't think we will win the league as we are 11pts behind Torquay. There is 19 games left of the season and we are 2-3 pts from the playoffs so playoffs are more realistic but we need to keep the run of form going as teams above and below us have games in hand.
RE: Can we do it? - Lord Snooty - 07-03-2021
Good luck with that.
RE: Can we do it? - SaltergateBorn - 07-03-2021
I haven’t chirped up for a while – been too busy with too many other things – but hope you`ll bear with me if I offer my thoughts on the general air of positivity and optimism that seems to be prevailing at the moment. It certainly makes a nice change after recent years. (I just mistyped that as ‘tears’. Quite appropriate, really; must be freudian.)
Although I haven`t seen any of the games live – obviously – I have followed most of the games this season on the live stream. They`ve been good to watch on the whole and I applaud whoever had the idea; it shows a good bit of lateral thinking. It will be interesting to see whether they continue when the fans are back, which hopefully shouldn`t be too long now. (One word of criticism, though, which is meant to be constructive. Can somebody tell the commentators not to talk over each other, please; it`s bloody irritating.)
My own thoughts on the short-term future, for what they`re worth, are that if we continue our current form the play-offs are a gimme; we all know that they`re a lottery and what happens then is anybody`s guess but I think we`ve already beaten quite a few of the other likely contenders so shouldn`t have too much to fear from any of them. Yes, I know that`s tempting fate and my record of predicting results is not exactly unblemished, but as far as I can see we have games in hand over most of the teams around us and – Sutton excepted – our next few games are against teams we could expect to beat. There`s also the matter of what happens when / if Dover`s record is expunged which won`t affect us but may well cost some of the teams above us points.
Only my opinion, I know, but I reckon that making the top 5 is achievable and should be a realistic target. The top 3 seem to have broken away a bit and County might join them if they win their games in hand, but that may be a bit over-optimistic for us. I hope I`m wrong, though. Whether I am or not, I agree that future is looking far, far brighter than it has for quite some time; I just hope that whoever is bankrolling us – clearly, somebody is – has deep pockets and that we`re not jumping from the frying pan into a roaring fire.
On the subject of cooking, I understand that Paul Cook`s gone to Ipswich. I think he`ll do a good job there and personally I wish him well.
RE: Can we do it? - Devongone - 08-03-2021
Isn't the government bankrolling us, through the furlough scheme?
Kings Lynn are catching on, they furloughed six first teamers and are now signing players like Simeon Jackson.
It is lovely to hear from you SGB!
I can't believe what James Rowe has done for us. He appears to have instituted a constantly developing side, which was capable of beating Notts County after three weeks off, won again a couple of days later and then suffered a stale-looking defeat at Stockport - but that wasn't a signal to fall apart, it led to us taking a successful Yeovil side apart. Rowe gives every impression of being special - our first good choice since Paul Cook and possibly capable of managing at any level. Even I, the eternal pessimist, am beginning to look at the play-offs, with genuine hope.
I've still got plenty of doubts/questions about what is happening behind the scenes at the club, but wow, we are looking up. Can we beat Maidenhead and if we do, are we the side who might actually frighten Sutton? We are competitive. I'll have to get used to it.
Ipswich fans expect Cookie to get them up. He will, but with a changed side next season.
RE: Can we do it? - Dancingwilldoit - 09-03-2021
The playoffs look ever probable but the 1 automatic still isn't out of reach IMO.
We just look capable of turning anybody over. Asante is the best No9 I have ever seen at the club. He is built like Bob Newton but far more energetic and skilful. His 3rd goal against Barnet was just superb. Maguire has suddenly developed wings and if he carries on the way he is will probably go for more than his big brother. I expect Rowley to come back on Saturday and make a name for himself now he has somebody who seems to have made him believe in himself. Dunning looks a rock at the back and I think Kerr has been brilliant since he came in. Smith is a Tommy Lee look alike and copy cat keeper. There are so many similarities in their game its like going back 10 years.
Most of the players Rowe has brought in look good and know how to play. The only negative for me is if Asante gets injured. I know Denton is due back any time but I see him more as an impact sub with this time. I dont see us as as a 1 trick pony anymore but think goals might be a bit thin on the ground without Asante. Just hope that somebody is working on developing the other strikers in the squad and am sure for once that our manager has a plan B.
I thought Paul Cook was a shoe in for Sheff Weds to be honest. They seem to have massive money problems though, maybe he was worried Dave Allen might make a return. Once bitten twice shy
. Ipswich is a strange one for me, you cant go any further east without a boat. The saying is Go West Young Man. Dont know if the Cobbold family are still involved but a brewer and a drinker wouldnt make a good pairing in football
RE: Can we do it? - SaltergateBorn - 09-03-2021
I take your point about the furlough business, Dev, but as I understand it that is due to end in September. My angle was that we seem confident enough in our long-term financial position to offer JR and several key players contracts that go way beyond this. I`m not knocking this at all - in fact I`m delighted – but I just hope that confidence is well-founded and not financially irresponsible. Time will tell, I suppose.
As you say, Dancing, we now appear to have a manager who knows what he`s doing and is flexible in his thinking as well as a squad that has some ability in depth. I`m almost as optimistic as you are but I`m still inclined to doubt whether the automatic place is within reach.
Anyway, I`ve decided that after keeping quiet for so long it`s high time that I bored the arse off you all with a few figures. (I can hear the screams of delight from here.)
Working on the basis that this will be a 42-game season, pro-rating the points won in the latest 12-game form table over the remaining games and taking into account the fact that Bromley, Stockport, Torquay and Wrexham all stand to lose 3 points when Dover`s record is wiped out, I reckon that the top of the final table would look like this.
Sutton United 85 points
Hartlepool United 82 “
Chesterfield 77 “
Notts County 73 “
Torquay United (68 – 3) 65 “
Wrexham (67 - 3) 64 “
Eastleigh 64 “
Stockport County (64 – 3) 61 “
Bromley (63 – 3) 60 “
Completely meaningless, of course; the final table will almost certainly look nothing like that. Still, it kept me quiet for half an hour.
RE: Can we do it? - Dancingwilldoit - 10-03-2021
I'd take that SGB. But take a look at Suttons remaining games. They've a lot of away games coming up. I know it doesnt seem to make a lot of difference without a crowd but still its in our favour.
Will they want to take the promotion place anyway? It would mean spending a lot of money to rip up the advantage their pitch gives them.
I think Stockport will finish higher. They have just gotten over a bad run which Sutton and Hartlepool still need to go through.
Interesting times ahead. Isn't it great instead of looking at how many points we need from the rest of our games to avoid relegation.
RE: Can we do it? - Devongone - 10-03-2021
I kind of assume that the manager has awarded longer contracts to players he thinks would manage a slightly higher level. Looking at the effect former non-league players are having for EFL clubs I wonder whether the "gap" is any more daunting than stepping over a touchline. Doncaster seem to be doing quite nicely with a non-league centre forward, Northampton are moving up now with a non-league centre back and Burton Albion seem unstoppable with Fondop-Talom on his own up front (the bloke we simply released!)
I love the way SGB resorts to figures to turn his musings into reality. If it keeps him quiet at home I'm sure we're more than delighted to have him chirping up on here. Anyway here's me two-pennorth:-
Like Dancing I question Sutton's desire for the EFL. I think they have to start losing soon. Or they'll be digging up their pitch.
Hartlepool could fall prey to injury. I'd question their strength in depth, but they clearly want promotion.
Wrexham have money and support ....... and a decent squad. I'd be backing them if it weren't for their history of failure.
Like Dancing I think there's more to come from Stockport, though not as much as Solihull suggested. if I had to bet I'd go for them.
Torquay, the manager and the players want to go up, but I still think they have dodgy-owner syndrome. They're good enough on the pitch but .......
Notts County, on paper they could win it, but they under-perform when challenged on occasion, which is a fatal flaw.
Eastleigh are good enough to challenge for the play-offs, but won't risk reaching the final, or the EFL.
Bromley are dangerous, capable of beating anyone, but I don't think they are deeply interested in going EFL.
Chesterfield, we seem to have managerial genius on our side, losing a game doesn't seem to faze us, an injury to Asante might test Mr Rowe's creativity.
Yeovil thought they'd be in a play-off spot today, but a hammering from us and a trip to Sutton have left them in urgent need of another good run.
Boreham Wood? The team outperforms the club, but the squad they have should really be making the play offs and scoring more goals on the way.
Solihull Moors have spent money aiming for promotion and seem to have declined on the pitch, despite having Adam Rooney and the giant Hudlin.
Aldershot, how they come out of Covid will decide their fate. They are good enough to go on a run, but can also struggle to get out of a rut.
Altrincham, having played most games and having Matty Kosylo on the field keeps them in sight of the play-offs, but that can't last.
Halifax, brilliant effort to be chasing the play-offs. maybe it's The Bidding Room turning them into over-achievers. If we miss out I'd love them to get there.
Doing that stopped me hanging my nose over a little house for sale in Matlock. Can't decide whether to book a viewing. I need Kirsty and Phil.
RE: Can we do it? - SaltergateBorn - 10-03-2021
I`m not trying to turn anything at all into realty, Dev; not sure where you got that from. In fact, I think you`ll find I said exactly the opposite and that I didn`t expect the final table to look anything like that. I spent all my working life playing around with numbers and have gone back to doing a bit of it in recent months so thought I`d put that up there to generate a bit of discussion. Seems to have worked.
Like you, Dancing, I`d more than settle for 3rd but still think that 5th would be a more realistic ambition. Any one of half a dozen teams could hit a purple patch and come out on top but I think ours would have to be very deep purple. At this stage, I`ll settle for the play-offs and then hope to be injury and suspension free at the time. With the quality of the squad at the moment and JR`s tactical nous I think we`d stand as good a chance as anybody.