We may lose or draw tomorrow's game against Stevenage.
And won't some of the doomsayers be delighted if we do - allowing them a whole evening of head-shaking told-you-so self-gratification.
I am not a mindless optimist and I am alive to the risk of cheerleading from an office at The Valley. But I do think some supporters need to get their heads out of their arses.
Stevenage are sixth on merit, and we are top on the same basis. By a wide margin.
Yes, the sky may fall in tomorrow, Powell may choose the wrong players and the ball might hit a beachball in front of Ben Hamer and be diverted in for a Stevenage winner. They might win by three, four or five goals.
We may go on a bad run and miss out on the automatic promotion places. Equally we may not.
Understandably people are nervous and want shot of this bloody awful division, but there is a big risk it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and the nervousness transmits itself to the players.
Sp please come to The Valley tomorrow and enjoy the atmosphere of a near-capacity crowd. So much better than half-empty midweek games. Enjoy the challenge of playing a team that have recently shown they can frustrate one of the best sides in the country (not a statement I like making about Spurs) - and then lost to Notts County next time out.
If we lose, don't boo and don't blame the manager, the crowd, the referee or the opposition for cheating, accept that these things happen and move on. We will still have an outstanding chance of promotion next week and next month, whatever happens against Stevenage, Chesterfield, Bournemouth, etc.
And for now just ponder the fact that if we win you'll feel great tomorrow night.
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Comments
Otherwise spot on. The ying and yang of football is you might lose but you can also WIN.
Live, love, laugh and BE HAPPY
Come on you reds !
Come on now. Lets be honest. The Stevenage game was picked for the £5 ticket promotion because it looked like a non-event game against non-glamorous opposition.
These promotions can be the kiss of death on our performances and now Stevenage are 6th, beat us at theirs, performed well against Spurs and are all set to spoil our party.
I admire the concept of cheap tickets and big crowds and have supported them in the past but this is really bad timing and puts extra pressure on the players.
Win, lose or draw it would be a darn sight easier without the distraction of a ticket promotion.
they got beat the other night - so confidence will have taken a knock! at least we got a draw
Look at the millwall atrocities....we need a squad of mentally strong players up for it no matter what not a bunch of bottlers who need the right conditions to get a result.
If playing in front of 20k is an issue that will be detrimental for these players then there is absolutely no point in getting promoted to the Championship and we might as well all pack up, go home and get used to the idea of playing in a shite league in front of cosy crowds of 10k then 8k then....etc.
They are paid and trained to perform. Grab ur bollox time lads get out there with a roaring Valley behind you and do the business.
Overall, I still think this offers an advantage to the opposition not us and previous performances support this.
Cheap tickets won't make the game any more important if it just increases the number of tourists looking for a 5-0 home win.
Great post Airman and thanks to you and all concerned for the massive efforts you've put in to shift that amount of tickets for what is, at the end of the day, a Div 3 match against Stevenage of all people. Many clubs couldn't have shifted that many if they were free.
Agree with every word! If we do lose I will be pissed off though! Sorry.
And I cant think of many clubs that could boast 25-26k in the 3rd Division (irrespective of discounted promotions), well done to you and all the staff that have helped to make this happen, the atmosphere starts with your lot doing the business and selling the tickets.
Its up to us now I guess.
Cheers
We are still top, and will still win the league.
we go 1-0 down, then BWP hatrick and 1 for kermy.
I blame the fans.