It definitely has the feeling of the 2010/11 season where we couldn’t make the playoffs due to early form but we finished the season with Powell and a good feeling about the future.
I do think next season will be the one, but then again I felt something similar last year after Adkins great run after taking over.
We need automatic promotion form to make it happen. We have had that form over the last eight games, even with the Morecambe/Shrewsbury results included. Keep it going for another 25 and we’re in.
Let’s go with the eight game blocks. One down, three to go. Our next eight from which we need 16 points:
We should expect wins from Cambridge, Gillingham and Fleetwood. That leaves us needing seven points from Plymouth, Wimbledon, Wycombe, Cheltenham, Portsmouth.
I can't see the teams above us dropping enough points for us to catch up with them. But if there is a chance I think this team, under Jackson, can do it.
All those teams still have to play us again. As it stands, they are all 6-pointers. Win those games and we progress up the table.
Teams fall away at the top. And dark horse sides come from the depths of the division go on a run to nick a playoff spot. It happens every single season.
A lot depends on how other side's get on. Some of challengers need to falter and we need promotion form for the rest of the season. It could happen, and if it does I reckon we would be favourites to win through and get promoted. First thing is for JJ to be appointed permanently, which has really reached no-brainer status now.
One thing's for certain now IMHO - we ain't getting relegated.
Not with the amount of injuries we seem to get, 1 point from Morcombe/Shrewsbury shows how easy it is to drop points in this league when key players are missing. In saying that on our day we can beat anybody in this league and if we continue to close the gap and with a couple of additions in January then we could creep over the line. Odds are against but it is now possible since JJ has turned things around.
Need 48 points from 25 games. Title form for the rest of the season (and we've already been on that form since Jacko took over). Quite a big ask so unlikely, I don't think we're good enough, but not impossible. If we can get a few more wins in by Jan and then add to squad, never know.
Beginning to remind me of the season Keane took over at Sunderland. They had 30 points after 21 games and won the league. History suggests its doable to get into the playoffs from this position.
We all remember last season how Blackpool rose from the bowels of the division to comfortably take a play off position. And won at Wembley, promoted.
Okay, so ..... I had a little look to see where they were after they beat us at home 0-3 last season, Feb 27th. Before that game they had been sitting on 40 points, after 26 games, 9 points behind 6th place.
They beat us comfortably and rose to 13th position, albeit with 1 or more games in hand on most clubs. Nevertheless, they were still 6 points behind an ailing Doncaster in 6th who'd played 1 game more.
Bowyer's Charlton dropped to 12th, having played 31 games with 44 points.
Both Portsmouth, then 8 points clear of us (4th, 52 points) and Doncaster (6th, 49pts) failed to finish the season in the play off positions. Indeed, we finished the season 2 points ahead of Portsmouth (having made up 10 points on them in 15 matches) subsequently missing playoff qualification only on goal difference.
Blackpool finished on 80 points, despite a little late wobble themselves. While history is no guarantee of the future (as the small print always says), it does indicate what is possible.
If you want to achieve anything in life, you have to believe it is possible. As Henry Ford famously once said, "If you think you can't, then you can't." But if you think you can, you can!"
Last year Blackpool believed it was possible - and achieved it. Stockley last night reckoned our squad believe it's still possible - and the playoffs are the aim.
I think we have the best midfield in the league by some distance and you could make a decent case for the defence and attack too. Where there is an issue is if say Stockley got injured or one of Dobson, Gilbey and Lee. We do have January to shore things up, but some are not easily replaced
If current top 6 teams carry on getting the same points per game they have so far then we would need 83 points for play offs this season. That would mean 19 wins from our last 25 games. No chance.
Of course that number of points for 6th has never been needed before but I think this season sees a two tier league with top teams significantly better than the rest meaning a very high points level for 6th in comparison to previous years.
I said a couple of months ago, get within 7 points by the new year and it is on. 7 points becomes four points when you beat the team above you. It is very doable and we have the team to do it.
There’s always a team who goes on a run from about where we are now into the playoffs through the second half of the season. No reason it shouldn’t be us.
Curbs used to say the same line talking about cup runs...
If current top 6 teams carry on getting the same points per game they have so far then we would need 83 points for play offs this season. That would mean 19 wins from our last 25 games. No chance.
Of course that number of points for 6th has never been needed before but I think this season sees a two tier league with top teams significantly better than the rest meaning a very high points level for 6th in comparison to previous years.
I don't believe we should worry about how many points are needed ...... nobody has a scooby, no idea at all. At this stage of the season it's irrelevant.
BTW ..... the one certainty is that not all the current top 6 teams will carry on averaging 2 points a game. Some will undoubtedly, but you can bet a couple of teams will fall away.
Their places will be taken by teams that do put the points on the table. No reason at this stage as to why it can't be us.
Last season 74 points + superior goal difference was enough for Oxford to finish 6th. It'll probably, give or take a couple of points, be much the same total needed for 6th place this season.
12 game ago I said I didnt think we would lose more than 5 games the rest of the season. I still firmly believe that I just cant see any teams other than Rotherham that I wouldnt think we will beat before the game. Sure we will get the odd Shrewsbury result as you always do but not that many I dont think. Play offs definitely on the cards for me
Comments
I do think next season will be the one, but then again I felt something similar last year after Adkins great run after taking over.
Let’s go with the eight game blocks. One down, three to go. Our next eight from which we need 16 points:
Cambridge (H)
Plymouth (A)
Wimbledon (A)
Gillingham (H)
Wycombe (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Fleetwood (H)
Portsmouth (A)
We should expect wins from Cambridge, Gillingham and Fleetwood. That leaves us needing seven points from Plymouth, Wimbledon, Wycombe, Cheltenham, Portsmouth.
Onwards and up the League we go!
We will finish between 8th & 10th
As it stands, they are all 6-pointers. Win those games and we progress up the table.
Teams fall away at the top. And dark horse sides come from the depths of the division go on a run to nick a playoff spot.
It happens every single season.
We play Sunderland, of course!
One thing's for certain now IMHO - we ain't getting relegated.
If that mentality and belief is in the squad, then we give ourselves every chance of making up the gap.
But in any case, we can only play one game at a time. The next game is the one we need to win.
Jacko himself says this often.
If it's his mentality too, then we know that's where the focus is.
if anyone saw that, it was meant for a google search. Luckily it wasn't porn related or embarrassing 😳
Champs next year if JJ is given the gig now.
And won at Wembley, promoted.
Okay, so ..... I had a little look to see where they were after they beat us at home 0-3 last season, Feb 27th.
Before that game they had been sitting on 40 points, after 26 games, 9 points behind 6th place.
They beat us comfortably and rose to 13th position, albeit with 1 or more games in hand on most clubs. Nevertheless, they were still 6 points behind an ailing Doncaster in 6th who'd played 1 game more.
Bowyer's Charlton dropped to 12th, having played 31 games with 44 points.
Both Portsmouth, then 8 points clear of us (4th, 52 points) and Doncaster (6th, 49pts) failed to finish the season in the play off positions.
Indeed, we finished the season 2 points ahead of Portsmouth (having made up 10 points on them in 15 matches) subsequently missing playoff qualification only on goal difference.
Blackpool finished on 80 points, despite a little late wobble themselves.
While history is no guarantee of the future (as the small print always says), it does indicate what is possible.
If you want to achieve anything in life, you have to believe it is possible.
As Henry Ford famously once said, "If you think you can't, then you can't."
But if you think you can, you can!"
Last year Blackpool believed it was possible - and achieved it.
Stockley last night reckoned our squad believe it's still possible - and the playoffs are the aim.
Let's see how it unfolds. All to play for!
Of course that number of points for 6th has never been needed before but I think this season sees a two tier league with top teams significantly better than the rest meaning a very high points level for 6th in comparison to previous years.
At this stage of the season it's irrelevant.
BTW ..... the one certainty is that not all the current top 6 teams will carry on averaging 2 points a game.
Some will undoubtedly, but you can bet a couple of teams will fall away.
Their places will be taken by teams that do put the points on the table.
No reason at this stage as to why it can't be us.
Last season 74 points + superior goal difference was enough for Oxford to finish 6th.
It'll probably, give or take a couple of points, be much the same total needed for 6th place this season.