There have been two massive changes this season. Firstly, we have strengthened defensively to a point where you can argue we are the best defence in the league and secondly, we have attacking options we didn't have at the start of the season. If we can keep our players fit, there is no reason we can't continue this form.
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance
What is also interesting is that we have lost or drawn (combined) as many games as we have won. Shows its a competitive league or to put a negative spin on it.... a shit league.
As strong as we feel, over the course of the year, and despite our high league position we've been a bit meh.
We haven't been though... we've been half decent, absolutely dogshit and then brilliant. Can't tar this part of the season with the brush of the rest of it
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance
It is, undoubtedly, our defence that is winning us games and it would be great if Leaburn in particular found his scoring boots, but, as weird as it sounds, our strength has been the fact that we aren't reliant on the goals from our forwards to win games. To date, we've had 18 different scorers in the league and in addition to those goals from set pieces we are now, as we did last night, regularly seeing our defenders pop up in open play in the opposition box.
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance
It is, undoubtedly, our defence that is winning us games and it would be great if Leaburn in particular found his scoring boots, but, as weird as it sounds, our strength has been the fact that we aren't reliant on the goals from our forwards to win games. To date, we've had 18 different scorers in the league and in addition to those goals from set pieces we are now, as we did last night, regularly seeing our defenders pop up in open play in the opposition box.
Yup but it will be a lot easier if we could rely on 4 or 5 goals from our strikers as well lol
Average points per game of opposition for everyone in the run in. This takes into account if you are playing them home or away
Does this take into account the current form of each team or is it just based on the respective positions in the league of the opposition? The reason I ask is that Huddersfield have lost 7 of their last 11 matches and that includes defeats at the hands of Bristol Rovers, Wigan, Peterborough and Northampton. So whilst the table shows that Huddersfield have an easier run in than we do, the reality is that the form of us and them are miles apart.
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance.
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance.
I'm glad someone else said it.
Just a friendly reminder that in the last 10 games we have scored the 5th amount of goals, and have the best goal difference.
Seems when you score more than a goal a game, and concede less than a goal a game you win games.
Average points per game of opposition for everyone in the run in. This takes into account if you are playing them home or away
Does this take into account the current form of each team or is it just based on the respective positions in the league of the opposition? The reason I ask is that Huddersfield have lost 7 of their last 11 matches and that includes defeats at the hands of Bristol Rovers, Wigan, Peterborough and Northampton. So whilst the table shows that Huddersfield have an easier run in than we do, the reality is that the form of us and them are miles apart.
If by current form you mean the average points over whole season then yes.
Average points per game of opposition for everyone in the run in. This takes into account if you are playing them home or away
It takes into account that we have two tough games in Wycombe and Wrexham away. We know that already, but these games are also a reason why we have a real chance of the automatics.
Average points per game of opposition for everyone in the run in. This takes into account if you are playing them home or away
Does this take into account the current form of each team or is it just based on the respective positions in the league of the opposition? The reason I ask is that Huddersfield have lost 7 of their last 11 matches and that includes defeats at the hands of Bristol Rovers, Wigan, Peterborough and Northampton. So whilst the table shows that Huddersfield have an easier run in than we do, the reality is that the form of us and them are miles apart.
If by current form you mean the average points over whole season then yes.
If you mean last 11 matches then no
If we beat Huddersfield then that will be a minimum of 8 defeats in 13 matches for them. To overhaul us, Huddersfield could, at that point, need to gain 9 points on us with just 8 games left and they still have the likes of Stockport and Wycombe themselves to play. Unless something really untoward occurs, given the respective form of us and them and the limited time left in the season, they won't do that. Beating them and not settling for a draw is so important - it creates a situation would make Reading the only realistic side to knock us out of the top six and it also gives us a great chance of going up automatically.
This isn’t meant in anyway negative as I think we have a great chance at the automatic spot but I think if we fail it will be because we are not scoring enough. Our strikers are having a lean spell and if they can get their mojo back we have a fantastic chance.
I'm glad someone else said it.
Last 11 games:
Won 8 Drawn 2 Lost 1 (against the best team in the division and one that has conceded 23 goals all season) Average points per game: 2.36 For 18 Against 6 Scorers: Godden (4), Gillesphey (3), Small (2), Leaburn (1), Campbell (1), Anderson (1), Edwards (1), Berry (1), Ramsay (1), Jones (1), OGs (2)
It would be wonderful if we had someone who was banging in goals, week in, week out. But the point I keep trying to make is that having to rely on that one scorer makes it easier to stop us scoring as a team. Our two strikers (Leaburn and Godden) still have 5 goals but even ignoring the OGs, no less than TEN different players have scored for us in those 11 games.
If Leaburn or Godden had 30 goals between them at this stage of the season and they stopped scoring but no one else was getting them then we would be in real trouble. But it is the likes of Gillesphey at set pieces and Ramsay, Edwards and Jones making runs into the box and not being picked up because of a pre-occupation of the opposition watching the likes of Godden, Leaburn, Campbell and Small that makes us such a threat especially against tired legs and minds late on.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I agree they look tired, but we’re also seeing teams deal with TC and Small better, which has reduced the space we have to work in. We need to adapt to that, and at the moment we’re doing just enough to still win games despite that.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I agree they look tired, but we’re also seeing teams deal with TC and Small better, which has reduced the space we have to work in. We need to adapt to that, and at the moment we’re doing just enough to still win games despite that.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
I'm not sure it's so much that the opposition have figured out a way to counter them as it is they're being overplayed and they're noticeably jaded.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I agree they look tired, but we’re also seeing teams deal with TC and Small better, which has reduced the space we have to work in. We need to adapt to that, and at the moment we’re doing just enough to still win games despite that.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
I'm not sure it's so much that the opposition have figured out a way to counter them as it is they're being overplayed and they're noticeably jaded.
I think it’s both - for example we had regularly seen Small with loads of space to drive into and he was getting a lot of shots away. That’s no longer happening as often.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I agree they look tired, but we’re also seeing teams deal with TC and Small better, which has reduced the space we have to work in. We need to adapt to that, and at the moment we’re doing just enough to still win games despite that.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
I'm not sure it's so much that the opposition have figured out a way to counter them as it is they're being overplayed and they're noticeably jaded.
I think it’s a bit of both, it’s just a shame that Berry and Gilbert haven’t been able to convert from the time and space that Small and TC create with their threat from the wings. At the moment it’s still working, fingers crossed everyone keeps fit, the lack of depth worries more than lack of goals.
To be fair, it sort of highlights how shit the league is for me in regards to attacking options this year.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I agree they look tired, but we’re also seeing teams deal with TC and Small better, which has reduced the space we have to work in. We need to adapt to that, and at the moment we’re doing just enough to still win games despite that.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
Which kind of highlights my point about lack of attacking options mate. Say if we had May still (completely over him, swear) that's another player the team need to worry about, as he's a live wire and can score different types of goals.
With our forward options atm, there is so much pressure on Small and especially TC. I'd argue we are unlikely to get promoted if we lose TC as he's that important.
Godden has been scoring, and exceeded expectations, but he just can't play every minute of every game and be as alive as the likes of TC (or May, I'm ok, honest).
Jones has played it right, and it's a fantastic points return, my concern is we may run out of steam now. I don't think we will lose many, but I can see some draws in these final games.
I hope the lack of costas and high gives these boys a second wind 😂
If we win tomorrow and Wycombe draw with Wrexham, that will put us 3 points away from both. All ifs and buts I know but we are not far away. Looking at Wycombe's run in, I wouldn't mind them winning.
Our issue isn't the number of goals we score, the thing that will decide where we end up is our away form. We've had some excellent results recently but we haven't always looked that convincing. I don't care as long as we keep getting the results but we need to win rather than draw a lot of these games and we've very much smashed and grabbed against Bolton and Orient, lost to Birmingham, threw away a winning position against Blackpool, cancelled ourselves out against Stockport and did an effective if uninspired job on Crawley. The question we need to answer is can we keep doing that to the end of the season or is it unsustainable to burgle results like the Orient and Bolton ones?
The potentially interesting thing is we play Wrexham and Wycombe so late we might be able to dictate what a good result is there. Peterborough are resurgent and I'm a bit worried about that one but Mansfield appear to be on their holidays a bit and while Cambridge are fighting for their lives they are also a bit doomed. If we can get 7 points from that and 10 from our home games (a points total that is a big ask) then with some other results going our way we might be able to turn up to Wycombe and/or Wrexham away knowing that a draw hurts them and not us which isn't something any team will want going up against this side. Which will set us up perfectly to throw it away at home against Burton!
If we win tomorrow and Wycombe draw with Wrexham, that will put us 3 points away from both. All ifs and buts I know but we are not far away. Looking at Wycombe's run in, I wouldn't mind them winning.
Careful, you are in danger of over thinking things and over complicating it and will only give yourself stress if the other result doesn’t go exactly our way and both teams don’t drop points. The process is actually very simple, we just need to keep up the momentum we’ve already had and let the others worry about us. All we need to know is if we win then at least one of those teams will start to go into meltdown.
If we win tomorrow and Wycombe draw with Wrexham, that will put us 3 points away from both. All ifs and buts I know but we are not far away. Looking at Wycombe's run in, I wouldn't mind them winning.
Careful, you are in danger of over thinking things and over complicating it and will only give yourself stress if the other result doesn’t go exactly our way and both teams don’t drop points. The process is actually very simple, we just need to keep up the momentum we’ve already had and let the others worry about us. All we need to know is if we win then at least one of those teams will start to go into meltdown.
My point was meant to be that we don't really have to over think things. We are in touching distace of those two teams.
Comments
or away
Won 8
Drawn 2
Lost 1 (against the best team in the division and one that has conceded 23 goals all season)
Average points per game: 2.36
For 18
Against 6
Scorers: Godden (4), Gillesphey (3), Small (2), Leaburn (1), Campbell (1), Anderson (1), Edwards (1), Berry (1), Ramsay (1), Jones (1), OGs (2)
It would be wonderful if we had someone who was banging in goals, week in, week out. But the point I keep trying to make is that having to rely on that one scorer makes it easier to stop us scoring as a team. Our two strikers (Leaburn and Godden) still have 5 goals but even ignoring the OGs, no less than TEN different players have scored for us in those 11 games.
If Leaburn or Godden had 30 goals between them at this stage of the season and they stopped scoring but no one else was getting them then we would be in real trouble. But it is the likes of Gillesphey at set pieces and Ramsay, Edwards and Jones making runs into the box and not being picked up because of a pre-occupation of the opposition watching the likes of Godden, Leaburn, Campbell and Small that makes us such a threat especially against tired legs and minds late on.
Our goals aren't particularly exciting (not that I care) and it has felt like a few games our goals are a bit fortunate. No disputing how good the backline is, it's incredible. But upfront we look out of ideas at times.
Wigan is a big test, they don't concede many, only 3 more than us for the whole season. I will be very happy to see us win again, but I've looked at this team the last few games and they look tired.
I can see why Jones has given Gilbert and Leaburn starts, as they ask different questions to the opposition, and it gives Berry and Godden a rest.
I don't suppose that when I'm 'unalive' I'll have much idea one way or the other, whenever that time arrives.
With our forward options atm, there is so much pressure on Small and especially TC. I'd argue we are unlikely to get promoted if we lose TC as he's that important.
Godden has been scoring, and exceeded expectations, but he just can't play every minute of every game and be as alive as the likes of TC (or May, I'm ok, honest).
Jones has played it right, and it's a fantastic points return, my concern is we may run out of steam now. I don't think we will lose many, but I can see some draws in these final games.
I hope the lack of costas and high gives these boys a second wind 😂