Match Thread Away V Cheltenham Saturday 20th February @ 3.00pm

It’s all relative. Teams at any level don’t achieve success by accepting not-winning before a ball is even kicked. It’s a mindset that’s been lacking for so long at this club and we need it back. If we’re still in League 2 next season then our aim is to win the league, that simple. And it was so refreshing to hear Sparks refer to it in his recent interview when he discussed the process for signing players ‘how are you going to help us win the league’. Not ‘finish in the top 7’, or ‘win promotion’. ‘Win the league’.

 

That reminds me, I need to go to Morrisons for some essential shopping, Saltaire Blonde!

 

I'm sure in our history we've only finished champions of a division 3 times.

 

Any sportsman or team who go into a match not believing they can win will lose that is a fact. But that is different from supporters acknowledging that a fixture is a difficult one

 

You and my mate @Bronco just don't get it. Like you both stuck in 1960 or something!

I remember under Bowyer when we played Leyton Orient away and @Bronco was saying it was good point. No it wasn't! You come on here saying I will take a draw often. Just so out of touch with the winning mindset and then you wonder why we are in div 2 failing.

When listening to Ryan he say T & S for each game talk about winning! Yes, you can pin point areas which a team is good at but the other team should fear us more and until fans believe and start to understand that then we won't move forward.

I think McCall lost that winning belief for us and it was clear at the summer forum then how he changed tactics a million times but I go into todays game knowing it will be tough but thinking we can win and yes I will be disappointed if with draw. It could be a good point on paper but drawing against a bottom half div 2 team like Leyton Orient under Bowyer should bloody hurt and I think we need to get to that point as a club. Fear no one! Winning midset, draws feel like defeats!

 

Fully expect Clarke, Novak, FCD, Staunton and Hosannah to get significant game time before the end of the season, and yes, Donaldson, to a lesser extent. As the two match a week marathon progresses, there will be a need, and an expectation to rotate to reduce fatigue and keep team morale, and as the inevitable injuries set in.

 

We've had the best part of three years wathcing players go on to the pitch already beaten, the last games under Bowyer were awful to see the players body language as they walked onto the pitch. Mansfield away i don't think i've ever seen a team look so defeated walking onto a pitch, if you'd given them the option i think they'd have refused to play. Same with Hopkin, his management had killed any optimism the players had in the dressing room.

 

You know @Fordy117, you talking some real sense today.

 

Morrisons sell a decent range of bottled beers. When I remember to buy some...Two of my favourites are Rudgate Ruby Mild and Banana bread beer, can't remember the brewer though.

 

You have a very selective memory @Fordy117 when it suits you, that is until its about showing proof you didnt welch on a £10 bet with proceeds going to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, shame on you Mr Big shot.

 

I am afraid you don’t listen to what is said of course a team should have a winning mentality but fans expecting wins in tough matches only leads to unwarranted criticism if it falls short in a very difficult match like today’s. A positive attitude is a must for the+players as it is in everyday life

 

Dave he can’t show what he never paid

 

It's even more selective I think, Dave. I'm pretty sure we had a conversation after the Orient game about Bowyer's negative tactics dropping us points in a winnable game.

 

Got to hand it to Fordy117, his last 10 posts on this thread make sense.
Must be some sort of a record.

 

We can only assume that's the case shame on him.

 

I'm sure your correct Steve I cant remember.

 

I mentioned Rudgate...it was the Banana one I was unsure about.

 

You are right, he's not. He's saying we are now in a position where, as fans, we should be going into every game thinking we can win it rather than expecting to win it, and he's right.

I think we can win today and I'll be disappointed with a draw unless we are losing with ten minutes to go and pull it back. thats what I view as a "winning" draw.

Cheltenham are good, their league position shows that, but we are just not the team we were in November and going there and winning is very much a possibility.