Most liked posts in thread: The Turnaround: In Numbers

Yes, we've just got our noses above the guaranteed safety line, Finally! But the start of the season was bad enough that it will take a while yet to even get to the "Ronnie Brown" comfort line, let alone playoffs. Still, it's nice to be feeling optimistic again.

RCB

 

Top post and eloquently put

 

Well, if any of you barmy kids think it's possible...

11/4 top half finish (William Hill)
10/1 to reach the play offs (bet Victor)
33/1 to win the play offs (William Hill).

Remember, gamble responsibly. 18s+ only.

 

While it's nice that we can be optimistic again I think some people are getting a little carried away! After Saturday we have a tough run of games in February and I expect things to maybe level off a bit results wise at that point.

Still, there's no reason to suggest that we can't finish positively and end up in upper mid-table, whereas I was convinced we would end up in the bottom two had McCall not been removed.

 

If we could replicate our last 7 games, we would have 48 points from 31 games, needing approx 24/25 points from our remaining 15 games.
That starts with a replication of our current form against opposition, whom sit higher. Form or not, such teams are their, as we stand, for a reason.
In February alone, we have 7 games alone. Actually those 7 games are in just 21 days... 21 days. (In the 4 weeks from the Exeter game we have 9 games in 28 days)....
Inevitably we will need a fair bit of rotation, injuries will occur (see Clarke yesterday), individual form will negate and over the last two games, you can see some signs that the fluidity of early weeks under T&S are being challenged especially from a defensive point of view, though brilliantly we won both games.
We lack pace, cover in midfield and IMO, this squad is an average league 2 team. Rowe has started well but can he manage the minutes?
So getting 17 points from 21 in February would still require approx 25 points from the last 15 games (7 wins, 4 draws?)
Context from our remaining 22 games we would need 12 wins, 6 draws and around 4 defeats. This with the same team that has shown its failings in previous times. Yes T&S have galvanised this squad, yes we have produced results but I just don't see this continuity over the remainder of the season.
To answer, we can consider now, we could consider at the end of February assuming a good return. But this squad, its depth, its strengths and limitations will need to find championship form under T&S. I'm happy to proved wrong, crikey you can set up a thread at the end of the season if you wish, taking the Michael if you do wish...

But it's nonsensical and blinkered hope. In my opinion.

 

So it’s about building momentum for next year then!! No way we are doing that.

 

I'm never one for turning any chance of progression down and if we could get into a possible play off place we have to go for it IMO.

 

And another gulp or two more... If one chooses to be very optimistic, one could point out that the fewest points a playoff team has won in the 3-points-for-a-win era has been 66, which would mean a 1.65 points-per-match pace for us from now on. Our present good run has got us up to 1.22... I'd love it if we did manage 7th or better, as that would mean a brilliant second-half of the season. But I think it more likely that this season will be about getting set up well for a promotion push next season.

I'd like to see us finish in the top half, better still top-10; this current squad is certainly capable of that. Add some strengthening in the summer -- the famous "last pieces" of the jigsaw puzzle -- and we should be a lot happier in 21/2.

RCB

 

As much as i would love to be looking up the table, we are very much closer to the bottom than the top so focus and being hard to beat must be the way for now.
A few more wins starting at the weekend then we can MAYBE believe something is possible.
Grimsby v Stevenage at the bottom with Carlisle v Exeter in the top 10 coupled with our game Saturday are both contributors to the way we look at the table after Barrow.

 

What is also a big factor especially this season is the fact that from 3rd to 17th the gap is only 12 points. Its a wide open league this season.

 

Straight to the point. McCall and Black are just crap.

 

Whilst last night's result was fantastic I think we need to just focus on the next game.
As other posters have pointed out - we're closer to the bottom than the top. So, talk of play offs is still a way off.
If we can haul ourselves into mid table by the end of February then maybe, just maybe, we'll have the chance to get there with a good run.
I remember back to February 96 and thinking we'd be looking at 3rd tier football the following season. But we went on one of the most unexpected winning streaks to bag a play-off place....

 

Of some interest (or not!) is that 5 out of 7 of the duo's games have been played away.

 

Based on these graphics and the amount of games coming up, by the end of February, should we keep up our form, we could be just outside the play offs.

 

Unfortunately like us Mansfield are motoring up the table

 

Surely this is a good thing though as they will take points from the teams we are chasing.

 

True. This is not an ordinary season. Squad restrictions flatten things out. Promotion and play offs could be very low points totals. Big sides cant just have big squads to cover