Tuesday (27 Feb 2024) Night's League 2 Games

The Notts County game will be very interesting. If they lose that then Saturday becomes an even bigger game for us with a win probably killing them off as a play off challenger as I don't see they recover from that, if they get a win then it will give them a bit of confidence.
Walsall have hit a bit of form and like us won 3 from 3 with some impressive wins beating Mansfield, Morecambe and Harrogate.
I don't think the Forest Green game has any relevance for us as Wrexham won't collapse to the point where they only get 10 points from the last 13 which is what we'd need to do to realistically catch them. Also the Salford and Swindon matches, if any the 4 teams in them games catch us then we are not getting top 7 and at best we'll be fighting for a top half finish.

 

Ourselves, Crawley and Walsall are all on the exact same form over the last 5 games. AFC Wimbledon and Notts County appear to have dropped off completely, a bit like Swindon and Salford did earlier in the season, so they're probably out of it now.

I'd assume Gillingham don't have the firepower to factor, either, despite the fact they've hovered there or thereabouts for a lot of the season.

Barrow are in danger of dropping, too, but they had such a good start they've got time to recover.

Newport and ourselves probably have the same chances of making it: ie, not very good.

 

Nobody appears cabals of putting a consistent run together. So I’d say whoever can string a run of 5/6/7 wins together will make the playoffs. I don’t think anyone from 5th down to 16th is certain of being in/out of the playoffs.

Another couple of weeks and we’ll have a better idea but for now it’s anyone’s guess.

 

A classic example of why the play off system keeps divisions “interesting” right up to the end of the season.

 

The Notts drop off was always going to come after Williams left and the new style needed to bed in. Also, apparently Langstaff kicked up a fuss when he had a 7 figure bid turned down towards the end of the window, wonder if his heads been turned?

We need Barrow and MK to start dropping some points. Sky last week during the game were saying "Bradford are only a few points off the play offs" which paints the picture that we have some slots to fight for...... when in reality, it's really just 7th as it stands that us and a boat load more teams are looking at. If we can be within say 5 or 6 points of 2 or 3 play off spots in a few weeks time, it becomes far more of a realistic ambition of a top 7 finish.

 

3 years ago under T&S we had a fantastic run, we need similar numbers now

 

Doesnt matter what anyone does if we cant do the job ourselves.

We pull 7 points out of the next 9 then i think the gap will have closed right in

 

Less relegations though....

 

The drop off for Notts County was coming while he was already there. Remember our game there? Conceded 4 but as soon as we got our set up right they looked all over the place defensively. No surprise that Williams has gone to Swansea who are now conceding goals for fun.

 

I've only seen three and two of them were the best part of forty years ago.

 

Seems like it's starting to turn for Swansea a little, watched the highlights of their game at the weekend and the goals they scored were more like the Williams style goals County would craft at the start of the season.

But yes, County seem to be fading away. Think we'll find that the Williams system made some average players look very very good when it actually worked well.

 

I do think it's only a matter of time before the EFL look at adopting the same play off system as the National League. Not only does it give more clubs a chance in the play offs, it properly rewards finishing higher up, it keeps more teams interested deeper into the season and it makes every play off game a pure knock out match which I think Sky would love especially in the Championship.

 

I doubt that in L2 as three up and six in the playoffs takes in almost half the division. They might amend it to a single match though. (Apologies if that is what you meant)

 

They've some technically decent players but that pass completion above anything else has.cost them badly. Usually find when you press teams like this the players show why they are in league 2.

 

Not making the play offs. Damage already done. Happy for GA to work out his best spine and system for a shot at next seasons play offs even if that means losing a few. I wont be at any away fixtures for the rest of the season. Saving my brass for 24/25.

 

From being in the depths of despair, I'm starting to believe in GA and his system, especially after realising he's won 50% and drawn nearly 25% of all matches with us since he took over. Get that up to 54% (7 more wins) and with this season looking like a record low for seventh place, we still have a chance.

 

Gillingham beat Wrexham at the weekend. They aren't scoring loads but still getting wins and have enough to finish in the play-offs