Play-off/relegation watch.

[Stranded]

Isn't it pretty much a given in L1 that the vast majority of teams are made up of dross and those whose "star players" fire more than others end up nearer the top. Very few sides play massively attractive football at this level as the risk/reward is to skewed toward risk to do so due to players making more mistakes.

[stealthpapes]

Think you can circumvent it with a well-drilled side, but I covered that broadly in no structure, no drive.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Isn't it pretty much a given in L1 that the vast majority of teams are made up of dross and those whose "star players" fire more than others end up nearer the top. Very few sides play massively attractive football at this level as the risk/reward is to skewed toward risk to do so due to players making more mistakes.

There's a fair few who play more attractive football than we do.

[Stranded]

Isn't it pretty much a given in L1 that the vast majority of teams are made up of dross and those whose "star players" fire more than others end up nearer the top. Very few sides play massively attractive football at this level as the risk/reward is to skewed toward risk to do so due to players making more mistakes.

There's a fair few who play more attractive football than we do.

More attractive does not equal attractive tough.

It's a functional/attritional league - always has been, probably always will be.

[windermereROYAL]

The kind of stuff to make you want to pull your hair out, we`ve been far from impressive but we still sit 4 points outside the play-offs with a game in hand having shipped 4 needless points in a matter of days through awful negative tactics.

[stealthpapes]

Even with the disappointment of the week, our most recent form is played 5, 8 points.

It’s mildly short of most teams in the playoffs

Bolton 9
Stockport 10
Bradford 9
Huddersfield 7

It’s better than over half the pack below us

Stevenage 6
Wycombe 10
Luton 7
Plymouth 9
Peterborough 7

But that pack is starting to thin out, gaps appearing below that.

In any case, the form were basically after is 2 points per game I.e. turning one missed opportunity into a win. Hit that, we make the playoffs.

I’ll look at how we’re matching last season some point this week.

[Snowflake Royal]

Even with the disappointment of the week, our most recent form is played 5, 8 points.

It’s mildly short of most teams in the playoffs

Bolton 9
Stockport 10
Bradford 9
Huddersfield 7

It’s better than over half the pack below us

Stevenage 6
Wycombe 10
Luton 7
Plymouth 9
Peterborough 7

But that pack is starting to thin out, gaps appearing below that.

In any case, the form were basically after is 2 points per game I.e. turning one missed opportunity into a win. Hit that, we make the playoffs.

I’ll look at how we’re matching last season some point this week.

I was looking at rolling 6 game ppg yesterday. And Richardson has been very consistent at about 1.7/1.8 ppg with short 2.2 and 1.3 blips.

Hunt was steadily improving from the 0.8 we started the season, but struggled to maintain or better 1.5.

[Delboy]

Saturday is a must win game no excuses . Squad has only a couple of injuries draw no good , have to attack both halves can not have the dross from the last 3 games

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Saturday is a must win game no excuses . Squad has only a couple of injuries draw no good , have to attack both halves can not have the dross from the last 3 games

Is it? What if we lose?

[tidus_mi2]

Saturday is a must win game no excuses . Squad has only a couple of injuries draw no good , have to attack both halves can not have the dross from the last 3 games

Is it? What if we lose?

Not much really, we're not in "must win" territory for the rest of the season. Would be nice if we maintain a play-off charge but I'd worry if we somehow shithouse our way to promotion via the play-offs, we'll need a near perfect Summer window or we'd be in for a long season.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Saturday is a must win game no excuses . Squad has only a couple of injuries draw no good , have to attack both halves can not have the dross from the last 3 games

Is it? What if we lose?

Not much really, we're not in "must win" territory for the rest of the season. Would be nice if we maintain a play-off charge but I'd worry if we somehow shithouse our way to promotion via the play-offs, we'll need a near perfect Summer window or we'd be in for a long season.

So would you rather...

another Season in League One...

or

a Season in the Championship....

Either way, there will be worries during the summer - losing players because of cost constraints or failing to lure players....

I know which one I'd prefer....

[South Coast Royal]

Is it? What if we lose?

Not much really, we're not in "must win" territory for the rest of the season. Would be nice if we maintain a play-off charge but I'd worry if we somehow shithouse our way to promotion via the play-offs, we'll need a near perfect Summer window or we'd be in for a long season.

So would you rather...

another Season in League One...

or

a Season in the Championship....

Either way, there will be worries during the summer - losing players because of cost constraints or failing to lure players....

I know which one I'd prefer....

I would settle for League 1.
We are so far off not only the two top teams in this division and if we were to fluke promotion the overhaul would be immense just to stay up.
I don't want to watch another relegation season so soon after the last one.

So, a gradual build over the next season or two and a team ready to compete would be the ideal for me although I do accept the counter argument that you can't pick and choose your promotion year.

[stealthpapes]

Losing play off final.

I wouldn’t immediately jump to “relegation nailed on”, reasonable chance Couhig flips his investment, for one.

My view is that you’ve got to go for it. The worst thing to happen this season would be any number of dead rubbers in the last month.

[South Coast Royal]

Losing play off final.

I wouldn’t immediately jump to “relegation nailed on”, reasonable chance Couhig flips his investment, for one.

My view is that you’ve got to go for it. The worst thing to happen this season would be any number of dead rubbers in the last month.

Obviously they will go for it, what other point or option is there?

My point was that my preferred option is that we end up just outside the play-offs (again) but build a team to make a real impression on this division to such an extent that major input isn't needed for our next season in the Championship.

I am old and would like that to happen within the next couple of years or so -I am not convinced that the owner would make a big investment in the playing staff at the end of this season if we only scrape up through the play-offs.
If however next season we finished in the top 2 he might believe that we then have a side good enough already to knock around at the lower end of the Championship and be delighted not to have to put his hands in those seemingly not very deep pockets.

This is all immaterial anyway as I don't expect us to make the play-offs never mind win them but if we do then all well and good but we will still be a long way behind the top two and significant investment becomes necessary.

[Clyde1998]

Fwiw, Bradford host Rotherham tonight, as Stockport travel to Burton.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Losing play off final.

I wouldn’t immediately jump to “relegation nailed on”, reasonable chance Couhig flips his investment, for one.

My view is that you’ve got to go for it. The worst thing to happen this season would be any number of dead rubbers in the last month.

Obviously they will go for it, what other point or option is there?

My point was that my preferred option is that we end up just outside the play-offs (again) but build a team to make a real impression on this division to such an extent that major input isn't needed for our next season in the Championship.

I am old and would like that to happen within the next couple of years or so -I am not convinced that the owner would make a big investment in the playing staff at the end of this season if we only scrape up through the play-offs.
If however next season we finished in the top 2 he might believe that we then have a side good enough already to knock around at the lower end of the Championship and be delighted not to have to put his hands in those seemingly not very deep pockets.

This is all immaterial anyway as I don't expect us to make the play-offs never mind win them but if we do then all well and good but we will still be a long way behind the top two and significant investment becomes necessary.

Thing is, Richardson isn't going to get us promoted this season or next if he insists on playing his negative style of turgid football.
Come back and kick me up the arse if I'm wrong.