The Play-offs - not the end of the world?

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere - not been on to read as much over the last couple week or so.

A conversation with a friend this weekend got me thinking about the playoffs this year. Basically my point was that although getting in them and potentially going up would be brilliant and to not do so would be gutting. I am abit more relaxed than years passed, genuinely believe having most of this squad tied down for next season and making 2/3 key additions would put us right back up there next season.

I actually think we'd be one of the best prepared teams come August, not sure how many L2 teams would be in the same boat, pre-season quickly becomes a continuation of this year and less integrating/getting up to speed etc.

His point, perhaps fairly, was that if we're not good enough this year - why would we be next year, and could it really be called progression? I think we still are good enough and progression is clear to see as we are 3 points off last years total, with 6 games left.

So that got me thinking and I took a look at the last 15 years of League 2 - yes lots of time on my hands! The upshot is it has taken 70, 70, 75, 77, 73, Covid so N/A, 71, 75,70, 75, 71, 71, 69, 72 & 68 points respectively to get that final 7th place and secure a play-off spot. In fact 2007/2008, Wycombe 78 points, is the highest I found before I lost interest/ my wife told me to stop being boring.

Over the last 15 years only one (77 points) looks like it would be enough this season. It's going to take an abnormally high total this season - overwhelming majority of those years we're comfortably in the play-offs.

It wouldn't make it feel any better, falling short this year - of course not. However I genuinely think it's become when not if now as we have a squad that needs very little change, and importantly is mostly secured for next year. We have some younger and inexperienced EFL players that will get better and can hopefully focus on those 2/3 improvements we need rather than the 10/11 we've consistently had to change at a minimum most seasons.

I still think it's all to play for this year and we have a decent chance. But I don't know... maybe I'm just trying to soften myself up for disappointment this season! UTM

I was talking to a Derby fan who did not want to sneak into the playoffs as he said that the team was not ready.  

Next season -  yes.

Similar to us maybe?

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

I was talking to a Derby fan who did not want to sneak into the playoffs as he said that the team was not ready.  

Next season -  yes.

Similar to us maybe?

Can see the argument, probably has a bit of truth to it - it's what I thought last year funnily enough. However not sure it fits *as much* this year. I'd fancy us in the playoffs format though, if we get there.

There's a very strong case that since Christmas - with the additions we've had - we're one of the best teams in this division.... results/performance wise etc. 38 points from 19, 2 points a game - that's 92 points over a 46 game season (doesn't work like that I know)

Quoted from Mikey_345

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere - not been on to read as much over the last couple week or so.

A conversation with a friend this weekend got me thinking about the playoffs this year. Basically my point was that although getting in them and potentially going up would be brilliant and to not do so would be gutting. I am abit more relaxed than years passed, genuinely believe having most of this squad tied down for next season and making 2/3 key additions would put us right back up there next season.

I actually think we'd be one of the best prepared teams come August, not sure how many L2 teams would be in the same boat, pre-season quickly becomes a continuation of this year and less integrating/getting up to speed etc.

His point, perhaps fairly, was that if we're not good enough this year - why would we be next year, and could it really be called progression? I think we still are good enough and progression is clear to see as we are 3 points off last years total, with 6 games left.

So that got me thinking and I took a look at the last 15 years of League 2 - yes lots of time on my hands! The upshot is it has taken 70, 70, 75, 77, 73, Covid so N/A, 71, 75,70, 75, 71, 71, 69, 72 & 68 points respectively to get that final 7th place and secure a play-off spot. In fact 2007/2008, Wycombe 78 points, is the highest I found before I lost interest/ my wife told me to stop being boring.

Over the last 15 years only one (77 points) looks like it would be enough this season. It's going to take an abnormally high total this season - overwhelming majority of those years we're comfortably in the play-offs.

It wouldn't make it feel any better, falling short this year - of course not. However I genuinely think it's become when not if now as we have a squad that needs very little change, and importantly is mostly secured for next year. We have some younger and inexperienced EFL players that will get better and can hopefully focus on those 2/3 improvements we need rather than the 10/11 we've consistently had to change at a minimum most seasons.

I still think it's all to play for this year and we have a decent chance. But I don't know... maybe I'm just trying to soften myself up for disappointment this season! UTM

For the previous 2 seasons only one team in league 2 won 20 games and didn't make the play-offs that was us last time (assume it was the lack of draws that did us ) . That suggests if we make that number again and miss out we would be unlucky. 7-12 can all still make 20 wins this season which must be abnormally high .

Last season was the season for building a foundation. This season was the one to really go for it.

Quoted from Mariner_501

Last season was the season for building a foundation. This season was the one to really go for it.

I don't agree that one season is necessarily enough to build a foundation or at least should be the metric to judge it - especially when we are doing things the way we are.

Since adding Smith, Maldini and Cook - three key players we've averaged 2 points a game since Christmas. It's hard to suggest we haven't gone for it.

Foundations can be built and improved on. Warren, Ev, McEachran and Svanthorrsen the only players we own that aren't currently tied down to be here next year.

Quoted from Mariner_501

Last season was the season for building a foundation. This season was the one to really go for it.

I disagree. Last season was the foundation,  this season was the consolidation ( with the play-offs a feasible target) and next season the one to go for it as automatic promotion.

Quoted from rancido

I disagree. Last season was the foundation,  this season was the consolidation ( with the play-offs a feasible target) and next season the one to go for it as automatic promotion.

The point I was trying to make with my reply, you made it much better 😂

We finished 9th last year and missed out on the playoffs in the last game. The number of points we get is irrelevant. If we don’t finish in the top 7, then no matter which way you spin it, it’s clearly not progression.

For me, last season proved we were not quite good enough at the time - missing out on a play-off spot on the final day, but with a goal difference of -6 tells you as much.

This season, we're a much better side, imo. It might not have felt that way walking away from the Harrogate game, but a win on Saturday would match last season's 68 points total with another 5 games to go, and our GD is currently 22 better than how we finished last term. Not to mention the fact we beat Manchester United and matched another Premier League side in all but scoreline.

And yet Sod's Law dictates there's a reasonable chance we may fail to make the play-offs yet again because, let's be honest, we had that absurd run of 7 games where we accrued a cumulative xG of 12.02 vs. 6.68, and yet picked up just three, single points - just 0.43 PPG. I still find that period so utterly inexplicable; a combination of Christy Pym completely forgetting how to keep goal, McJannet guilty of numerous uncharacteristic brain farts, all while our forward players became seemingly incapable of finishing for toffee.

We really, really ought to be pushing for automatic promotion right now - outside of that bizarre run we've absolutely been good enough for that, make no mistake. But we aren't, and instead we find ourselves stretching to nick 7th place.

If we make the play-offs, we'll win them imo. I feel certain of that. What's much less certain is whether we do get there in the first place. If we don't, I'll be absolutely gutted - much more so than I was last season.