The thing that gives me more confidence...

The thing that fills me with the most confidence about this Town side, is the character it has. Teams of recent years, probably since Slade's 2nd season, has not had any strength of character, or the spirit, work rate or bravery.

I think this side in the last few months has shown the character necessary when building a team for promotion (whether it be this season or next).

• After losing to Salisbury in the FA Cup, we got back to the league games and got straight back into it and haven't lost again since. Didn't feel sorry for themselves, didn't shrink into their boots worried about what might happen next. Just got on with it and determined their own immediate futures.
  
  
• Home game against Newport. We played awful and were 0-2 down but kept going, didn't hide, and sneaked a 2-2 draw which never looked likely.
  
  
• Away game against Lincoln on Boxing Day - went a goal down, were outplayed 1st half, and were reduced to what had been our 2 reserve centre backs for the last month. All stood up to be counted second half, laid everything down and came away with a deserved win.
  
  
• Today, for probably the only time i've ever seen in my life, Town controlled the game after we went down to 10 men. We kept possession well, kept it in the corners and high up the pitch, and still pressed them. And as said in other threads we had Miller (after just one training session with the squad) and Elding giving orders out and organising the players.
  
  
• Also today, i noticed when Elding scored the penalty and ran off into the corner to celebrate, every single outfield player raced after him and joined in the celebrations. These players have pride wearing the shirt, even the loan players. And the character of the squad forces the loan players to get in line with the others quickly too.
  

I believe in this core of players and more importantly they believe in themselves. Far too often we've seen comments on this board after a defeat saying "it was like men vs boys out there" us being the boys bullied into a defeat. I don't see that happening with this team. And i'd be confident we could bounce back after a defeat. There's a lot to be positive about and it'd be great to see a rise in the home attendances to reflect that.

UTM

Great post. I can forgive a lack of skill, I can't forgive a lack of character or battle. But this team gives their all and they clearly care about the club, lets keep supporting them as well as we can.

Very perceptive post - many true points - we're looking like a real team now, not individuals - we fight in packs for retaining / regaining the ball !

More on the floor - more penetration by the midfield and strikers!

Agree 100% with every word. This is why it is so vital to keep this side together, if we dont go up this year. Great post

This is a team I believe in, after years of watching lilly livered losers we now have players who fight for each other and never give up.  These are the building blocks of the old Town teams.

I honestly think we have one of the best strike forces in this league, keep them firing and we will go up next season (unless we can reach the play-offs this season!)

Top summary.  Hard work, character, teamwork, confidence and some good players.  Miller was a club captain and has already added leadership and organisational skills.

We have more reason to hope than in previous seasons.

We certainly now have a few players with a backbone and some talent to boot!

If we win our next 2 and beat both Cambridge and York, I'll start to think about the play offs. Until then, next season looks like it might be special if we can keep the team together.

Quoted from immariner

We certainly now have a few players with a backbone and some talent to boot!

If we win our next 2 and beat both Cambridge and York, I'll start to think about the play offs. Until then, next season looks like it might be special if we can keep the team together.

And the world doesn't end.

Managers build teams in their image. Our managers have been very successful.