A time for reflection?

The league table this morning makes bad reading if you're a Town fan, and the title would be a massive task now given the current form of the other contenders. That's not to say that promotion is off the cards altogether though. We're still in a very favourable position for the play offs and they usually offer the promotion spot to the in form team at that particular time. It's obviously squeaky bum time, but we can still pull the season around even with another couple of poor results in the short term. As long as the team are doing well at the end of the season I'm still confident we have the ability to get back into the Football League. What won't help is the constant sniping and criticism, and now is the time for folk to get right behind the team and be the much heralded 12th man. It's still on......

If we win the next 2 games and other results go our way, it is still on, still hard though

A time for perspective.

Quoted from jock dock tower

The league table this morning makes bad reading if you're a Town fan, and the title would be a massive task now given the current form of the other contenders. That's not to say that promotion is off the cards altogether though. We're still in a very favourable position for the play offs and they usually offer the promotion spot to the in form team at that particular time. It's obviously squeaky bum time, but we can still pull the season around even with another couple of poor results in the short term. As long as the team are doing well at the end of the season I'm still confident we have the ability to get back into the Football League. What won't help is the constant sniping and criticism, and now is the time for folk to get right behind the team and be the much heralded 12th man. It's still on......

THIS

after drawing 3 and losing 1 in our first 4 games, the position we are in now is fantastic.

the managers and players have been a credit to us all this season and have made me proud to be a mariner for the first time in a long time.

we have got a cup final next week.

IMO title is not possible anymore, but the fact it is not possible after playing superb is better than playing dreadful and losing out on it.

it looks like the play-offs and IMO, we can do them.

mansfield -- 4-1 at home, lost 2-0 away - AGG 4-3
Luton -- 4-1 at home, not played away.
Newport -- 0-0 Away
FGR -- 1-0 home, 1-0 away - AGG 2-0
Kidderminster - ermmm, they are good, 0-0 away, 3-1 home.
Wrexham - 0-0 away, 1-0 home AGG1-0

have confidence !

Its far from over for the title, especially with the fixtures Mansfield and Wrexham have coming up and our games in hand. Its got alot more difficult but with us no longer being favourites the pressure is now off and hopefully the players respond to that.

However nearly everyone would have been happy with play-offs at the start of the season and we are well on course for that, Kiddy are the only side I would fear playing in those, so promotion is still a very real possibility.

If we can't win the title then lets just repeat 1998 and make this another year to remember for those who didn't witness 1998.

Good post John, maybe winning the title was always going to be a long shot especially with our run in and to be without Hearn and now Niven, We need to get behind the team and look at the playoffs,we will have Hearn and Niven back for this, It is a lottery in the playoffs, but i would fancy us over 2 legs against any of the teams above us, In a way it maybe take the pressure off us a little now, I have never known this division to be as tight as it is between 4 to 6 sides, I was disappointed in the result last night because it sounded like we played outstanding but we have to move on and hope we hit form just at the right time, I am sure the players are deflated too after last nights result so lets get behind the team and cheer them all the way.

UTM

After having listened to some of the game last night I was very down (like many others at the final whistle), but having read some of the reports from the more respected posters on here who went I am still optomistic this season is far from over. I don't think we're title contenders now and the play offs are by no means a forgone conclusion but if S&H can get the troops motivated we can still make the play off final. I just hope we aren't too affected by the centre mid injuries and the FAT final.

Can't wait for Saturday. Bring. It On.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Good post John, maybe winning the title was always going to be a long shot especially with our run in and to be without Hearn and now Niven, We need to get behind the team and look at the playoffs,we will have Hearn and Niven back for this, It is a lottery in the playoffs, but i would fancy us over 2 legs against any of the teams above us, In a way it maybe take the pressure off us a little now, I have never known this division to be as tight as it is between 4 to 6 sides, I was disappointed in the result last night because it sounded like we played outstanding but we have to move on and hope we hit form just at the right time, I am sure the players are deflated too after last nights result so lets get behind the team and cheer them all the way.

UTM

This, and the fact that we'll have already had Wembley experience this season, should see us go up through the play-offs if necessary.
UTM

My opinion is I honestly do not know what is going to happen. Nobody does and nobody will until the end of the season. Thats the beauty of football at this level. Will we win the league? Its possible, if the results go our way and we do our bit then it could happen. We know that this team can beat any of the remaning sides we have to play on our day, wether we will or not is another matter. In the event that we fall short, then the lottery of the playoffs it is.  Once in the playoffs we can't possibly guess whats going to happen. If last night proved anything to me then it was that one second of slack marking or one brilliant strike or move and thats it, game over.  The same rule applies in our favour and between now and the end of the season anything can happen.

So to those making predictions as to what will happen, you can't possibly know so just wait and see and hope for the best.  

Its squeaky bum time I'm afraid!

Quoted from Sconeboy

My opinion is I honestly do not know what is going to happen. Nobody does and nobody will until the end of the season. Thats the beauty of football at this level. Will we win the league? Its possible, if the results go our way and we do our bit then it could happen. We know that this team can beat any of the remaning sides we have to play on our day, wether we will or not is another matter. In the event that we fall short, then the lottery of the playoffs it is.  Once in the playoffs we can't possibly guess whats going to happen. If last night proved anything to me then it was that one second of slack marking or one brilliant strike or move and thats it, game over.  The same rule applies in our favour and between now and the end of the season anything can happen.

So to those making predictions as to what will happen, you can't possibly know so just wait and see and hope for the best.  

Its squeaky bum time I'm afraid!

Spot on Sconeboy

As the song goes...

We'll have to wait and see; Que sera sera...♫♫♫

I was feeling a lot more relaxed this morning than I have been for a few weeks. I just didn't think we were good enough to win the league but I was HOPING we might still somehow do it. But now I've given up on the title but not on promotion via the play offs. Barring a complete slump which I can't see, we are definitely in the playoffs and I can already "see" The Hitman scoring the winner at Wembley!The script is already written people!!!
  

all these teams have spent weeks beneath us and it's not too late for us to be back at the top again.

In two months we've gone from looking like we could run away with the title to now being uncertain of even a top five finish. Yes Kiddy and Mansfield are good sides, yes one of them will finish the top and the other favourites to win the play offs. But for the wins to dry up the way they have when previously we've done well against our promotion rivals is hard to fathom. It's not all down the loss of Pond and more recently Niven/Pearson is it?

I think this is where Scott and Hurst need to earn their dough. They need to get in these players' heads, find out what's wrong and snap them out of it before the mardy, miserable minority at BP really have an excuse to open their mouths.

I would say that it's important that we don't show weakness to rivals. Players, staff and supporters. On paper, it looks tough, but in reality its still wide open with plenty of games to play. If some people believe that it's 'over' and we can't win the title/gain promotion, it's better for our cause that they don't show it. We have to keep supporting the players and applying ourselves with confidence. There is still an awful lot to play for.

Despondancy can pass quickly. Let it go I say. If this campaign were a boxing bout, we have just been struck by two heavy blows and our legs have buckled but we fight on after a drink and a sponge down. Now is the time to hit back, and hit back hard. We are not beaten are we?

Yes we have weaknesses, yes we have selection-related questions, yes we have players out of form, and yes we have injuries but that can all change quickly. Don't kid yourself that other teams don't have problems too. I really do believe that we will win our next two games and it will all look a little different then. There is still everything to play for, so we need to stick our chest out, remain defiant and confident and bite back. The players need us and we have to back them. If we act like it's over, it is.

Come on!

I agree with Sconeboy and chaos.

Comments like "we can still pull the season around even with another couple of poor results in the short term." may be a good point but I think it sends out totally the wrong message.

Think the trouble is people have concerns and it's tough to know if they're justified or whether it's an over-reaction of worry creating a problem where there isn't one.

Adam says
"But for the wins to dry up the way they have when previously we've done well against our promotion rivals is hard to fathom."

But surely we've just got to accept it's a game of fine margins, results don't go in straight lines and we just got unlucky last night ?
Or am I wrong ?

I just don't understand the point of these pro-playoffs threads saying how difficult the title is.
Obviously it's gonna be difficult - doesn't take Einstein to work that one out !  

But what IS the point ? What are we meant to do anyway ?

What does "A time for reflection ?" actually mean ?
Pointlessly worrying about things to the tune of lowering expectations so we can do our best to fearfully struggle at snailpace towards the finish line ?
No thanks !

Why can't we just stay positive and see where it takes us ?
At least for now ?
3pts clear and 3 games in hand, signs of a return to form and FGR play Mansfield on Friday.

tbh it wouldn't suprise me if some prefer the playoff route for the financial benefits of another Wembley trip.
If that's true, think it's silly to WANT to risk trying to negotiate a playoff semi first.

I just think fans would be better off putting their energies into positive ways (e.g. organizing fervent support for Sat) than wasting their time worrying who might be to blame if it all goes wrong or creating problems that don't seem to exist yet.

Hey! She aint singing just yet!

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8554697089_660b2ba123_m.jpg[/img]

UTM

Quoted from 1600

I agree with Sconeboy and chaos.

Comments like "we can still pull the season around even with another couple of poor results in the short term." may be a good point but I think it sends out totally the wrong message.

Think the trouble is people have concerns and it's tough to know if they're justified or whether it's an over-reaction of worry creating a problem where there isn't one.

Adam says
"But for the wins to dry up the way they have when previously we've done well against our promotion rivals is hard to fathom."

But surely we've just got to accept it's a game of fine margins, results don't go in straight lines and we just got unlucky last night ?
Or am I wrong ?

I just don't understand the point of these pro-playoffs threads saying how difficult the title is.
Obviously it's gonna be difficult - doesn't take Einstein to work that one out !  

But what IS the point ? What are we meant to do anyway ?

What does "A time for reflection ?" actually mean ?
Pointlessly worrying about things to the tune of lowering expectations so we can do our best to fearfully struggle at snailpace towards the finish line ?
No thanks !

Why can't we just stay positive and see where it takes us ?
At least for now ?
3pts clear and 3 games in hand, signs of a return to form and FGR play Mansfield on Friday.

tbh it wouldn't suprise me if some prefer the playoff route for the financial benefits of another Wembley trip.
If that's true, think it's silly to WANT to risk trying to negotiate a playoff semi first.

I just think fans would be better off putting their energies into positive ways (e.g. organizing fervent support for Sat) than wasting their time worrying who might be to blame if it all goes wrong or creating problems that don't seem to exist yet.

That's a very philosophical outlook.

It's just a question

re: "I just don't understand the point of these pro-playoffs threads saying how difficult the title is."

Be honest jock, was your post motivated through worry, concern and trying to put other "worriers" minds at rest ?

No harm in admitting it - it shows you care !  

Quoted from Squidgy Fred

Hey! She aint singing just yet!

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8555770904_bcaedaae25_m.jpg[/img]

UTM

Awesome St George Cartoon Fred. Be a great tee-shirt design.

I just hope that the managers and players do not adopt the negative outlook of some people on here. If they do we are stuffed. They have to continue to go out and try to win each and every game and see where that takes us. Get down to BP and believe.

Quoted from 1600

It's just a question

re: "I just don't understand the point of these pro-playoffs threads saying how difficult the title is."

Be honest jock, was your post motivated through worry, concern and trying to put other "worriers" minds at rest ?

No harm in admitting it - it shows you care !  

It's my feminine, caring, side that makes me do such things. I could have added the Samaritans Hotline as well but thought it might have pushed a few folk over the edge.