Going up/Staying up

After that good point at Notts County on Saturday I had a look at historic League Two tables to get an idea of how many points we could need to get into the play-offs and how many to avoid relegation.

Based on the last seven seasons, the lowest total of points required to get into the play-offs was 68 (2010-2011).  The highest was 75 in 2015-2016.

The highest number of points a relegated team got was 51 in 2012-2013, followed by 50 the next season.  In 2015-2016 the second to bottom (ie also relegated) team got just 34 points.

We're currently running at 1.5 points/game, so at this rate would get 69 points - probably not enough to get into the play-offs but with the recent improved form, who knows.  I reckon we need another 20 to be safe.  

All a bit of fun ... please feel free to attack me now.

So you're essentially saying we need our boys to put the ball into there boyes net

Maintain recent form and we will make play offs.  Have a run of 5-6 unbeaten at some point and we'll make top 3.

This league is wide open.

Quoted from hheh2

So you're essentially saying we need our boys to put the ball into there boyes net

That would only be any good against clubs in the north and east midlands.

http://www.boyes.co.uk/storelocator/

IF we win on Saturday, we could be 9 points off 1st position, in the play-offs, and just taken 4 points against the top 2 away from home.

After we lost to Carlisle at home we was 14 points off 1st, and 7 points off the play-offs

We haven't just seen results improve, but IMO, the team improve.

Clarke has won many over, including me!

Summerfield is one of the first on the team sheet now.

Matt has earnt his place up front and looks to be staying there.

Dixon was 'unfortunately' suspended and Davies has covered in at left back effortlessly, with Mills back in at Right back.

The team has been the same 11 since beating Swindon, who were 5th at the time! , and have taken 10 Points from a possible 12.

I'm not getting carried away, as a defeat is always just around the corner in this division, but the positives are there and slade has changed our fortunates alot in a month!

On Ben Davis, I think he looks more comfortable there and is definitely a strengthened /improvement on Dixon.

The big test will be against free-scoring Luton a clean sheet here will be fantastic anything else will be result of the season so far.

Our 'old guard' defence are looking very solid on the whole. A trues testament to Clarke, Collins and Davies that they've looked after themselves throughout their careers (probably because they successfully played at higher levels than most of the players we've had in recent years).

Davies looked good last season before his injury, and never truly recovered from the injury i don't think. This season is another story, he's got himself fully fit and his performances at left back tell you all you need to know about how good a player he has been, and still is.

People were naive in writing off Clarke after a few games IMO. He was never really that bad anyway, and i think the departure of Pearson played a part in clouding peoples view of him.

Yes, there might be odd occasions this season where we might concede a goal through lack of pace, but every team concedes through mistakes, and over the course of the season i think they will prove to be a solid defence.

I think some people still mistakenly believe that Pearson is a better player than Clarke.

I think automatic will be between Luton
Lincoln (sorry no one finds that harder than me believe me)
Exeter Notts C and Coventry
Play offs between remainder of above and those down to 7th now and Mansfield Swindon and if, we can get 4 or 5 points in next 3 games, us.
This is a difficult set of games and we have started well with a draw at Notts C
Come on Town let’s take advantage of this open league

We still have plenty of games to play after these next 3 don’t forget!!

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

IF we win on Saturday, we could be 9 points off 1st position, in the play-offs, and just taken 4 points against the top 2 away from home.

After we lost to Carlisle at home we was 14 points off 1st, and 7 points off the play-offs

We haven't just seen results improve, but IMO, the team improve.

Clarke has won many over, including me!

Summerfield is one of the first on the team sheet now.

Matt has earnt his place up front and looks to be staying there.

Dixon was 'unfortunately' suspended and Davies has covered in at left back effortlessly, with Mills back in at Right back.

The team has been the same 11 since beating Swindon, who were 5th at the time! , and have taken 10 Points from a possible 12.

I'm not getting carried away, as a defeat is always just around the corner in this division, but the positives are there and slade has changed our fortunates alot in a month!

But I think if Dixon hadn't been suspended then RS would have persisted in playing him at left back. Playing Davies at left-back is not as unusual as it would first appear. He played on the left in mid-field for a lot of games at previous clubs and said he is comfortable at playing on the left or right.

I have to say, I think Davies has actually looked better at left-back than right-back. Whether that's because I don't have any great expectations of him bombing forward on his weak foot whereas you'd expect more attacking on his stronger side, I'm not sure.

The experience of our defence has been on show in recent games with Davies especially obstructing attackers and falling over when challenged very cleverly!

That said, the general lack of pace at the back means we're likely to get a real chasing at some point when facing a quick and athletic team who gets on top against us. As long as it only happens once in a while, not a big issue.

I’d love it if we could sign Townsend and Madden, won’t happen but would be brilliant, sort out the two issues immediately.