P8 W2 D4 L2 F9 A9

Not too bad so far if you ask me, it's a long term project.

Just happy to be back competing in the EFL for a second season.

With the squad we have we will win some lose some so mid table finish.

Unless we can have a really good window come January.

Then if we can find some attackers who can score we will be a team to fear in the second half of the season.

Just got to keep getting the odd 3 points so we are looking up not down.

Rome.  was not built in a day.

in terms of the big picture I’d be satisfied with the season if,  from January onwards, we start to move towards a more attacking style of play or address the issues in the final third.

Looks to be the second season on the bounce where teams are happy to let us have the ball as we’re fairly easy to defend against. This season we’ve recruited players who are far more comfortable on the ball but still lack any real quality in & around the opposing box.

If by the end of the year we’re still finishing games with 2 or 3 shots on target and playing the same way, then…I dunno. Whether it’s signing a player or two on a long-term contract, or showing signs of being more attacking systematically, then that would represent some continual improvement.

Hurst needs to evolve with the team though, it can’t all just be on the players.

Quoted from ska face

in terms of the big picture I’d be satisfied with the season if,  from January onwards, we start to move towards a more attacking style of play or address the issues in the final third.

Looks to be the second season on the bounce where teams are happy to let us have the ball as we’re fairly easy to defend against. This season we’ve recruited players who are far more comfortable on the ball but still lack any real quality in & around the opposing box.

If by the end of the year we’re still finishing games with 2 or 3 shots on target and playing the same way, then…I dunno. Whether it’s signing a player or two on a long-term contract, or showing signs of being more attacking systematically, then that would represent some continual improvement.

I don’t understand why it’s a surprise. Vernam and Eisa are injury prone, Khan missed a lot of games early last season and the same this. Wilson isn’t a prolific scorer. I don’t know what our budget was. Perhaps it’s best not to care but when we’re told that it’s higher then you would expect us to sign a goal scorer at the umpteenth window of asking.

Nobody said it’s a surprise.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Not too bad so far if you ask me, it's a long term project.

Just happy to be back competing in the EFL for a second season.

The D4 is a concern, we have drawn 50% of our games, yest its 4 points, but if we had won two and lost two of those 4 games we would have 6 points, over a season this could make an enormous difference.

What is a long term project, two seaons? Three seasons? 20 seasons?

TBF, it has been long recognised that the opening few games were against teams expected to do well,  so so far not too bad IMO.  Today was the first time we haven't scored first in a league game other than 0-0 draws

Tough start to the season against a few teams tipped to be at the top end of the league.
I know football is about results but atleast we aren't awful to watch. Even yesterday, yes 3 0 looks awful but we played some good stuff just lacked anything in the final 3rd. It wasn't that long ago we'd lose 2 or 3 0 regularly and we'd have played absolutely dreadful.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Not too bad so far if you ask me, it's a long term project.

Just happy to be back competing in the EFL for a second season.

In what way is this a long term project and what is the end product supposed to be and when?.

If we have just spent our biggest budget for years due to the cup run and unless we do something similar this season we probably wont have such a large budget next season then what?

Quoted from arryarryarry

In what way is this a long term project and what is the end product supposed to be and when?.

If we have just spent our biggest budget for years due to the cup run and unless we do something similar this season we probably wont have such a large budget next season then what?

The increase in budget will be over 2 or 3 years as we have dished out on longer and more expensive contracts (see Rose,Rogers,Conteh and Vernam etc .

The original goal was obviously to get out of the national league , probably within 2 or 3 years but for whatever reason we managed it in the first year , which was probably ahead of schedule .

On the length of contracts we are prepared to offer, it would suggest we are trying to keep a more settled squad for a longer period of time and probably actually sign players with some resale value rather than the standard one year contracts .

It's fairly obvious Stockwood & Pettit are not going to go down the route of just throwing loads of money at it , and are probably working towards the club being self sustainable - does that make us ultra competetive even in league 2 with the big hitters ? probably not .

Can you get to league 1 without going bonkers ? Yes , but it's seemingly clubs who have slowly built a foundation in league 2 over a good few years and eventually get out ; there are many examples.

I think some need to get over the fact we were once a Championship club and realise the actual current situation - we are medium sized top end league 2  club at best because we are still playing at a limited stadium in terms of potential and don't have the finance to just go right through the leagues . Without an improved stadium or major investment we are going to have to suck it up and hope we either get lucky in thr next few years or have a great season ( I'm not sure I am confident in the latter as Hurst has never really had a top 3 season , barring one at Shrewsbury ).

It's a difficult one realism v ambition . I do think getting to league 1 now would be the equivalent level of success to when we got to The Champ in the past due to the level of finance and calibre of club in the bottom 2 leagues .

I am hopeful that we can still have a good season , if we pump Crawley next week we will be title winning material again , like we are lower mid table fodder after a defeat at Wrexham - I think the answer is we are somewhat in between .

Let's just try and enjoy it , and barring disaster never going back to the NL again .

i think what people are saying or seeing is last season 11th place finish so to progress we have to finish top 10 ish if not play offs , anything lower & some will get knickers in a twist , i get both sides in a way but what i will say is this to finish top 7 will take a mighty effort with wrexham notts stockport mansfield  swindon gills almost certain to in amongst it , i know gills looked terrible but they won 6 matches already

Quoted from fishcake63

i think what people are saying or seeing is last season 11th place finish so to progress we have to finish top 10 ish if not play offs , anything lower & some will get knickers in a twist , i get both sides in a way but what i will say is this to finish top 7 will take a mighty effort with wrexham notts stockport mansfield  swindon gills almost certain to in amongst it , i know gills looked terrible but they won 6 matches already

I can't remember what points we finished on but I have a question. If we finished on 50 points last season and 12th position..
would you see finishing 13th but on 57 points progress?
Would you see finishing 10th on 46 points as progress?

For me progress will be to finish on a higher amount of points than last season

I’m hoping/expecting 4 points from the next two games, that would take us to an average of 1.4 a game, over the season that’s enough for an upper mid table finish. We need to be averaging 1.6 points per game for a play off place. I’d say we look capable of doing that. I suggested an up and down start before and then some growing consistency from about November onwards, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that is still not a valid view.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

I’m hoping/expecting 4 points from the next two games, that would take us to an average of 1.4 a game, over the season that’s enough for an upper mid table finish. We need to be averaging 1.6 points per game for a play off place. I’d say we look capable of doing that. I suggested an up and down start before and then some growing consistency from about November onwards, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that is still not a valid view.

I’d think again. Swindon are flying and scoring and are very strong at home. Crawley 6th in the table, But i expect us to pick up 3 points against them, make no 2 ways about it, we have had a very very difficult start

As most know on here I'm an optimist and expect a win every game, although I know it won't happen. When the new owners took over they had a plan which more than likely was to stabilise the club and make a promotion push after the 1st year.

This didn't happen as we were promoted so plan A had to be scrapped. We needed to establish ourselves as a good League 2 side and the cup run last year certainly helped, but are normally one off occasion at our level. I believe from what I read that PH had 2 players coming in at the end of the transfer window, who at the last minute went elsewhere.

So we are where we are and as stated above are playing decent football at times, both home and away. I bet every FGR, Donny and Bradford ( only drew with Harrogate ) Fan would like to be in our position, given our resources.

The reality is that we need to spend that FA Cup money just to continue competing as a mid-table L2 side since L2 undoubtedly strengthened over the summer with both Wrexham and Notts Co coming up, and teams like Gillingham also able to splash some cash along side MK Dons.

L2 is far more competitive this season. Bradford and Stockport are yet to kick into gear, but I imagine they'll be up there too. Sadly, our FA Cup money isn't a guarantee to get us in the top 7 but it should make us competitive.

What you can't legislate for is the computer giving us a relatively tough start, or injuries.

No doubt PH recognises the areas we need to improve in. We're always fighting against the tide but what's good is that there's been investment in the non-playing side and that will, over time, support the on-field stuff. It's the foundation this club has been craving for after it fell into disrepair.

So even if we're not able to make great strides on the pitch, we're making progress in other areas. Of course, it's not enough and not fast enough for many, but it's not like football is awash with patient fans!

I don't think there's any cause for alarm. Absolutely right to have discussions and keep asking questions, but remember to keep it fair and balanced.

i think we are a solid mid table team no more no less.
We struggle to attract players let’s be honest so we should invest massively in the youth set up and maybe partner with a championship club lower league prem team.
Leeds Sheffield United / Wednesday Hull Norwich or Ipswich

Its far too early to call this season either way and given the run of teams we've faced to start off i think it'll take at least until xmas before we really know where we are headed.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

I’m hoping/expecting 4 points from the next two games, that would take us to an average of 1.4 a game, over the season that’s enough for an upper mid table finish. We need to be averaging 1.6 points per game for a play off place. I’d say we look capable of doing that. I suggested an up and down start before and then some growing consistency from about November onwards, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that is still not a valid view.

We might only win 3 of the first 10 games but win 8 of the following 10..
I do agree though we must be looking to win next weekend. Anything at Swindon will be a big bonus, especially after last season having to watch us get destroyed

Personally I don't think you can gauge league position or points gained each season as each season is wildly different, it's always nice to finish on more points but this season the league overall seems stronger so far. This team is definitely playing better football and with most options fit I think we should become more of an attacking threat.

Am I right in thinking that the raw stats don't show the whole truth, as we've mostly played the moneybags/top teams so far so only 2 losses s actually really good going and in fact we are due a good block of games against the no-hopers and lesser abled teams where we should be able to make up some points?

Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?