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After getting disillusioned with Town and missing the last few home games, i went to BP on Saturday after our recent run of good results and the fact that last seasons FA Cup games were the highlight of the season, with proper atmospheres.

I really thought we would at least get a draw from Oxford as they are not really doing that well in Lg 2. How wrong can you be?

They were head and shoulders better than us and the game was effectively dead and buried before half time. We needed to regroup, make some changes and get the first goal in thew second half. Again, never happened and they strolled through and scored the killer 3rd.

Even when we got a goal back, there seemed no urgency or goalmouth bombardment, just a feeling of a consolation goal and let's move on to Tuesday night.

Looking at the other results involving Conference sides against league opposition, most were easily or soundly beaten. Braintree were thrashed. The worrying result was Blyth Spartans putting 4 past Altrincham, a team we barely troubled.

So is the oft quoted line that the Conference is on a par with LG 2 a myth?

We beat two League 2 teams in the Cup last season with what I would say was an inferior squad in comparison to this year. The difference was that we played well in those games as opposed to very poorly at the weekend.

Not a single team to be promoted out of the Conference since we came down here has been relegated back out of the League and a number have been further promoted. That would seem to indicate that the view there is little between the two competitions has some basis in fact.

Could be worse. My mate is a Cov fan. They lost to Worcester City!

We've had a recent run of beating league teams it won't go on forever. Last year we played scunthorpe of the park in the first game and deserved to win the second yet they got promoted. You can't read anything into one game, and lets be honest as long as we are winning in the league I don't give a fig for the FA Cup really.

What about Chester, who we beat comfortably, winning at Southend, and Dover beating Morecambe, both in the top half of League 2 at the minute. Braintree were beaten by a very good League One team so you can't really use that either.

It all boils down to who plays to their ability on the day. Oxford (according to their own fans) played far better than normal, whereas we had a collective off day, although if Lenny's first half shot that hit the post had gone in, then it could have been a very different game.

Quoted from Les Brechin

What about Chester, who we beat comfortably, winning at Southend, and Dover beating Morecambe, both in the top half of League 2 at the minute. Braintree were beaten by a very good League One team so you can't really use that either.

It all boils down to who plays to their ability on the day. Oxford (according to their own fans) played far better than normal, whereas we had a collective off day, [b][/b]although if Lenny's first half shot that hit the post had gone in, then it could have been a very different game.

We seem to have them every time I go! I'm beginning to feel like the jinx.

Quoted from ginnywings

After getting disillusioned with Town and missing the last few home games, i went to BP on Saturday after our recent run of good results and the fact that last seasons FA Cup games were the highlight of the season, with proper atmospheres.

I really thought we would at least get a draw from Oxford as they are not really doing that well in Lg 2. How wrong can you be?

They were head and shoulders better than us and the game was effectively dead and buried before half time. We needed to regroup, make some changes and get the first goal in thew second half. Again, never happened and they strolled through and scored the killer 3rd.

Even when we got a goal back, there seemed no urgency or goalmouth bombardment, just a feeling of a consolation goal and let's move on to Tuesday night.

Looking at the other results involving Conference sides against league opposition, most were easily or soundly beaten. Braintree were thrashed. The worrying result was Blyth Spartans putting 4 past Altrincham, a team we barely troubled.

So is the oft quoted line that the Conference is on a par with LG 2 a myth?

You can't make any judgements from one game. There were all sorts of results between league and non-league sides over the weekend ranging from total shocks to total maulings. Trying to draw any conclusion from one or two data points is futile.

Generally the teams that go up do from the VP do OK in L2, generally the teams that come down are quite competitive in the VP. There obviously is a gap because there's more money available in the FL so you can buy better players.

Quoted from ginnywings

After getting disillusioned with Town and missing the last few home games, i went to BP on Saturday after our recent run of good results and the fact that last seasons FA Cup games were the highlight of the season, with proper atmospheres.

I really thought we would at least get a draw from Oxford as they are not really doing that well in Lg 2. How wrong can you be?

They were head and shoulders better than us and the game was effectively dead and buried before half time. We needed to regroup, make some changes and get the first goal in thew second half. Again, never happened and they strolled through and scored the killer 3rd.

Even when we got a goal back, there seemed no urgency or goalmouth bombardment, just a feeling of a consolation goal and let's move on to Tuesday night.

Looking at the other results involving Conference sides against league opposition, most were easily or soundly beaten. Braintree were thrashed. The worrying result was Blyth Spartans putting 4 past Altrincham, a team we barely troubled.

So is the oft quoted line that the Conference is on a par with LG 2 a myth?

Ginnywigs we will see the difference first-hand August 2015 when we are playing in league 2 ;)

Simple, we did not play to our best, they probably did. On another day it could have been the opposite way round. That's football.

We lost a game against a team in a higher division. We had an off day. They had a good day. Get over it...

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We seem to have them every time I go! I'm beginning to feel like the jinx.

I was thinking that, ;D

Knowing your luck, you will book the Train and Theatre Tickets for Barnet,

AND

It will be moved to Thursday to be on BT Sport.

Quoted from jimgtfc

We lost a game against a team in a higher division. We had an off day. They had a good day. Get over it...

To me this sums it up. We didn't play particularly well and Oxford played better than their present position in League 2 indicates. I'm disappointed that we have gone out of the cup but certainly not as gutted as if we had been beaten in the league. The cup can bring in much needed funds but our priority must be to get out of this league.

Quoted from rancido

To me this sums it up. We didn't play particularly well and Oxford played better than their present position in League 2 indicates. I'm disappointed that we have gone out of the cup but certainly not as gutted as if we had been beaten in the league. The cup can bring in much needed funds but our priority must be to get out of this league.

Exactly, I'd rather get promoted than win the FA Cup!

I didn't see either game but didn't Torquay win equally comfortably at BP? Really disappointed to crash out like that but it happens I can't see it having a lasting impact. Halifax's narrow home defeat to intense local rivals however could affect them tomorrow night.

I certainly wouldn't worry about L2 being too tough for us based on that one game.

What troubles me is , when we have an "off "day everyone does , not an individual , everyone . So they question should be asked why . I have my own theory , but that is for another thread ,
Disappointing display at home again , Oxford made us look what we really are , a mid table conference side . Before anyone says anything , if the teams below us win their games in hand we will be 9th . Big game on Tuesday , that will be £70 I have paid out in 4 days to watch Town , please can I have something to prove it's worth it .

Oh, doom and gloom here we come.

If all the teams below us win all their games in hand (which is improbable), we'll be just a point outside of the play-offs, still on a good run of League form (hopefully to be continued tomorrow night) and probably still with the best goal difference but for Barnet.

It's no surprise that we look a poor team when we play badly. So does everyone. We're top of the recent form table in the Conference (6 wins including 4 on the bounce and just 1 defeat in the last 10 games) so why the gloom? :-/

Lets not get depressed because we did not beat a league team,

In the past we have beaten the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Everton plus many others,

It did not mean we were better than them,

Like Oxford beating us does not mean they are better than us,

Everybody have an off day now and again,

Lets forget about the cup for this year,

It's the league we want to win,

UTM

Quoted from DocTower

What troubles me is , when we have an "off "day everyone does , not an individual , everyone . So they question should be asked why . I have my own theory , but that is for another thread ,
Disappointing display at home again , Oxford made us look what we really are , a mid table conference side . Before anyone says anything , if the teams below us win their games in hand we will be 9th . Big game on Tuesday , that will be £70 I have paid out in 4 days to watch Town , please can I have something to prove it's worth it .

Jeez Doc...how many stickers have you bought?? ;)

Nobody forced you to pay £70.

Quoted from DocTower

What troubles me is , when we have an "off "day everyone does , not an individual , everyone . So they question should be asked why . I have my own theory

Well if you're right maybe the opposition have something to do with it ?

As I said before the Oxford game, Oxford were likely to have a lot of possession.
I know we didn't play too well.
But equally when players don't have the ball as often, there's less chance for them to shine too.

Quoted from GrimRob

You can't make any judgements from one game. There were all sorts of results between league and non-league sides over the weekend ranging from total shocks to total maulings. Trying to draw any conclusion from one or two data points is futile.

Nailed it ! :)

Not sure i agree with the general consensus that we had an off day and they played above themselves. How many Conference sides have played with that level of skill and quick movement? Can think of Kiddy when they also raced into a 3 goal lead against us and York in their promotion season. They struggled in Lg 2, quickly sacking Mills and skirting with relegation.

Maybe Oxford just made us look poor.

Yes, teams generally do well when they get out of this league but i think a lot of that is down to momentum and a winning mentality. Some of the sides that have gained promotion, namely Crawley, Fleetwood, Mansfield and Luton, all had something we haven't- plenty of goals in the team. All of those sides were capable of blowing away the opposition on a regular basis.

I still don't think we are that convincing and if we do get out of this league it will be a grind through the play offs, despite the general poor standard down here.

Isn't it all about consistency, as in performance?  From my view point there isn't a massive difference at the moment between playing okay and winning or playing not so well and drawing/losing.  Let's face it, PH sets the team up cautiously to get results, sounds like he dropped this formula at the weekend for some reason (I didn't go).

Anyway, a win tonight is far more important.  I'm hoping for a nice reliable 'ok' performance and 3 points, anything above that would be a bonus.

Chins up  :)

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Jeez Doc...how many stickers have you bought?? ;)

Our book is half full , seem to have lots of spare McKeowns though .

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Nobody forced you to pay £70.

As Ginneywings said , we aren't convincing , you pay your money not knowing what your going to get . I could give up and not turn up , but I won't . However £70 out of my budget is alot when I feel that Saturdays game wasn't value for money . Agree to disagree .

There tonight , big game , hopefully will be leaving with a smile on our faces .

I'll start worrying about League 2 teams when we get there. I care more about how we do against conference team and in that we have won our last 4 and sit second in the table.

In reality Hurst played a dodgy formation. This was fair enough as it was an opportunity for him to learn a few things in a competitive match with not many costs associated if we lost. If you look at Oxford's form they're not actually on a bad run (they were bottom a month or so back.) So it's no surprise we got beat. To be honest If some of our players didn't play at 100% (especially in the second half) because they cared more about tonight then fair enough. Why tire yourself out in match that doesn't really matter that much when we have a must win 4 days later?

If losing in the cups helps us to go up then it's a compromise I'm more than willing to take.

Quoted from ginnywings

Maybe Oxford just made us look poor.

My point exactly, they were a good side.

Quoted from ginnywings

Yes, teams generally do well when they get out of this league but i think a lot of that is down to momentum and a winning mentality. Some of the sides that have gained promotion, namely Crawley, Fleetwood, Mansfield and Luton, all had something we haven't- plenty of goals in the team. All of those sides were capable of blowing away the opposition on a regular basis.

I still don't think we are that convincing and if we do get out of this league it will be a grind through the play offs, despite the general poor standard down here.

I wouldn't be so sure ginny.

I prefer to imagine it like a symphony orchestra.
Slow start, bit of a rattle in the middle, some intricate play (the fiddling? ;))
Then a big krishendo (or however the intercourse you spell it) at the end.

The picture in my mind is small steps first (i.e the grinding 1-0's) the big ones later. (even though we've had a few already !)
Who can tell, maybe tonight is one of the big ones too ?
Course I'd still snap your hand off if you offered me 1-0 now but we all hope it's more cos it would be the cherry on top of the cake.

Let's be honest, we know the team has already scored lots of goals (+19 GD = 2nd highest in Conf), just you don't get them every game.
I'll hazard a guess even Crawley, Fleetwood, Mansfield and Luton ground out their share of 1-0's.