Big next four games for Town. Still early days, but already there are signs of a top 6 six beginning to emerge (with Wrexham and Stockport not yet in it) and those four games will take us to the quarter-way point in the season, which seems like a good time to take stock.

Whilst it’s not ideal that three out of those four are away, we’re not the only ones facing such a prospect and this run of games does also throw up some interesting challenges for our immediate rivals (and Woking, which I’ll come to later). Here’s how things shape up for the current top 6 - figure at the end is average league position of the opponents.

Town (3rd)
Bromley (A), Dover (H), Altrincham (A), Woking (A) - 15.8

Dagenham (1st)
Altrincham (H), Woking (A), Boreham Wood (A), Southend (H) - 13.3

Chesterfield (2nd)
Woking (A), Wrexham (A), Southend (A), Boreham Wood (H) - 12.0

Boreham Wood (4th)
Eastleigh (A), Torquay (H), Dagenham (H), Chesterfield (A) - 8.3

Halifax (5th)
Barnet (A), Notts County (H), Weymouth (H), Solihull (A) - 12.3

Notts County (6th)
Woking (H), Halifax (A), Yeovil (A), Stockport (H) - 10.8

Ok, I hear ya - “some teams play some other teams”, but there are some interesting call outs here. First off, in terms of the current positions of each side’s next four opponents, we have it far ‘easier’ than all of our immediate rivals with an average of 15.8, versus the likes of Boreham Wood with 8.8. Poor old Woking, bless them, have their four games all against top six clubs - their average is 3.0. The lowest it could possibly be is 2.5, so that’s rough.

Crucially, Town are the only side currently in the top six not to face another current top six side in the next four games. In fact, we don’t face anyone in the top nine, whilst everyone barring Dagenham each face two.

Like Town, Chesterfield also have three out of four away. In fact, their next three are away including a trip to Wrexham on Saturday, followed by a home game against Boreham Wood. Remarkably, they’re yet to play a top nine side yet this season so it will be interesting to see how they respond to that.

Ultimately, nothing is won by mid-October and everyone has to to play everyone. But this is a really great opportunity for Town to set the tone for the rest of the season and potentially put a little bit of distance between us and those around us. That could be massive for confidence and momentum, two things we’ve not had a lot of at BP in recent seasons.

If we can emerge from these next four games undefeated and with a couple of wins, we will be in a very strong position and almost certainly top of the league as we begin the second quarter of the season.

Edit: playful emojis not intended.

Fair play Poojah, excellent insight.

Really interesting, thanks poojah.

Stockport and Wrexham don't feature in that as not in the top 6but I was pleased that county beat Wrexham yesterday. Keeps rusk in a job longer and he has been nicely underperforming with Stockport, think that was his first win in 9 home matches incredibly, despite the boatloads of cash splashed. Just hope it doesn't kick-start them, I think they have some relatively easy games now.

Wrexham fans must be getting twitchy, again boatloads of cash spent and yet only a point better off than Stockport and what seemed like their dead man walking manager rusk.

4 points from our next two games is imperitive in my opinion

Not the worst four games you could think of coming up against 2 average mid-table sides and 2 in the bottom-half including bottom side Dover. I'd expect us to beat Dover as they look pretty hopeless but the rest we'll need more of a performance than we saw at Maidenhead to get a win. Hopefully that was just an off day and we'll see a bit more energy and drive against Bromley.

Woking provide a physical challenge and little else so if we can survive being roughed up and fouled we'll see them off.

Thanks, Poojah it is interesting. I believe Hurst said something like, he doesn't look at the table till at least 10 games have been played.

10 games is a good yardstick which I think will reflect who's going to whereabouts at the end of the season. When the Christmas games are over will also show the likely teams for promotion ( behind us ). ;) ;)

My prediction...

Daggers p 12 - 27 points
Grimsby p 11 - 24 points
Chesterfield p 12 - 23 points
Notts p 12 - 23 points
Halifax p 12 - 23 points
Stockport p 12 - 18 points
Solihull p 12 - 17 points
Wrexham p 12 - 17 points




Daggers 2 wins, 2 draws. 27 points.
Chesterfield 1 win, 2draws, 1 lose. 23 points.
Grimsby 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 lose. 24 points (game in hand)
Halifax 1 win, 2 draw, 1 lose. 21 points.
Notts 2 wins, 2 draws. 23 points.

10 points needed against those sides which I think will see us top of the pile by then.

I'd be happy with 11 pts from those next 4 games.

Out of our list I'm most bothered about Bromley any hangover from Saturday's performance and we will struggle, settle for another away draw

Quoted from Ipswin

Out of our list I'm most bothered about Bromley any hangover from Saturday's performance and we will struggle, settle for another away draw

Agreed, it’s the toughest on paper and also important if we want to keep the momentum going with another big crowd against Dover on Saturday. It’s dependent on what Chesterfield do at Woking but it would be fantastic to go into that game on the back of an away win and top of the pile.

I’m confident it will not be be easy, however.

Talking of the next 4 games;
Southend, after a poor start so far, play;  Solihull, Eastleigh, Chesterfield, and Dagenham, in their next four.

So who will their next manager be!?!

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Talking of the next 4 games;
Southend, after a poor start so far, play;  Solihull, Eastleigh, Chesterfield, and Dagenham, in their next four.

So who will their next manager be!?!

Phil Parkinson should be looking for a new job around the same time, by my reckoning…

Quoted from Poojah

Big next four games for Town. Still early days, but already there are signs of a top 6 six beginning to emerge (with Wrexham and Stockport not yet in it) and those four games will take us to the quarter-way point in the season, which seems like a good time to take stock.

Whilst it’s not ideal that three out of those four are away, we’re not the only ones facing such a prospect and this run of games does also throw up some interesting challenges for our immediate rivals (and Woking, which I’ll come to later). Here’s how things shape up for the current top 6 - figure at the end is average league position of the opponents.

Town (3rd)
Bromley (A), Dover (H), Altrincham (A), Woking (A) - 15.8

Dagenham (1st)
Altrincham (H), Woking (A), Boreham Wood (A), Southend (H) - 13.3

Chesterfield (2nd)
Woking (A), Wrexham (A), Southend (A), Boreham Wood (H) - 12.0

Boreham Wood (4th)
Eastleigh (A), Torquay (H), Dagenham (H), Chesterfield (A) - 8.3

Halifax (5th)
Barnet (A), Notts County (H), Weymouth (H), Solihull (A) - 12.3

Notts County (6th)
Woking (H), Halifax (A), Yeovil (A), Stockport (H) - 10.8

Ok, I hear ya - “some teams play some other teams”, but there are some interesting call outs here. First off, in terms of the current positions of each side’s next four opponents, we have it far ‘easier’ than all of our immediate rivals with an average of 15.8, versus the likes of Boreham Wood with 8.8. Poor old Woking, bless them, have their four games all against top six clubs - their average is 3.0. The lowest it could possibly be is 2.5, so that’s rough.

Crucially, Town are the only side currently in the top six not to face another current top six side in the next four games. In fact, we don’t face anyone in the top nine, whilst everyone barring Dagenham each face two.

Like Town, Chesterfield also have three out of four away. In fact, their next three are away including a trip to Wrexham on Saturday, followed by a home game against Boreham Wood. Remarkably, they’re yet to play a top nine side yet this season so it will be interesting to see how they respond to that.

Ultimately, nothing is won by mid-October and everyone has to to play everyone. But this is a really great opportunity for Town to set the tone for the rest of the season and potentially put a little bit of distance between us and those around us. That could be massive for confidence and momentum, two things we’ve not had a lot of at BP in recent seasons.

If we can emerge from these next four games undefeated and with a couple of wins, we will be in a very strong position and almost certainly top of the league as we begin the second quarter of the season.

Edit: playful emojis not intended.

Great insight but one of our next 4 is a game in hand so it might be worth looking at it after tomorrow.

Either way, after the next few games we will have played a good mix of teams and able to form more of an opinion regarding our credentials this season.

Was hoping for a win at Maidenhead, draw at Bromley and a win against Dover. Personally wasn't looking any further than that, but was hoping for 7 points from those three. We'll just have to win at Bromley now instead.  :)


Looking at the next four as a whole, 8 points would be good to maintain that 2 point average, so 2 wins and 2 draws, but I think a first loss will be on the cards in one of those games.

It's a bit of fun looking at fixtures and trying to predict what might happen, but the beauty of football is that you never really know.

If we want to be at the top come the end of the season, a good target would be 23/24 points at the quarter way mark. 2 wins and a draw would be nice.

Draw tomorrow night, beat Dover, draw at Altringham and win at Woking. I’d be happy if that’s how we kept the unbeaten run going.

Lot of time on the bus for the players but I guess that’s the life of a lower/non league footballer.

Quoted from Poojah

Phil Parkinson should be looking for a new job around the same time, by my reckoning…

I assume u mean the Wrexham one!!!

Quoted from pizzzza

I'd be happy with 11 pts from those next 4 games.

Quite agree - but how the hell do we get 11 pts from 4 games pizza?

cant see us being unbeaten at the end of these 4

I think we'll lose tomorrow night, Beat Dover, Win at Alty and lose at Woking,who are a bunch of thugs

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

Quite agree - but how the hell do we get 11 pts from 4 games pizza?

;)

It’s always the ones we think we should win that we don’t , mind you we’ve gotta come good again for once in many of our lifetimes so let’s hope it’s this season

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

Quite agree - but how the hell do we get 11 pts from 4 games pizza?

Easy, 3 wins 9 points, 1 draw 1point and like the F1 fast lap 1 point for the fastest goal;  simples 11 points.

But we don't play in the Meerkat Football League.

Glad to see Wrexham take the lead twice against close rivals away from home - and then lose.

Woking and Bromley could also get into the playoffs if they do well with their games in hand.

Defensively we’ve been solid in recent weeks (since the Torquay game) and we’re getting goals even on days where we’re struggling so I still think we could come through the next 4 games unbeaten. A couple of wins and draws would be good to keep the confidence and points ticking over.

Quoted from DB

Easy, 3 wins 9 points, 1 draw 1point and like the F1 fast lap 1 point for the fastest goal;  simples 11 points.

But we don't play in the Meerkat Football League.

Of course! - I am a simple sole so please bear with me in these difficult times while I try to keep up. xx

Quoted from DB

Easy, 3 wins 9 points, 1 draw 1point and like the F1 fast lap 1 point for the fastest goal;  simples 11 points.

But we don't play in the Meerkat Football League.

I prefer the route of winning all four and then having a point deducted for Max Crocombe doing his party trick in the opposition goalmouth (or even dugout if we really want to spice things up).

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Talking of the next 4 games;
Southend, after a poor start so far, play;  Solihull, Eastleigh, Chesterfield, and Dagenham, in their next four.

So who will their next manager be!?!

Phil Brown sacked 3 games into that 4!

Well, I think on balance we can be very happy with how our run of these four games have gone - the Altrincham and Woking games both looked far more difficult when they arrived than they did when I started the thread. A lot of good sides will drop points at Bromley this season.

It’s great going into the FA Cup break from the league two points clear at the top, with the best goal difference in the division. Very very rarely, if ever, have I been able to say that in my thirty years following Town.

Looking forward to the resumption of league fixtures with only 3 sides within 7 points of us now. Next up, 2nd place Boreham Wood go to 4th place Chesterfield, whilst 3rd place Halifax are away at 7th place Solihull.

We’ve still got to do the business ourselves, but yet another real opportunity against Yeovil in a couple of weeks to set ourselves apart at the top.

Exciting if slightly surreal times. I’m not used to this.

Quoted from Poojah

Well, I think on balance we can be very happy with how our run of these four games have gone - the Altrincham and Woking games both looked far more difficult when they arrived than they did when I started the thread. A lot of good sides will drop points at Bromley this season.

It’s great going into the FA Cup break from the league two points clear at the top, with the best goal difference in the division. Very very rarely, if ever, have I been able to say that in my thirty years following Town.

Looking forward to the resumption of league fixtures with only 3 sides within 7 points of us now. Next up, 2nd place Boreham Wood go to 4th place Chesterfield, whilst 3rd place Halifax are away at 7th place Solihull.

We’ve still got to do the business ourselves, but yet another real opportunity against Yeovil in a couple of weeks to set ourselves apart at the top.

Exciting if slightly surreal times. I’m not used to this.

As the saying goes 'life is full of ups and downs'. We've had 17 years of downs so it's now time for the ups. Of which a return to League 2 at the first time of asking will happen.

Many things are different since the last time so it's hard to compare them. What we do have is what every other fan wants, a club going places and not breaking the bank to do it.

I’d be very surprised if many teams, if any - get 6 points from away games at Altrincham and Woking.

The only disappointment for me thus far has been Maidenhead, def 2 points dropped - but in a funny way maybe that game helped in us getting the 6 points from the 2 games mentioned.

Outstanding from all the players and management, absolutely brilliant start to the season. And what’s more it’s a mixture of good free flowing positive football, together with a willingness to battle and graft for the points.

Imho there’ll be a group of 8 or 9 competing until the end for promotion/play off spots, and table is starting to take shape. Stockport have been written off by a few but think they’ll be right up there, along with us, Chesterfield, Halifax, Bromley, Dagenham,  et al.

I’m just enjoying having a club to be proud of once again. UTM

If we can get somewhere between 9 and 12 points in those next 5 games we've done well and more would be fantastic.

Agreed not many take 6 points from alty woking away , think we got great team for this level

Quoted from marinerjase

I’d be very surprised if many teams, if any - get 6 points from away games at Altrincham and Woking.

The only disappointment for me thus far has been Maidenhead, def 2 points dropped - but in a funny way maybe that game helped in us getting the 6 points from the 2 games mentioned.

Outstanding from all the players and management, absolutely brilliant start to the season. And what’s more it’s a mixture of good free flowing positive football, together with a willingness to battle and graft for the points.

Imho there’ll be a group of 8 or 9 competing until the end for promotion/play off spots, and table is starting to take shape. Stockport have been written off by a few but think they’ll be right up there, along with us, Chesterfield, Halifax, Bromley, Dagenham,  et al.

I’m just enjoying having a club to be proud of once again. UTM

A draw against Maidenhead and win against Wrexham is a better combination of results though as it's one less point for a team expected to be near the top of the table.

?

Think he means if we had drawn with Wrexham and beaten Maidenhead, we would have the same amount of points, but Wrexham, a potential rival for promotion, would have one more point than they currently have.

Basically, who you beat to amass your points is almost as important as how many points you amass.

Beware Boreham Wood - spookily no mention of them in this post .

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

Beware Boreham Wood - spookily no mention of them in this post .

They were in my original post in this thread. I also mentioned them in my updated post today. They’re currently right behind us in second - of course they’re a threat.

If recent seasons are anything to go by, an unfancied, traditionally non-league club will go up this season one way or another.

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Phil Brown sacked 3 games into that 4!

That was an accurate prediction 😀