League One Watch Part 8

JerryYatesShirt

JerryYatesShirt

Well-known member
The main thing to note is how the Top 2 are starting to just have a wobble. In previous seasons, those who have a wobble do so much later in the season, but Pompey only got a winner on Saturday in the 94th minute and failed to score against Carlisle last night. Oxford were well beaten according to reports at Wigan last night.

The worrying thing for them is how well the teams under them are doing. Throw Derby in to the mix and now Stevenage have dropped out and I'd say you have the Top 6/7 for the rest of the season and it could all be nip and tuck.

One thing to watch though is home and away records. Barnsley are having a poor time at Oakwell (and will have been relieved at a win last night) whereas they have won 5 of their 7 away games and are unbeaten. Blackpool are just behind Pompey in the home form tables. However we still only have one win on the road and that's why we are 6th - Critch needs to work out how this team will perform on the road if he's to challenge the top two.

One final thought about Pompey - they have us, Oxford, Bolton and an in form Burton coming up and so maybe they've had a rub of the green with fixtures so far (although they do play Reading on Saturday who are atrocious!).
 
'Throw Derby in to the mix and now Stevenage have dropped out and I'd say you have the Top 6/7 for the rest of the season and it could all be nip and tuck'.

Said exactly the same thing last night, the league is now taking the shape l thought it would especially now the early front runners (Exeter, PV, Stevenage) are now dropping down. There will be some more twists and turns with a couple of unfancied teams e.g Lincoln making life difficult for a few above and who may flirt with a top 6 position.
 
Teams can never keep up 2.5 points per game over the course of a season so they were inevitably going to dip. It's now a question of how they deal with the cold turkey reality of not winning regularly. Pompey and Oxford have history of looking great and it going wrong so that will be in the back of their minds. Psychologically, it's better to start slowly and come on strong than start strong and begin to slow down.
 
The fact we had an average start, only just picking up the last few weeks and are sitting 6th proves its all still to play for. Some big games coming up though that should be a good barometer of where we're at.
 
Pompey still haven't lost a game tbf.

Oxford seem a bit short up top to me to go a full season. Harris playing as the one striker and he's a converted winger? We are only 5 points behind them now.

We aren't really playing that well but we are in the play offs, largely thanks to JR. This season may be the best chance for a whole lot of ordinary L1 sides to get promoted (and come straight back down) cos Oxford are right up there, and had won their previous 5 before playing us, but looked pretty mediocre. Ten men behind the ball at home, praying for the whistle.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
Teams can never keep up 2.5 points per game over the course of a season so they were inevitably going to dip. It's now a question of how they deal with the cold turkey reality of not winning regularly. Pompey and Oxford have history of looking great and it going wrong so that will be in the back of their minds. Psychologically, it's better to start slowly and come on strong than start strong and begin to slow down.
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TBF the rule of thumb is 2 points per game for auto promotion.
At the moment Pompy are well ahead, Oxford slightly ahead and Bolton on course for points gained for automatic.
Last season was somewhat of an anomaly with Massive gaining 90 points and missing out on automatic
 
Pompey failed to score at Cambridge not Carlisle much to the detriment of my coupon..
 
I still think key for us (and am not sure about other sides) is that we have two big players coming back in Gabriel and Joseph and can make do without the likes of Husband, Virtue and Norburn and still be as good (for 45 mins) as we were last night.
Some sides surely will get our injury sickness and when they do that is when a decent squad (as I think we have got is priceless.
 
the secret really is just doing what we can to stay in the top six. it doesnt really matter in what order. only POMPEY look like possible champions at the moment. we have a decent squad so we can move the pieces round the board using a chess analogy. PETERBOROUGH on SAT will be a proper test as to our promotion credentials. i will be there so looking forward to lads and dads. my litle 38 year son is coming in the ole eletrickery car . utmp.
 
Still very early days. Lincoln can go above us of they won their game in hand so will be interesting to see who they appoint.

What makes a promotion team? Lots of things, not just strength in depth. Unity and harmony. Good support. Leadership on the pitch. A tight defence. Goals from different parts of the team. A strong engine room. Avoiding heavy injuries. Momentum. We have some of that but not all of it, but that applies to most if not all the other teams too. We are not as tight as we should be, we haven't sussed out the midfield yet, and not enough players are contributing goals.

Pompey probably look the best of the bunch, not lost yet. Taken 4 points from last 2 games despite only scoring once. A productive wobble.
 
Not a great set of fixtures for us this weekend and sides around us will be pleased either us or Posh will drop points this weekend.
 
Not sure why there’s a pompey love-in whilst we’re all but ready to ‘fall off like every season.

As if Pompey don’t choke every season… 😂

I think this season more than any in recent years is there for the taking for a team who can find their form. Nobody is head and shoulders above this season.
 
JerryYatesShirt said:
Oxford were well beaten according to reports at Wigan last night.
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Absolutely, dictated a lot first half similar to against you and did little with it. The loss of Edwards, Brannagan and Browne alongside squad illness is hitting us hard offensively…
 
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