Play Off positions- Stevenage and Oxford.

GrahamwantshisOates

GrahamwantshisOates

Well-known member
It will require a really good run to contend with automatic promotion therefore at this time I am looking at the Play Offs.

Are Stevenage going to continue as serious contenders. Then there is Oxford who seem to be going through a bad run.

Below us we have the likes of Lincoln and even Charlton.

Who do you think will make the Play Offs and any surprises?
 
I’m struggling to think outside the current top 6 to be honest ,we really are going to need to beat them when we play them next time .
 
We started Oxford’s bad run and Stevenage remain an unknown quantity - we still have a lot of catch up to do

We are 2 games off half way - win both of them and it will be an easier measure - at the Mo I’d take a play off place - having seen Pompey I think we could beat them again in the playoffs

Bolton and P/boro have most momentum - depends on Jan window what happens to their challenge
 
I’m not really sure who will specifically be in the playoffs, but I think Bolton will be automatic and 2 of Peterborough, Portsmouth and us to be in the playoffs.

I also think it’s worth remembering that out of the sides towards the top - we have home games against Oxford, Pompey, Bolton and Barnsley all to come, and we’ve shown that we are much stronger at home.
 
If we get the consistency (manager especially inc.) to reach the po's then I'm convinced we'll be good enough to get close to 2nd spot.

Perhaps 2 regular starter additions in January and it's game on. A defensive orientated midfielder who can carry the ball in the right direction alongside ON and maybe a striker.

Oh and a No 2 for NC. He needs that voice next to him who isn't basically the same coach as him. There's 10 points, at least.
 
Nought wrong with our home form. It's one of the best in the division. Our away form however needs to drastically improve if we are even thinking of the finishing in the top 6.
 
Have to give credit to Stevenage. Maintaining their form pretty much half way into the season.
 
I doubt Stevenage will last the course an I think we are better than Oxford, Barnsley and those just below us therefore I expect at the very least we will make the playoffs and still harbour a slight hope of automatic, we have the ability but will we get the luck🤔
 
Bolton have just been hit with a long term hamstring injury to one of their players who had just started to shine. Will be interesting to see if that checks their progress a little. Squad sizes will come into play more and more as winter injuries and suspensions pile up.
 
The top 2 are going at 101 points pace and 6th are going at 87 point pace ,which I think shows how poor the bottom clubs are .So it’s possible a couple of clubs above is the wheels may come off at some point or it’s going to be very tough to get to 3rd or 4th even .Very interesting to see how this all pans out !!!
 
onlyonepool said:
Not even halfway through the season a lot will change. Jamie Hoyland on Lancs last night said he's confident Pool will be challenging for automatic by the end of the season and I agree with him.
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Irs a huge ask even at this stage of the season. 90 points wouldost likely be the target for the automatics which would mean 57 points from 25 matches.
 
Home form is good, away form has improved, 7th in the away form table from last 6 games. Just need to string a half-decent run of games together and we'll be thereabouts. Rhodes is a concern, but hopefully we've a few back-up ideas if he goes back.
 
So if we go to Cambridge and turn them over . That WOULD make it interesting. it Will be a right r oyal scrap all the way till next MAY. UTMP.
 
TangerineTed said:
Stevenage were one of the worst teams seen at Bloomfield Road this season. Can’t believe that they are up there.
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Agree that they were poor on that day but I don't know about you but that's the only time I've seen them play.
Same could be said about Portsmouth, I'd only seen them once and we beat them quite comfortably, before that they were 28 games unbeaten.
Every team has good and bad days, it's about keeping the bad days to a minimum.
 
If Evans leaves for Rotherham, that may derail Stevenage. Regardless I think they will fall away as their squad really isn't top 6.

Oxford have a decent first 11 but have started to falter now their manager has left. I suspect they'll be around the top 6 but fancy us to finish above them.

Barnsley are a bit odd, their fans aren't convinced about their new manager and a few poor results could see them fall away.

Peterborough are going to be top 6, I have little doubt. They have good forwards and whilst unpredictable will be in the play offs.

Derby have found form, they'll also be challenging Bolton and Portsmouth.

Pompey and Bolton will finish top 2 though, it would be a big collapse to go from the form they are in now to us being able to catch them.

I fancy us to finish 5th although ask me again in January and I may have changed my mind.
 
Not sure about us at the moment, too much change happening with Manning (and staff) leaving us, Buckingham coming in (no staff yet) and key injuries to Leigh, Edwards and Browne (3 starters) with good championship level experience. Admittedly we've just played Bolton and Peterboro so it's probably our form would reflect that but right now we're not playing great to be honest. Could do with another international break 😅 .

As for the comments re: Stevenage - whether you think they're a good footballing side or not is almost out of the question for me. When Wycombe did us in the playoffs the other year they too played horrid anti-football but earned results. That's what Stevenage are doing consistently, as much as I don't like it (or Evans) you have to respect their hustle. They'll be in the top 8 for sure at the end of the season, hopefully not top 6...
 
Seasideforever said:
The top 2 are going at 101 points pace and 6th are going at 87 point pace ,which I think shows how poor the bottom clubs are .So it’s possible a couple of clubs above is the wheels may come off at some point or it’s going to be very tough to get to 3rd or 4th even .Very interesting to see how this all pans out !!!
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If we're in the top half someone always says we'll need 100+ points, while if we're in the bottom half, we'll need at least 55 points to stay up.

Neither are ever right.
 
Think Stevenage have only beaten Derby amongst the teams around them - Barnsley and Portsmouth away in the Xmas period might show us whether they are really contenders.
 
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