| Forget Blackpool….. 07:28 - Aug 26 with 11678 views | itfcjoe |
…..nearly 2/3s of team with 10 points after 4 games will finish in the top 6 at the end of the season.
1 in 4 of them will finish in the top 2.
It’s vital we start winning soon, we have a much tougher September ahead of us.
Interestingly in the last 22 seasons, the team in 20th place (i.e. us this year) have finished in the top 2 twice, top 6 just once and relegated 3 times [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 7:32]
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:28 - Aug 26 with 2198 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:21 - Aug 26 by itfcjoe |
If we don’t go up this year we’ll need to raise a couple of million in player sales for the turnover calculations - so our best players this year will be gone and we have to go again. |
Yep. On what we've seen so far we'd lose Harper and Edwards at least, and replacing them with similar quality wouldn't be easy. If we're serious about building to be competetive in the Championship then losing players like that because we can't get out of League 1 would be a big blow. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:29 - Aug 26 with 2201 views | unstableblue |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:13 - Aug 26 by hype313 |
Yep, for all the attractive football we are witnessing compared with years gone by, it means absolutely nothing if we don't start winning games.
We need to start winning games ASAP.
And my one concern is that we have a plethora of talented footballers, but I still think we need a couple of nasty, hard hitting, no nonsense players to be able to take the game by the scruff of the neck. |
Evans confidence and form collapse in the MK Dons game was worrying.. similarly Rakeem.
I didn't watch Cheltenham, but I understand Evans was out of form there.
Those two have to do the no nonsense mopping up and hard tackling graft you state... their form is critical to our success. Cannot see us having a good season without Evans flying and leading, his head really dropped afterhis howler. Really hope and am expecting a BIG game from him on Saturday. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:31 - Aug 26 with 2185 views | hype313 |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:29 - Aug 26 by unstableblue |
Evans confidence and form collapse in the MK Dons game was worrying.. similarly Rakeem.
I didn't watch Cheltenham, but I understand Evans was out of form there.
Those two have to do the no nonsense mopping up and hard tackling graft you state... their form is critical to our success. Cannot see us having a good season without Evans flying and leading, his head really dropped afterhis howler. Really hope and am expecting a BIG game from him on Saturday. |
From what I have seen from both of them, they are clearly talented footballers, the way the Evans can spray balls around is exquisite and Raheem can get himself out of awkward situations with some sublime skill, but when the going gets tough we have witnessed them being overwhelmed somewhat.
That's where a knarly CM would be a good option to have coming off from the bench, almost a plan B to upset the oppositions rhythm. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:34 - Aug 26 with 2170 views | Keaneish |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:31 - Aug 26 by hype313 |
From what I have seen from both of them, they are clearly talented footballers, the way the Evans can spray balls around is exquisite and Raheem can get himself out of awkward situations with some sublime skill, but when the going gets tough we have witnessed them being overwhelmed somewhat.
That's where a knarly CM would be a good option to have coming off from the bench, almost a plan B to upset the oppositions rhythm. |
Agreed. I think this is the missing piece and if we make any more signings it should be this. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:37 - Aug 26 with 2153 views | bobbyramsey |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:03 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
Indeed. This creeping notion that promotion isn't the goal this year is really odd and represents a shameful lowering of expectations. The likes of Harper, Edwards, Chaplin, Edmundson etc. haven't come here expecting to spend at least 2 years in League 1. Ashton hasn't worked his arse off to bring those players in to spend 2 years in League 1. The owners haven't put the money in to sign those players to spend 2 years in League 1 either. The fans downplaying expectations is bizarre, especially when some of those fans are those who bemoaned a culture of accepting mediocrity at the club prior to this season. |
That have also all said that it's a long term project not an overnight sensation..... |  | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:38 - Aug 26 with 2153 views | unstableblue |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:25 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
I think it's only in your head that those 2 statements aren't compatible, mate. We need to not lose touch, but at 5 games in I wouldn't describe any side as having lost touch. |
"Teams can recover from poor starts but Joe's point, which is demonstrably correct, is that those sides tend to be the exception rather than the norm." Do we need to win Saturday? if not then, when?
In my view we need to win Saturday, its as simple as that - if not now, when? years of not rising to the challenge, and not seizing the moment, not WINNING the big games - this has to end if we are to truly progress, especially after a week on the training ground with the final squad
Wimbledon are significantly weaker than Wycombe and Bolton, significantly. Lose Saturday and we go into those with MUCH lower confidence, confidence is key. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:43 - Aug 26 with 2127 views | unstableblue |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:31 - Aug 26 by hype313 |
From what I have seen from both of them, they are clearly talented footballers, the way the Evans can spray balls around is exquisite and Raheem can get himself out of awkward situations with some sublime skill, but when the going gets tough we have witnessed them being overwhelmed somewhat.
That's where a knarly CM would be a good option to have coming off from the bench, almost a plan B to upset the oppositions rhythm. |
Spot on.... they went missing against a more tenacious midfield on Saturday | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:43 - Aug 26 with 2121 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:37 - Aug 26 by bobbyramsey |
That have also all said that it's a long term project not an overnight sensation..... |
The long-term project is getting us to the Prem, not getting us out of League 1. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:46 - Aug 26 with 2111 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:38 - Aug 26 by unstableblue |
"Teams can recover from poor starts but Joe's point, which is demonstrably correct, is that those sides tend to be the exception rather than the norm." Do we need to win Saturday? if not then, when?
In my view we need to win Saturday, its as simple as that - if not now, when? years of not rising to the challenge, and not seizing the moment, not WINNING the big games - this has to end if we are to truly progress, especially after a week on the training ground with the final squad
Wimbledon are significantly weaker than Wycombe and Bolton, significantly. Lose Saturday and we go into those with MUCH lower confidence, confidence is key. |
As I said to you when you were massively overhyping our 5th game of the season at home to Wimbledon, if we don't beat Wimbledon but then win 8 on the bounce then it won't matter a jot that we failed to beat Wimbledon, so by definition it is not a must win game. I'd like us to win, in fact I expect us to win, but our season isn't going to defined by this one fixture. Personally I don't see this as a big game, I find it a bizarre that you do. It's a home League 1 game against Wimbledon, our 5th league fixture of the season. Get some perspective. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:48 - Aug 26 with 2099 views | hype313 |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:43 - Aug 26 by unstableblue |
Spot on.... they went missing against a more tenacious midfield on Saturday |
Basically, a Peak Magic and Holland would be ideal... | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:53 - Aug 26 with 2077 views | Cuffy81 |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:48 - Aug 26 by hype313 |
Basically, a Peak Magic and Holland would be ideal... |
Add Legwinski to that list... |  | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:58 - Aug 26 with 2060 views | billlm |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:19 - Aug 26 by BiGDonnie |
Anyone who spends what we have will expect promotion. Anything less is failure. |
Isn't it just promotion, any thing else is a failure, |  | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:00 - Aug 26 with 2039 views | bobbyramsey |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:43 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
The long-term project is getting us to the Prem, not getting us out of League 1. |
From the beginning it has been stated the whole project is long term. Promotion is the target but not essential. | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:04 - Aug 26 with 2030 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:00 - Aug 26 by bobbyramsey |
From the beginning it has been stated the whole project is long term. Promotion is the target but not essential. |
The whole project is indeed long-term, getting out of League 1 is just part of that and is very much the key short-term goal. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:13 - Aug 26 with 2000 views | unstableblue |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:46 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
As I said to you when you were massively overhyping our 5th game of the season at home to Wimbledon, if we don't beat Wimbledon but then win 8 on the bounce then it won't matter a jot that we failed to beat Wimbledon, so by definition it is not a must win game. I'd like us to win, in fact I expect us to win, but our season isn't going to defined by this one fixture. Personally I don't see this as a big game, I find it a bizarre that you do. It's a home League 1 game against Wimbledon, our 5th league fixture of the season. Get some perspective. |
Man you need to relax sometimes.
I’m supportive of Cook, I completely agree the project needs time and patience.
BUT, as a club we have failed miserably for years and years to seize the moment. We’ve not turned up to big game after big game, effectively kicked the cam down the road.
The squad is now fixed, they’ve had a pre season and five games, and a week together on the training pitch - if not now, then when?
And to your point valid point about following up this result with a run, well it’s quite simple - will we have a better chance of winning against Wycombe/Bolton with the confidence of a win on Saturday!?! Categorically, yes
I’m confident we’ll get the 3 points Saturday, and build from there
COYB | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:14 - Aug 26 with 1995 views | 44_not_out |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 07:44 - Aug 26 by chrismakin |
It's only vital for those who fell into the auto expectation of immediate success.
What's vital is we start to see an improvement in the individual concentration and we start to win games with the purpose of having a good season.
Still believe it's the fans who are expecting promotion this season rather than the owners. A nice to have of course. But o leary wouldn't sit there and say it may take a couple of years if they're only expectation was promotion this season. |
So another season of mediocrity but where we can all say ‘football is better’ ‘starting to gel’ and ‘green shoots’ blah blah blah
And then a fourth season in League One where we can say, we’ll give a right go this season. I don’t think I can contain my excitement.
The levels of expectation on here by some…. Give me strength | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:18 - Aug 26 with 1989 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:13 - Aug 26 by unstableblue |
Man you need to relax sometimes.
I’m supportive of Cook, I completely agree the project needs time and patience.
BUT, as a club we have failed miserably for years and years to seize the moment. We’ve not turned up to big game after big game, effectively kicked the cam down the road.
The squad is now fixed, they’ve had a pre season and five games, and a week together on the training pitch - if not now, then when?
And to your point valid point about following up this result with a run, well it’s quite simple - will we have a better chance of winning against Wycombe/Bolton with the confidence of a win on Saturday!?! Categorically, yes
I’m confident we’ll get the 3 points Saturday, and build from there
COYB |
You're bursting a blood vessel hyping up a run of the mill league game as a must win, massive game and you're telling me that I need to relax? Have a word, mate. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:18 - Aug 26 with 1984 views | bobbyramsey |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:04 - Aug 26 by Herbivore |
The whole project is indeed long-term, getting out of League 1 is just part of that and is very much the key short-term goal. |
But if promotion is not achieved this season the desire will be even stronger next. The bubble is not just going to burst, the project will continue don't you think? | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:35 - Aug 26 with 1942 views | Herbivore |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:18 - Aug 26 by bobbyramsey |
But if promotion is not achieved this season the desire will be even stronger next. The bubble is not just going to burst, the project will continue don't you think? |
The project will have to continue as they won't see any return on their investment whilst we're in League 1. None of that negates the fact that promotion is the target this season. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:39 - Aug 26 with 1939 views | Vaughan8 |
People were getting way ahead of themselvs before a ball was kicked. We literally have a whole new team, some haven't even played many/any games yet. I'm not panicking (yet!). It seems to me that a few games we would have won if not for some (bad) individual errors.
"Interestingly in the last 22 seasons, the team in 20th place (i.e. us this year) have finished in the top 2 twice, top 6 just once and relegated 3 times"
Interesting stats but doesn't mean too much. Maybe someone below them got in the playoffs?
If these players are as good as people have made out (i'll be honest, I didn't know many of them before they joined), then we can go on a run of winning games. | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:42 - Aug 26 with 1920 views | hype313 |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:39 - Aug 26 by Vaughan8 |
People were getting way ahead of themselvs before a ball was kicked. We literally have a whole new team, some haven't even played many/any games yet. I'm not panicking (yet!). It seems to me that a few games we would have won if not for some (bad) individual errors.
"Interestingly in the last 22 seasons, the team in 20th place (i.e. us this year) have finished in the top 2 twice, top 6 just once and relegated 3 times"
Interesting stats but doesn't mean too much. Maybe someone below them got in the playoffs?
If these players are as good as people have made out (i'll be honest, I didn't know many of them before they joined), then we can go on a run of winning games. |
I think the key point is that you can't really compare us with Blackpool or other teams, as no one has had the investment and standard of player brought in like we have in this league over the years.
Blackpool had a new team and others have too, but none to the extent of recruitment like we have witnessed over the past 2 months.
We are a bit of an anomaly in that respect. | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:44 - Aug 26 with 1910 views | Freddies_Ears |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 09:19 - Aug 26 by BiGDonnie |
Anyone who spends what we have will expect promotion. Anything less is failure. |
Agreed. I was thinking about what might feel acceptable after ten games - maybe 12 points, which would have us deep in the lower half, but on the up. But to reach even that mark needs 10pts from the next 6 games, which is top-6 form.
As others have noted, incl Cook himself, the pressure is just beginning... | | | |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:53 - Aug 26 with 1878 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:18 - Aug 26 by bobbyramsey |
But if promotion is not achieved this season the desire will be even stronger next. The bubble is not just going to burst, the project will continue don't you think? |
Of course the project will continue and whilst they have said they want to get promoted within two years, i think we all know that secretly the expectation is this year. If we don't get it - Cook will be gone and the project will be a whole lot harder as others have pointed out as we will lose players. The owners will have patience yes, but not for as long as some are expecting. |  |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:54 - Aug 26 with 1874 views | itfcjoe |
| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:44 - Aug 26 by Freddies_Ears |
Agreed. I was thinking about what might feel acceptable after ten games - maybe 12 points, which would have us deep in the lower half, but on the up. But to reach even that mark needs 10pts from the next 6 games, which is top-6 form.
As others have noted, incl Cook himself, the pressure is just beginning... |
I think you need to get to somewhere like 1.5 points per game whilst still waiting for top form. Less than that and you leave yourself lots to do | |
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| Forget Blackpool….. on 10:54 - Aug 26 with 1875 views | Chrisd |
We keep mentioning Blackpool last season, when Oxford did pretty much the same and were in the bottom 4 on December 10th last year. To be fair, looking at those stats there's still room for manoeuvre, it's not really that damning. It also shows there are those teams that start well, but do fall away from the summit over the course of the season. No side goes through a season without encountering a tricky spell, ours might be now. September does look tough on paper, but whose to say that we won't win those games? Then the league will look a lot different. [Post edited 26 Aug 2021 11:01]
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