Did we peak too soon?

[Brin]

You arrive at the latter end of the season and there's always one team that goes on a run out of nowhere and end up in the play offs or sneaking that elusive second promo spot.

As it stands Wigan, Shrewsbury and Blackburn will fight that one out. Can't see the likes of us sneaking second at all.

Looking back at the great run we recently went on, 11 wins 4 draws was immense but, what's happening to us of late?
3 losses in the last four and to two clubs in the bottom three.

Warne quoted we needed 4 more wins to secure a play off spot, don't agree with him we need more than that. Yes the points cushion is there but that can disappear over 3 games and there's 8 to play for.

We have some very difficult games coming up starting with the Posh on Friday, closely followed soon with three massive away games at Charlton, Wigan and Plymouth. Anything from these games will be a bonus but going on the last three defeats, Warne really does have to get back into the team's minds and keep a steady ship.

Too much chopping and changing? Players over confident on the big run thought they could turn up and win? Players waiting to get back in and not yet fully up to speed when played? Centre forwards off the boil( minus the Cobblers game) and it all soon adds up.

It will be a rollercoaster of a ride to the end of the season and I trust in Warne to sort it out. He has done far better than I ever envisaged as I feel most fans think this season and maybe just maybe he's over produced at times and raised massive expectations. But isn't that was football is all about, to win every game?

Whatever the outcome thank you Paul Warne for delivering us a great season so far.

NB. My choice for the late run in, Portsmouth.

[caytonmiller]

Think we will make the playoffs though I'm not confident we will go to Wembley.

Vs Rochdale and MK it was the midfield that came up short. Same again yesterday.

PW will need to get his act together and not rely on the same players changing there style of play to suit the opposition... Hopefully the three of the four teams who will be involved in the playoffs will have playing surfaces to suit our team..
Btw think we will get Plymouth

My only hope is we get 3rd or 4th place as I'm away the week of the first leg.

[Lolmorgan]

We are getting a little pack developing,Charlton,Plymouth,Bristol Rovers & Portsmouth all seem to be getting closer all the time.

[Casper64Frank]

We are getting a little pack developing,Charlton,Plymouth,Bristol Rovers & Portsmouth all seem to be getting closer all the time.

Charlton have just beat Plymouth at home.
Bristol Rovers drew with Peterborough away.
Portsmouth have just beat Karl Robinsons Oxford at home.
We have Posh, Charlton, Bristol Rovers , Plymouth to play.
We're limping towards the play-offs, it's in our own hands.
Eight matches to sort his best side out before the lottery of the playoffs.
Expecting 3 or 4 changes before Posh on Good Friday.

[Brin]

Don’t know the reasoning for it but Wood has to play Friday. For all his frailties and poor ball clearance most of the season then for me Ajayi has to be dropped and Ike brought in to replace him.

We need calm and presence now. How far of playing is Potter? Not knocking Palmer but apart from Northampton since he came in we look more unsettled in midfield. For me Warne is chopping and changing at the wrong time.

One thing I will say is if Ball keeps misfiring and Proctor is fit then bring him in. We need big men up front now not scamperers.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

I don’t think we’ve peaked too soon, I reckon it’s more likely that our one way of playing has been scouted out and opposing managers pick teams and tactics to nullify our plan A

Add to that a killer pitch (which I’m told the other side doesn’t play on) and we come away empty handed (but with mucky boots)

[frogmiller]

I don’t think we’ve peaked too soon, I reckon it’s more likely that our one way of playing has been scouted out and opposing managers pick teams and tactics to nullify our plan A

This happened before when Moore was scoring loads of goals. The opposition just spread out making it harder to close them down. Moore being suspended then finally moving on gave us a breath of fresh air.
The two wings were used instead with Forde and Newell both backed up solidly backed up by Emmanuel and Mattock. One player may have been undervalued in that system and it was Ball. His ability to get across from one side to the other to out number the full back and midfielder was instumental. This is only my opinion of course.
Have the team got time to sort out another formation that would turn our form round again? It all depends how fit Proctor is and whether we can fit the Vaulks, Towell and Palmer into the same team. If not which one misses out?

[sawmiller]

Good that we are even thinking about and looking forward to the play-offs - start of season expectations generally were perhaps a little bit lower from where we are now - an interesting late spring beckons

[frogmiller]

Good that we are even thinking about and looking forward to the play-offs - start of season expectations generally were perhaps a little bit lower from where we are now - an interesting late spring beckons

You're right Saw. the majority of fans were expecting us tobe comfortably mid table. One or two were hoping for automatic promotion, I with others (but not many) said play-offs were possible.

I suppose we'll look at the season as a dissapointment if we don't keep in the play-off spot here on in.

The excellent run has turned the season into anto an exciting one with the management team gaining respect from fans when it wasn't there before. They'll always have there doubters as every management team does.

[Yak]

For me if we have peaked and we lose in the play offs so be it.
What I can’t accept though is if the team drop the effort or application to win because they are in the comfort zone.