Doom and Hope?

[magpie_mania]

Last season many were saying that Torquay would be cast iron winners of the league. No chance they could be caught.

Far too early to say with any certainty where we will finish.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

Miracle if we end up 3rd or higher, I'd go for 6th or 7th

So we are a worse team and manager than when we had a scratch squad chucked together at the last minute with all the pre season behind the scenes shenanigans?

That’s what you are saying?

[Notts78]

So we are a worse team and manager than when we had a scratch squad chucked together at the last minute with all the pre season behind the scenes shenanigans?

That’s what you are saying?

It’s not as simple as saying we are worse is it? Are the other teams not allowed to improve? Chesterfield have invested. Stockport have invested. Wrexham have invested. Meanwhile we have cut our cloth accordingly.
Potentially we are a better side than last season. However it doesn’t automatically mean we should finish higher.

[bule1]

We have just had a bad run and "hopefully" are getting opver that now key players are coming back. We are still in touch after a bad spell, a little perspective needed.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

It’s easy to be a bit despondent after two seasons in this league and the prospect of more.

Do I think we’ll be promoted as champions? No. But I didn’t think that at the start of the season either.

As long as we are there or thereabouts when it matters, and top 3 should be the target. Then that’s all that matters.

The season we finished 3rd we were 13th at this point.

Does anyone think we still can’t make the top 3? I think that’s still realistic. When we did it two seasons ago from 5 places lower at this stage.

Whilst it is a bitter pill to swallow that we effectively threw away 6 points in a twenty minute period and a fift.een period at the end of two games we don't know the seasons outcome yet as to what baring that may have. Looking at it from an optimistic angle it could be quite possible that there could be two games to come this season where we are behind after 70 min, or 79 min and we go on to win both games in a classic case of things evening themselves out over the season.

I still think we can finish in the top three and it's far too early to write us off. Fans should not be concerned or get hung up about us being 8 points behind Grimsby at this point in time either. They maybe the pace setters but we saw with Torquay last season what can happen over a season and statistically speaking Grimsby will drop off at some point. They are averaging 2.4 points a game and that is not sustainable over the course of a season as that would mean they are on course to finish on 110points and the league is far more competitive than that.

We need to be averaging 2 points a game to be in with a chance of winning the title and would have been 2nd if not for the early Halloween Horrors of Woking and Halifax. However on the 2ppg marker we should have at least 22 points by now. So while we have a bit of catching up to do it's not insurmountable at this stage to get back on a 2ppg trajectory.

[upthemaggies]

I still think we can finish in the top three and it's far too early to write us off. Fans should not be concerned or get hung up about us being 8 points behind Grimsby at this point in time either. They maybe the pace setters but we saw with Torquay last season what can happen over a season and statistically speaking Grimsby will drop off at some point. They are averaging 2.4 points a game and that is not sustainable over the course of a season as that would mean they are on course to finish on 110points and the league is far more competitive than that.

Whilst Torquay buckled under pressure to lose top spot last season, they still finished 10 points clear of Notts.

Grimsby might not win the league, but if not, they are still looking well on course to finish above us at this stage which takes one of the two home semi-final play off spots.

One of Stockport and Wrexham may continue to do worse than us but expecting both to underperform for the rest of the season would be asking a lot.

Notts have got to do much better than they have in the first quarter. The worry is that we've had a relatively easy run of games. We've played only three sides currently in the top 11 and lost all of them. 15th is the highest placed club we've beaten.

Wrexham have played 7 of the top 11. The only other two games they've played were against sides currently 13th and 20th, both away - from which they took 4 points.

Stockport's spread of results is more similar to ours, in that their wins have all come against sides below them, but they have notched up two draws against the top two. Scoring goals is their problem, 3rd bottom on average goals per game but they have the 5th best defence.

[laddo]

Doom and Hope. I've seen this film before Doom wins.

[bule1]

Doom and Hope. I've seen this film before Doom wins.

Obviously not seen the Disney version LOL

[upthemaggies]

Next two league games will show us if there's anything to be hopeful about. Both at home, so Notts have definitely got a chance to restore the belief. Then it's the trip to Grimsby. Our season could take off big time or effectively come to an end by the end of this month.

[bule1]

Difficult games but can not argue with that comment.