Doom and Hope?

[nw6pie]

There are definitely some hopeful signs this season, but I think the clearest thing to emerge so far is that this "Brentford stats model on a budget" is going to be a tough act to pull off.

Brentford have always operated on a decent budget since adopting the "Moneyball" approach in 2015, spending a lot of money (comparatively) to buy the likes of Watkins (£1.8 million), Toney (£5 million), etc. Even Peterborough, who look to find gems in the lower leagues, have spent plenty over the years (they bought Toney for £650,000, for example, selling him two years later to Brentford for a very tidy profit).

Maybe it's unfair to highlight Ed Francis here, but his signing shows how tough the Football Radar model is going to be. We basically chose to replace the most experienced player in the side, through whom most of the play went (I'm reminded of the Cheaterfield manager's repeated cries of "Doyle, Doyle, Doyle" to his players in the playoff last season), with the most inexperienced - and one who had spent very little time playing that role in the men's game (if any).

Francis can clearly pick a pass when he's got time and space (see his assist against Barnet and his pass to Mitchell leading to Roberts' goal against Wealdstone - or was it Aldershot? - earlier this season), and obviously we shouldn't be abandoning him at such at early stage. But he's not got much experience in men's football and we were basically signing him off of his performances for Man City's under-23s. It seemed telling to me that Harrogate didn't sign him after he was on loan there last season.

It all suggests that Football Radar need to be looking to sign players with some real experience on their CV (like Roberts and Rodrigues) rather than taking punts on totally unproven players. That's tougher now than a few years ago, because overseas signings are now seemingly out of bounds at our level, and more and more clubs are subsequently shopping in the same marketplace - many of whom we probably can't compete with financially.

[Davy500]

Cant remember Ardley winning away at Yeovil? Am I correct? Anyway, like I said in OP, it will be ups and downs. We're not going to walk this league. We might not even win it or come second. Deal with it. We're a good side, still a working progress. Crazily unpredictable. Lose at home to Woking 4-1 but beat Yeovil away 2-0....???? Total coupon busters.

Enjoy the ride folks x

Ardley won yesterday ,and solihull remain above us, as did most teams, we are still 9th, and still 8 points behind the leaders. the damage as they say has already been done.

[ForeignLegion]

Ardley won yesterday ,and solihull remain above us, as did most teams, we are still 9th, and still 8 points behind the leaders. the damage as they say has already been done.

I agree, Grimsby should be presented with the title winning trophy at their next home game. Oh and tell Stockport not to bother coming, the season is over.

[i961pie]

Ardley won yesterday ,and solihull remain above us, as did most teams, we are still 9th, and still 8 points behind the leaders. the damage as they say has already been done.

Three quarters of the season still to go

[The_Don_ORiordan]

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.

[upthemaggies]

If Grimsby were not part of the equation iI'd feel we'd have much more of a chance. You'd expect Boreham Wood and Bromley to buckle at some point whilst Wrexham and Stockport are still behind us.

Grimsby do look unstoppable right now so it's important we don't fall any further behind them before we go there at the end of this month. If we went to Blundell Park say 10 points behind, then lost - it would be 13, which would be a very big gap to close. Yes I know Rochdale in 2010 but that was exceptional circumstances.

[Glad2BeAPie]

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

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.

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

[the_anticlough]

(I'm reminded of the Cheaterfield manager's repeated cries of "Doyle, Doyle, Doyle" to his players in the playoff last season),.

Strange how that's always interpreted to be complimentary. Who wouldn't target a 40 year-old if you've got a younger, faster side?

[Frigiliana Pie 1]

I saw Bromley’s game on tv yesterday and based on that, I think they’ll be in the promotion race all the way. After all, they did make the playoffs last season.

Do I think Notts will go up automatically as Champions? No. But I do think we’ll be in the playoffs.

[laddo]

Ardley won yesterday ,and solihull remain above us, as did most teams, we are still 9th, and still 8 points behind the leaders. the damage as they say has already been done.

9th some of his critics on here were predicting relegation struggles or a bottom half finish for NA or was that just when he was at Notts?