Flat track bullies?

[ncfcog]

In reality yes.. the stats back this up?I?ve ran a quick check of the teams mentioned heads to heads season to date
Walsall 22/27
Donny 8/21
Bradford 8/24
Wombles 7/21
Vale 12/21
Salford 9/21

So Walsall aside its much of a muchness. What Walsall stats show is that they struggle against so called weaker teams.
In fairness to Notts we played Vale, Walsall and Salford when they were in the midst of excellent runs.

We played Vale off the park, weren't far off against Walsall, Salford was without doubt one of our worst performances for some time, however, it seems it was the kick up the backside we needed, our form since that defeat . . . WWWLWWDWWW . . . 25pts from a possible 30.

[LeftPeg_Pie]

I always wonder if labels like fast-track bullies generally depends on your own sort of philosophical outlook on football.

For flat track bully, some see you can only beat what is put in front of you.

Like someone has already mentioned, surely most teams struggle against the best sides, that is why they are the best sides.

For those who think were not happy against, say Carlisle, there are those who think its a good sign when teams win ugly or when not at their best.

At the moment, we are beating what is put in front of us. And we are second. Lets enjoy it.

[Carlton_Pie]

I don't really care who we lose to as long as win enough games to get promoted without the playoffs being involved. And it's not as bad as it used to be.

I also reckon we will do Port Vale this week. Just a hunch.

This.

It really doesn't matter who you get the points against, just how many you end up with.

Also some context needed, we played Walsall when they were smack bang in form, if we played them today we'd beat them.

[matt_magpie]

I would read absolutely nothing in it this season, the games we have lost this season bar Salford there?s been nothing in them.
Last season for example when we played Stags at home it was like men against boys and I could see the difference but not this season.

[Davy500]

While we do struggle more against the top teams, we hardly ever get outplayed. Not sure if it's a mentality thing or luck, but the sides around us just seem to have a knack of grabbing the points in close games. Both games against Walsall were very close and could have gone either way, but they gained a six-point swing, which is currently the difference.

well its 6 more points to us and a loss of six points to walsall

so if we had won the 2 games we would have 59 and them 53
win one each and we both have 56
but cause we lost both games they have 59 and we have 53

its unfortunate we played walsall when they had lowe , things probably been different if they had played them now,but thats football

[The Dug Out]

This.

It really doesn't matter who you get the points against, just how many you end up with.

Also some context needed, we played Walsall when they were smack bang in form, if we played them today we'd beat them.

Walsall at ours was unlucky, we deserved to be 3 up at h/t, don't think they would have come back from that.
As said somewhere else we played Vale off the park but got nothing, Salford took us to pieces we deserved what we got, beat Vale on Thursday & it's nailed on for a top 3 finish.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Hear this a lot. Thought I'd have a look at the stats.

Against the current top 7:
Walsall - 0/6 points
Doncaster - 1/3 points
Bradford - 3/3 points
AFCW - 3/3 points
Port Vale - 0/3 points
Salford (who put them there) - 0/3 points

Total 7 points from 21. Walsall aside, it's not horrendous - two wins, one draw, two losses.

It's felt worse by us losing to Gillingham when they were in 3rd, and Crewe when they were in 5th. One match I thought we were unlucky to lose, and another we really missed Jatta.

The above do represent all six of the matches we've lost this season, on the other hand. So if we're doing well against teams outside the playoffs, that isn't all that bad really.

I?m adamant that had we had a fully fit Jones and Crowley when we played the likes of Doncaster and Crewe away along with Walsall at the start of December we would be sat top of the table right now.

What?s gone before cannot be changed and regardless we are in a great place as we head towards the business end of the season. Walsall are within reach and we should set our sights on that and no worry about those below us in the table. It?s in our own hands. No doubt there will be plenty of twists and turns over the next three months.

[matt_magpie]

Walsall at ours was unlucky, we deserved to be 3 up at h/t, don't think they would have come back from that.
As said somewhere else we played Vale off the park but got nothing, Salford took us to pieces we deserved what we got, beat Vale on Thursday & it's nailed on for a top 3 finish.

I like to be optimistic but I?m not sure we?d be nailed on, don?t think anyone is in this league.
What I like about this squad is there seems to be a never say die camaraderie and a real grit about them which SM must take some of the credit for.
If we can keep our flair players on the pitch enough too we have a very good chance of automatics.

[1955pie]

I?m adamant that had we had a fully fit Jones and Crowley when we played the likes of Doncaster and Crewe away along with Walsall at the start of December we would be sat top of the table right now.

What?s gone before cannot be changed and regardless we are in a great place as we head towards the business end of the season. Walsall are within reach and we should set our sights on that and no worry about those below us in the table. It?s in our own hands. No doubt there will be plenty of twists and turns over the next three months.

Just hope there isn?t one over the next 3 days.

[tommopie8]

On January 2nd Walsall were 15 points clear. It's now 6.

We've 9 points more ourselves and we have 1 more point than Wrexham did last year and one less than Mansfield.

Hats off to SM. Been numerous times over his tenure I've not thought he was up to it - very happy to hopefully be proven wrong.