April 2016 v April 2017

[Rattus Norvegicus]

So, here it is - the final month of football (unless we get to the play-offs that is).

What a journey from that first match at home to Gills and McLaughlin's scuffed goal. As usual it has been a roller coaster:- signing crocked players like Fortune, injury prone druggies like Ranger, relegation form and "Brown out" posts, disquiet in the dressing room, Barrett being dropped, more formations than Red Arrows and then a gradual climb up the table.


April 2016 - for those with a weak disposition you might want to look away now ............

Blackpool (A) - lost - dire game where even Jack Payne was poor and Barnett got abuse from our own "fans"
Fleetwood (H) drew - a highlight performance as it turns out
Walsall (A) - lost
Oldham (H) - lost
Wigan (A) - lost and were taken apart
Bradford (H) - lost
Bury (A) - you guessed it - we lost.

Admittedly that last game was in May but I make that a total of 1 point from a possible 21.


April 2017 - and 7 games remaining.

Oldham (H)
Bolton (H)
Charlton (H)
Chesterfield (A)
M K Dons (H)
Shrewsbury (A)
Bury (H)


We might be forgiven that thinking that the Bolton game is the only really tough game in that list. Perhaps. But in fact Charlton and M K Dons are not safe from relegation and the remaining teams will all be scrapping to stay in this division.

 

[Andyhsufc]

Very exciting month coming up - I would have thought two points a game is the target to get us into the play offs and that looks very possible. Four points out of the two next home games would be a great start to the month.

 

[shrimpled]

4 wins and a draw would be enough I would think.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

The good thing is that it does seem to be "in our hands". We don't have to be glued to the updates to see how the other teams are doing ......... win and put 3 points on the board is all we have to do.

 

[Barling Magna]

Especially if Scunthorpe lose today.....

 

[Barling Magna]

Well, so much for that hope. Darn it. Now we're three points behind the team above us and we have a worse goal difference. Back to hoping that Millwall drop points.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

The good news is that all of the grounds that we have to play at have good playing surfaces - Roots Hall, Chesterfield and Shrewsbury.

So that should mean we should be able to play a passing game of footie. :thumbsup:

 

[Floval Flyer]

I reckon the two toughest games will be Bolton (H) and Shrewsbury (A), as they may have to win to avoid the drop.

Other sides will ultimately slip up, so even if we drop points we will still be inside the top 6, but it's going to go to the wire.

Wonder who will be the one to 'put the ball in the Bury net' this time? Cox, Ranger, Robinson...

 

[rigsby]

Well, so much for that hope. Darn it. Now we're three points behind the team above us and we have a worse goal difference. Back to hoping that Millwall drop points.

I liked that Scunny win. Fits nicely in with my we can get 4th theory and play Bradford away who will finish 5th. Could be the other way round but I would rather play away first.

 

[rigsby]

I reckon the two toughest games will be Bolton (H) and Shrewsbury (A), as they may have to win to avoid the drop.

Other sides will ultimately slip up, so even if we drop points we will still be inside the top 6, but it's going to go to the wire.

Wonder who will be the one to 'put the ball in the Bury net' this time? Cox, Ranger, Robinson...

I'm hoping that the Shrews will be clear by then and having nothing to play for likewise Bury. We want Chesterfield to lose their next 2 so that they are almost certainly down before we play them.

So on that basis our season rests on the next 3 games. If we take 6 or 7 points I think we will be almost there.

 

[Lord Football]

I know this may be a "glass half full" comment, but our absolute minimum must be to finish 12th, as this would ensure a seed in the League Cup and a tie against a "lower" side and the potential of winning a game in that competition and playing someone where we'd make a few quid. Given our current position, recent form and run-in that should be a given, but it should have been last season as well.

Personally, I like our run in. We wont win them all because it doesn't work like that, but we really should be looking forward to the play offs from here.

 

[Fairport]

The difference between April 2016 and April 2017 is that we have a far better squad now which is good enough to make the playoffs.

 

[Floval Flyer]

I'm hoping that the Shrews will be clear by then and having nothing to play for likewise Bury. We want Chesterfield to lose their next 2 so that they are almost certainly down before we play them.

So on that basis our season rests on the next 3 games. If we take 6 or 7 points I think we will be almost there.

That would be nice, if the Shrews, Chesterfield and Bury are already 'on the beach' we just need to turn up :smile:

not sure it will be that straight forward. Never is...

 

[southendkid]

I liked that Scunny win. Fits nicely in with my we can get 4th theory and play Bradford away who will finish 5th. Could be the other way round but I would rather play away first.

Despite the result Bradford looked a lot more threatening than they did at Roots Hall, Luke Daniels basically had the game of his life otherwise Bradford would have scored 6 or 7. They made a lot of good signings in January and I really wouldn't want them in the semis, would rather Bradford came 6th and we get Millwall/Scunthorpe instead.

 

[rigsby]

The difference between April 2016 and April 2017 is that we have a far better squad now which is good enough to make the playoffs.

Plus we don't have Wordsworth, McL and Timlin out injured for the season. Plus our main striker, Hunt was limping through to the end. As were Lenny and Coker after serious injury after Christmas.

Then factor in that our 2 young starlets... Bentley and Payne were more interested in what their agent had to say rather than the manager. Now if all that had happened this season even though our new signings are a big upgrade, we would yet again be coasting to a mid table finish.

 

[rigsby]

Despite the result Bradford looked a lot more threatening than they did at Roots Hall, Luke Daniels basically had the game of his life otherwise Bradford would have scored 6 or 7. They made a lot of good signings in January and I really wouldn't want them in the semis, would rather Bradford came 6th and we get Millwall/Scunthorpe instead.

The worst thing would be a semi v Fleetwood followed by a final v Millwall. Yes Millwall always lose at Wembley but their fans always spoil the day as well.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Oldham is arguably one of the hardest games. Their form since the new manager coming in has been really good! It really won't be as easy as at looks.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Oldham is arguably one of the hardest games. Their form since the new manager coming in has been really good! It really won't be as easy as at looks.

Sounds just like last season then. :sad:

 

[Bobby dazzler]

I am very happy with the fact that we are now 4 points better off than we finished last season with.
Seven very important games to go but well done Mr Brown so far.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Sounds just like last season then. :sad:

Oldham have only lost 4 in their last 16. Very impressive for a relegation side. They genuinely looked dead and buried not so long ago but their form has changed that considerably. We can't take liberties with this match.