Is the next week the most important of the season?

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Could the next 3 games define our season? I know its early, but we have an FA Cup game, a JPT game and a very difficult league game against the team in 3rd place.

3 wins and we are in the hat for the 3rd round of the FA cup, with a potential big money game, in the area semi final of the JPT with 2 games with attendances of 6000+ at both games and again in with a chance of a big money Wembley final, and still top of the league with a gap of at least 5 points to 4th place.

3 loses, and that all cup competitions over for the season, no potential big money spinners, and probably off top spot, and only a point or 2 from 4th place.

Come on, lets keep this run going for another 3 games at least!

 

[Silencer]

Great shout, I guess although it is an important week in terms of cup success, it is only three league points up for grabs during this week.

Don't get me wrong, as much as the club would love to get a step nearer to Wembley (Paint Trophy) and a potential money spinner against a 'big' side in the FA Cup, they would say that getting out of this awful league is the most important thing.

Personally, the thrill of the cups is great so I think at this stage of the competitions, a win in them is just as important as one set of three league points.

All these games are important, but as you said, if were still unbeaten after these three games, then we could have a fun January.

Couldn't choose if I had to...

UTB

 

[MK Shrimper]

Sadly I can see three defeats on the cards here. :sad:

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

If I had to lose one, it would be the Oldham game.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Really MK? Disagree, think we will win 2 and draw 1. Had a feeling all season we would get to the JPT final. Oldham yes they are a division above but dont travel particularly well. Cheltenham is a toughie as they are playing well but man for man we are a better team and I think we will get a draw at least. Our away performances of late have been excellent.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Yes mate, we're due a wobble and Saturday felt like a loss rather than a draw.

However I am a miserable git so touch wood we'll win all three, win the JPT and League 2, and get to the QF of the FA Cup only to be beaten on penalties by Man City. :thumbsup:

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Twill be a nervous week thats for sure, just one thing though ETTB the Swinetown game is the area semi of the JPT

 

[BrettieAngell]

I can see one defeat out of the next three games but I think it will be one of the cup games.

 

[PhilipH51]

Surely the league fixture is the more important focus, with any good cup results in these next three being a bonus? How often have great cup results led to a disappointing league outcome with the cup result being forgotten by all except the club's own supporters - extremes include relegation of course - shrewsbury v everton (and relegation to the conference); southend v man u (and relegation to League 1) and I'm sure there are more but I should be working!

 

[Beefy]

Three defeats leaves in a stronger position than most thought we'd be at this time of the season.

They're three big games but no more important (and for two of them arguably far less important) than any of the other games we'll have between now and May.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Whilst i agree to a certain extent Philip the league fixture is also the furthest away, there's no way we can put all our thoughts into that game as 2 defeats before it will doubtless change our focus anyway

Its an old adage but i'd say Oldham is most important simply because its next

If i had to have a win lose and draw for these next 3 i'd say ... time for another thread ....

 

[Davros]

If there is one weakness that we have had this season, it is marking big strikers (think Akinfenwa, Harrold), so i am really worried about Saturday, and how we are going to mark the frankly awesome Shefti Kuqi out of the game? If we can solve that, i think we can win, but quite honestly, if we cant mark Matt Harrold, this could be a real issue.

 

[shrimperjon]

If there is one weakness that we have had this season, it is marking big strikers (think Akinfenwa, Harrold), so i am really worried about Saturday, and how we are going to mark the frankly awesome Shefti Kuqi out of the game? If we can solve that, i think we can win, but quite honestly, if we cant mark Matt Harrold, this could be a real issue.

To be honest the only way to mark Kuqi is with Moshni i feel. I have nothing against Phillips who has been brilliant this season, but with three games in a week coming up iw ould play both Barker and Moshin, both very good in the air and both more physical than Phillips. That leaves phillips fresh for tuesday and saturday, two far more important games.

 

[Earls Hall Blue]

My gut feelings are loss to Oldham, win against Swindon, draw against Cheltenham & if Im honest Id be very happy with that..:smile:

3rd round of the FA cup & a plum tie would be nice but a visit to Wembley in the JPT is more appealing to me..:smile:

As for the Cheltenham game, even though our away record is slightly better than our home, I can see a draw 1-1.

If thats how the week pan's out I'll be a happy bunny..:smile:

 

[C C Csiders]

Nothing here in the next 3 games apart from 3 losses.

We may have been winning but have been very lucky to beat Oxford (twice - including 10 mean and a comedy 'keeper), Preston missed a pen up there, scraped through against a woeful D&R team, and Bristol Rovers totally lacking in confidence get a draw.

OLdham are a better side than PNE and will beat us, Swindon are probably the best team in this league; and Cheltenham are on a roll and playing well. The slide starts here......

 

[Angell Delight]

Nothing here in the next 3 games apart from 3 losses.

We may have been winning but have been very lucky to beat Oxford (twice - including 10 mean and a comedy 'keeper), Preston missed a pen up there, scraped through against a woeful D&R team, and Bristol Rovers totally lacking in confidence get a draw.

OLdham are a better side than PNE and will beat us, Swindon are probably the best team in this league; and Cheltenham are on a roll and playing well. The slide starts here......

Sorry but are we not W13 D3 L0 from our last 16 games? :stunned:

 

[silentshrimper]

Oxford had this similar run recently, the games v us in league and LDV, an FA cup game against Sheffield united...look where that put them...bad form and have dropped out of the playoff positions.

We must be careful as any defeats could be costly for form, hopefully we can navigate a win and 2 draws out of the 3

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

We are in the middle of a bad run (after a spell of very good form), and as you say have picked up 2 lucky wins against Oxford, a fortunate draw at Preston, and the 2 games against D&R and Brizzle have not been brilliant performances.

Add in the win over Preston (which was a better display) and that is 6 games without any really good performances, yet we are unbeaten? This is the sign of a good team, and the form will pick up again soon, that is just the way football works.

So we had 10 games with superb form, and 6 games with dodgy form, so in my book, we should start playing better again soon (and then probably lose!)

 

[Beefy]

I didn't see the game at Oxford but there was nothing "lucky" in our league win against them.

 

[tommy tucker]

The only thing we dont want is a draw on sataday yet another replay away up at Oldham will not help our cause for promotion .I would rathyer either win or lose on sataday .Because with no replay in the JPT the game must finish on tuesday night .