PROMOTION

[TheLittleGazette]

AS much as we all enjoyed last night, and boy did we, we have to all accept that there is only one crucial factor this season as far as we are concerned...and that is promotion.

As good as Cup runs are, we have to realise that we MUST get out of this division and this season we have the best squad we have had for a very long time.  Undoubtedly promotion, through the play-offs at least must be our aim.

The Colchester win was great, but pleae don't get too devasted if it doesn't work out in latter rounds of the LDV and indeed the FA Cup, because if we are out it only adds momentum to our promotion push.

Honestly chaps this could, and maybe MUST be the year.

Let's give our all between now and the end of the season...the team have the talent, let's show we want it to!

UP THE BLUES!

 

[shrimperian]

I sincerely hope that we do win promotion this year. Thus far, I have not seen any team we could not beat (indeed, we should have won all of our games! I am expectant! However, the reason that we do not have maximum points this season is that our finishing is quite poor. Game after game we create hatfuls of chances (14 shots on target v kidderminster, yet only one goal) but we are not converting these often enough. We have relied on goals from midfield and Barrett, which is great, but we need another proven striker to partner Lawrie (IMHO) in order for us to simply walk the league. I really think that with this one addition (oh and perhaps replacing Jupp) we have the credentials to be champions!

Radical view? Not sure but I am sure it may promote healthy debate from fellow zoners!

 

[Shrimper in India]

I agree about the LDV.

I would happily crash out in the second round now we've beaten Col Ewe, and concentrate on League.

An FA Cup run would be nice, often it can add momentum to the League campaign.

 

[exiledessexboy]

I'm still hoping Dudfield will become that 20 goal man, he just needs to get his confidence back in front of goal but his goal at Rushden showed it was all there, ready and waiting.

The player that could really make promotion a reality for me though is Bramble.  Is this season he at last becomes the player we all thought he was?  Two games does not make a season but if he could continue at this level of form, and injury free, we have a player that will scare the life out of opposition defenders.  A lower league Rooney in fact, or maybe that's pushing it!

 

[Guest]

If we don't get to at least one national cup final this year (I think it will probably be the FA cup final) then as far as I'm concerned we have taken a retrograde step and Steve Tilson should be tarred, feathered and run out of town.

 

[shrimperian]

I hope that you are right but I dont think that Bramble is a 20 goal a season man. I think he may chip in 15 at best. Dudfield would be twice the player if he was partnered by someone who did half of the running. It has been said before but, if we could have a player with Drewes commitment, but with Brambles finishing ability, we would have the player we need.

Anyway, I didnt want this to be a negative post...just to provoke comments. I know we are good enough to top this division, I would just like to do it in the style that Luton are doing in league 1 (9 points clear already)

 

[steveh1510]

We'll never win promotion with Flahavan in goal and Jupp at right back. Once we replace those 2 clowns we'll have a chance.

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (shrimperian @ Oct. 01 2004,08:58)]I sincerely hope that we do win promotion this year.  Thus far, I have not seen any team we could not beat (indeed, we should have won all of our games!  I am expectant!  However, the reason that we do not have maximum points this season is that our finishing is quite poor.  Game after game we create hatfuls of chances (14 shots on target v kidderminster, yet only one goal) but we are not converting these often enough.  We have relied on goals from midfield and Barrett, which is great, but we need another proven striker to partner Lawrie (IMHO) in order for us to simply walk the league.  I really think that with this one addition (oh and perhaps replacing Jupp) we have the credentials to be champions!

Radical view?  Not sure but I am sure it may promote healthy debate from fellow zoners!

To be fair, our 14 shots on target out of 25 is a good ratio.

Danby saved 13 of them through good positioning and generally playing out of his skin and I believe that as long as our shots are on target, there is little else that can be done in any side, if the opposition keeper is in form.

Gower's strike was pretty much unstoppable, but how many shots do you get like that out of 25? very few... hence the low scoreline.

Rushden & Diamonds was another matter and I would say they were a poorer side than Kidderminster were last week and this probably accounts for the higher scoreline.

12 matches in, confidence high, good football, scoring in each of our last 7 games [all competitions], personally... I wouldn't change anything.

Worried about only having Darryl fit though, with Bart being 3-4 weeks away from a return, so if I was Tilson, I would be looking for a young keeper, who might be interested in some free training and possibly a match or two in the reserves.

We are definitely capable of a top three finish if the team follows my phylosophy of "the best form of defence is attack!" and as we have a pretty good defence and a solid midfield, we should at the very least make the play-offs.

I see nothing wrong with our strikers getting all the goals and would like to see this, but because we have significant threats from other areas of the pitch, this will make it difficult for opposing teams to defend against us. I will gladly take a dozen goals plus from our midfielders over our strikers if it wins matches... and then of course, let's not forget that Adam already has 6 goals [5 officially, but he is GOD and I don't give a sh*t what the FA think!].

Let's not forget also that Jay Smith will make a return soon, thus giving us additional attacking options in midfield.

 

[Napster]

we'll never win promotion with fans who live in Basildon.

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ Oct. 01 2004,09:42)]Danby saved 13 of them through good positioning and generally playing out of his skin and I believe that as long as our shots are on target, there is little else that can be done in any side, if the opposition keeper is in form.

10 out of those 13 were tamely struck and no keeper would have a problem saving them.

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ Oct. 01 2004,09:43)]we'll never win promotion with fans who live in Basildon.

w***er

 

[exiledessexboy]

I agree that Dudfield's strength lays in the six yard box but if Bramble continues as he has he is showing that commitment and will take defenders with him, creating space for the midfield to come through.  Maher taking on some goal scoring reponsibilty would be a huge plus.  

However, I would rather see us making chances and missing than not making chances atall.  Taking them now is the next stage, then I have no doubt the championship, not just the play offs, are within this squad's sights.  I've seen nothing to fear so far, though Yeovil away on Nov. 20 could be an interesting game.

 

[Its grim up north!]

Mmmhh, To be honest I think we will gain promotion this season and find our sqaud well up to the challenge.

Exiledessexboy could be right, this really COULD be Brambles year (god i hope so). He has looked on top form and im sure he must realise that this has to be the time for him to prove himself to the club.

As Sbs stated a run in the F.A. cup would us no harm whatsoever and hopefully pull in some attractive games (should we progress through to the 3rd round).

Shrimperian........What the hell have you got against Jupp?
IMHO I think the guy gives 110% in every game, He gets forward and creates good oppurtunities for forwards and is not afraid of a good challenge.

Steveh1510.......... What a negative post!

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (Its grim up north! @ Oct. 01 2004,11:26)]Steveh1510.......... What a negative post!

He's on a mission... p*ssed off because SUFC are higher than 17th place!

 

[rabbloke]

I like Jupp, Wilson, Prior/Edwards, Petts, Maher/Hunt, but when we talk about goal scoring where is their contribution?. Some posts suggest that with the strikers not yet firing on all four cylinders it is good that there are goals from everywhere else. At this point everywhere should read Barrett and that is not enough. Any successful side has goal threats from all areas of the pitch. We could do with a few more lads converting and not being so reliant on so few. Of course I would like to see a striker on 20 goals but if not I would be satisfied if the strikers were making the space for others to convert. I would just like more than one other.

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ Oct. 01 2004,11:39)]

Quote[/b] (Its grim up north! @ Oct. 01 2004,11:26)]Steveh1510.......... What a negative post!

He's on a mission... p*ssed off because SUFC are higher than 17th place!  

I predicted 16th, actually. Pay attention! Tsk.

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (rabbloke @ Oct. 01 2004,11:40)]I like Jupp, Wilson, Prior/Edwards, Petts, Maher/Hunt, but when we talk about goal scoring where is their contribution?.

I agree, if all 7 of them were to score 20 each this season, we'd have a chance of promotion.

 

[Its grim up north!]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ Oct. 01 2004,12:41)]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ Oct. 01 2004,11:39)]

Quote[/b] (Its grim up north! @ Oct. 01 2004,11:26)]Steveh1510.......... What a negative post!

He's on a mission... p*ssed off because SUFC are higher than 17th place!  

I predicted 16th, actually. Pay attention! Tsk.

Well I predict Yeovil in the play-offs!

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Its grim up north! @ Oct. 01 2004,11:44)]Well I predict Yeovil in the play-offs!

I agree, I think Yeovil will make the play-offs.

 

[footymad13]

Agreed but im not sure our strikers will do enough to secure promotion, if they start converting chances or we get someone who does then i agree, we certainly have something going.