the table - tight at the top

[Rayleigh boy]

1 Swansea 18 4 3 2 10 6 6 1 2 20 10 14 34
2 Leyton Orient 19 5 2 3 14 15 5 2 2 14 12 1 34
-----------------------
3 Nottm Forest 18 5 3 1 15 4 4 3 2 14 6 19 33
4 Carlisle 18 6 1 1 15 3 3 5 2 15 12 15 33
5 Leeds 19 9 1 0 24 5 6 1 2 14 8 25 32
6 Southend 19 6 1 3 20 11 4 1 4 11 14 6 32
-------------------
7 Doncaster 19 4 3 2 13 7 3 4 3 13 13 6 28
8 Walsall 19 3 3 3 9 9 4 4 2 11 8 3 28
9 Yeovil 19 5 2 3 12 11 3 2 4 8 10 -1 28

- holding 6th but 2 points shy of automatic spots Sir Steves squad is poised to mix it with the big boys - come on you Blues -

How much quality does Mark Gower have ?

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

That gap is useful aswell between us and Donny Rovers. 4 points clear and we need to keep that aswell as keeping in touch with those above us. Pressure can come as much from those chasing as those that are leading.

Its up to us though, rather than what everyone else is doing.

 

[leeblue]

Two points off top coming into the christmas period I think even the most moaning minnies on here would have taken that

 

[Cricko]

We are also the second top goal scorers in the League behind Weeds.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Great to be only 2 off the top, but being 4 away from 7th is the crucil stat at the moment. I felt that come the end of Christmas there would be a break away s6, and it is crucial that we are in it

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

A win at Swansea next week & we'll go above them (albeit they'll have a game in hand at Bristol Rovers). How many of the moaning minnes would have taken that too against one of the more favoured teams in the division?

 

[silentshrimper]

It would be nice if we could beat one of the top teams!

 

[bobbybrown]

It would be nice if we could beat one of the top teams!

Yeah, I feel we haven't quite managed to mix it in a big game yet. Hopefully, it is time to start that!

 

[Reg Martin]

Two points off top coming into the christmas period I think even the most moaning minnies on here would have taken that

Yes, considering all the negativity in recent weeks, we are actually having a pretty good season - and its worth remembering that we were around 5th/6th place just before Christmas 2 years ago.
There are some bigger clubs up there this time around and I can't see us going on the sort of run in the New Year we did last time round - but even so it's 'so far, so good' as far as this season is concerned.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

While the comparisons with our last season in L1 are lingering, below is the table from the equivalent date that season (10/12/05). We'd played two more games and had only three more points.... so we're well on track at the moment.


1 Swansea City 21 7 3 1 26 9 5 3 2 20 15 42 22
2 Huddersfield Town 21 7 3 1 19 13 4 3 3 17 15 39 8
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3 Brentford 21 5 4 2 17 13 5 3 2 14 9 37 9
4 Barnsley 21 7 3 1 22 10 3 3 4 10 10 36 12
5 Southend United 21 5 4 2 18 11 5 1 4 16 13 35 10
6 Colchester United 21 5 2 3 18 12 4 5 2 11 10 34 7

 

[Southend_Lady]

While the comparisons with our last season in L1 are lingering, below is the table from the equivalent date that season (10/12/05). We'd played two more games and had only three more points.... so we're well on track at the moment.


1 Swansea City 21 7 3 1 26 9 5 3 2 20 15 42 22
2 Huddersfield Town 21 7 3 1 19 13 4 3 3 17 15 39 8
------------------------------------------------------
3 Brentford 21 5 4 2 17 13 5 3 2 14 9 37 9
4 Barnsley 21 7 3 1 22 10 3 3 4 10 10 36 12
5 Southend United 21 5 4 2 18 11 5 1 4 16 13 35 10
6 Colchester United 21 5 2 3 18 12 4 5 2 11 10 34 7

That def makes for interesting reading. Its nice to be topping the table early on in the season but we all know this rarely lasts. Out of them 6 teams its the 5th and 6th place there that took the title and runners up so positioning right now is irrelevant. Its always best to be in the chasing group. Setting the pace is a big ask and very rarely do a team topping the table in early December go on to win the league. We are sitting quite snuggly in the chasing pack but only within a small sniff of the leaders.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

More heartening is the gap between us and the summit of the division - at the moment it's 2 points (it'll be 5 if Swansea win their game in hand), in 05-06 it was 8. We just need to make sure that we stay in touch with the chasing pack over the Xmas period.

 

[SUFC_Al]

More heartening is the gap between us and the summit of the division - at the moment it's 2 points (it'll be 5 if Swansea win their game in hand), in 05-06 it was 8. We just need to make sure that we stay in touch with the chasing pack over the Xmas period.

indeed and our Xmas form over the last few years has been pretty good.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

indeed and our Xmas form over the last few years has been pretty good.

Indeed. Last season for instance, we started our mini-revival over the Xmas period, and the season before we went top of the table after the win at Blackpool.

This season we have some tough fixtures, Gillingham are generally tough to beat at home (despite the loss to a resurgent Vale on Saturday) and Donny away will be a tough game as well. However, we should really aim to get 6 points from Brizzle and Oldham at home. 7 points would be a good return from these fixtures, and should see us cement our place in the top 6.

 

[SUFC_Al]

Indeed. Last season for instance, we started our mini-revival over the Xmas period, and the season before we went top of the table after the win at Blackpool.

This season we have some tough fixtures, Gillingham are generally tough to beat at home (despite the loss to a resurgent Vale on Saturday) and Donny away will be a tough game as well. However, we should really aim to get 6 points from Brizzle and Oldham at home. 7 points would be a good return from these fixtures, and should see us cement our place in the top 6.

i'd take that Skipper.

 

[Jam_Man]

While the comparisons with our last season in L1 are lingering, below is the table from the equivalent date that season (10/12/05). We'd played two more games and had only three more points.... so we're well on track at the moment.


1 Swansea City 21 7 3 1 26 9 5 3 2 20 15 42 22
2 Huddersfield Town 21 7 3 1 19 13 4 3 3 17 15 39 8
------------------------------------------------------
3 Brentford 21 5 4 2 17 13 5 3 2 14 9 37 9
4 Barnsley 21 7 3 1 22 10 3 3 4 10 10 36 12
5 Southend United 21 5 4 2 18 11 5 1 4 16 13 35 10
6 Colchester United 21 5 2 3 18 12 4 5 2 11 10 34 7

Interesting indeed,and Id say we are having a good season, certainly better than what you would think listening to some of our fans....

whilst we are doing pretty well Im not letting myself get too carried away due to the following :

1. No Eastwood to win games on his own. Leon is good but Freddy had the ability to create his own chances.

2. Leeds & Forest. When we went up there were no real strong teams, I cant see Leeds finishing outside of the top 2 so thats one place gone already. Forest also look strong.

3. Overall Performances. At the beginning of the last promotion season I actually thought we were playing better, even when Freddy was suspended, for me I dont think we are yet playing to our full potential, but thankfully still picking up the points.

4. Clarke/Morgan. I think this could be a great pairing, problem is they could be gone in 4 or 5 games....