League One, 2022/23

[Prufrock]

Worth remembering that last year, despite that huge improvement and strong finish, we finished 10 points off the play offs. You could look at 9th v 7th and say that's not a big improvement. But 10 points off v (say) 1 point off is a big jump.

I'm fairly sure I said top 6 at the start of the year would be a good season. I don't see any reason to change that. Top 2 would have been outstanding, 7th a little disappointing.

There's the psychology where 7th having been 3rd for most of the season feels a lot worse than 7th having been 10th for most of the season.

I don't really buy this tbh. I get the psychology argument, but 7th is nothing. You get nowt for it. 7th-21st effectively is failure for us now. Top 6. IF we can't quite get up then next season we really have to. Staying down her won't pay the bills long term nor keep the fans coming in.

I'm somewhat apprehensive as to what the championship brings too - but I've seen what happens to teams who get stuck here....they take a long time to get out...or worse...go backwards....

I'm not saying 7th would be good, but that a close 7th would still be progress on last season. I'm not sure it would be out and out failure (but below par). Still an upward curve. Promoted. Top half. Just miss out on play offs. It's big steps in the right direction.

7th next year, sure that would be failure for me.

I still expect us to get play offs. DSB's tables are useful but are only (by definition) a snapshot. After Sheffield Friday we don't play another of the top 6 (but plenty of games between them) and only two of the top half. We'll have only played one (albeit big) game in 3 weeks so plenty of time to get juice back in the legs and content downloaded. I expect an upturn and I still think we'll finish top 6 and then who knows.

[GhostoftheBok]

All the scores are going against us so far. Fun, fun, fun.

[BWFC_Insane]

All the scores are going against us so far. Fun, fun, fun.

Peterborough and Wycombe will win. My guess is we will need 6 more wins for a play off place.

I’d say there is no room for error at home now. We WILL need to win all those games. Then pick up a couple on the road. Burton and Bristol or Oxford.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I still expect us to get play offs. DSB's tables are useful but are only (by definition) a snapshot. After Sheffield Friday we don't play another of the top 6 (but plenty of games between them) and only two of the top half. We'll have only played one (albeit big) game in 3 weeks so plenty of time to get juice back in the legs and content downloaded. I expect an upturn and I still think we'll finish top 6 and then who knows.

Indeed. They show the direction of travel, on a very narrow hypothetical. But there's loads of other variables.

Me, I'm worried, more by the drop in performances than results. But you (Pru) present an interesting case by looking at remaining fixtures. I've talked often about us having a glass ceiling - last season around 8th/9th, this season four or so higher. We (obviously) haven't dropped as many points this season so we (presumably) should be better at mopping up enough points in our remaining fixtures against non-contenders to reach the play-offs. I certainly don't fear the 'muscular team at tight ground' trope as much as last season.

What happens when we reach the playoffs is of course another thing altogether. I guess right now I would take a cup final and a playoff failure as progress. It'd hurt but it'd be progress. And I still fear the enormity of the surgery necessary if and when we go up, but that's a whole other story.
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[Dave Sutton's barnet]

FT Accy 1-3 Pompey
FT Bristol Rovers 0-2 Wycombe
FT Burton 2-5 Posh
.

[officer_dibble]

Morecambe beaten 4-1 at home by bang average Charlton as well, putting our points lost into context.

[LeverEnd]

All the scores are going against us so far. Fun, fun, fun.

Peterborough and Wycombe will win. My guess is we will need 6 more wins for a play off place.

I’d say there is no room for error at home now. We WILL need to win all those games. Then pick up a couple on the road. Burton and Bristol or Oxford.

I think you're overestimating Wycombe and Peterborough there. They might finish above us, but I doubt we'll nee 6 wins to avoid it.

[GhostoftheBok]

I think you're overestimating Wycombe and Peterborough there. They might finish above us, but I doubt we'll nee 6 wins to avoid it.

I think expecting Posh to win 7 of their last 10 is probably a bit much. The majority of their remaining games are against top half sides.

Wycombe still look like the main threat.

However, football is weird. The more we slip up the better the chasing pack are likely to play.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

All the scores are going against us so far. Fun, fun, fun.

Peterborough and Wycombe will win. My guess is we will need 6 more wins for a play off place.

I’d say there is no room for error at home now. We WILL need to win all those games. Then pick up a couple on the road. Burton and Bristol or Oxford.

I think you're overestimating Wycombe and Peterborough there. They might finish above us, but I doubt we'll nee 6 wins to avoid it.

Aye, six more wins would put us on 81 points. You'd be upset if that wasn't enough for sixth. To match that, Posh would have to add 24 points in their remaining 10; that's possible, but they lost 3-0 at home to Cheltenham on Saturday at they've yet to play Derby, Shrewsbury, Ipswich and Barnsley.

To match the points we'd get from six wins, Wycombe would need 21pts from 10 games. Again, doable; but again, they lost to Burton on Saturday, and they've yet to play Barnsley, Ipswich and Pompey. On paper, they've an easier run-in than Posh, but I wouldn't say it's (on paper) easier than ours. And at the moment it looks like a two-way Wanderers bunfight for that last slot.

[irie Cee Bee]

The pack closes in... anyone nervous?

[TANGODANCER]

The pack closes in... anyone nervous?

Not as long as we're at the front of it..

[GhostoftheBok]

Not nervous, no. If we're still on the same points after the Exeter game I'll be concerned. Even then, though, that last 7 is a kind run.

In happier news, both Morecambe and MK Dons are in the relegation zone. Would love to see them go.

[Mar]

Not nervous, no. If we're still on the same points after the Exeter game I'll be concerned. Even then, though, that last 7 is a kind run.

In happier news, both Morecambe and MK Dons are in the relegation zone. Would love to see them go.

Would be a first for Morecambe getting relegated. 103 years with 3 promotions and 3 playoff semi final defeats. It's like supporting Everton I guess. Nothing really happening season after season.

[officer_dibble]

All the scores are going against us so far. Fun, fun, fun.

Peterborough and Wycombe will win. My guess is we will need 6 more wins for a play off place.

I’d say there is no room for error at home now. We WILL need to win all those games. Then pick up a couple on the road. Burton and Bristol or Oxford.

Burton away! On the immaculate, well managed turf of the Pirelli, one of our happy hunting grounds!!

[GhostoftheBok]

Posh have turned Lincoln over at Lincoln's place.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

L Derby 0-1 FLEETWOOD
L IPSWICH 1-0 Shrewsbury
L Bristol Rovers 0-1 POMPEY

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

HT:
Wycombe 0-0 Barnsley
Ipswich 1-0 Shrewsbury
Derby 0-2 Fleetwood
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Portsmouth
Plymouth 1-0 FGR

[knobpolisher]

Derby must be concerned, its turning into a major slump for them.
I think a Barnsley win is the preferred result vs Wycombe

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Latest:
Plymouth 2-0 FGR
Ipswich 1-0 Shrewsbury
Derby 0-2 Fleetwood
Wycombe 0-0 Barnsley
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Portsmouth

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Latest:
Plymouth 2-0 FGR
Ipswich 2-0 Shrewsbury
Derby 0-2 Fleetwood
Wycombe 0-0 Barnsley
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Portsmouth