Thetownend.com

Over half the season gone now so there's no excuse for not having formed an opinion.

Nailed on us and Bristol City and don't care which way round.

if we do what is your wager again ?

Trying to think of a way to wheedle out of that one while retaining face.

Have informed Mrs Audrey - not impressed

Still reckon its two from four and too close to call, assuming Preston regain form.

IF we keep our squad together and fit, I'm actually beginning to think we won't fall away. having Mas/Kas back will only strengthen us further.

Franchise could be ahead of us on goal difference by the time we play Sheff U.

Fuck yeah!

The one worry I have is that we haven't as yet had a proper dropping off at form and this will happen at some stage - I cannot remember whether the other teams have or not.

Plus we must never underestimate Swindon's ability as a club to implode both on and off the field.

But fingers crossed.

City must have because they were a fair few points ahead of us. Didn't they lose to us, then again the next game. Not sure if that is a blip as such though.

What he said.

Our blip was losing to Rochdale and drawing with Colchester - both at home.

Sure, we aren't going to win every game - but neither will anyone else.

Trying to work out the best result for us when Franchise play City early Feb - win for either better than a draw, I reckon with a City win probably best

Will win the league. City will go to pieces yet.

Cant see that - unless these extra games bites them on the arse

City fans honestly believe they will win every game before they play us and be nailed on as champions by then...

Yes.

I've got this horrible feeling we'll mess it up....

Play off final vs City.

We've got as good a chance as anyone, and the best chance since the Danny Wilson playoff year. Two of us, City or Franchise for the autos I reckon.

:D

As I've said elsewhere, I approach every forthcoming period as 'well if we come out of [Month] reasonably unscathed then we can do it' - that mentality started in October.

Tranmere Rovers' 2012/13(?) free fall is a good example of what can happen as can the demise of Andrew Black's bankrolling.

These players clearly get along and are enjoying themselves which is key. So if they stay pals and free from injury then there are no reasons why Town can't go up.

If would be incredible.

I do not want the play offs, just some bloody peace and quiet for a change - promoted by middle of April and then watch the others scrap and scrabble for the other place whilst we bask in a victory tour for the last few games!

Ah, bliss!

Please no

Care to remind us what it was ?

Struggling to remember.

Maybe food or drink based, perhaps?

Best chance we have had in years to move back to Division Two.  My gut feeling is that, at last, it is our turn again.  There have been so many 'smaller' clubs with fewer resources than we have who have played at that level since 2000 (the last time we were there).

Unless we completely implode, a Play Off place or better is pretty much guaranteed.  But I would hate to have to resort to that route this time.  The Play Offs are a lottery.  I need a nice, clean top 2 finish this season.

wasn't it a tattoo ?

Didn't it involve you being naked and a donkey?

Rings a bell.

As does a horse brass

Can someone find the thread ?  :D

We could be promoted at 1982 Ltd IF we win our next 12... 90 points normally enough, but not always.

hope so.
if yeovil, scunthorpe, peterborough, blackpool, millwall etc. can do it so can we.

Yes we are. There you go, you can close the thread now

Hitler moustache tattoo

Fuck me....the painkillers or their after effects, must have fucked your brain Audrey as well as your bowels.

We're STFFucking C. I'd like to think we've avoided relegation, but wait, we're surely the only club to win promotion and then be relegated, because of skeletons in the cupboard....for all of Mr Power's good work so far, who knows what's lurking.

Assuming a clear run on the "dodgy front" we have avoided relegation...good, and are in the mix, also good, but that's it 20 games is an awful lot and anything can happen.

..

Can we go up? yes

Will we go up? I think so

But you have to use caution as mentioned before by Rich - Tranmere had a monumental fall from top spot in 2012-13 after being top at this stage, here are the tables from the 19th Jan 2013 and the final table.

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/1_zps58fc1810.jpg) (http://s56.photobucket.com/user/jjedmunds/media/1_zps58fc1810.jpg.html)

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/2_zpsffdf4756.jpg) (http://s56.photobucket.com/user/jjedmunds/media/2_zpsffdf4756.jpg.html)

This is Swindon so take nothing for granted!

I do not want the play offs but if it was between that and missing out totally then I would be happy with that route.

 Good use of hard facts....Bormuff got auto, despite being 13 points adrift at your chosen date....Tranny didn't even make the PO's.

 As mentioned earlier today, our focus atm, should be hoping to negotiate until prob the Tuesday after  Bramall Lane, without losing key players whether to injury or sale....this applies to the Asian Cup 2 as well as the rest.

 If we make that base camp intact, then we can start to focus on the next phase.

And look how they've progressed!

One step at a time, yes we are very capable of getting promotion but lets just get through each month and reassess after Easter, yes I am getting a little excited about the prospects but also have seen us fuck up good league positions before.

If we can stay above the 82ers and the Bletchley Stealers until March then the optimism will go from amber to green.

93 points will be enough this year. 13 more wins should see us go up. We have some tricky looking away games left though.

Certainly wont be getting carried away. This is STFC after all.

Every fibre of my being is trying to dampen that horrendous sense of optimism that is creeping in week by week and that this year.... This may be the one. It may come back to crush me.

I don't take this attitude to any other aspect of my life, but experience has burnt me with Town too many times.

We need as many points as poss before April, that looks like a severe clusterfuck now.

Just what people were saying last November which was a virtual mirror image of April.

You will just have to get used to the fact that we are, actually, really rather fucking good.

Think it will be us and MKD going up with City fucking up in the playoffs.

The tranmere example, wasn't their decline due to players leaving. Jake Cassidy for example was top scorer and he went back to wolves in January. (Similar situation to Franchise with Afobe doing well on loan then leaving mid season). What I'm trying to say is the team that started the season so well wasn't the one that ended. It's looking increasing likely that we may be lucky and keep our best players and not hit the same problems.


We will not do a tranmere.

IIRC correctly Tranmere had a very small squad as well (about 19 players), whereas we have good to reasonable cover. Although we're a bit thin on cover at the back.

Of course we did start their bad run, after tanking them 5-0 on a Friday night before Christmas.

I wonder if the 1982 lot are having the same debate amongst themselves about whether they will make it. The ones I have interacted with seem to think their march to glory will go on unheeded and that Stephen Landsdown will keep signing the cheques. Reminded them of losing Div 3 title to Rovers in 1990 or coming undone by a 40 year old fat bloke (Windass) from Hull in 2008.

Tranmere fell off a cliff 11 points from 17 games.  Ouch!!!

Did Ronnie Moore have a bet on it?

Came through the November challenge.
Look good through the fixture January challenge.
Will believe if we get through the January transfer window challenge.
Then it will be the head to head games out of us and the other 3.
Believe we can but had my hopes dashed so many times before.
Best chance for ages. If we don't do it this season will be far more difficult next with a changing squad.

I'll allow you to fill in the gaps, as it were  ;)

Good work, sir!

You'd better brace yourself, he's a big lad apparently

 Preston at home to Yeovil tonight....a win takes them above Franchise but 5 adrift of us....

 Along with the Shitheads, they are the least pleasing on the eye of the top 4, but Grayson knows how to get teams up from this league, which may count for a lot come squeaky bum time.  I'd imagine he's quite happy to be seemingly written off.

I don't think anyone has written off PNE or MKD.

It's those teams lingering outside the front pack that concern me as the proverbial dark horses. That said, we're probably the dark horse within this little game of cat and mouse.

I do think over time it will become a 3 way battle between Us, 1982 ltd and Franchi$e, but like Constanza says I don't think anyone has written off PNE - I know it's a long way away but, providing we keep up with the pack, the Easter weekend for us could go a long way to finishing top 2 or settling for a play off place.

20 games for us to go, as long as we do our part the rest takes care of itself - best chance for ages and I'd love it, just love it, to get up into the Championship at the end of the season.

It would be good to finally update the Swindon Town wikipedia with a "2012-2013: After Di Canio limbo" and the pleasure of having a "2014-present: Mark Cooper's success" section cumulating in promotion to the Championship just to make it not so dim reading.

I think we're more like the mid-tone fly on the dark horse within this little game of cat and mouse.

If we finish above either Brizzle or Franchise, I think we're up in the auto places.

If we finish below both we'll be in the Play Offs and lose to either PNE or the Blades.

Perhaps but when you consider all the usual guff (squad size, budget, manager et al) and pre-season expectations then Town have surely surprised this division and are therefore a 'Dark Horse'.

Which is why we are the fly on the dark horse.

I got ya! I misread. Apologies.

 Yes we are. And whats more we will stay up unlike brizzle who have a physically huge team which stands them well in div 1 but will not cut it in the championship. Because of their Asian Cup exploits we will get strong offers for Mas and Kas but unlike when losing Ritchie effectively was game over for our hopes we now have a squad that could cope without them. Only worry is if we finished 3rd we would be up against quality teams who thrive in cup situations and the play offs are just that. I thought we would struggle this year but I also thought Southampton were certs to go down so all Swindon fans take strength from my inept punditry.

We have to thank Kmac for this season. If it weren't for him I doubt Cooper would be here and I doubt we'd be experiencing the success we are.

One way of looking at it.

It's a fair point, however PdC bought Wes, Andy Williams, and gave the Thompson Twins their break.

It's one of those times when the fates have aligned and out of the ruin and confusion of the past few seasons something wonderful has arisen.

Great isn't it?  You can have all the 5 year plans, projects going forward etc, but you can't beat a bit of random alignment.

I agree with Mystic Meg.

 Despite the outbreak of religious fruitcakery on here....could it be that our season so far is down to the work of Clotho, Atrepos and Lachesis.

 Time to change our ELP walk on music...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyEnbwvW2MU

I have a horrible feeling we're going to finish 3rd. The very fact that a third place finish is filling me with dread is testament to how brilliantly this season, so far, has been. If you had offered me that position at the beginning of the season I'd have ripped your arm off. Now it would be really disappointing.

If we can finish above the 82ers and the Bletchley Stealers we will go up, PNE are not out of it but they seem to have something missing. I am fairly confident we will be in the top 3 but I do hope its not 3rd.

 Gladwin requiring surgery isn't going to help  :(

Thankfully we'll have Yaser and Mass back soon

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_ 8m8 minutes ago Swindon, England

Swindon Town midfielder Ben Gladwin set for four weeks on sidelines due to knee injury, Link Sport understands: http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/01/21/gladwin-facing-four-weeks-out/ … #stfc

Both have got high pressure games to get though, before we can safely assume that.

Well there's also possible transfer interest to negotiate, but I was trying to be positive  :) Hopefully we'll have at least one of them available for Sheffield United.

Never mind, you could be an Arsenal/ Liverpool/Premier league fan and spend your entire life watching it on TV and getting your knickers in a twist because 'your' club didn't finish in the top 4.

Then you can die having never experienced the emotional highs and lows that supporting the Town will have given you.

And then you can be consigned to purgatory forever...

By the time we play Sheff Utd, they would've played 3 cup matches. Hopefully they can take Preston to a replay on Saturday.

And looking at their recent league record, Sheff Utd have only won 1 of the last 8 league matches.

Just taking part in a thread with this title is something of a "high".

Although, Reg-like, I recall exactly the same question being raised after Town had beaten Sunderland in the 91 Play-off Final.

STFC Store ‏@STFCStore 5m5 minutes ago

615 sold for Sheffield Utd so far. Currently it is still all ticket for this fixture.

Weather warning for heavy snow in Sheffield at the end of the week  :(

Orange ball!

Hopefully is not postponed for elf and safety reasons.

Didn't they lose a match recently for this reason?  Pitch was fine....Lowryesque surrounds no good....Bramall Lane reminds me of this.

(http://www.thelowry.com/Images/Shop/Going%20To%20The%20Match.jpg)

Yes they did.

Squeezed between 2 cup games, I'd think they wouldn't try too hard to get it on

You're probably right, although they'd have one hell of a fixture pileup.

A 3 week break for us wouldn't be good but at least we'd have some midfielders back for the next game!

Yeah, on the basis of their fixture list (which will get even worse if they beat Preston, and / or Spurs for that matter) I would imagine they'll be very keen to play.

Only 2 blank Tuesdays between now and 21 April...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sheffield-united/fixtures

I hope that we go up automatically as I am away in Ireland for a wedding the weekend of the play-off finals!

I'll echo that. My son is getting married in Kefalonia PO weekend.

Pull yer finger out, Town!

Im hoping it's all signed, sealed and delivered by mid April as im away for each weekend of the final 2 home games of the season. Balls.  :crash:

Was thinking of heading up to Sheff for this one, but looking at the forecast now its probably not worth the pain.

Is the forecast really as bad as everyone is making out?

According to the BBC there are patchy snow showers forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, and temperatures aren't due to drop below freezing at any stage. They have undersoil heating anyway. Unless we have a big dumping of snow on Friday, which isn't forecast, I can't see it being off.

If we get through Feb and March then April will be great fun. Alas, I'm away with work for the entire month.

I'm content with missing all those big games, I'd love to return to the country with Town still in contention.

Its oop north though, lad. Us southerners are rarely equipped for such savage weather.

Its more the journey being a total ball ache multiplied by the snow factor, for me.

Fair enough

Trains out of London are an issue this weekend as well.

http://www.swindonlinksport.com/category/swindon-town/

Sam has got an interesting piece here.....I say interesting, insofar as anything which involves....Garry (Digital City) Perkins can be....namely in a sort of how the hell did this fella get re-elected sort of way.

Tell him we'll stick a couple of wifi towers on the floodlights and you'd soon get £400k without any need of a viable business plan.

Garry seems to have diversified into car parks....I loved the plan whereby you improve the retail experience of the town, by closing a number of perfectly viable car parks, and building one with somewhat smaller capacity.

The fact that no-one uses the CG car park, apart from boy racers and dealers, clearly hasn't escaped his notice.

and don't forget if they sell the ground it will be to someone responsible. That worked really well for the Oasis didn't it.

Yes...I have full confidence that our elected representatives, will look after the best interests of themsel the people of Swindon.

Not a Swindonian, so can't comment on the Councillors...but there are few board configurations that I would have trusted to have at heart the interests of anyone but themselves in any ground development. Full Stop. 

The fact that the freehold has been owned by SBC and that (whatever the limitations) there has been the sporting covenant on the use of the Ground has been an absolute blessing in ensuring STFC still has a ground to play at.

The club has for decades enjoyed a relatively continuous succession of incompetents, shysters and dreamers that have run and owned STFC and thank god neither the Club nor any of most of the previous owners and directors have ever got anywhere near owning or controlling the CG site.

At some point a leap of faith and imagination will be required and I'm not sure Power is the man but he's no fool and certainly a football man and if he were to get the right friends and partners on board then just maybe he could be the one to set the foundations for a better future. 

If so, any development could have a statue of LP outside the Ground.

If any development....we should have the Digital City Car Park, in honour of Cllr Perkins.

Wasn't there meant to be some kind of news about the oz trip by now? Or did I miss it?

That, plus I think today is the last day of Jack Stephens' loan

I would not trust the Swindon conservative council to do the right thing, you only have to look at what they have done with the likes of the oasis, the town centre, roads etc around the town to see they are not viewed favorably by a lot of people and dont seem to have a hostory of getting things done right.

But I get the impression that Power & Shah have their heads screwed on and will get some sort of deal that is right for the club and not just be rolled over by the council waving a new lease and saying 'we will give you a new lease if you agree to our terms'.

Time will tell

We've kidknapped him and are keeping him in spain until they extend his loan (just flying him back to play on Sat's)

Southampton have just loaned out another centre-back, which isn't good news.

Yes, but Hooiveld has been on loan at Norwich all season so far.... So his going to Millwall shouldn't affect an extension for Stephens.

Hooiveld? He's spent time out of loan already this season.

Don't worry.

There is little news at the moment.  The majority of the club are out at a private training camp.  Keeping it all schtum.  I suspect we'll have some stories later this week when they are back, probably some update on Stephens and an update on the construction firm thing maybe.  Who knows.  For some reason Im less concerned about it that under previous regimes.

Well, Sheff Utd's FA Cup replay after we play them is a bit more significant now they've been drawn home to Man U.

Hope it keeps their eye off the ball

You could insert the labour goup into your first paragraph. The Oasis did not become a shithole in the last few years. As for the roads the only way to keep them in a condition you'd like to use is to a) not use them or b) spend endless amounts of money that has never been available whichever council has been in the hotseat.

As for Power we're all right behind him until he pisses us all off, as was the case with Fittons regime.

Yes .

Bloody hope Saturday is on...train fares and tickets purchased. I'm really looking forward to it and their fa cup replay is more significant now next Tuesday. As Audrey says they could have a winnable tie once Cambridge beat Man United.

Game will be on Sheffield tap then the red lion charles street 10 minutes from the ground (real ale pub), draw would be good a first win  since 1970 I think ,  pre tony currie  good player  and showman
 Should  have more than 650 there  we are top at the moment :girlgiggle:

This is a special season only comes round every 20 years plus or minus 3 years

Sheffield game is currently all ticket? Any chance I'll be able to buy up there on the day you think?

Yes check out the football league grounds tickets on the day, cheaper if you buy  before the day

I liked Sam Moorhens article today about our loan signings. 

http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/01/26/sam-morshead-swindon-prove-value-of-responsible-borrowing/

Nice to remember the names from the last few years.

'Andy Frampton, David Ball, Mike Grella, Calvin Andrew, Alessane N’Diaye, Ahmed Abdulla, Jake Jervis, Liam Ridehalgh, Cristian Montano, Ronan Murray, Daniel Boateng, Jonathan Tehoue, Giles Coke, Danny Hollands, Chris Martin'

What a team.

Anyway next time anyone starts banging on about using the loan system they should read it and see that we are currently using it extremely well to better ourselves and the players who are coming in.

Good stuff Moosehead.

Currently have 1 spare going - it's a student ticket though.

Yep, sums up my own thoughts perfectly and far more eloquently than I could have done myself  :nod:

Cheers Major but few of us going.

They keep saying its "currently all ticket" which obviously means there will be no pay on the day. I'm pretty sure Sheffield United do this every year though and they'll make it pay on the day about Thursday/Friday. I can only think it's to give them and the old bill an idea of numbers. Up to you if you want to risk it. Personally I'd get on the net/phone today. They'll stick them in the post this early in the week.

Weather forceast ropey for the end of the week. Pretty sure Sheff U will be doing everything they can to get the game off!

I would have thought they'll want it on. We have players out and they'll be playing Thursday's as well as Tuesday's if they have schedule many more games in.

True but is the carrot of a money spinning tie (almost certainly on TV too) at home to Man U (should they dispose of Cambridge of course) almost bigger than a league game?

Yeah it probably is (not that they would openly admit it) but how does that affect our game? Ok they have a replay but it's no reason not to want to play 3 days prior I wouldn't have thought. Preston have a game too so they'll be in the same boat.

I guess if our game is off they will be 'fresher' for the replay and less chance of picking up injuries and suspensions etc.

That said, for the long term financial goal etc, the league should always be the priority!

From the Blades Mad forum. Hopefully their players feel the same way -

re: Three home matches in a row
No way is the Swindon game more important than either cup tie. We can draw/lose on sat and still comfortably get top 6.

The Spurs game is the biggest, then the Preston one, then the Swindon one.

Makes sense for them really.

Their league form is one win in eight. I guess they can make a shed load of money from the cups this season and concentrate on the league next season. However, for a club of their size, not finishing in the top 6 must surely be considered an abject failure.

Might be bringing an old rattle and a flag...

I'm out with a mate who's family live in Barnsley so it'll be a messy one for us. So yeah... a night out in Sheffield with a rattle and a huge Swindon flag. Bring it on.  :pint:

jesus

I like Jaybox, he's devoid of the football cynicism that supporting Swindon should bring.

Just stay clear of drums, Jay.

Give it time.  In 40 years from now he'll have turned in to Reg.

I'll second that. We could do with a few more like Jay, not too many mind. :-)

As a youngster, he's missed a lot of the shenanigans that would make him cynical. I bet he doesn't even own an orange hat  :)

He already sits in the Arkells  :hmmm:

Any update on Sheff U ticket sales?  Only got mine today, although not expecting a big crowd.  Think we took 1250 in 2012/13, but only 550 last season.  Should be somewhere between the two this time.

615 sold as of Monday Morning. At the moment its all ticket for some reason but I would imagine we would take circa 1k.

Cheers Bob.  Would be nice to break 1k.

............and blades !

Live in Chippenham, if I ordered tickets now for Saturday reckon they'd come in time?

Ordered mine Friday, came today. It's Royal Mail so fark knows.

Son is a student in Sheffield so heading up on the train to meet him for a sherbet or two before the match (can't have too many as I'm old & will need a piss every five minutes otherwise).

I've seen mention of the Sheffield Tap, is that where most of you chaps are going for a pre game tipple :)

The Tap's a Thornbridge Brewery pub so the beer is great, and it's at the Station,but I'm pretty sure it's got a "no football colours" policy.

The Howard bang opposite the station is pretty relaxed for match days though, home and away fans mix alright in there. There were a load of Swindon fans in there last season. Decent range of beers as well. There's usually a couple of old bill on the door on match days to make sure things stay calm as well.

The tap for a couple then the red lion on charles street 5 minutes from the station and 10 minutes to the ground

 Interesting to see that Chesterfield moved up to 5th last night....they looked a useful outfit at the CG, but what looks to be the battle for 2 PO spots (usual provisos notwithstanding) is really tight.

 10 teams covered by 4 points up to the 6th place slot.....all the makings of a classic situation where someone comes from the pack late in the season, to take a place from a side who just miss out on automatic...

You mean Preston  :)

Or Franchise as they are known

There's no way of telling who will end the season in the automatics and play-offs.

What I hope doesn't happen is the usual suspects putting any non-promotion down to 'bottling'.

 I do know 3 of the 4 likely looking sides for auto, will be dreading the thought of PO's....that's us, 82ers and PNE.  82ers record in PO's is poor, PNE's the stuff of legend, and our recent record has left psychological scars.  I'd guess only Franchise wouldn't be too bothered about ending up there...not sure if that's a help or hinderance.

I would think the sides that have occupied the top 2 positions most of this season will be the ones that are the most scarred by missing out on the autos. These are the sides that usually fail in the PO's. If City miss out then I can't see them doing at all well. I'd quite fancy us at Wembley this time around (if the pitch is in good nick), but I'm not sure if we'd make it through the semis.

As you say, the team that puts together a late run of form and just scrapes into the POs usually do well.

I get the feeling in March City are going to drop points they have a lot of fixtures plus a Wembley visit in the Tin Pot and the fixtures and Wembley will have an impact on them and if they get any injuries to Flint who seems to be their hero even though he still cant pass a ball they will be stuffed.

All the so called experts keep talking about City how good they are but we are a better footballing side than they are. watching their game against West Ham I was under the impression from City fans they played the ball from the back but all their keeper kept doing was launching it long to Smith. Smith leaves at the end of March who is also scoring all their goals so unless they get someone else in on an emergency loan I have this feeling they are going to slip up.
All these sports programmes also seem to have some obsession with the scouser idiot from MK as well as though he is some icon what is their obsession with him he's won nothing and has blown promotion about four seasons on the trot.
One thing we need to do is improve on games like last week where we should have been three up before they scored but if were not put chances away we need to at least grind out a draw as Sheffield united are not a good side they are just physical and direct similar to Preston so I hope when we play them away we have learnt from last week.

Sky's obsession with MK derives from the fact that they are roughly the same age.

His loan finishes this month.

1st March

Close enough !!

City can't play with the ball out from the back. Ayling and the other defender are decent but Flint is absolutely horse shit with the ball at his feet so it wouldn't work. Hence the tactic of launching to Smith to feed JET and Freeman. It seems to be working ok at the moment, lets see what happens when Smith goes back to Fulham.

The 82ers are saying Flint is their most improved player this season. Can't see it myself I think he has always been a cart horse.

He's a reliable defender in the air and isn't too bad defending on the floor and is definitely a weapon from set pieces.

Against West Ham he kept trying to ping balls through to the forwards and they almost always went straight to the keeper.

Bless him, he thinks he's a footballer.

In football terms, I absolutely loathe Aden Flint. But compared to last season, he's improved vastly (from what I've seen).

Bristol City are dull as dishwater to watch but let's face it, they're very good at winning. I just can't see them dipping below the automatic places. As a supporter of a fellow promotion challenger it's frustrating to see as they always look like they're there for the taking but only a few can quite manage it.

I think it'll be Play-Offs for Town but still loads of time to sink or swim.

I still don't count Preston or Sheffield united out of the race for automatics just yet. it's impossible to predict.

It is going to be a tight finish, don't even rule out Bradford, Rochdale, Peterborough and Oldham yet as it won't take much to put a small run of games together 16 or 17 points behind us at the moment.

I watched Flint quite closely against Gillingham. He's still the same player he was here, great in the air, good at getting his massive feet in the way but on the ball he's useless. If it wasn't for him being covered by the other two CB's he would not be as effective. As it happens, the other 2 are very good players and it allows him to the do the basics well.

I reckon the also rans are total shite - and will remain so.

It's any 2 from 3 and I don't think I will be able to control my bladder if City dip out!

God forbid. Give us a derby next year. No local rivalry compares to my hatred of MK.

Tomorrow is one day I truly want the 82ers to win and win by thrashing them.

Hows about Reading next year?

It would be mighty memorable if they blow it. They are, almost to a man,  convinced they are there already.

If they get well and truly stuffed tomorrow it'll be like  the flat-earthers finding out the world is round.

Nope. My life will not be complete until Franchise go bust. As a west Wiltshireman, I always enjoyed the Brizzle rivalry more than The Thames Valley Irrelevances.

I grew up watching us play Reading regularly, just as there climb to the top was beginning to take off under Madjeski (sp). Loved the 3-1, i think? at the MadStad.

Jo Kuffour's finest hour

Amen to that.

It must be great being a Slave Trader fan at the moment - cup final, good FA Cup run, only lost three league games so far, stadium being redeveloped. It was great to beat them at the CG but I fear Town will have to beat them again and beat Franchise to have a chance of taking a top two place.

There are going to be a lot of changes in league position between now and the end of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if come 5pm tomorrow if Town are 2nd and the Slavers 3rd.

Agree, I'd rather City won tomorrow. If we were to go up, I'd rather we went up with them than Franchise.

I'd favour a 0-0 draw that hopefully allows us to gain 2 points on both of them, preferably accompanied by multiple red cards, fractures and rioting leading to heavy points deductions. Oh, and if possible, both chairmen being found to have bet on their sides to lose.

And maybe an earthquake that destroys the Toilet Bowl.

That is all.

Well, that too.

Me too. I'd rather we fought for the two automatic spaces, not just one.

Two issues being commented on. The result and actual promotion. For me, 0-0, as mentioned two points for us to gain should we beat the Tykes. City to go up with us on the basis of interesting local rivalry and bums on seats, we need every penny we can lay our hands on next season and with that scenario in mind. Would he great if it was Town, slave traders, Reading, Fulham, Brentford, Charlton, Millwall (nah, fuck 'em, hope they get relegated), Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham, Wolves, Watford not forgetting Bournemouth, all within easy distance, should things work out.

Would be much better than those teams as opposed to a very northern league one this year..

But next season they'll be no Bank for those clubs with large followings

:nod:

There will - just be roofless as is now
Putting a roof on will be done close season i expect. if can knock up the DRS in that time am sure can put a roof on

Good point

Would like to think we will get enough home support to use up all the north stand, however I'm thinking do we have to provide covered seating for away support at all?

Yes we do
Pikeys provide a small section which is how they have got away with having that temp uncovered away end for years, Yeovil do as well

roll on the championship then.

 Franchise could go top tonight....come on Bantams, do the football fraternity a massive favour.

Anybody got a decent stream for this?

I thought our pitch looked in pretty bad shape on Saturday, but compared to Bradford's it's pristine!

I've just had a piss - that had a pretty good stream

Bradford are no mugs so not a given that we will collect the 3 points when we play them.Same can be said for when they visit trashton as well.Wouldnt be surprised to see Bradford in play offs come end of the season.

Its a horrible pitch and a horrible match.  No football at all.

http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues

Dirty bastards, my hairy arse

Look at the fouls table

Which doesnt really add up when you look at the cards table  :hmmm:

Balls. The pitch did Bradford

Totally against the run of play.  Lucky fuckers.

1-1

But look at Donny's card totals - same yellows and 3 more reds. Yet they are way above us.

Yay 1-1

Come on Bradford . . . .

Seconded.

2-1 get in!

Woot

2-1 loving it

oh yes. Blatant handball too!

Blatant hand ball in the build up.

Not complaining though  8)

Thank god we have been there already, that pitch is shit.

:)

How can their pitch be so awful?

Anyone knows what state Oldham's pitch is in?

Frozen probably, coldest ground ive ever been to

Alaska?

Why, does she know?

2-1 Bradford  :D

Nice one Bradford....

Excellent result

Takes the pressure off us tomorrow.

They're going to blow it

Great stuff now let's take advantage tomorrow.

 :D

I haven't been there since the early 90s but that was a cold day too (probably August  :) ).

Fucking marvellous.

We just need to approach this as we have all our recent away games and look for the win. Pressure is definitely still on us and a tricky game, how we deal with Oldham away on a Tuesday night will say a lot about our promotion credentials.

Tomorrow could be the night we start to open up the gap and pull way from 3rd.  Massive game.

Big week ahead.

I'm not that confident about tomorrow. Tonight's result means a draw would be decent.

Let's hope Vale do a job tomorrow night.  :pint:

Glad I'm not the only one that thinks that. A point wouldn't be a bad result tomorrow.

Yeah I think i'll give the boards a miss until it's over, don't fancy the stress.

I'd definately take a point, never a bad result away from home but given the context it might feel that way

A four point gap to third would suit me fine. Huge game tomorrow. I can't see City slipping up to Vale (who have to be the Aston Villa of the lower leagues in terms of how utterly innocuous they are). Let's make this a two horse race for the title.

Great result to take some of the pressure off tomorrow's game. Now even a draw leaves us better off than we were this morning, and a win would give us a bit of extra cushion. This is the period where we need to assert ourselves, before things get tricky late in the season.

Looking forward to my first trip to Oldham. I'll be there because I'm a proper fan. And it's only half an hour away.

It is the coldest place on earth, you have been warned.

Agreed....

Bitter

It was August, if that was the match Ossie Ardiles came on as sub, late '80s. And it was bloody freezing although high summer in the rest of the UK.

Quite what Kas and Mass will make of it....

Good job Bradford. FUCK YEAH!

Wilf, I was at this match as well. 2-2 from recollection? I remember standing on the terrace in the pouring rain thinking what the Fxxx I was doing there.  Froze to death.  Think it was 88.

I too was there. That would have been Ossie's second and final appearance for the Club as a player.

I was just going to say that I hope DNG does us a favour tonight at Trashton Gate, until I read this saying he has been released by Vale. Missed this last week.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11738/9696588/nguessan-leaves-port-vale

Yep. Got two t-shirts, jumper, jacket, body warmer and a coat with me today. Plus hat and gloves. Hopefully I'll survive.

Enjoy the game Gloria Gaynor.  ;)

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

The much loved anthem of women of a certain age.....sadly R4E fails to qualify on either count.

R4E is tough as nails. He stood through a game at Barnet a few years back on a broken ankle.

Pah! I drove to Leeds with a broken leg. In a cast!

That's proper hardcore...

That wasn't a very friendly thing to do to the guy who had the broken ankle.

The best part of 90 minutes, plus extra time, then defeat in possibly the worst penalty shoot out in history. Have to wonder why I bothered staying.

When you look at how the side imploded after the failed play off campaigns of 2003-04 and 2009-10 with relegation following within a couple of years it seems pretty vital we get up this season. As our friends up the M4 would be happy to remind us some pretty vital parts of the side are loanees, and the likes of Luongo, Wes, Andy Williams and today Kasim have given pretty big signals that should we not be offering them Championship football (and wages) next season they are unlikely to be gracing the County Ground with their presence.
By turning away big money for Massimo Luongo lee Power has taken a pretty massive gamble on the team keeping going as strongly in the next 18 games as they have managed in the first 28. Let's hope that he is proved right in showing such confidence in them doing so.

Where does it say about Kasim Nige?

http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/02/10/kasim-reveals-interest-from-england-during-transfer-window/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Thanks.

So, we turned down £1.2m for Kasim during the window

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/22/club-by-club-guide-championship-finances-2012-2013

Looking at these figures is staggering. Bearing in mind our current budget is around 1.8 million and you would imagine it would probably go up to around 5 million or so in the Championship, how could we possibly compete with the other clubs? Peterborough who got relegated were easily the lowest with 6.2 million.

Could our current model with a low budget and loanees etc possibly do anything in the Championship?

I wouldn't worry too much about it....worrying about things which might never happen, is bad for your health.

Thanks for the concern Reg, It wasn't a worry at all, merely a discussion point in a hypothetical promotion thread!

Fair enough....you just sounded worried  :)

My concern is more that if we don't go up, then we're really starting from scratch next season....

Scary thing is how pathetic City's turnover was aren't they a big club?

That is quite surprising.

2 million less than Peterborough, surely that's not correct?

82ers.....Turnover, lowest in the league  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Lower than Peterborough....God they are shit aren't they. :D

"the long underperformance of Bristol football"  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

What is worrying is that most seasons there is a club that miss promotion and end up in the Play Offs finishing way in front of the other teams - it could be us and they don't usually go up!

That's the 'elephant in the room' really and I'm sure is everyone's big fear. It certainly is mine.

Found this a few days ago and suggests that recent form is more important going into a play off is more important.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22437083

If you believe that they are a 100% lottery then this is would be 4th attempt to get out of League 1 so law of averages would say you would be successful after 3 failures. Of course that doesn't change the probability of 25% successful each time you contest.

It has to be our turn soon.  That's what I keep telling myself.  Fifteen years and counting...

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/05/21/history-of-the-play-offs-suggests-blackpool-can-rock-cardiff-210501/

Statistically, the team that finish 3rd are most likely to win playoffs.

Our longest spell outside the top two divisions since before we first got there in 1962/3.

I read something the other day that Aston Villa could be relegated and play Swindon. Last time they were relegated was 1986/7 and we got promoted from 3rd. Random symmetry but would be nice

I remember when we were staring down the barrel of inevitable relegation from what was then Nationwide Division 1..... to console me, another frequent poster on here said, "its alright, we might have to spend some time in the lower leagues for a couple of years, consolidate, and come back."


I'm finished with consolidation. It's our bloody turn.

That's what Rochdale fans said, 36 years wasn't it :)

I am done with hurt. Brighton, Millwall and Brentford.
Fucking hell I want it more than ever and realised I used to take it all for granted.

Tears on TV and all........will be dead soon.

Checked the League 1 stats since the current play off format (since 1990) with a single off play off final. 3rd and 4th most successful at 32% with 8 wins each. Last 4 have been won by the team in 4th (2 by penalties) and the last team to win from 3rd was Millwall in 2010. The best winning streaks have been 4 in a row from 4th in the last 4 years and 6th in the early 1990's. 36% of finals have gone to extra time and 20% by penalties.  

So suggests that home advantage in the play offs is such and that may be time for 3rd place team to win again.

We have to go up automatically we bloody have to.  I can't contemplate the play offs again.

Yep this. I like a bit of excitement, but not this time, pleeeeeeeeeeezzzzzz.

I can't afford the play offs again!

Ooh,  a trip to Wembley  :dance:

Over the last 10 years or so the team finishing 2nd in L1 do better in the Championship than the team winning L1 - more often than not.

Luton, winning in 2004, being prime example

In our next five games we have 4 home games (Crawley, Bradford, Gillingham & Notts Co) with an away game at Crewe in between. All extremely winnable.

Eminently, but as always it is all in our own hands.

Look, it was highly doubtful the top 3 sides could or would keep up the sort of form that got them clear from the pack - we would all end up with nigh on 100 points each.

Just be grateful we are still 2nd - somehow!

Think none of the top 3 could maintain that kind of form. Just got to keep our heads and hope we've had our blip now. Win next few home games and all will be fine again.

You know what. I think that if we can hold onto 2nd place (at least) for the rest of the season, then we might just go up.

FUCK YEAH!

Apparently "Cotts" was a bit of a dick today. To be biased towards things I've previously said about his childish nature and his ability to spectacularly lose a dressing room, this COULD be the point at which he starts to lose his team. It's happened previously and he has it in the locker to do it in record time.

Saying that, I think I'd rather 82unlimited go up, than that team that stands as a symbol for all that is bad in football.

I think Matt Smith leaving will be difficult for them. They should still go up. Sheff Utd are ones to watch I think

I agree.

I think it's a funny one, I think we're good enough (still) to go up automatically, but I worry about finishing in the Playoff places. I'm not 100% sure that we would go up if we finished there.

That's not to be pessimistic, of course. I think wherever we finish would be a massive achievement..

I still have a good feeling on the autos spot, though.

Even the 82ers' fans agree he was a nob on the radio afterwards.

If there's one thing Cooper is good at it's not getting in a rant

That's true.  And seems to be a commonly held view right across our fanbase.  I heard it several times yesterday from different people.

But we may not get a choice.  One of Franchise or the Traders may screw up between now and the end of the season, but it would be very unlikely for both to.  We have to celebrate the failures of all of our promotion rivals.   :D

I see sky have announced their live games for Good Friday which are 2 championship games.On that basis,we must be in with a shout with being on the box Easter Monday against shitty and no doubt a kick off time change.

 Bradford City winning....preserves the upcoming Tuesday night fixture....I guess that's a good thing.

 Any number of teams now in the PO mix.

Your season is dwindling and you will lose out to Bristol City in the race for the second auto spot behind eventual champions PNE.

Sheffield Utd will beat you in the play-off semi 2-0 at Bramall Lane and 1-3 at The County Ground.

Sheffield Utd will draw with Franchise in the PO final before winning the shoot out 4-3.

The People saying that when Tim Sherwood puts together his backroom staff Luke Williams could be in the frame.
As for are we going up then yes. Its been a blip but not fatal. I don't know any Town fans who would have been unhappy with this position before a ball was kicked.
It looks like our defence is getting punished whereas for most of the season we've rode our luck. Most games we have created a shitload of chances we haven't taken. I think most decent strikers would get goals in this team.
At the back, though, we live dangerously and our chickens are coming home to roost. I still think its a price worth paying and its got us where we are even though my blood pressure goes through the roof at times.

Oh fucking do one you fucking oxygen thieving northern whippet fucking cuntslops.

I think that's called a bite.

We've lost to two decent sides in Sheff U and Oldham, and were guilty of not taking our chances at Scunthorpe. beat Crawley and we're back on track. Still in our hands, and we still have the division's top scorer, which is more than can be said for PNE.

Preston will end up mid table.

A village in northern England is missing an idiot.

pnethor, what the ignore button is for, so please dont quote the spanner, as i then get polluted by his inane ramblings.

Are you really that obsessed with us that you'd rather post on here 24 hours before you play Man United?

he can't hear you, he's just wanked himself to death over pne's shock lead over man u

i thought I saw him pitch side in an oxygen tent.

Nah, he'll be propping up one of the food stalls, tucking into another pie.

he'll be inconsolable. snigger.

Pnethor doesn't bother me in the slightest.

But it is tempting to ban him so I don't have to witness how many feeble bites he gets. The bites that he gets are much more irksome than the troll.... by some margin.

He was great as Andy Pipkin

k

Excellent...he's back!

No cup distraction for you no more!

...and he wasn't even in character!!

Pig more intelligent and had better dress sense.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PacdoRnNwZ8

sheff you and the traders are winning tonight. so far so bad..

As it stands Crewe are 2 points off the play-offs, what a barmy league!

...at least we're not on that side of the Play-Off pack.

Don't worry I've got them both in an accumulator so one of them is bound to cost me

Notts equalise.

good man abrahammer

You should have put Franchise in there as well you dumb cunt.

1-0 franchise

booooo

Didn't think they would win, that's looking a great shout as well!

We need to stop worrying about other teams results and concentrate on our own. The only influence we can have on what other teams do is by winning our games and that puts pressure on them to achieve their own. 16 games left and lots of twists and turns to come but we simply need to win as many as we can as and when they come.

Although it takes the pressure off when all our rivals lose  :)

it's all about pressure. see how nervy it gets at the cg now second place is condensing. As fans it's natural to look at rivals results.

Uh, we aren't playing and our rivals are. I don't think anybody is 'worrying' but just keeping up to date with all going on in league 1.

2-0 city.

Sheff U winning. Not going our way tonight

Really have to win the next 2 games. Funny how it can change so quickly.

Yes. It's hilarious.

(http://www.gifsforum.com/images/gif/fake%20laugh/grand/fake-laugh-eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3-632.gif)

...and our rivals need to drop points. Us winning games and them losing are equally important. Why would we be interested in one but not the other? It makes no sense. As for concentrating on our own results, that's the players' job. We're only fans, it's fine for us to worry about other teams, it makes no difference.

Worst results possible

[reg]

If Bradford beat us, then win their games in hand, they are only 7 point behind

[/reg]

Sums up our last few weeks.

Top or bottom the pressure starts now....

We will have to wait and see...

Except when that 'worrying' transmits itself from crowd to players especially if we aren't winning at home and other teams are winning. A couple of weeks ago some people were saying Preston were out of it which is crazy with the number of games left. Yes, keep an eye on results and we all take delight especially when City lose but I am just saying take each game as it comes.

The players and supporters have to hold our nerve over the coming weeks. If this group of players and management team are as collectively good as we think, other managers' comments and results so far then we will do it. 15 points from here takes you close to the play offs, 20 definitely and 30 should get you automatic.

Crawley at home on Saturday, then Bradford. They're the sort of games we absolutely bottled two years ago so whallopping the creepies on the weekend will do us the world of good.

Can Wardy play?

I remember Di Canio in one of his post match rants said that a lot of teams at this level struggle to win back to back Saturday and Tuesday home games as you don't get the same level of performance after 1 good result and were better off playing away next. He had researched it apparently

I wish I could just find out what happens at the end of the season without looking at any more results or going to any more games. Just too tense, and have a hideous feeling the momentum is shifting. Nothing worse than losing  play offs, especially when you've been flirting with auto spots  most of the season. Really hope I'm wrong. :badmood:

We know what happens... somewhere along the line it will be a dodgy sending off, or a bobble against us. We didn't get given an easy job when we took the mantle of town supporters on ;)

momentums already switched I feel

And if it has, it'll shift again before the season is out. Too long to go. Trust in what has got us here.

Yeah I'm actually with you donkey, I'm still 3/4's full, just , just, just....

Well we'll see.   Probably one more switch but by the end of Feb I think our chance may have gone.

Fuck me.

There's been some girly drivel on here tonight.

Man the fuck up!

Quite. Get a grip you lot for fuck's sake.

But we're not actually at a game, we are on an internet forum for obsessive geeks. I really don't think that what we say on here will transmit itself to the players...unless....I could give it a try I suppose....what is there to lose....


GET PROMOTED YOU CUNTS!


Let's see what happens...

donkey tells the truth

This time in 2013 we were top of the league and look what happened

Exactly, after a great January followed by a traumatic Feb. It could have parallels:-)

Oh yeah, just the same.

Manager leaves, best player flogged off, wealthy owner calls it a day.

Really deja vu, that

We have enough about us to beat every team in this league, but no team in this league is a walkover, results have, can and will go against us.

As they will for every other club

Indeed. You only have to read other forums to see opposition fans get twitchy too.

Win the  2 upcoming home games and we'll be fine

Thankfully the players are a lot more level headed than the fans.

Jesus, the CG is gonna be tense on Saturday. Imagine what happens if we go behind too!!

It's fucking Crawley - the team with the worst away record in the league.

Bradford will probably be a bit more problematic, but we should win that as well.

Crewe away followed by 2 more home games and we'll all feel do much better!

When was the last time we won at Crewe? They've picked up loads recently, have an ex-town player (and a decent goalscorer) and our away from has gone from brilliant to shit. That one concerns me!

Lost to Donny last night - who have one of the shittest home records.

If we're wobbling about Crewe we might as well give up

2003, we've failed to win there a good few times since.

Our season is definitely at a crossroads....the hope for auto, is now looking a bit dodgy, doesn't necessarily mean it's a goner as it is in our own hands, but it may be more realistic to turn our attentions to ensuring a PO place...

Are you sure we aren't going to get relegated then?

Would certainly take a point, but on average I think this should be our aim for our remaining away games, on the proviso of winning our remaining home games.

Believe the bare minimum we should be picking up is 10 out of 15 points from the next 5 games, but really should be 12/13 to maintain the auto push.

"Lost to Donny last night - who have one of the shittest home records."

Donny's home record is certainly crap compared to their away record but was amazed to find that they now occupy final play off place so clearly have been on a bit of a run.

Earlier in season we were picking up wins at places like Orient and Notts County where our recent record had been awful defeat at Sheff U, Oldham and Scunny seems to have brought that to bit of an end. We definitely need to start winning at places like Crewe again to keep  up their and challenging for an automatic promotion spot

I saw the goals from Crawley's 5-1 win against Barnsley and I think all 5 came from absolute gifts from a woeful Barnsley side. Make no bones about it, Crawley are not very good and if we don't beat them i'll be mightily irritated.

Ridiculous suggestion.

We need about a point a game to make the playoffs. Relegation form.

If we are going to end up in the playoffs, then for the sake of our chances it should be with a bit of momentum and ambition about us, rather than scratching around and clinging on for draws against no-mark teams. I think we've seen proof of that often enough.

No need to be concerned. It's very much in our hands. We have a game in hand and have to play both MK and City over easter weekend. Providing we can match or better their results between now and then we'll be fine. Inevitably we are in a sticky patch, we just need to get back to basics and we'll come good again.

And our recent form over the last 4 is < a point a game....I would say that all the teams in Div 3 are reasonably competitive, there are some though for whom it is a good time to catch them....a fact of which you may not be aware of at the time.

I would imagine, that sides will now be thinking it's a good time to catch us....the great thing about Div 3 this season, is you just don't know what you're going to get....the likes of Scunny, Donny and Gills can go from looking over their shoulder at the relegation places to being Po contenders in the space of a fortnight....similarly the likes of Dale and Notts, go from PO places to sinking ships in a few weeks.

As demonstrated that 7 points seperate 6th from 18th!

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/tables

In mid-October / early November, we had a similar spell, with 5 points from 5 games. Relegation form, as you would no doubt have hastened to point out.

We followed that up with 9 wins and a draw from the following 11, probably because we're a reasonably good team.

I'm sure fucking Gillingham think it would be lovely to catch us, but even your selective tunnel vision should recognise that this isn't very likely.

And if from here we were to completely implode and be scrapping for 6th place on May 2nd, we might just as well miss out altogether anyway.

Well this thread escalated quickly...  PANIC!

I believe Ardiles is the guardian of the button...but he's not got it out yet...

Gi
Wow give a dog a bad name. Where did Reg say He thought the heather gatherers would catch us?

I disagree, we can beat anyone on our day. I'd rather try and fail, than not to try at all.

Interestingly less than 4% of this vote on this site thought we would be automatically promoted before the season started.

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=54671.0;viewResults

Our defence has a habit of gifting goals to teams, so this worries me!

 Some things are for sure....it's very difficult to get auto out of this league, and our lads have so far this season done themselves and the club proud, pretty much to a man.

I've seen 3 autos out of this league and the dramatis personae contains most but not all of our greats...some of them like Owen Dawson, John Trollope, Don Rogers and Roger Smart twice.

This is the sort of scale of achievement, we're hoping for....in other words a very hard ask.

Do, or do not.  There is no try.

They wouldn't get anywhere near our side these days Reginald

You'd make a rubbish motivational speaker for a rugby team

His words mean nothing since after selling out to Vodafone, the green piece of snot.

Indeed, being about 70.

And we're better than the 95/96 team of McCunt - IMO

 :starwars:

The table would disagree with you on that, after 30 games we were 3 points clear at the top of the division on 63 points with 3 games in hand over the 2nd place team.

Only 3 defeats after the same amount of games compared to our current 7 defeats.

Yes we are probably playing better football but results and the table don't lie over a season.

Walking in a Finney wonderland.

How many factors would you like to ignore, or account for, before you draw your conclusion?

Can the Trust invest in a banner with this on to go across the length of the Bank? Please.

That would be amazing.

If the Banner does happen. Better have it not on show for the MK DONGS game to avoid any Confusion :-)

Bantams along with Blades and a couple of others, pretty much the Div 3 form side atm....one defeat in 6 on the road, including winning at Chelsea. Their home form has picked up also, no doubt that the  deteriorating pitch, helps them at Valley Parade.

They're now in the mix for PO's and have a very decent chance of an FA Cup semi final...a particularly dangerous outfit.

If you think the league is tight now, this was it 2 seasons ago.

 Just shows how things can change rapidly, Bormuff, fringe of Prem, Tranny fringe of Conference.

Not wishing to rejoice in other club's misfortunes, but Franchise are without their GK and Dele Alli for the rest of the season.

Chances are Bradford will be without Hanson and Morais Tuesday - Stead also injured.

I'll gladly rejoice. That's fucking great news for us.

Colchester fucked Alli big time last Tuesday.

Hope they get stuck into Shitty tomorrow, too!

I do. Swindon first. Good news!

Not according to this: http://www.mkweb.co.uk/TOTTENHAM-MK-Dons-loanee-Dele-Alli-expected-fit/story-26057365-detail/story.html

Fair enough.

I was just gauging whether to be cuntish about it

Robinson has said he's out for the season on their forum.

Linkage?

http://www.concreteroundabout.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=13358&sid=caff6dae9dcf0ff6c942008cec300784

Great news :D

Hopefully the start of the annual Franchise promotion crash

GK out for a while too I think

Just listened on Player, sounds like it's a bad injury and it'll be up to Spurs to let him return when fit.

Ha ha lovely.

As long as we win our games it dosent matter what others do - although it is nice to see them losing key players

Great. Let's hope Colchester take out a few city players too.

Massive blow for MK. That said its not just them we need to worry about.

Given it's Franchise, isn't it the law to rejoice in any misfortunes they endure?

Shamone

Fuck yeah!

Cut out the giving of gifts at the back and yes, if not, no. Even if it ends in disappointment we will have made great progress in a year both on and off the pitch. 

We will, but next year we will have to start the on-pitch stuff from scratch. So I'm hoping that disappointment doesn't come into it.

We'd get well butt fucked by a few Championship sides defending as we do.

Cooper needs to come up with an alternative - if, indeed, he has one.

If he had one, he wouldn't need to come up with one.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Still too many games left to confidently predict what our final position will be. My gut feeling is that we'll come up short for the automatic places and probably finish 3rd or 4th. Preston, currently in 4th, have a game in hand on us and are only a point behind.
Obviously I hope I'm wrong and we go up in 2nd, but if we don't it's back to the lottery of the play offs. Whatever happens, this season has been a very good one.

Well to only be 2 points behind 2nd after this bad run is a good sign. If we have a good month in April (assuming we are still in the mix then) we have every chance.

I reckon 5 more wins will be enough for the play offs. If we don't make the top 6 now it will be beyond an epic failure.

When was the last time we got a goal from an opponent's defensive howler?

We have to work so hard to score our goals and yet we manage to gift at least one every single game.

Sort that out, if we can, and autos are well within grasp.

We try to walk the ball into the net, stopping the oppositions defence from being able to make howlers..

Tend to agree with this... I was pretty confident in making the top 2 before the mini implosion. Top 6 would be an amazing season on the face of it, but after being top 2 for so long I'd still feel a little bit disappointed. Not to mention the playoffs in recent history has given us nothing but disappointment.

Last night was a significant win, insofar as we now have a 15 point gap to 7th, or 14 if we give Oldham a win for their game in hand.....72 is usually about the par points for 6th, meaning the likes of Oldham, Donny, Fleetwood etc will need to be winning something like 9 out of 14 to get there....not likely, so the final PO cut off could be something like 69/70 this year.  3 more wins and a couple of draws should see us OK for that.

I've no idea how Blades fixtures look, but I've a feeling they may have played the top 3 twice already, but they've a game in hand so are just about in the mix for auto....

So, who would you like in the PO semis Reg? Preston?  Be good to meet up with Thor for a pie pint.

I suppose that if we do end up in the POs, the best bet is to finish third and play a much more average side than any of the current top 5. That said, finishing outside the top 2 will be gutting. Hopefully our blip is over and other teams still have one to come.

Seven winnable games before Easter so hopefully we can put another run together and start putting pressure back onto Dongs and Preston before we play them in April. Going up via the play- offs would be good financially but too nerve wracking.

Really too far out yet to see how it will pan out....but by way of idle speculation, as RfE points out finishing third could be helpful, as the 6th spot, is, as things stand likely to occupied by any one of about a dozen teams.

For example Scunny must be gutted to have lost to Barnsley last night, as it would have put them 2 points off the PO's....whereas Barnsley eased their relegation worries and doing so are now 4 points off the PO's  :)

I'll leave meeting Thor to you....looks like he has a problem with body odour and hexapod/arachnid vermin.

I'm impressed you think we might still make the play-offs Reg. Remarkably upbeat for you :)

Reading a Franchise forum is bizarre. They seem to place a great deal of importance in what Kingston Robin says.

Quietly confident we will succeed on the last game of the season

We've been written out the race for 2nd by Franchise fans 😂

Oh well, that's that then. I wont bother going any more.

Franchise and Bristol City for automatic promotion.

Two clubs with genuine potential to progress at a higher level.

Troll alert! 

Bristol City have had the potential to progress for donkey's years - yet, they are still slumming in Division 3.

There is no evidence to think things will change any time soon.

As for Franchise, they can just fuck off

Higher potential?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:, we're planning a roof for the Stratton Bank, If that's not potential I don't know what is.

The only two teams in this league that I would like to see fail - big time. :bye:

Fixed

Clubs with a drum alert.

Seriously, can someone less lazy than me get a petition going for this?

Even Power has said he'd sign it..

bringing more than your usual 300 fans this season?

It's customers!  There's only one fan in franchise

Why go to a game when you can watch from your armchair? It'll be just like the old days for them.

Yes the seats are rather comfy at 'Stadio Fantastico' in MK 1 all 30,000 of them and In a stadium fit to grace the Premiership.
Quite like Swindon though, a middle of the road, if slightly unfashionable type of club who certainly make best of what they've got.
Good luck though, as it would be nice for you to make it via the play off's and thus a trip to MK1 next season. Exciting times indeed down in Wiltshire  :nod:

So, who did you support 10 years ago? I'm dying to know.

Biggest question is who will they be supporting in a couple of years time. They'll all be supporting Spurs when they play play in MK whilst White Hart Lane is redeveloped. Can't wait to see the Franchise crowds during that period....

When you stand in the sun, do you actually cast a shadow? Genuine question.

MK City I'm sure?!

Those that are involved in a dialogue with the franchise cunt should be ashamed.

I don't think so, it's a genuine question. I'm fascinated to know the answer.

Plough Lane ..... End of debate.

It's normally a predictable answer, clearly intended to hide the theft of a club, but quite a few of their customers say Wimbledon... Yeah. Sure...

Take your flags and drums and face paint and plastic fakery (used by customers of franchise to try and look like what they imagine actual football fans look like) and fuck off.

nah, they begin to melt

I remember watching a programme a few years ago (not that long ago obviously, otherwise they wouldn't have existed) which showed a Wimbledon fan who took the route of actually supporting Milton Keynes rather than AFC Wimbledon. He went to every game and wore a Wimbledon shirt and actually referred to MK as Wimbledon. And he took his two kids with him - they must be well and truly screwed up by now I reckon.

Shitty are running away with it. We, however, are floundering.

The good news is that the others in the chase are also floundering. We just need to flounder less than they do.

FUCK YEAH!

Fuck yeah!

Fuck yeah!

I dont know!

You're supposed to say 'Fuck yeah', you tool.

And deserve to be.

We just have to make sure that we don't lose touch. Luckily other results are on par with ours. There seems to be some inconsistency with us, Franchise and PNE.

Nope. Heaviest home defeat of the season, and following on from bad results. I predict we will lose again on Saturday.

I'm sitting on the fence, so

FUCK!

(http://i.imgur.com/DX23dxS.gif)

Fuck You!

Im really not getting the hang of this.

I was doom and gloom until I saw that :)

Got a month to scrape points together and regain form and then we hit the crunch games against our nearest rivals. We're lucky to have these games left.

"For us to be dominated like we were at home is as bad as I've seen for a long, long time here."
"If we'd have won today we'd have forgotten about how poor we've played over the last few weeks. I've taken responsibility for large parts of that but at certain stages the players have to take responsibility for their own performances and not me."

Not Mark Cooper, but Karl Robinson on yesterday's home defeat...looks like they are going through all the same pain as us (yesterday notwithstanding). I guess this is where Preston's more-experienced players is now telling?

The difference being is that they bottle it, for whatever reason, season after  season.

That's down to management to me

...and the bad karma that comes with being a repulsive, club-stealing franchise abomination.  Of course.

This will likely go to the wire.
If you look at the table no team cut adrift at the bottom yet therefore teams will be fighting for their lives.
Equally still two play off places up for grabs with teams below mid way all having a chance if they can string back to back wins together.
We simply have to deal with what's in front of us week by week. Hoping Saturday has lifted us out of the slump and the confidence is back.

Tighten up the belts we are approaching the home straight.
Shit heads all but certain however everything else still to play for.

can't believe Barnsley are right on the cusp of a playoff place soon after sacking Wilson. madness!

7 more wins guarantees us a play off place.
We won't get automatic and we will struggle in the play offs.

Hope I'm wrong but answer to the thread question is we are not going up.........

Preston may have more experience than the others, but there is nothing to suggest that it is their experience, and our lack of experience, that has caused their good form and our bad. We don't know what Grayson is doing differently. They were bloody awful down here. Perhaps they've taken confidence from running United close in the cup, and the feel good factor that goes with that. One thing is for sure: teams have highs and lows. Preston won't sustain this form - just as we slipped up, so will they again.

Still too early to tell. It's amazing that there's only 11 games left and it's all still to play for. All it takes is for Preston to lose two or three times and 2nd is all to play for.

There's still hope!! Onto Port Vale!

Preston have a very similar goal difference to us. I think will have to beat them at their place to stand a chance though. don't discount an mk revival of form either.

I'm off to sacrifice a goat in the hope it makes city lose 11 in a row (they are surely up now..)

Nice. I've just bought a rabbits foot, hung up a horses shoe, bought a bucket of wish-bones... so we SURELY have to still be in with a chance?..

I think I posted before that we'd need to beat the Slavers and Franchise to have a chance of automatic promotion.

I'll revise that now to a draw at the Gate, beat Franchise and now have to beat PNE in what could be a fantastic away day.

Things'll change again before the end of the season.

Having looked at Preston's fixtures again there are actually some fairly tough games in there. Its no easier than our run in really. MK probably have the best run in to be honest. If they find form again I wouldn't rule them out.

Louis Thompson likely out for season, big loss :(

MK's isn't that easy. They have us.  :D

Fuck yeah!

Fuck yeah!

Fuck Maybe!

 8)

There is a symmetry a-coming.

Last game of the season - Orient at home will see us up

The yellow filth's cast down to non league was Orient at home

Come to daddy!

Whatever happens, you have to absolutely love this season. As I said last week, just to get things into perspective...

Fuck maybe, I'll have yeah!

Definitely maybe

Nailed on

WE ARE GOING UP.

I know it means little but comparing fixtures I'd take ours over Prestons. There next 2 fixtures are peterborough and Barnsley who have won the last 4 and 6 in a row.

Preston are in better form than both of those though. 7 of their last 8 I think they have won. They have to drop points soon though surely? Donny there for the taking on Tuesday.

When do Preston play their game in hand?

I suppose you could say it's next Saturday when we don't have a game.

That was us not too long ago. Anything can happen between now and the end of the season!

Interestingly no-one has commented on the possibility, small though it is, that should the slave traders lose their Quick Drying trophy distraction next week end, it could start a mini collapse and subsequent down turn in form. Here's hoping.

Honestly think the win or loss will be forgotten in a week.

It would be brilliant to win it of course (us that is), but ultimately its meaningless.

Just got to keep plugging away, would probably take a point on Tuesday but Donnie haven't done too well against the top sides at home.. I think? Barnsley away next week very tough for Preston. We could be 4 points off with same number of games played by next Sunday and I'd take that.

We utterly arsed up the final in 2012, didn't stop us winning the league.

There's no correct formula for these things. Sports psychology (and psychology in general) is complex, it could go either way.
 

Wise words mate... ;)

(http://www.oocities.org/harryenf/2-1fab3.jpg)

Not half!

Looks like it could be fun on the Play-off final date as there is no trains from Swindon that bank holiday weekend :

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Swindon2015

So lets go for 2nd...
 

Bugger that!

Isn't that the Swindon A commissioning? Odds of them being ready to do that is probably somewhere between slim and none!

If you go by the 2 points a game theory, win at home draw away, then we are clawing back our poor run. Port Vale pulled back the 3 away defeats in a row and tonight has undone one of the home defeats. Just need to stick in there now and hope Preston drop points.

A couple of parallels with the end of last season's run in. A heavy home defeat (Wolves last year and Gillingham this year) and then we went on a run of 6 wins in 8. Finish could be as tight as 2009/10 when 4 teams had a chance of as auto on the last day.

Squeaky Bum time starts now!!!

MK took 66 fans to Oldham tonight...

They're going keep stringing us along, aren't they!?!

;)

Fuck yeah!#

I don't see us winning at Preston, (but absolute scenes if we do) so in my opinion we need to be ahead of them on points by the time that game comes around

The last time we won at Deepdale was 1986. Who knows... we're breaking loads of other records this season. We might as well break another one. Hopefully we've had our dip and they have one to come.

We've got a slightly easier run in than Preston.

Current average league position of our remaining opponents is 12, whilst Preston's is 10.9.

5 of our 9 games are at home, Preston 4 out of 10.

Our home games are against far weaker opposition than Preston's, the opposite for away games.

I reckon we can take them.

Corrected for you.

The celebrations last night after the second goal showed what great team spirit we've got in the current lot. Wes ran the length of the field to join in, if was great to see

That alone won't be enough to take us up automatically of course, but will certainly help.

Preston look to have really come into their own recently. I'm glad that the recent dip appears to have gone past and we are getting back to something like how we were earlier in the season but I think it might just be a little too late. I still maintain that to finish 3rd and keep the fight for auto going til the end would be a huge achievement.

Here's hoping for a Preston defeat this weekend!

I think home:away fan ratio is the ultimate measure of plasticity, and Franchise must be very high on that scale. The ultimate modern consumers who will engage with football if it's in a nice shiny stadium within 5 miles of their home with easy parking and plastic food on site, but who won't wear out the tires on their well-polished Vauxhall Vectras or sacrifice a night's telly to engage with anything approaching a real football experience.

Also, they're probably embarrassed to be identified without the safety of 7000 like-minded sports-shoppers.

That table exists somewhere - someone care to locate it?

Preston have had their dip. we need to hang on to their coat tails. then hope city beat them

Yeah they have. But they could very easily lose to Barnsley who are also in form, Fleetwood which is a derby(ish) so anything can happen, City and us. So... let's just hope at least one of those happens!

7 games in 22 days hopefully takes its toll, too.

I still lean towards a Play-Offs finish but coming away from Doncaster with a win which was largely aided by Cooper just going for it shows reassuring intent.

It's all about April.

The chances look like play offs are where it's headed... so hopefully we get a load of wins between now and then anyway. If we end up in 2nd; great. If not, we go into the play offs in form.

could be exciting watching from now on, hopefully less cagey play and just going for it. anyone know how many points needed to guarantee playoffs? as soon as we hit that nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I'd say we're pretty much there looking at the distance between us and 7th, but that's being optimistic.

It's all guns blazing from here on out, I reckon.

Better late than never, but.......

Fuck yeah!

We haven't played Preston much since 86....in fact the PdC Wes game, may have been the first since; certainly I remember them as the side we had with the longest gap to playing until quite recently....for some years it was Cardiff.  No idea who it is now....prob someone in the Prem....I'd hazard a guess on Liverpool, who we played early doors at the CG 93, and then a 2-2 draw at Anfield Dec 93

If it comes down to a straight shoot-out in that Preston game, I'd happily take that now.

I'm amazed that we have managed to get back on track after that run of crap results.

Just think, if we'd just been average over those games instead of total shite we'd be clear in 2nd.

Ah well!

We'll need to be one or two pts clear of Preston by the PNE game so if we lose it there's still a chance to finish 2nd by beating Orient... ARRRRRRHHHHH I CAN'T EVEN.

Should make for a good following to Colchester

It's just the M25 that could put people off. I know it puts me off most away days out that way.

Time to bring out the secret weapon:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErDx1x0pFW8

Preston won't keep winning. It only takes 1 slip up from them and we are back in it.

If you look back, on say, the years of the seasons of the 21 st Century, it reveals some interest as to Div 3's 2nd and 3rd place points total.....so for example in 11-12, when we were more interested in Div 4, 93 points were needed for 2nd 90 got you in the PO's.

In this century 91 has never failed to get you an auto slot, so 7 wins from 9 would do that.

In a season like 05-06 79 points could get you auto, 76, 3rd place.  Quite a range....as things stand this year looks like a high total may be needed.  Cooper reckoned 87 a while back 5 wins and 2 draws for us, from 9....I don't think enough; there have been 5/14 seasons when > 87 were needed for auto, and this may be one of them.

To get to my guarantee figure of 91....Preston need 6 wins and a draw from 10...so can afford 3 loses, against our 2.

Given the nature of our run in, injuries/call ups/ potential suspensions etc....it really is a big ask, the odds very much with Preston.

Great analysis. Both of us have a few tough games, but luckily for us we seem to perform better against teams in the top half of the table and we have a lot of those games coming up...

3 wins from 3. Can't ask for more!

I agree Reg but I don't think Preston can prolong this run much more. 8 wins from 9 is incredible form. It won't last another 9 games so we have to take advantage when they do drop points.

I notice that Preston are most weeks playing a day earlier than us for their remaining fixtures. You would think that gives them an advantage of 'scoreboard pressure'.

We are going to have to deal with that and deal with each game at a time. Time for cool heads all round and hope theit results come back to us.

Another thought, will Sky want to show our game at Preston. Could imagine something stupid like a Friday night game!

If it is a decider then probably yes.

Bloody hope not as fancy this one
Friday night wouldn't be doable for me  :crash:

Hope not having bought train tickets for Saturday :(

Yeah I'll go if it's a Saturday, but if on tv then it will be the armchair.

I laughed reading this bristol-preston thread on the PNE forum, bristol saying they now hate us more than rovers.

http://www.pne-online.net/forum/showthread.php?92868-Brizzle-Fan-in-Peace

Isn't that nice? A PNE & 82ers love in. Well, they got so much in common haven't they? One of them has a proud history stretching back over 137 years with numerous titles and even a couple of FA Cup final wins. The other was founded 33 years ago, won fuck all apart from the sheepshagger trophy, thinks it's bigger than it is and is supported by the biggest bunch of delusional cunts in the Westcountry.

So City fans see us as dirty, fouling, diving cheats but pop over to Simon Grayson's PNE for a cuddle? Oh the irony.

I don't care that they'll win League One easily, I just don't want them to beat us at AG.

The PNE thing is weird. Bristol City fans love a club relationship - they are forever trying to get a friendly with Willem II and one guy has his little BCFC/BvB Dortmund flag at home games.

See if that changes if PNE unleash Kevin Davies on them at Deepdale.

At the moment it is a bit gushing - they should get a room.

I wonder if Thor has a city shirt :sherlock:

Thor is, at this moment, bent over, fully KY'd up and bracing himself for a Brizzle length or 2

"Sort the worzels out" in reference to the match against us.
Preston fan, city are the wurzels.

Squeel like a Piggy !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gLN3QoN-q8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gLN3QoN-q8)

If, heaven forbid, it is the play offs....anyone know when the semi final games will be?

1st leg,  May 7
2nd leg, May 10 / 11

Final, May 24

Part of me loves the excitement. The other part of me wishes that I could just hibernate and be woken up when it's all settled.

Fuck yeah!!!

Never realised that the PO Final, should we be there, is the same date as the final games of the PL season.

So, apart from 60-70,000 fans descending on London for the final there are bound to be 2 or 3 London clubs playing at home as well.

Plus there's the railway maintenance meaning that there won't be any trains between Bristol and Reading...

Living in Bath... I really hope they either re-arrange this or we finish second (on top of the already clear perks of finishing second...)

Makes no difference to me - I'm flying to Kefalonia on the 24th.

Already sorted a bar to watch it in - if needs be, of course!

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Swindon2015

f

That explains the half 5 KO then. Shocking.

If you were a real fan, you'd move ....









...... ;)

Well, bugger me, I never knew it was half five

Half five? The football league can join the FA in doing one. Wankers taking the piss out of the go to game supporters. Ruined the cup final and now doing the same with the play offs.

I long for the day when fans rise up against the football establishment.

More pub time  :pint:

I agree its a fucking piss take mind

Will be interesting if Preston are in the playoffs, last train to Preston is c.2010 so very tight and no hope if extra time....

The FA really are clueless or just don't give a toss!

Think the scheduling of the play-offs is the League rather than the FA. And think you meant "and" rather than "or"!

Be interesting to see what time the PL games kick off. It's obviously down to TV, the FL have been told that if the PO final clashes with the Premier League they wouldn't get any money from Sky/whoever.

All Premier League fixtures kick off at 1500 on last day of the season, I assume this is why they are moved to the Sunday to allow Sky et al to get round the rule stating they cannot show 1500 games on a Saturday.

I don't think we'd take that many Aud.

How many did we take last time? The Millwall game had an attendance of about 73k.

Half and half I would imagine

Seem to remember we struggled to 33k in all.

The Chesterfield game had an attendance of 49,602. I think most of that was Town fans. But I can't remember that well.

I went to both

Millwall, we had about 33k out of the 73k
Chesterfield, we had about 31k out of the 50k

I was at both, too. :) Great days out except the results...

Best Wembley experience was the first Swindon one for me, on the baking hot day in May 1990 when we took 35,000 and easily beat Sunderland but that was old Wembley and the Leicester experience was similar but not such a warm day.

I missed the play off at new Wembley due to a wedding of my sister but went to the JPT final when the crowd was about 3/4 Swindon but the atmosphere was nothing like it was at the real Wembley in 90 and 93.

Its a fucking expensive day out but other than the result I am in the minority in almost enjoying the day out even if the result was crap.

There is still a "feeling" around Wembley and I have faith that we would again take 30,000 there if we make the final of the PO.

I went to both those too  ;)

The Chesterfield game I wasnt too bothered about the result as we knew we were going up anyway. Both days out at Wembley were decent!

Excellent! That will be some pre match.

I got free tapas after the JPT final. The owner at the restaurant we went to post-match (I was living in London at the time) was a Town fan too apparently and came over (I was still in full colours) and said I looked miserable then knocked about four plates worth of food off the bill.

Nice place, but I got so drunk that night to drown my sorrows I don't remember where it was. Near the UCL lodgings somewhere.

The Millwall game was such a damp squib. Crap game and atmosphere.

Really enjoyed the JPT final though. Cracking day out and decent weather. Everything was great except the game.

If we end up there again I'll happily take a shit day out and a win.

I think all of the emotion was used up at Charlton.
Enjoyed that day out. Wembley was dull as you said not helped by the weather, opposition and result.

Sunderland and Leicester = joyous.

Millwall and Chesterfield = expensive anti-climaxes.

The away legs of the Blackburn, and especially the Tranmere and Charlton semis are high up in my 'best of' footy experiences.   

I'd agree with all of that (Apart from Millwall, as I was lucky enough to be in Cairo, so missed it).

The Leicester final was better than the Sunderland one, as we had no black cloud hanging over us. Blackburn away, in the PO semi, was mental and is still probably my best away day ever.

This was one of my all time favourite away days too.

The screamer from stigger from outside the box on the volley right in front of about 5,000 travelling Town fans is something I will never forget.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm0AfYOrHfw

Almost matched by the Tranmere away game but not quite.

PS Sorry for the video containing Brizzle Red Roger Malone.

Although Malone speaks sense at the end

Absolute scenes in that away end! Don't know how Shearer's goal was disallowed...

Dave Bamber had a similarly good goal disallowed in the home PO v Wigan.....as did Colin Calderwood v Palace in a home PO, as did Billy Tucker v Wolves in LC semi final.....can you see the pattern?

John Aldridge had a goal disallowed in the home PO semi against Tranmere. Plus did the ball cross the line at Prenton Park or did Fraser keep it out?.

Clear push.  No.

I clearly remember the disallowed Aldridge goal but I have no recollection of any debate about whether the ball did or didn't cross our line at some point in the second leg. I do know it was the most tense game I've ever been to though.

I take it you mean 'no' it didn't cross the line Reg, as opposed to 'no' Fraser didn't keep it out... :hmmm:

I think the Palace at home match Play off in 89 Steve White's shot off the bar and down looked in......and I was standing on the South Side . Defo conspiracy!

Yes...it didn't cross the line.

About 2 minutes in. Poor quality though

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoZm6X-stI4

Oh yeah, I remember now cheers. That brought it all back. It's still tense watching it now  :eek:

Watch the 'That's Football' documentary. Better angle there and it didn't go over the line...and Aldridge is a cunt.

Assuming City have taken their place, it's 3 into 1. Who's fixtures look most favourable? Who's would you prefer?

Preston

Fleetwood V Preston Sun 29 Mar  14:15   
Preston V Rochdale Fri 3 Apr  15:00   
Bradford V Preston Mon 6 Apr  15:00   
Preston V Bristol City Sat 11 Apr  15:00   
Preston V Gillingham Tue 14 Apr  19:45   
Port Vale V Preston Fri 17 Apr  19:45   
Notts County V Preston Tue 21 Apr  19:45   
Preston V Swindon Sat 25 Apr  15:00   
Colchester V Preston Sun 3 May  12:15   

Us

Swindon V Franchise Sat 4 Apr  12:15   
Bristol City V Swindon Tue 7 Apr  19:45   
Swindon V Peterborough Sat 11 Apr  15:00   
Rochdale V Swindon Tue 14 Apr  19:45   
Swindon V Yeovil Sat 18 Apr  15:00   
Swindon V Walsall Tue 21 Apr  19:45   
Preston V Swindon Sat 25 Apr  15:00   
Colchester V Swindon Tue 28 Apr  19:45   
Swindon V Leyton Orient Sun 3 May  12:15   


Franchise

Swindon V Franchise Sat 4 Apr  12:15   
Franchise V Scunthorpe Tue 7 Apr  19:45   
Port Vale V Franchise Sat 11 Apr  15:00   
Fleetwood V Franchise Tue 14 Apr  19:45   
Franchise V Leyton Orient Sat 18 Apr  15:00   
Franchise V Doncaster Tue 21 Apr  19:45   
Rochdale V Franchise Sat 25 Apr  15:00   
Franchise V Yeovil Sun 3 May  12:15 

Franchise have the easiest run in, imo.

Can't see Preston or Franchise dropping many points.

We'll finish 4th.

Miserable fucker

if we don't finish 2nd... we're going to win at Wembley. Simple as that.

Yes we have the toughest of the 3 teams in the run in but if we can keep up the recent run we can beat anyone...82ers and Preston included.

Although I think a trip to Wembley is on the cards as long as we avoid Sheff Utd in the PO's 2 leg part.

Can look at it another way.

Cos we get to play Franchise and Preston, a win is worth so much more than, say, Rochdale.

Do I think this side has it in them to get promoted? Yes. However, it's not in my DNA to show the sort of levels optimism that others can. In my mind it's just setting yourself up for an almighty fall... again.

Ultimately, I believe that Cooper is going to go for it. I'd rather see Town finish 4th, 5th or 6th while giving it all they've got than to cautiously finish 3rd. Once you're in the Play-Offs 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th means nothing.

It would take something cruel to not make the Play-Offs now, a finish we'd have all taken just under a year ago. We could also find ourselves with one of the highest 3rd place points totals in recent history if we cannot displace Preston. Meh.

LEAGUE ONE
(over the last 10 years)

2004/05:
1: 98 points - Luton Town
2: 86 points - Hull City
-----------------------------------------------
3: 79 points - Tranmere Rovers
4: 75 points - Brentford
5: 72 points - Sheffield Wednesday
6: 71 points - Hartlepool United
-----------------------------------------------
7: 70 points - Bristol City

2005/06:
1: 82 points - Southend United
2: 79 points - Colchester United
-----------------------------------------------
3: 76 points - Brentford
4: 73 points - Huddersfield Town
5: 72 points - Barnsley
6: 71 points - Swansea City
-----------------------------------------------
7: 69 points - Nottingham Forest

2006/07:
1: 91 points - Scunthorpe United
2: 85 points - Bristol City
-----------------------------------------------
3: 83 points - Blackpool
4: 82 points - Nottingham Forest
5: 79 points - Yeovil Town
6: 75 points - Oldham Athletic
-----------------------------------------------
7: 72 points - Swansea City

2007/08:
1: 92 points - Swansea City
2: 82 points - Nottingham Forest
-----------------------------------------------
3: 80 points - Doncaster Rovers
4: 80 points - Carlisle United
5: 76 points - Leeds United
6: 76 points - Southend United
-----------------------------------------------
7: 69 points - Brighton & Hove Albion

2008/09:
1: 96 points - Leicester City
2: 89 points - Peterborough United
-----------------------------------------------
3: 87 points - M.K. Dons
4: 84 points - Leeds United
5: 82 points - Millwall
6: 76 points - Scunthorpe United
-----------------------------------------------
7: 74 points  - Tranmere Rovers

2009/10:
1: 95 points - Norwich City
2: 86 points - Leeds United
-----------------------------------------------
3: 85 points - Millwall
4: 84 points - Charlton Athletic
5: 82 points - Swindon Town
6: 80 points - Huddersfield Town
-----------------------------------------------
7: 73 points - Southampton* (10 point deduction)

2010/11:
1: 95 points - Brighton & Hove Albion
2: 92 points - Southampton
-----------------------------------------------
3: 87 points - Huddersfield Town
4: 79 points - Peterborough United
5: 77 points - M.K. Dons
6: 71 points - Bournemouth
-----------------------------------------------
7: 70 points - Leyton Orient

2011/12:
1: 101 points - Charlton Athletic
2: 93 points - Sheffield Wednesday
-----------------------------------------------
3: 90 points - Sheffield United
4: 81 points - Huddersfield Town
5: 80 points - M.K. Dons
6: 73 points - Stevenage
-----------------------------------------------
7: 73 points - Notts County

2012/13:
1: 84 points - Doncaster Rovers
2: 83 points - Bournemouth
-----------------------------------------------
3: 79 points - Brentford
4: 77 points - Yeovil Town
5: 75 points - Sheffield United
6: 74 points - Swindon Town
-----------------------------------------------
7: 71 points - Leyton Orient

2013/14:
1: 103 points - Wolverhampton Wanderers
2: 94 points - Brentford
-----------------------------------------------
3: 86 points - Leyton Orient
4: 86 points - Rotherham United
5: 85 points - Preston North End
6: 74 points - Peterborough United
-----------------------------------------------
7: 67 points - Sheffield United

Lordy, who remembered that Luton won this league just ten years ago?  :eek:

Looking at those stats 4th is the position to finish to win the POs.

How the fuck did Scunny ever have a team to get 90-odd points

There is still a lot of teams still in touch for that last play-off spot, so no game is going to be easy.

Take it one game at a time, and see what happens...

We just need to hope someone like Chesterfield or Port Vale finish 4th...

Hopefully we won't need to care, after claiming 2nd...

Very true....if we can't finish in the autos, then I'd like 3rd place, may have some PO advantage, but more so as it would be our highest finish this century....I'm sort of ruling out that 24th in Div 2, 99/00 is higher, than anything in Div 3.  So, a sign of what has been achieved this season

Whoever nicks the final playoff spot is likely to get it because they have found a bit of form at the right time.

Might be better to avoid them should we have to settle for the p/o's

The team that wins the playoffs will be the team that gets to Wembley for the final, and then wins the final at Wembley.

That's my tuppence worth.

Yeah,  there's too much bollocks attached to momentum.

It's all about the day(s)

I can think of one team to whom that scenario didn't apply.

Selhurst park?

Wembley - Sunderland

I'm guessing that is the one Reginald was thinking of but we still won the playoffs that year (and so met Flashheart's criteria) - we just weren't allowed to claim the prize.

Selhurst park against Gillingham.

Sunderland

No, Sunderland did not win the playoffs. Swindon won the playoffs at selhurst park against Gillingham.

It's all about a team that won the playoffs, but not via Wembley. Right reg?  ???

Billy Sharp