Thetownend.com

25% => The Reg Smeeton Match Day Action/Reaction Forum => Topic started by: BambooToTheFuture on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 04:21:19



Title: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: BambooToTheFuture on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 04:21:19
Looking at the current PPG chart (for the previous 10 games) got me thinking about where Town might finish in L2 this season, especially given a bit of additional data to peruse.

Apologies in advance for any errors but I think it's all correct (at the time of writing) and I've carried it over from the recent Matchday Fred as it seemed a relevant separate Topic to discuss.

Here's a "Final Table" based on all the teams current pts and then applying a ppg (based off their last 10 results) form using the data Jimmy posted. I've highlighted Town and other teams with key potential successes/dangers (based on their current form) so these are around the PO and relegation spots. Crawley and Crewe are interesting ones in the relegation stakes. Both Walsall and Sutton pose threats in the PO chase with Northampton potentially coming a Roy! If nothing else it is interesting to see where each team would/might finish according to said data. Currently Town would finish about 15th...which I don't think any of us would accept.

League Two PPG Final Table
==========================================
Team                    Played      Pts      PPG      Pts Gain     Prj Pts
==========================================
Stevenage                 28          57         1.7        30.6            88
Leyton Orient             31          63         1.3        19.5            83
Carlisle United            30          52         1.9        30.4            82
==========================================
Stockport County        29          45         2.0        34               79
Salford City                30          48         1.7        27.2            75   
Mansfield Town           29          46         1.6        27.2            73   
Northampton Town  29         50         1.3        22.1            72
==========================================
Walsall                      27         41         1.6        30.4            71
Sutton United           30         41         1.8        28.8            70
Doncaster Rovers        29         43          1.5        25.5            69
Bradford City              28         43          1.2        21.6            65
Colchester United        31         34          2.0       30                64
AFC Wimbledon           29         40         1.4        23.8             64
Tranmere Rovers         30         41         1.4        22.4             63
SWINDON TOWN      29         42         1.1        18.7            61   
Newport County          28          30         1.6        28.8            59
Grimsby Town             26          33         1.0        20               53
Barrow                       30          42         0.7        11.2            53   
Harrogate Town          28          27         1.4        25.2            52       
Hartlepool United        30          26         1.4        22.4            48
Crewe Alexandra      28         34         0.7        12.6            47           
Gillingham                28         24         1.1        19.8            44
==========================================
Crawley Town          27         25          0.9        17.1            42          
Rochdale                   30          23          0.6          9.6            33

I wonder what my fave chum SdM would make of this applied data? Although more importantly and as the thread suggests, where in the table do you think Town will finish the season?

I'm going to punt for about 11th. I think the form will improve slightly to maybe a max of 1.4ppg but not enough to clinch a PO place. Win v Sutton on Tues and that might change but it would still have to followed up with another win as the ppg form would then jump from 1.1 to 1.5 or 1.6 with back to back wins. Tough ask with where Town currently are at. That's not taking into account having a full complement of defensive players to select either. Yep, I'll go with a bit of a damp underachieving squib of just not quite having enough!

Verdict: A disappointing 11th* with questions of just what happened with the potential weakening the overall strength of the squad in January, when it seemed like Town should've been adding to what they already had to really mount a PO/Auto promotion push.








*I'm really hoping I'm totally wrong and would love to see Town grab 7th or 6th place; maybe even better. It just feels like there is too much to do in order to sustain that level of form when it hasn't been there all seen. Bleghh x


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Pookemon on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 05:03:46
After 5 or 6 games I said we looked like a lower mid table side.   Then we went on a little unbeaten run and seemed to have found a way to be fairly solid and get battling points, culminating in a cracking performance at mansfield which lead many of us to think that we could have a shot at autos.

Then it fell apart and the recruitment strategy has made it so much worse.

Can't see us winning many now as we don't have enough leaders on the pitch having sold them all, defence looks leaky, powder puff midfield and no pace up front.   It's a really poor, unbalanced squad.  

I'd say lower mid table, 15th looks about right, and a failure of monumental proportions in the shittest 4th tier we've seen since it became our new home.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 07:17:13
It’s a bit disingenuous applying a current ppg as a constant ppg. Club’s form ebbs and flows. Agreed, at the moment it’s difficult to see reasons why our form should improve dramatically but it did last season - especially those last 6 games or so which we won.

The fact that we, along with quite a few other clubs, have generally been poor are still in and around the POs does point to a substantially weaker league this season.

I’ve no doubt Sutton will kick the shit out of our lot on Tuesday.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Legends-Lounge on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 07:39:11
It’s a bit disingenuous applying a current ppg as a constant ppg. Club’s form ebbs and flows. Agreed, at the moment it’s difficult to see reasons why our form should improve dramatically but it did last season - especially those last 6 games or so which we won.

The fact that we, along with quite a few other clubs, have generally been poor are still in and around the POs does point to a substantially weaker league this season.

I’ve no doubt Sutton will kick the shit out of our lot on Tuesday.

‘I’ve no doubt Sutton will kick the shit out of our lot on Tuesday’

Coincidently we fly from T5 on Wednesday and I did think about maybe leaving Tuesday afternoon and watching the game with a local hotel overnight stay and onto T5 sometime on Wednesday. Then I thought, nah fuck it, I’ve spent enough money this season on watching and supporting the team. Don’t go and throw good money after bad. The extra spent on that would be better utilised on holibobs.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Nomoreheroes on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 08:06:05
I've thought somewhere between 10-15th since the beginning of the season.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Nemo on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 08:38:02
In the cold light of day, I think we're a lot better than we showed yesterday. Add Khan, Lavinier, Tomlinson at least to that line up and we start to look a lot more promising. It seems unlikely that we've built a promotion winning side here but it's a poor division.

I think we'll sneak into the playoffs and who knows from there. But I wouldn't be surprised if we finished just outside either.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: DiV on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 08:45:41
All depends on players being (and staying fit)

Strongest XI set up the right way can probably give anyone a game.
1 or 2 injuries / suspension and we can hold are own.

When that gets to 4 - 5 injuries / suspensions plus one or two off form we seem a bit limited.
Same could have been said about last seasons team but feel we had less depth but less need to use it.

Last year the run in seemed a very stable with regards to XI.

….so for me, all depends on how quickly we can get back to full strength & stay at full strength.



Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: DiV on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 08:49:19
I’ve said my bit on MacDonald but I assume the idea was that FBT was the MacDonald replacement (despite all ready being here) and JT was the FBT replacement.

Works well on paper. Apart from JT being injured.

A lot of people being really negative about our window. Think it was ok apart the whole MacDonald thing. Bringing in Austin, FBT & JT is very good business on paper. Don’t even think losing Reed & Gladwin is a big loss either.

Think we will ‘live or die’ on our MacDonald decision


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: RJack on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 09:12:44
With Khan back Cain and the Bristol will thrive and the midfield will be in a lot better shape
The return of Tomlinson and Laviner will also be key for us


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Pookemon on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 09:49:49
We've got a tough run of fixtures coming up and we haven't picked up anywhere near enough points during this run of fixtures against poor to average sides.  

Just can't see where the points are going to come from to mount even a modest challenge for 7th.

Edit:  since the start of November we've played 10 games against teams in the mid table or below and won only 2 of them.   We also beat Northampton but very much against the run of play.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Peter Venkman on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 10:18:32
Since Mansfield away we have played 13 games won 3 drawn 3 and lost 7 scoring just 9 times and conceding 19 goals.

5 of those goals came in 1 game and we failed to score in 6 of those games.

I said pre season we would finish just outside the play offs, I see mid table still as being likely.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: theakston2k on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 11:31:45
Expect us to finish mid-table now, this squad is one of the most unbalanced squads we’ve ever had especially in the centre of the park. I don’t think it has the consistency to do enough to reach the playoffs, we also have a complete absence of flair players which is part of the reason we are so boring to watch.

On the flip side I’m hopeful there will be a complete change of approach next season so almost wrote this season off in my mind.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Frigby Daser on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 11:44:03
I’ve said my bit on MacDonald but I assume the idea was that FBT was the MacDonald replacement (despite all ready being here) and JT was the FBT replacement.

Works well on paper. Apart from JT being injured.

A lot of people being really negative about our window. Think it was ok apart the whole MacDonald thing. Bringing in Austin, FBT & JT is very good business on paper. Don’t even think losing Reed & Gladwin is a big loss either.

Think we will ‘live or die’ on our MacDonald decision

I don’t think it does work on paper or in reality though. Hutton saw so much less of the ball yesterday and one of the reasons was that FBT’s instinct, when he was being pressed, was to default to his better foot, cut back and play the easy out ball to Clayton. He found it very difficult to open up and spread play to the right.

It was similar last season when we had Crichlow and left centre half. He would open up the left side for us - when Iandolo and William’s paired up well from left centre mid and left wing back (see Oldham away). When Crichlow wasn’t playing, we found it more difficult to have balance.

Maybe we do SDM a disservice and he knows more about football than he is given credit for, but a centre half pairing of FBT and Clayton is not a natural pairing and will stifle options for us to start attacks.  Brennan or Minturn should pair one of those two. I’m so frustrated how we’ve ended up here. When we’ve seen such desperate squad decline in years gone by, it’s been because we’ve been openly skint. Now, it just seems like utterly inept recruitment.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: DiV on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12:08:21
I don’t think it does work on paper or in reality though. Hutton saw so much less of the ball yesterday and one of the reasons was that FBT’s instinct, when he was being pressed, was to default to his better foot, cut back and play the easy out ball to Clayton. He found it very difficult to open up and spread play to the right.

It was similar last season when we had Crichlow and left centre half. He would open up the left side for us - when Iandolo and William’s paired up well from left centre mid and left wing back (see Oldham away). When Crichlow wasn’t playing, we found it more difficult to have balance.

Maybe we do SDM a disservice and he knows more about football than he is given credit for, but a centre half pairing of FBT and Clayton is not a natural pairing and will stifle options for us to start attacks.  Brennan or Minturn should pair one of those two. I’m so frustrated how we’ve ended up here. When we’ve seen such desperate squad decline in years gone by, it’s been because we’ve been openly skint. Now, it just seems like utterly inept recruitment.

Fair point. I mean it worked from a CB out, CB in perspective but I’d definitely prefer a right footer and a left footer at CB.

Considering how long he’d been out I was surprised to see Clayton come straight back in. I expected to see Brennan & FBT.

Plenty of teams have played with two CBs using the foot and still be able to play both ways. I can see why it would hamper but shouldn’t make it impossible. Plus it can always go in midfield and go back out Hutton.

Like off the top of my head - I don’t remember any of Huttons attacking play coming straight from the CB to him and him running all the way forward with it


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Batch on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12:13:23
Quote from: DiV
I’ve said my bit on MacDonald but I assume the idea was that FBT was the MacDonald replacement (despite all ready being here) and JT was the FBT replacement.

Works well on paper. Apart from JT being injured.

A lot of people being really negative about our window. Think it was ok apart the whole MacDonald thing. Bringing in Austin, FBT & JT is very good business on paper. Don’t even think losing Reed & Gladwin is a big loss either.

Think we will ‘live or die’ on our MacDonald decision


kadji and Cain will need to show a hell of a lot more for me to agree.

and they may well do. but so far look like downgrades.  The problem is they don't have 10 games to settle in.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12:16:43

kadji and Cain will need to show a hell of a lot more for me to agree.

and they may well do. but so far look like downgrades.  The problem is they don't have 10 games to settle in.

The thing is they're so young with hardly any experienced heads around them which comes down to Sandro again.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: ChalkyWhiteIsGod on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12:31:19
Expect us to finish mid-table now, this squad is one of the most unbalanced squads we’ve ever had especially in the centre of the park. I don’t think it has the consistency to do enough to reach the playoffs, we also have a complete absence of flair players which is part of the reason we are so boring to watch.

On the flip side I’m hopeful there will be a complete change of approach next season so almost wrote this season off in my mind.

Maybe if we sack the spiv.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Batch on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12:33:01
no, it comes to the model. who is dictating that?

Williams and Austin should be able to help anyway.

it just sometimes takes a while for players to settle. Matt Ritchie took 5 or 6 games before starting to show for example.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: DiV on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 13:04:09
no, it comes to the model. who is dictating that?

Williams and Austin should be able to help anyway.

it just sometimes takes a while for players to settle. Matt Ritchie took 5 or 6 games before starting to show for example.

Matt Ritchie couldn’t even get in our team the season before.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Pookemon on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 13:10:34
Unfortunately we don't have 6 games for them to get up to speed.   Lose the next couple, which is a very real possibility, and we're probably done given the run in.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Batch on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 13:33:56
Quote from: Pookemon
Unfortunately we don't have 6 games for them to get up to speed.   Lose the next couple, which is a very real possibility, and we're probably done given the run in.

yes, totally agree.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: BambooToTheFuture on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 19:33:15
It’s a bit disingenuous applying a current ppg as a constant ppg. Club’s form ebbs and flows. Agreed, at the moment it’s difficult to see reasons why our form should improve dramatically but it did last season - especially those last 6 games or so which we won.

The fact that we, along with quite a few other clubs, have generally been poor are still in and around the POs does point to a substantially weaker league this season.

I’ve no doubt Sutton will kick the shit out of our lot on Tuesday.

Yeah I totally agree Aud as form does and will change across the teams. I did add a note to this (Stockport needing to maintain an already impressive form for the rest of the season, to have a chance of breaking into the top 3 and likewise Crewe maybe having to up their form to avoid getting drawn into a relegation battle).

I have though applied the ppg from the last 10 games which is a minimum of one third of the most recent part of the season for all clubs; it's not like I've taken the last game played or last 3. It's probably sufficient enough data to see recent patterns to apply to some type of predicted final table, whilst also recognising that those figures could improve, decline or plateau.

Hopefully it does improve for the Town and something like the final 10 games see's an improvement but my doubts are that even with an 82% increase to 2ppg for the last 10 games of the season, Town would probably still only get a max of 68pts - which will just fall short by probably one win (or 3 draws) :/

But yes 100%, I noted this too that the division is clearly weaker. A reason why I looked at the data closer as Jimmy mentioned 75pts needed for 7th place and I thought that a tad overcooked. You only have to look at Orient who are kind of stumbling a little at present and form dipped to 1.3ppg but even on that form they would still likely get auto as they already have some insurance in the bag. Similar can be said of Northampton who would likely cling onto 7th place, despite also dipping to a form of 1.3ppg.

As Reg may have once said and might also still be muttering somewhere else 'There's too many variables to be certain of who will finish where at this stage.'

For whatever reason (and form data doesn't back it up at all) I think Town will actually beat Sutton on Tues but it'll likely be one of the many false dawns we've seen before; I then expect Town to revert to type and follow it up by losing the next match. Genuinely hope they don't and like my prediction of 11th place, I hope I get egg on my face. Nothing more than anything else, I would love Town to depart this wretched division in an upwards fashion; the sooner the better!


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 19:37:26
I think 75 is deemed as the safe number to ensure that a play off spot is guaranteed just like 52 points more a less guarantees staying up. I think you may be right that the points needed this season will be lower and 72/73 may be enough.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: BambooToTheFuture on Monday, February 13, 2023, 00:40:03
I think 75 is deemed as the safe number to ensure that a play off spot is guaranteed just like 52 points more a less guarantees staying up. I think you may be right that the points needed this season will be lower and 72/73 may be enough.

Hey Jim,

I had a quick look and in the last 27yrs (with 24 teams playing in the bottom tier), only 4 times has a side needed 75pts to obtain a play-off spot, with once being enough to obtain an auto spot. You're correct though that 75pts is a "safe" points tally to secure a PO spot. Every season (with a 24 team division), teams that scored 75pts definitely got in the play-offs every time and usually has finished in 4th or 5th (with one getting autos once as mentioned). Obviously we can discount the 2019/2020 L2 "PPG Season" as that was curtailed with 10ish games to play and we all know who won that season anyway!

Yep, looks like in both zones of the POs and Relegation that teams will need sufficiently less to stay above either dotted line. The low "Football League Trapdoor Safety" tally is likely due to Rochdale and one of Crawley or Gills being so poor (Crewe strangely do need to watch out based on form though and I think Gills might leapfrog Crawley as the stats suggest at present) with something like 45pts probably being enough to stay up. Another indicator of how poor you'd have to be to go down and on reflection of the whole division in general. I'd go as low as possibly 70pts for the final PO spot though but I think it could be tighter than Hetty Green!  ;)


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Bob's Orange on Monday, February 13, 2023, 08:32:28
There are C words that can be levelled at a lot of people at our club, but the C word that I think it important is 'consistency'. Both on the pitch and off it, I don't think everyone is pulling in the right/same direction. Off it, I think losing Chorley and replacing him with Sandro and his philosophy just doesn't appear to align to what Clem and Rob Angus want from the club. (in my opinion)

On the pitch, we currently have issues with suspension and injuries and not enough depth at the back which is holding us back. I think with everyone fit we have a first 15 that should be good enough for the play-offs but to get there, the players are going to have to learn how to play under JM very quickly and adapt to his methods and no doubt high standards. I'm not sure we have the time to do that in the remaining games.

So in a roundabout way I've made my bed and 'settled' for a mid-table finish this season. I think getting anything above that we are going to need a huge slice of luck and go on a very good run, not something we have done for a while now. It's a massive disappointment and one the club really have to do better, starting with getting Jonny Williams on a longer deal and showing some intent in the summer.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: 4D on Monday, February 13, 2023, 08:37:33
We seem to be getting worse, consistently.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Legends-Lounge on Monday, February 13, 2023, 08:37:57
There are C words that can be levelled at a lot of people at our club, but the C word that I think it important is 'consistency'. Both on the pitch and off it, I don't think everyone is pulling in the right/same direction. Off it, I think losing Chorley and replacing him with Sandro and his philosophy just doesn't appear to align to what Clem and Rob Angus want from the club. (in my opinion)

On the pitch, we currently have issues with suspension and injuries and not enough depth at the back which is holding us back. I think with everyone fit we have a first 15 that should be good enough for the play-offs but to get there, the players are going to have to learn how to play under JM very quickly and adapt to his methods and no doubt high standards. I'm not sure we have the time to do that in the remaining games.

So in a roundabout way I've made my bed and 'settled' for a mid-table finish this season. I think getting anything above that we are going to need a huge slice of luck and go on a very good run, not something we have done for a while now. It's a massive disappointment and one the club really have to do better, starting with getting Jonny Williams on a longer deal and showing some intent in the summer.

This.

We’re not skint anymore. Release the funds or we will spend another season wallowing in the cesspit of the professional league pyramid.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Batch on Monday, February 13, 2023, 08:55:38
L-L

not having a go at you but want to take issue with not being skint.

we are not eyeball deep in external debt like last season that's true

but I don't think we have much money. Clem is not a billionaire. We get good gates but that's pretty much all the income.  Got to be self sustaining.

we've also got a 1m redevelopment investment commitment coming up as a clause to the ground purchase

whether we've made the most of the money we do have is a fair question mind


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Bob's Orange on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:04:15
L-L

not having a go at you but want to take issue with not being skint.

we are not eyeball deep in external debt like last season that's true

but I don't think we have much money. Clem is not a billionaire. We get good gates but that's pretty much all the income.  Got to be self sustaining.

we've also got a 1m redevelopment investment commitment coming up as a clause to the ground purchase

whether we've made the most of the money we do have is a fair question mind

I kind of agree with you Batch, I know it doesn't always follow that the clubs with the biggest crowds have the biggest transfer and wage kitty, but you would like to think that given our crowds and the income from the seemingly weekly sponsorship deals we seem to do (not entirely serious here) we'd be able to provide a budgie at least in the top 6? Does anyone know where in the league we sit budget wise?

We've now put a potentially top class manager in the dugout, I do think we need to make sure we put a top 6 (at the very least) team on the pitch. Our crowds remain high but if we end the season on a whimper, I can see them falling back to being back to 7k ish as a lot of fans are now bored of league 2 football, and it ain't cheap to watch in the current climate (financial, not weather)


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Pookemon on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:23:25
I kind of agree with you Batch, I know it doesn't always follow that the clubs with the biggest crowds have the biggest transfer and wage kitty, but you would like to think that given our crowds and the income from the seemingly weekly sponsorship deals we seem to do (not entirely serious here) we'd be able to provide a budgie at least in the top 6? Does anyone know where in the league we sit budget wise?

We've now put a potentially top class manager in the dugout, I do think we need to make sure we put a top 6 (at the very least) team on the pitch. Our crowds remain high but if we end the season on a whimper, I can see them falling back to being back to 7k ish as a lot of fans are now bored of league 2 football, and it ain't cheap to watch in the current climate (financial, not weather)
I'm surprised attendances haven't dropped already TBH.   It's not that league 2 is inherently unwatchable, it's our style of football combined with mid table mediocrity that's boring.   I'm sure prices will go up alot next season and many STs possibly 1000+ will not renew and wait and see what the summer brings.   

This season has been a massive disappointment on the pitch, next season will be tougher as a result.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Legends-Lounge on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:27:31
L-L

not having a go at you but want to take issue with not being skint.

we are not eyeball deep in external debt like last season that's true

but I don't think we have much money. Clem is not a billionaire. We get good gates but that's pretty much all the income.  Got to be self sustaining.

we've also got a 1m redevelopment investment commitment coming up as a clause to the ground purchase

whether we've made the most of the money we do have is a fair question mind

None taken. Basically we’re better off than last season by a country mile. We should be doing so much better but we’re not. The club fucked up at the start of the season can we catch up? I don’t think so now. Like others I hope I’m wrong.

I know Clem is not a billionaire, we don’t need a billionaire do we? The ground development clause can be raised by a commercial mortgage once we own it as if I’m reading this right, the Eady money is paying for the purchase. The club and trust via different mechanisms are paying it back at very favourable rates? Either way as you allude to, we’re made a pigs ear of this season compared to last seasons swashbuckling skin of our teeth great escape.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:30:48
Sandro needs to change his model slightly we're just to lightweight and inexperienced to keep pace with the top teams. It's ok having a couple of players to develop but not the core of the team which simply can't compete week in week out with the older experience  physical players.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Batch on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:37:29
None taken. Basically we’re better off than last season by a country mile. We should be doing so much better but we’re not. The club fucked up at the start of the season can we catch up? I don’t think so now. Like others I hope I’m wrong.

I know Clem is not a billionaire, we don’t need a billionaire do we? The ground development clause can be raised by a commercial mortgage once we own it as if I’m reading this right, the Eady money is paying for the purchase. The club and trust via different mechanisms are paying it back at very favourable rates? Either way as you allude to, we’re made a pigs ear of this season compared to last seasons swashbuckling skin of our teeth great escape.

Can't argue with that.

I do wonder where our revenue sits in the league and whether we've fallen so far behind that our expectations are too big now.

Surely we are better placed than most, a few outliers aside.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Pookemon on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:47:24
Can't argue with that.

I do wonder where our revenue sits in the league and whether we've fallen so far behind that our expectations are too big now.

Surely we are better placed than most, a few outliers aside.
Our revenue has to be one of the biggest as it's primarily attendance based for all clubs at this level.

The issue is how the playing budget sits as a proportion of that.   A few teams will be spending more than all of it on players, funded by a wealthy owner or a transfer kitty if they are lucky.   I think we will be one of the lowest, possibly as low as 25-30% of revenue spent on the playing budget.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: 4D on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:58:11
Judging by our last 12 games, I'll go for 17th position.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Outletred on Monday, February 13, 2023, 09:58:32
Sandro needs to change his model slightly we're just to lightweight and inexperienced to keep pace with the top teams. It's ok having a couple of players to develop but not the core of the team which simply can't compete week in week out with the older experience  physical players.

This sums it up


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: horlock07 on Monday, February 13, 2023, 10:11:45
Judging by our last 12 games, I'll go for 17th position.

Based on what 17th (Monkey Hangers) got last season, 12 points in 17 games is gonna be a fun end to the season.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: 4D on Monday, February 13, 2023, 10:22:28
Based on what 17th (Monkey Hangers) got last season, 12 points in 17 games is gonna be a fun end to the season.

Well we've managed 12pts from the last 12 matches, on that basis we may get 17 more points. Then again we may not. 7 of those last 17 are teams above us.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Jimmy HaveHave on Monday, February 13, 2023, 10:24:46
60 points finishing 10th


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: horlock07 on Monday, February 13, 2023, 10:28:46
Well we've managed 12pts from the last 12 matches, on that basis we may get 17 more points. Then again we may not. 7 of those last 17 are teams above us.

17 more points would be enough for the heady heights of 13th based on last season!


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: 4D on Monday, February 13, 2023, 10:39:31
17 more points would be enough for the heady heights of 13th based on last season!

 :yay:


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Posh Red on Monday, February 13, 2023, 12:08:59
When leaving the ground on Saturday we were discussing if we had enough points to stay up, whilst that’s probably overly pessimistic it does suggest that we are looking at lower mid table


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: DMC on Monday, February 13, 2023, 18:35:08
11th.


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Cheltred on Monday, February 13, 2023, 20:40:54
When leaving the ground on Saturday we were discussing if we had enough points to stay up, whilst that’s probably overly pessimistic it does suggest that we are looking at lower mid table
We are 18 points from the bottom 2, so should be safe, but the fact that we've even mentioned it shows how bad things have got!


Title: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Fi
Post by: Batch on Monday, February 13, 2023, 20:41:54
10th

it's bloody annoying because injuries, suspensions and sales have done us .

fully fit first 11 + austin before the window would have snuck us into the playoffs imo. The jury is out on whether that's true now, but it's moot anyway given availability.

There is a lot to play for still. But I can't see how it changes in the next 3 or 4 and it may be too late by then


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Lardy Cake on Monday, February 13, 2023, 21:21:19
Irrespective of how many players we have available for team selection I do not consider our current squad anywhere good enough to get into the playoffs. Too much has gone wrong since we sneaked into the playoffs last season and any hoped for continuity has never materialised. I do think things will improve towards the end of the season but 16th place will be my prediction. Rather negative I know but there it is. ☹️


Title: Re: Where In The Table Do You Think Town Will Finish This Season?
Post by: Berniman on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 11:24:01
I said 10th at the start of the season and I see no reason to change that.