Also, no actual interest in this competition (this year) apart continuing the run. I’d be very happy with a scrappy win with a type 2nd eleven.
I bet if we reach the semis, things might change, interest might be there then?? My view is win the game you're playing, especially in such an unpredictable game like football, it's the habit of winning which separates the best from the rest.
It would just be so frustrating to fall a game short of equalling the record for the sake of not being arsed. I actually think it could have a knock on effect in terms of momentum too. I'll take a draw mind as I'd love a trip to Walsall.
Sure. But we're currently four wins away from that hypothetical. All else being equal, we have about a 6% chance of reaching the semi-final, though it's probably lower in reality. Meanwhile, we have about a 35% chance (based on current odds) of getting promoted. I'd rather chase the latter than the former, and I'm really dubious that adding a whole lot more fixtures is going to get us any more in the habit of winning than, say, the last three months of not losing a single match.
Plus a combination of squad players, who would benefit from the game time, and youth players, should be enough to beat Walsall at home anyway. A complete youth team would be risky, but this should be comfortable even with rotation. I don't actually care that much about the unbeaten run, I'm more concerned about getting through so we get the chance to potentially draw Eastleigh!
Yes of course but we’re a long, long way from that & have more important challenges ahead of us in the coming months. Said, I want a win to continue the run & the momentum but that’s my only real interest this year. Will I be at SMS Saturday? yes, as with every other game,
Call me greedy and overoptimistic if you will, I'm up for the cup and automatic promotion. I want it all, I want it now.
Go for it. Strong team with a few fringe players (Mara, Holgate, Amo), bring on some youngsters if comfortable. Sure the league is the priority, but if we have a dip in form at some point, then the autos dream is over. Whereas playoffs is basically nailed on.
Play off final same weekend as the FA Cup final. Almost as if the FA don't expect us to get there which is a bit rude really.
The last time we had a dip in form, it took us half a season to claw our way back to within touching distance of the auto spots. So, stands to reason that if we have another dip in form, we might be faced with the same task.
The last time we had a dip in form was September 2023, when we lost 4 games in a row. I’d say we recovered pretty damn quick from that dip.
Football doesn't tend to work like that. Ipswich were absolutely flying at the start of the season - they were ahead of Leicester for quite a while. It would be very difficult for them to produce another half a season like the first half they came up with.
Yeah, you're right, we did. But that's not the point. The issue is that the two teams in those auto spots have performed so well. Also, you have Leeds who are almost certainly going to be there at the end of it all. Basically, if us, Leeds, or Ipswich, go on say, a three game losing streak, it could very much be over for us/them.
