OK CJS, what I said was a bit tongue in cheek. We clearly have a problem which has not yet been addressed. The team creates enough chances on the stats, but our conversion ratio to goals is clearly unacceptable. We have lost several key matches this season where we have had (according to BBC stats) three times as many opportunities as our opponents and not come up with the right result. Chesham was a good example (I believe I remember correctly), they had 6 shots - two on target - scored one goal. The Gas had 20 shots - was it ten on target? and we lost. On more than one occasion we have gone behind to a goal scored from 30 odd yards (ala JET) and despite dominance could not rectify the situation. Matty Taylor gets chances dished up on a plate, but his conversion rate is very much part of our problem. Not to criticize Matty too much because he also works his socks off for the team. So we know the problem. DC knows the problem. I am pretty sure that it is THE priority of the coaching staff. I have confidence in DC and am optimistic that he will sort it. If he does we might even ..umh...walk it.
Sapphire this is the GAS we are talking about we never walk anything. but being serious we have been looking for a consistent striker since the season before we got relegated, all our managers say that they know its a problem but its one that never seems to be resolved. So is it a problem that we don't for whatever reason have funds to pay out in transfer fees or is it our wage budget is not big enough to accommodate the wage requirements of this type of player
I know where you are coming from old timer. As long term Gas fans we are hardened to it. Just when we believed that the Gas were going to nail it, we were disappointed when the wheels came off.. Somehow DC seems to be slow start but he gets better. There is no doubt he is an excellent man manager and makes some good calls with tactical changes during games. But he hasn't been able to sort out the conversion ratio of chances to goals. I just wonder whether the lad from the Western League who was scoring goals for fun, and was trialed before the season started, might have been able to do the business. Surely it's worth looking down the non-league teams to see if someone there scores regularly with fewer opportunities. Almost any of them would jump at the chance to join a League side with potential promotion possibilities. Having said that I'm sure they are looking.
I think they may only get three or four points from these games. But they're definitely the team to beat at the moment.
The play off position is back in our hands. I think we are good enough to hold on to that. I still believe we have a good chance of getting into the automatic slot . Time will tell. At the moment we still have a third of the season to go!!
Unless we start scoring more regularly, we wont reach top 3 for sure. Northampton are too far in front of us, no way we will catch them. Cant see us catching Oxford either. Plymouth though have recently dropped points. They may have peaked too soon and could be dropping off. If we catch any of the top 3, I think it could be them. Play offs is more realistic though. But only if we can start scoring more freely. If I was a betting man, I will be betting we will be in league 2 still next season.
Now I dont see myself being a negative gashead. So I hope I dont come across as negative. But I cant how we can in your words.... "we'll only get better". Many games left and injuries could happen for example. I so hope you are right though. But I just cant see it.
Don't want to sound negative but I think we will struggle to get even that last Play-off place we just don't score enough
The washed out game has been to our advantage. A little more time to revise our tactics with the new faces. As CJS said Northampton are pretty much out of sight, but I still think we are as good as anyone else. The goals will come I am sure.
Update..... A few teams have managed to play a couple of their games in hand. Some have had games postponed meaning more games in hand. Mansfield have played the most games so the table at the bottom shows games in hand on Mansfield Current table... Pos... Team........... Pl........ Pts 1.. Northampton... 28....... 61 2.. Plymouth......... 29....... 56 3.. Oxford............. 28....... 52 ------------------------------------ 4.. Mansfield......... 31....... 48 5.. Bristol Rovers.. 29....... 47 6.. Wycombe......... 29....... 46 7.. Leyton Orient... 30....... 46 ------------------------------------ 8.. Portsmouth...... 28....... 45 9.. Accrington....... 26....... 45 10 Cambridge........ 30....... 44 11. Wimbledon....... 28....... 42 12. Carlisle............. 26....... 42 13. Exeter.............. 28....... 40 If all games in hand on us are won... Pos... Team............ Pl....... Pts 1.. Northampton.... 31....... 70 2.. Plymouth.......... 31....... 62 3.. Oxford............... 31....... 61 ------------------------------------- 4.. Accrington........ 31....... 60 5.. Carlisle.............. 31....... 57 6.. Portsmouth....... 31....... 54 7.. Bristol Rovers.... 31....... 53 -------------------------------------- 8.. Wycombe.......... 31....... 52 9.. Wimbledon........ 31....... 51 10 Leyton Orient.... 31....... 49 11. Exeter............... 31....... 49 12. Mansfield.......... 31....... 48 13. Cambridge........ 31....... 47 We have gone from just missing out on the play offs in 8th to now just getting into the play offs in 7th. Meaning some of the results from those who had games in hand on us has gone our way. Im expecting a lot more ups and downs until the end of the season. But it will be very very very close. Not sure how I would feel about facing Accy in the play offs.
