5 games in.....

[RobTheRover]

And the league is starting to take shape.

Crewe are the surprise package for me. They were absolutely as bad as us last season (remember 'El Crapico?') and their strengthening has gone pretty much under the radar.

Stockport looked a decent side,  as have Salford today,  and I expect them both to be troubling the playoffs.

We've certainly developed a resilience we didn't have last season. The bookies had us at 8/1 when Salford scored today.

[Upton Rover]

Barrow surprise package to me

[Bessie Red]

Barrow surprise package to me

Cant see them sustaining it but you  never know.

[Padge_DRFC]

Who'd have thought Barrow away on a Tuesday night being a top of the table clash.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Indication of how well we have done.

Opposition have won 2 points against us in 5 games. But in their other 20 games, they've won 31 points.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

We're a top 7 side undoubtedly.  Jury is out on where in there as we've plenty to improve but the bones of a good squad are there.

Injuries a worry though.

[belton rover]

Indication of how well we have done.

Opposition have won 2 points against us in 5 games. But in their other 20 games, they've won 31 points.

Now THAT stat is actually meaningful.

[Chris Black come back]

Pitch looks absolutely superb. Congratulations to the ground staff and the squad from last season for all the manure they left on there.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Thank feck the club went with the 'cheap option', eh?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Indication of how well we have done.

Opposition have won 2 points against us in 5 games. But in their other 20 games, they've won 31 points.

Look at this another way. If the opposition had taken as many points off us as their average in matches not against us, our record now would be:

P5 W1 D2 L2

And we'd be around 15th place.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Or another way.

When the fixtures came out, I reckoned 10 points from the first 8 games wouldn't have been a disaster. We could lose the next 3 and still be ahead of that position.

[Bessie Red]

Or another way.

When the fixtures came out, I reckoned 10 points from the first 8 games wouldn't have been a disaster. We could lose the next 3 and still be ahead of that position.

Thats pretty much the total I was hoping for from the first 8 games. The fact that we are already ahead of that points total and we have nearly got through what looks to be the toughest run of games over the whole season should bode well for when we have finally gelled & fingers crossed we have a near fully fit squad.

[Branton Red]

Agreed.

It would have been difficult to hand pick a more difficult opening 7 fixtures.

To get 11 points from the first 5 games is some achievement and hugely encouraging.

Especially given, from the quality of the individuals and collective team performances, there is still plenty of improvement in this side.

[ncRover]

My cash out on promotion at 4/1 has gone above the stake I placed.

[mattco]

G
111

11 points from 5
 G



11 points from 5 games. Last season 11 points from first 15 games.

[drfchound]

Promotion points gathering so far.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Indication of how well we have done.

Opposition have won 2 points against us in 5 games. But in their other 20 games, they've won 31 points.

Update.

Opponents have taken 2 points off us in 6 games. Historically bad bottom of table, worse than 97/98 form.

In their 30 games not involving us, they've won 49 points. Play off form.

[Panda]

Barrow surprise package to me

Barrow won away at Wimbledon today. They look like a side who are limited on talent but who all know their jobs and who have a tremendous team spirit.

I passed Holker Street the other day as i was away in the Lakes and had a tyre blow out and had to go to ATS in Barrow to get a new tyre. Drove past the ground and it's tiny. Deffo looks like a non league ground, even NL North dare i say.

Orient under Wellens are flying too, which is pissing me off lol. Hopefully their bubble will burst.

[Chris Black come back]

We’ve now got 14 points, which we reached on the 6 game mark on 27 August.

Last season to get to the 14 point mark it took us until the 21st game on 11 December.

[adamtherover]

Current rates would give us 107 pts, deffo enough for a play off push lol

[Superspy]

We’ve now got 14 points, which we reached on the 6 game mark on 27 August.

Last season to get to the 14 point mark it took us until the 21st game on 11 December.

Jesus, I'd tried to wipe from my mind how bad it was last season.

[Bessie Red]

We’ve now got 14 points, which we reached on the 6 game mark on 27 August.

Last season to get to the 14 point mark it took us until the 21st game on 11 December.
[/quote
2 points/game = guaranteed title

[roversdude]

And to think there was a clamour to sack the manager
Brilliant start

[Jonathan]

And to think there was a clamour to sack the manager
Brilliant start

We still had to deal with a bit of that after the Carabao Cup game - certainly on Twitter.

Hopefully everyone can stick together from here, we’ll need that when things don’t go our way.

[ditch_drfc]

Best way to stick together is stop all this bullshit "oh to think he was the cheap option lol" etc

No need to drive division now. It was quite right to question GM at the end of last season - we were relegated.

But we're clearly in a very different position now and we don't need to dwell on the past.

On topic - the first few games of this season have been beyond the best possible expectations. Results speak for themselves and we have nobody to fear in this league now!

[roversdude]

I think next Saturday will be one of our toughest so far

[colincramb]

I think next Saturday will be one of our toughest so far

I’m not worried. When we played them in the cup last year we were at our lowest ebb. I genuinely go into each game now and just don’t see us losing. Obviously we will at some point, but it won’t be Saturday

[Colin C No.3]

Are these results sustainable. Are we out of ‘bother’ now…..GazLaz.

[Bessie Red]

I think next Saturday will be one of our toughest so far

I’m not worried. When we played them in the cup last year we were at our lowest ebb. I genuinely go into each game now and just don’t see us losing. Obviously we will at some point, but it won’t be Saturday

Dont know how much they have changed since last season but we know for sure that we have. It will be tough, but from seeing how we have started the season and witnessing the massive change in character in the squad I dont think we should be worried about facing any team at this level. We are not the same team that faced them in the FA cup last season and if we get in front like we did in that game I cant see us falling apart again.

[Panda]

We've gone to Bradford and kept them out with 10 men for half the game. We've come from behind twice to beat both Sutton and Salford, both of which are decent outfits and we went to Northampton and controlled the game and won.

Arguably you could say that we did well to beat Stockport as when the opposition gets a man sent off early doors, the pressure to win the game instantly rises and often this isn't easy to meet.

I don't think we've set the world alight with performances but we have results and we have workrate, ability and grit and i'm not concerned about Mansfield. We've done all the above this season so far and can do Mansfield no problem.

Can't believe i'm saying that after last season.