Current top 3

[Alan Southstand]

FT.  0-1

 

[drfchound]

Amazingly, we now have roles reversed and we have a game in hand.

[Padge_DRFC]

If loads don't turn up Saturday now then when will they. Huge huge game

[dknward2]

Hopefully by our game on Saturday we know that 3 points will move us back Infront of port vale we could also do with a Walsall draw Vs AFC Wimbledon

[andysly]

Is it written we go up against Vale at Wembley ?
By way I still believe we will be in top 3 

[karldew]

Current top 3 - next 3 games

Walsall:
Home Wimbledon
Away Donny
Home Port Vale

Bradford:
Away Accrington
Away Port Vale
Home Crewe

Wimbledon:
Away Walsall
Away Swindon
Home Harrogate

Us:
Home Carlisle
Home Walsall
Away Cheltenham

[richtherover]

Barrow have done us a huge favour now it's up to us to take advantage starting on Saturday. This is going to be some run in. Come on lads. Your time is now. RTID.

[les@donr]

Walsall’s next 3 games are very tough, they could get zero points.

[Plumbster]

It’s bonkers, it seems we have as much chance of going up as 6 or 7 other teams, all as unpredictable as each other, and we can only hope we have a chair when the music stops.

[les@donr]

If we win all our remaining games we will be promoted, probably as champions as we would beat both Wallsall and Bradford along the way.

[ncRover]

Walsall’s next 3 games are very tough, they could get zero points.

Walsall will be a tough game for us

[BillyStubbsTears]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

[NickDRFC]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

This is the big concern for play offs for me. Everyone’s stumbling but would I fancy us to beat a Notts County, Wimbledon, Walsall or (gulp) Chesterfield over 2 legs? Even if we did, would I fancy us to beat one in the final? Not with how we’re playing/have played I’m afraid.

[pib]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

Maybe if any of our midfielders who could actually pick an incisive forward pass (Westbrooke, Crew), or carry the ball (Kelly) could actually get a sniff of some game time, we might have some more joy solving this clear issue that has been going on for most of the season. All three of these players have been signed or had their contracts extended in the last 12 months so why are they never playing?

Bailey is great and a hard-worker, Broadbent has improved and does some good defensive work, Sbarra gets in some good positions but struggles to impose himself on the game, and Clifton is... well, pretty hopeless. But we still persist with the same combinations which just don't seem to work.

[GazLaz]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

The mental approach after we scored, in both instances, bothered we. As soon as they upped the pressure we don’t have the ability to control the game with or without the ball.

[i_ateallthepies]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

Maybe if any of our midfielders who could actually pick an incisive forward pass (Westbrooke, Crew), or carry the ball (Kelly) could actually get a sniff of some game time, we might have some more joy solving this clear issue that has been going on for most of the season. All three of these players have been signed or had their contracts extended in the last 12 months so why are they never playing?

Bailey is great and a hard-worker, Broadbent has improved and does some good defensive work, Sbarra gets in some good positions but struggles to impose himself on the game, and Clifton is... well, pretty hopeless. But we still persist with the same combinations which just don't seem to work.

Pib, for most of this season the main complaint of fans has been the constant changing of personnel and not having a settled side.  Now McCann seems to be trying the settled side alternative and still we grumble.

[dickos1]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

What would you suggest the alternative be against a side that sat with 8 men behind the ball.
The passing wasn’t slow either in my opinion, it was quick passing but much of it sidewards but if a side sits with 8 players behind the ball there’s not much you can do about that!

[pib]

And Bradford, oh and Grimsby.

Yep. Both superb performances. Ones that made me think we had the measure of the better sides in this division.

But since we won at Bradford 5 months ago, we've played (I think, too late to check every match) 8 games against teams in the top 10 on that day(*). We've drawn against Notts C and Crewe and lost to Port Vale, Walsall, Chesterfield, Bromley, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

In most of those matches, we've certainly been competitive but frequently looked blunt against a side with a low block, and very vulnerable at the back (GF6 GA15).

(*) My mistake earlier. Top 10, not top half. We also beat MK Dons when they were in 11th. So our record against top half sides in the last 5 months is

P9 W1 D2 L6 GF8 GA16 Pts5. PPG 0.56.

We need a big improvement on that from here on, given that 6 of our last 9 opponents are currently in the top half and 5 of those in the top 10.

That's now 3 points from the last 9 games against top 10 sides.

Last night was a perfect example of our limitations. Slow and ponderous in the build up against a side playing deep. Then when they counted, they did so at pace and with physical presence.

We are just not good enough to consistently hurt the better sides in a really poor division.

Maybe if any of our midfielders who could actually pick an incisive forward pass (Westbrooke, Crew), or carry the ball (Kelly) could actually get a sniff of some game time, we might have some more joy solving this clear issue that has been going on for most of the season. All three of these players have been signed or had their contracts extended in the last 12 months so why are they never playing?

Bailey is great and a hard-worker, Broadbent has improved and does some good defensive work, Sbarra gets in some good positions but struggles to impose himself on the game, and Clifton is... well, pretty hopeless. But we still persist with the same combinations which just don't seem to work.

Pib, for most of this season the main complaint of fans has been the constant changing of personnel and not having a settled side.  Now McCann seems to be trying the settled side alternative and still we grumble.

I’m all for a settled side, but not just for the sake of it. Our midfield hasn’t been able to pass wind for most of the season.