Final league position

[CheeseToastie]

After yesterdays game and showing the grit and determination to get it over the line do we think that could be the kick we need to grind out results in these last 6 games or not?  Win our last 6 games the league is all but ours hoping our goal difference is better than Bradford but with Bradford Wimbledon and Colchester still to come it's going to be an incredible end to the season! I personally think we'll slip up against one of those big 3 I'm just hoping it's not Bradford realistically think we'll take the 3rd spot but I'm dreaming of at least 14 points from the last 6 games to push up closer to the mark, win the Salford game and really throw pressure on the teams above.

[DonnyOsmond]

After yesterdays game and showing the grit and determination to get it over the line do we think that could be the kick we need to grind out results in these last 6 games or not?  Win our last 6 games the league is all but ours hoping our goal difference is better than Bradford but with Bradford Wimbledon and Colchester still to come it's going to be an incredible end to the season! I personally think we'll slip up against one of those big 3 I'm just hoping it's not Bradford realistically think we'll take the 3rd spot but I'm dreaming of at least 14 points from the last 6 games to push up closer to the mark, win the Salford game and really throw pressure on the teams above.

If we win all our games then Bradford can't finish on the same points as us so goal difference wouldn't matter.

[idler]

After yesterdays game and showing the grit and determination to get it over the line do we think that could be the kick we need to grind out results in these last 6 games or not?  Win our last 6 games the league is all but ours hoping our goal difference is better than Bradford but with Bradford Wimbledon and Colchester still to come it's going to be an incredible end to the season! I personally think we'll slip up against one of those big 3 I'm just hoping it's not Bradford realistically think we'll take the 3rd spot but I'm dreaming of at least 14 points from the last 6 games to push up closer to the mark, win the Salford game and really throw pressure on the teams above.

You have missed Notts County from your list. They play Bradford City away the week before we play them. I think that is on the Friday night 18th April.

[ncRover]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

[NickDRFC]

After yesterdays game and showing the grit and determination to get it over the line do we think that could be the kick we need to grind out results in these last 6 games or not?  Win our last 6 games the league is all but ours hoping our goal difference is better than Bradford but with Bradford Wimbledon and Colchester still to come it's going to be an incredible end to the season! I personally think we'll slip up against one of those big 3 I'm just hoping it's not Bradford realistically think we'll take the 3rd spot but I'm dreaming of at least 14 points from the last 6 games to push up closer to the mark, win the Salford game and really throw pressure on the teams above.

If we win all our games then Bradford can't finish on the same points as us so goal difference wouldn't matter.

Maybe means Port Vale? It’s an unlikely scenario but we could win all 6 games and still not win the league. Our GD is 1 better than PV, so would have to be at least +2 on them if we win our game in hand, but if they were to win their remaining 5 games and recover that difference (likely overturn by 3 goals given respective goals scored) then they would win the league.

[idler]

I can’t see any of the top five going undefeated from now to the end of the season never mind winning all of their remaining games.
Injuries, pressure, suspensions and fatigue will play a big part I think.

[drfchound]

Walsall are the only team in the top seven who don’t have to play another top seven team in the run in, which could be why they are still favourites to win the title.
Given that the other six all have to play at least one other top seven side, none of them can win all of their remaining matches.
From our perspective, we have still got to play three of the top seven so IF we could win those games, besides helping us it also would damage our opponents chances of going or staying above us.
Lots of “six pointers” coming up for all teams in the promotion hunt.
Also, lots of IFs in this thread.

[GazLaz]

The dynamic for Walsall and Bradford has now changed. The pressure of being top has gone for Walsall and the dynamic of chasing for top spot for Bradford is no more. They are the ones being chased. Could affect their outcomes of matches.

[Padge_DRFC]

Think we'll finish 4th as we have the hardest fixtures

[BillyStubbsTears]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

That's because they have by some way the easiest run in of the top 5.

We on the other hand have by some way the hardest.

I'm desperately hoping this becomes a month to live in the memory for decades. But it's still the fact that we haven't beaten a side in the top 10 for approaching 6 months, and we've got another 4 of them to play.

[Bessie Red]

It's a difficult run in for us however it gives us the chance to seriously damage those immediately around us & leaves our destiny very much in our own hands. Beat Wimbledon, Bradford & Colchester plus a couple of extra points will get us up automatically in my opinion.

[Padge_DRFC]

Just look at the last game of the season for each. I'd say we'd need to have it done by then. Can't go to Notts needing a win.

[GazLaz]

Just look at the last game of the season for each. I'd say we'd need to have it done by then. Can't go to Notts needing a win.

May be a situation where County can’t get into the top 3 and we can. They could rest half the team for the playoffs.

[i_ateallthepies]

Walsall are the only team in the top seven who don’t have to play another top seven team in the run in, which could be why they are still favourites to win the title.
Given that the other six all have to play at least one other top seven side, none of them can win all of their remaining matches.
From our perspective, we have still got to play three of the top seven so IF we could win those games, besides helping us it also would damage our opponents chances of going or staying above us.
Lots of “six pointers” coming up for all teams in the promotion hunt.
Also, lots of IFs in this thread.

Why can't any one of the six win all of their remaining games Hound?

[Arsenal Of The North]

Walsall are the only team in the top seven who don’t have to play another top seven team in the run in, which could be why they are still favourites to win the title.
Given that the other six all have to play at least one other top seven side, none of them can win all of their remaining matches.
From our perspective, we have still got to play three of the top seven so IF we could win those games, besides helping us it also would damage our opponents chances of going or staying above us.
Lots of “six pointers” coming up for all teams in the promotion hunt.
Also, lots of IFs in this thread.

Why can't any one of the six win all of their remaining games Hound?

County v Bradford and port vale v Wimbledon

[i_ateallthepies]

Walsall are the only team in the top seven who don’t have to play another top seven team in the run in, which could be why they are still favourites to win the title.
Given that the other six all have to play at least one other top seven side, none of them can win all of their remaining matches.
From our perspective, we have still got to play three of the top seven so IF we could win those games, besides helping us it also would damage our opponents chances of going or staying above us.
Lots of “six pointers” coming up for all teams in the promotion hunt.
Also, lots of IFs in this thread.

Why can't any one of the six win all of their remaining games Hound?

County v Bradford and port vale v Wimbledon

You're missing the point, any one of the top six could go on to win all of their games.  Hound said none of them could.

[dickos1]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

That's because they have by some way the easiest run in of the top 5.

We on the other hand have by some way the hardest.

I'm desperately hoping this becomes a month to live in the memory for decades. But it's still the fact that we haven't beaten a side in the top 10 for approaching 6 months, and we've got another 4 of them to play.

I would rather have our fixtures than Bradford’s

[drfchound]

Walsall are the only team in the top seven who don’t have to play another top seven team in the run in, which could be why they are still favourites to win the title.
Given that the other six all have to play at least one other top seven side, none of them can win all of their remaining matches.
From our perspective, we have still got to play three of the top seven so IF we could win those games, besides helping us it also would damage our opponents chances of going or staying above us.
Lots of “six pointers” coming up for all teams in the promotion hunt.
Also, lots of IFs in this thread.

Why can't any one of the six win all of their remaining games Hound?

Ha, good spot pies.  It should have said only one of them, not none of them.
I must proof read my posts better sometimes.
I hope it is us who gets the run of wins.

[Avsuptem]

We only have to not lose against our rivals and beat at leat 1 of them and we are in the autos. That's assuming we don't mess up in any of the other 3 games of course.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

That's because they have by some way the easiest run in of the top 5.

We on the other hand have by some way the hardest.

I'm desperately hoping this becomes a month to live in the memory for decades. But it's still the fact that we haven't beaten a side in the top 10 for approaching 6 months, and we've got another 4 of them to play.

I would rather have our fixtures than Bradford’s

Fair point if you take into consideration the H/A form of each opponent.

But then you really ought to factor in more than just form. For example, at least 3, arguably 5 of our remaining opponents are likely to have something major to be still competing for when we play them. (Bradford, Wimbledon and Colchester, plus Tranmere and Notts County depending on how results go. Arguably Salford too, although they are a long shot for the play offs, but will still be mathematically in the hunt)

Conversely only 2 of Bradford's remaining opponents will almost definitely still be in the hunt (us and Notts C - arguably Chesterfield if things go very much in their favour over the next couple of weeks).

[Padge_DRFC]

Not having Oluwu and Maxwell is also huge.

[dknward2]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

That's because they have by some way the easiest run in of the top 5.

We on the other hand have by some way the hardest.

I'm desperately hoping this becomes a month to live in the memory for decades. But it's still the fact that we haven't beaten a side in the top 10 for approaching 6 months, and we've got another 4 of them to play.

I would rather have our fixtures than Bradford’s

Fair point if you take into consideration the H/A form of each opponent.

But then you really ought to factor in more than just form. For example, at least 3, arguably 5 of our remaining opponents are likely to have something major to be still competing for when we play them. (Bradford, Wimbledon and Colchester, plus Tranmere and Notts County depending on how results go. Arguably Salford too, although they are a long shot for the play offs, but will still be mathematically in the hunt)

Conversely only 2 of Bradford's remaining opponents will almost definitely still be in the hunt (us and Notts C - arguably Chesterfield if things go very much in their favour over the next couple of weeks).

Some of those teams maybe looking at it as a just don't lose situation.

Vs Walsall the commentary kept saying that they were happy if they just drew the 3 games, one before us, us and vale as they would take points off teams around them.

I guess most teams just don't want to lose and would be willing to draw against close teams and beat those with in theory nothing to play for

[Spud]

I noticed Grant's take on this too, that the teams with something to play for will be feeling the pressure too, where as, he feared Cheltenham as they could play freely, it's an interesting way to look at it.

[drfchound]

Also we should consider that we also have something to play for and other teams will have that in mind.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I noticed Grant's take on this too, that the teams with something to play for will be feeling the pressure too, where as, he feared Cheltenham as they could play freely, it's an interesting way to look at it.

McCann was having it every way in his post match interview.

Carlisle was hard because they were scrapping against relegation.

Walsall was hard because they were top of the league.

Cheltenham was hard because they had nothing to play for.

He literally said exactly that in less than a minute.

[Spud]

I noticed Grant's take on this too, that the teams with something to play for will be feeling the pressure too, where as, he feared Cheltenham as they could play freely, it's an interesting way to look at it.

McCann was having it every way in his post match interview.

Carlisle was hard because they were scrapping against relegation.

Walsall was hard because they were top of the league.

Cheltenham was hard because they had nothing to play for.

He literally said exactly that in less than a minute.

Yeah, fair point lol, he did.
I do think that all the teams at the top will be feeling it though, cracking end to the season.

[Usher wide.]

I noticed Grant's take on this too, that the teams with something to play for will be feeling the pressure too, where as, he feared Cheltenham as they could play freely, it's an interesting way to look at it.

McCann was having it every way in his post match interview.

Carlisle was hard because they were scrapping against relegation.

Walsall was hard because they were top of the league.

Cheltenham was hard because they had nothing to play for.

He literally said exactly that in less than a minute.

What tack would you take in post match interviews to take the pressure off your players at this stage of the season?

[philsky]

For what it's worth; glass half full >

We're blessed with a good squad (inc depth) that includes a hand full of excellent players at this level, and bar Olowu and Maxwell we've no injury issues. The squad is settled - McCann has the squad as it is for the rest of the season - no "he might be back from injury" players.

I also think we've players with genuine resilience - i include Sterry, Wood, Bailey, Anderson, McGrath, Ironside, Sharp, Kelly and Molyneux. We carve out results just now.

We also have game changers in Molyneux and Gibson.

We're 4th in the 10 game form table and unbeaten in 5.

Next up is Wimbledon who form is poor and Salford who's form is worse. Win these (which I think we will) and I reckon we'll be firmly in the top 3.

I remain pretty optimistic.

[Alan Southstand]

I would take the very thing that GM has also said during most of his interviews - one game at a time.

[dickos1]

Walsall remarkably still favourites on skybet

That's because they have by some way the easiest run in of the top 5.

We on the other hand have by some way the hardest.

I'm desperately hoping this becomes a month to live in the memory for decades. But it's still the fact that we haven't beaten a side in the top 10 for approaching 6 months, and we've got another 4 of them to play.

I would rather have our fixtures than Bradford’s

Fair point if you take into consideration the H/A form of each opponent.

But then you really ought to factor in more than just form. For example, at least 3, arguably 5 of our remaining opponents are likely to have something major to be still competing for when we play them. (Bradford, Wimbledon and Colchester, plus Tranmere and Notts County depending on how results go. Arguably Salford too, although they are a long shot for the play offs, but will still be mathematically in the hunt)

Conversely only 2 of Bradford's remaining opponents will almost definitely still be in the hunt (us and Notts C - arguably Chesterfield if things go very much in their favour over the next couple of weeks).

Swindon have been in title winning form over the last 15 games, so them away is probably the toughest game you could wish for at the moment.