So, so difficult to call

[francisw]

It is so difficult to predict how well we will do this year.

When we went down I was so surprised to see how good the quality of football was in the Conference and it made me realise how crap many of the teams in L2 were and that included us.

So what lies in store. Has the quality in League 2 improved in our absence. Can we expect the kick and hope football that we witnessed prior to going down from many of the teams that ultimately struggled. Are the referees still awful. Yes, we complained almost every week about L2 referees too. Will the top few teams be better than us or are we up there with the very best.

Well it's my belief that with the glass ceiling that exists in the Conference at least a third of clubs would survive in L2.

My thinking is we have a team similar to last year with, in my opinion, a stronger midfield and genuine competition throughout the team. The young players have had one more year to develop.

Furthermore its my belief that we have one of the best managers in L2 and its my belief we have one of the best teams in L2 so I will throw caution to the wind and predict at least a play off place.

That's unless something really has changed in League 2 during the last 4 years.

Has anyone seen a L2 game in the last 12 months and beg to differ.

[dabigfella]

One can be hopeful. But in reality one just has to wait to see what happens.

[The Fence End]

We'll soon see. Fingers crossed.

[edgecam]

Fingers crossed let's not get carried away after Burton what ever the result, Win lose or draw. It's not the end if the season just remember Norwich last season.

[Barmy Army]

Aug 2, 2010 13:22:19 GMT edgecam said:

Fingers crossed let's not get carried away after Burton what ever the result, Win lose or draw. It's not the end if the season just remember Norwich last season.

And the scum bags in red down the road!

[Volehead]

Aug 2, 2010 13:07:36 GMT francisw said:

It is so difficult to predict how well we will do this year.

When we went down I was so surprised to see how good the quality of football was in the Conference and it made me realise how crap many of the teams in L2 were and that included us.

So what lies in store. Has the quality in League 2 improved in our absence. Can we expect the kick and hope football that we witnessed prior to going down from many of the teams that ultimately struggled. Are the referees still awful. Yes, we complained almost every week about L2 referees too. Will the top few teams be better than us or are we up there with the very best.

Well it's my belief that with the glass ceiling that exists in the Conference at least a third of clubs would survive in L2.

My thinking is we have a team similar to last year with, in my opinion, a stronger midfield and genuine competition throughout the team. The young players have had one more year to develop.

Furthermore its my belief that we have one of the best managers in L2 and its my belief we have one of the best teams in L2 so I will throw caution to the wind and predict at least a play off place.

That's unless something really has changed in League 2 during the last 4 years.

Has anyone seen a L2 game in the last 12 months and beg to differ.

I watched several league 2 games last year and tbh don't see it much different to the conference standard at all. But we'll need that mix of ball players to switch between hoof and ground play.

From the looks of the squad we now have, we are set up very well to compete and I have the belief that we'll be in the top 7 come the end of the season.

[Boilerplate]

Honestly? I think we'll struggle.

Don't know if it's last minute nervers or pre-season results, but i'm feeling a little less optimistic today.

[edgecam]

Aug 2, 2010 13:47:00 GMT Boilerplate said:

Honestly? I think we'll struggle.

Don't know if it's last minute nervers or pre-season results, but i'm feeling a little less optimistic today.

Steady. Everything will be ok. You will feel much better after Saturday. Promise. Not sure I should promise as I can not control the result. Fingers crossed you will feel much better.

[Scottish Yellow]

As I see it the top half a dozen teams in the CP Are more than capable of holding their own in L2 and with CW making some shrewd signings this summer I can't see us finishing lower than eighth, but hopefully pushing for the top four off the playoff spots. Fingers crossed.

['Beav']

Aug 2, 2010 13:47:00 GMT Boilerplate said:

Honestly? I think we'll struggle.

Don't know if it's last minute nervers or pre-season results, but i'm feeling a little less optimistic today.

Are you dagger in disguise? ;D

[junior1]

when would be a decent time to judge how we are shaping up? 8 games? 10? 12?

[hozzy82]

I think that we stand a good chance of the play-offs, so long as we get a bit of luck along the way.

There will be less teams sticking everyone behind the ball, particularly when we're away from home. So although our defence will likely be tested more often, our forwards should benefit from a bit more space to operate in.

Wilder's got some very useful players in to complement a squad which would've held it's own in L2.
Seeing young hungry players coming in who are naturally fit fills me with a lot more confidence than if we were signing old journeymen looking to top up the pension such as the likes of Marcus Hall at Northampton

[edgecam]

Aug 2, 2010 14:46:51 GMT junior1 said:

when would be a decent time to judge how we are shaping up? 8 games? 10? 12?

20 minutes after kick off at Burton. ;D ;D ;D

[topfanoufc]

I would say that after about a dozen games we should get a good fell of how we are going to do. I think the first couple of games could be deceptive as you often see promoted teams do well for the first month or two but then fall away rapidly come the winter.

I would say that I am feeling hopeful but cautious. I would expect us to finish solidly mid table at worst and think there is an outside chance of a playoff spot. I just hope people aren't expecting us to storm away and start to get negative if we lose a few early on.

[francisw]

Aug 2, 2010 14:46:51 GMT junior1 said:

when would be a decent time to judge how we are shaping up? 8 games? 10? 12?

Good question but IF we lost the first three we would all be panicking. Win the first three and a big sigh and obviously satisfied.

Probably best to consider in batches of 5 and hope for 8-10 points per 5.

[Millman]

My take on it is that league 2 is a little better than the conference. The difference will be that there will be a little less physicality, a little more pace, and a bit better finishing. Also the bottom clubs won't be quite as bad as the tiny no hopers that seem to prop up the conference (and who seem to beat us ). Having said that though this league will have a couple of teams who are financially screwed in it and they usually fill the relegation places.

Looking at league 2 this year it does seem a pretty competitive league with some pretty good teams in it. It won't be easy to get to the playoffs.

As for us, I'm pretty sure we are defensively sound and we shouldn't ship too many goals. I'm a little more worried at the other end about the finishing. We still seem very wasteful of our chances, something which you can get away with much less in this league. If we keep Beano fit though we should be ok.

I see us starting quite strongly as the opposition will not be used to the way we play. I worry what will happen come Christmas again (lets hope Wilder does not go change crazy this time, lets hope he has picked a first team ad sticks with it as long as it works). Another thing is we must not do the dropping deep and hoofball thing which blighted our game last year. This is where our new signings are key.

I see us finishing around 10th. Should we get a few breaks and if a few our younger players really push on we could we finish higher. It all hinges on our ability to score.

[thepromisedland]

A lot depends on how we start the season, if we get of to a good start anything can happen as confidence build as we have recently observed, however if we get off to a slow start the doubters will quickly return and we could be in for a dissapointing season.

[Notts Yellow]

I think the big benefit this year is the opposition won't treat their game with us as a cup final everytime.

[one trick Raponi]

League 2's an unknown quantity for us. I've no idea how well we'll measure up. If League 2 hasn't got stronger in our time away then we're capable of a top 10 finish.

If things go really well we could emulate Exeter in making the play offs. Everyone else coming up from the BSP in recent years has consolidated in and around mid table.