Now for the play offs!

[h]

I for one don't believe in all this tempting fate nonsense, the play offs surely are a certainty now, more so with every week that passes and the only uncertain aspect is surely where we will finish?

To throw it away would be staggering and bloody careless beyond belief and after examining the fixtures I recckon we would need to lose 8 maybe 9 of the last 15 for that to happen and if it did Hats and Staffy should never work again, the entire group of players exiled to Siberia immediately whilst us lot would surely be putting in all our invoices for the resulting stress councelling sessions needed straight into RSP!

Obviously we hope we finish second if only to get at least one and hopefully two home draws, but in truth whilst great for all us supporters I do question in such games if the advantage a home draw brings us is as big as some would believe.

It would be for Kings Lynn I guess as if they were at home they would have a four figure crowd cheering them on and if in the play off final I would imagine the crowd wouldn't be far off 2000 which would give them a huge lift, so if we can lets fnish second just to prevent that possibility

In reality there are only six teams in the mix, possibly seven if you include Leek who even though losing Saturday still have the games to gate crash the top five and as a real saddo have been having a look at the respective fixtures and nothing is clear cut thats for sure.

Initially you would say March will be the key with Halesowen and Belper having to play eight matches whilst us and Kings Lynn have to play nine. The crux though will probably come down to early April when in five days we host both Kings Lynn and Coalville who are surely home and hosed as champions and even though I find a small minority of their followers quite obnoxious at times you have to congratulate them for the superb consistency they have shown thus far

Something else for sure it's going to be tight very tight and some positions, in fact all positions could even be decided on goal difference which currently sees us at +33, Belper +31, Kings Lynn + 18, Sutton +16 and Halesowen +4

All six teams currently occupying those berths in the league are in good form and if you took the last eght games even though there would be a slight change of positions all six would still be there which rarely happens.

So where do you all think we will finish, and who would you like to play or not and why come the end of April?

[h]

Fixture Guide Lines

Stamford;
HOME-Sutton C,New T,Huck, Chasetown, Lough Dy, Kings L, Coalville, Rain M
AWAY- Rom, Belp, Leek, Hales, New T, Sheff, Mickleover

First thing that sticks out is that we have to play each of the five teams in the play off which is a bit of a bummer, and six if you include leek away which is a right poxy mid week fixture,but equally we still have to play the bottom three, something few of our rivals have to

Belper away I am not looking forward to especially after the last game which whilst winning easily turned a little bit nasty with their manager screaming at his players to go through with their tackles, never nice nonsense like that. Am sure Sheffield is an away fixture to which is also going be a real tricky one along side Chasetown still the only team this season to have really given us the runaround

If we win Saturday though on the 3G pitch it at least gives us 8 home matches and only six away which obviously helps when you are playing so many matches

Intersting eh?

[h]

SUTTON COLDFIELD

HOME- Mickl SP, Huck,Rom,Lin, Leek
AWAY- Stam, Mark Dray, Carl, Belper, Gres, Kings Lynn

Initially you would look at the table and say they have played at least four and in the case of KL six games more and are there to be shot at, but the old cliche of having points on the board could ring loudly here and even though they have some really tough away matches to come they also have on paper a group of easy games at home. Could actually stay there I guess?

Our next home match I believe, they will be well up for that one thats for sure

[h]

HALESOWEN

HOME- Lough Dy, Belper, Carlton, Stam, Brigg, Kings Lynn, Lincoln
AWAY- Rom, North Vic, Kidsgrove, Coal, Chasetown, New T, Hucknall

A right mixed bag there but also they still have to play most of the top five and could easily be the team to gate crash the play offs. A really hard March though thats for sure

[h]

BELPER

HOME- Kidsg,Stam,Gresley, Lough Dy, Sutton C, North Vic, Kings Lynn
AWAY- Coalville, Kidsgrove, Halesowen, Leek, Carlton, Mickl Sports, Hucknall, Romulus

One thing that sticks out is their last three away games which could prove to be a real bonus for them, but there last home game againt Kings Lynn, could if their manager continues with his rather 'aggressive' modi operandi be a right interstng game for a neutrals thats for sure but their fixtures do look tough though, probably the toughest and even though have always enjoyed going there and have watched many great matches when doing so, if only because of their manager and his pathetic attitiude, I personally hope they are the ones who miss out

Unlike us, after this Saturday have six home and eight away days which prove to be a factor?

[h]

KINGS LYNN

HOME- New T, Mark Dray, Leek, Kids, Mickle Sport, Sheff, Sutton,
AWAY- Rom, Carlton, New Town,Coal, Chasetown, Market Dray, Stamford,Halesowen, Belper

Even more fascinating when you look at that lot. One thing is for sure is that over the next few weeks it doesn't look as though they will fall away at all with some, again on paper some of the easier matches but then you look to the end of the season and my they have some toughies all on the bounce where they play all of the big boys almost one after the other

This could get really interesting not to mention nerve wracking, and for many of us!

Once Saturday is put to bed though they are left with six home matches and nine away matches which hopefully will not help their cause too much?

[h]

All things considered my predictions are as follows:

1. Coalville
2. Stamford.
3. Kings Lynn
4. Sutton Coldfield
5. Halesowen

I dont believe us or Kings Lynn will lose more than four games and thats only because of the gruelling schedule starting next month and goal difference could be vital for all teams

Boy it we did manager to get KL in the play off final at home, there could possibly be a crowd of nearly 1000 crowd. KL would surely bring 500+ and one would have to hope that all football supporters in the town and many neutrals would pop down for such a match, it culd be really great

It's all exciting stuff isn't eh?

[ctfc88]

Perennial pessimistic Coalville fan here in peace. Shame to hear that you feel some of our fans are obnoxious, we have a small contingent that irritate our own fans.

I'd love for your predictions above to come true but I always am 'glass half empty' when we played Kings Lynn in the infamous vase game I was nervous when we were 5-0 up on aggregate!

I do think Belper will find themselves in the top 6 and Leek will have an outside chance. I think Sutton Coldfield have it tough with their away fixtures.

I hope you do well in the playoffs (unless we're there of course!) There will certainly be some Coalville fans that will go to the final if you're hosting it!

[h]

Your glass can't be half empty my friend it must have been knicked when you weren't watching if you remotely believe you could lose the title, 14 points clear is unasailable even if you had Benitez in charge!

You thoroughly deserve it to. losing two games with the best defence and attack in the league says it all and no-one can argue against it mate. Like you personally I too think Belper will finish in the top sixth, but looking at their fixtures am guessing it will be just and my bold prediction will be they will finish in that heart breaking sixth position

Leek to me as they always seem to do is implode slightly around this time of the season, and like KL with 17 games in ten weeks and having to play nearly all the top teams is always going to make it so hard. Their club and to be fair long suffering fans certainly deserve a chance though thats for sure

As for Coalville, best get the dura git out of the box Sir you most certainly will need it to polish all that silverware

[ctfc88]

I did once play at a decent youth level and always had a mentality that it wasn't over until it was a mathematical certain, I think it's stuck with me as a supporter aswell. It is ours to throw away but until it's done I won't (can't) accept it.

It will be tight for the last 2 places. Us, yourselves and Kings Lynn will make playoffs minimum now, I just think Belper will squeeze in and possibly Sutton Coldfield, Gresley have blown their chance in recent weeks after a very good start.

I hope you’re right. Do you fancy your chances in the playoffs? I think finishing 2nd will make all the difference if only to avoid Kings Lynn’s vast and slightly racist numbers!

[h]

I am expecting you to come back on this morning spreading doom and gloom about last nights draw scuppering your chances lol, but it wont

As I suggested leek also dropped points last night which always seems to happen when you have so many games to catch up with and why I was confident they will yet again miss out.

And you are right about some of the KL fans, even they will admit they have some right knobs (albeit considering their great levels of support a very small minority) supporting them, in fact one of them was arrested after our cup game with them late last year for his antics during your visit a few weeks earlier

Do we fancy our chances of getting through the play offs? Who knows, once there in a one off game scenario, its totally in the laps of the gods. A real flick of a coin job

[Dean]

Interesting thread H. I've been out of the loop a bit recently due to a work trip, but am delighted at the 3 wins on a spin that Hats and Staffy have put together. It's great also that Jordan is banging in the goals, and also great of course that Ricky is back. I'm pleased he's back, but wonder if he realises he made an error of judgement? I presume he's now not on the big contract that he was promised if he stayed, and also i guess he now probably won't get the 40 goals or player of the season that he could have got. Also, he's lost his starting position of course. Anyway, i hope he does well again for us.

As for the play offs, I have to admit that i was worried post Gresh and the 2 defeats in early Jan. Thankfully our form is back and it does look like we should at least make the top 5. I do think we need to finish 2nd if we're going to go up though. I don't fancy us beating KL away in a final if i'm honest. You say it's flick of a coin H in the play offs, but home advantage when you have a big crowd is enough of an advantage to really make a difference. We should have won there on New Year's Day, but the power of their crowd and home advantage helped them to the 2 late goals i'm sure. We wouldn't have lost that game if we were at home, that's for sure.

That said, we'd have a chance at Belper I imagine, and also at Sutton Coldfield. The Sutton Coldfield one is an interesting one as I remember suggesting they have an advantage for having a 3g pitch, and got criticised. I personally have no doubt that it's a big plus for them, and it would make our life harder in a final there. Then again their crowds are woeful so we could outnumber them in terms of support.

On that, when are the play off dates? I presume end of April (the week after end of season?) for the Semis, and then the final on the Bank Hol weekend? I'm best man at a wedding in Thailand that week, but have booked to get back on the Sunday, so blooming hope the final is on the Monday!

[h]

As you raise them Dean I dont think Rik made an error of judgment leaving, more I guess especially with so many offers to consider, on simply where he chose to go, and it simply didn't work out as he hoped and promises made didn't materialise. But hey, losing his starting position had to happen and wont bother him any more than the possibility of missing out on player of the year or 40 goals which he may or may not have got, but one has to assume Hats wouldn't have brought him back, certainly on terms offered for any other reason than to start. That said mate, Jordans hat trick on Saturday was really top drawer and long may it continue as well

I'm with you, playing KL away in the play offs would be very hard and we most certainly wouldn't be favourites thats for sure.

Am actually looking forward to my first 'modern 3G match' Saturday, ironically Rik did all his practice at Arlsey on a 3G pitch and he says he loved it!

I remember when I used to play on them(a little claim to fame there as we were the first people ever to play on one of the old astro pitches, market road, Islington- just a few years ago now!!) I hated it, poxy burn marks that stayed with you all season!

That said they have moved on big time since those days, and it suits tricky mobile players like Hall, Ozzie and Miller down to the ground.

If Sutton do go through though, and I reckon they may yet squeeze in, using it in a play off match does seem a tad unfair doesn't it, in fact whilst the home form of Romulus suggests otherwise it must be a huge advantage for Sutton should they get that luxury

As for dates mate, last week of the season is the 27th April so would assume the play off semi finals would be Tues/Wed of the following week with the final on the Saturday so I fear mate you may miss out.

That said wedding in Thailand or possible play offs in Kings Lynn, hmmmm, that one isn't a flick of the coin Dean!

[h]

As suggested Leek, the leagues perenial under achievers lost yesterday which for the umpteenth time pretty much puts paid to their play off chances and now the battle for the four places is genuinely between five teams

Those five are, certainly have been the leagues most consistent teams for the last 8, 10 games now and after looking at all the above fixtures, can't really see what will change

Hucknalls point against Lincoln yesterday aso proved how competitive the league is. Am not sure unless logiclly they struggle to get a full strength team for away games how they can go from losing 10-0 to drawing 1-1 in a few days, but the warning is there for all teams in al games not to take anything lightly thats for sure

[h]

It said in the NL paperr yesterday that the FA has finally agreed to allow an extra week to complete outstanding fixtures in steps 1-6, thus extending the end of season to May 5th

This is not only sensible, for Dean it could be 'oh happy days' as logically it means they will then extend the play off dates as well. You might be able to make them after all mate

[Deleted]

Ah, "Cornish Tours" might be back in business.......

[tonyf]

Completed your ban Stampy?

[stillfatoldgit]

Welcome back, Stampy.

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2013 15:35:09 GMT tonyf said:

Completed your ban Stampy?

Correct...

Until I upset somebody again!!!

[Dean]

Would be great if that were the case H.....

[h]

I haven't got the precise dates Dean, but if the FA extend the dates for one, then, and this is only an assumption they will be doing it for all

Highlighted I think by Guernsey who have 25 league matches left and at least one and as many as four cup games...no that does involve some bloody travelling, wow!

The other question and perhaps Jeremy or Phil Bee could enlighten us, if the finishing date for all these leagues now sits ton May 5th, is this deadline generic for all teams including those with no fixture pile ups and does it further suggest that the play off semis will then be held the following Tuesday/wednesday with 'all' the play off finals on the 12th?

[philb]

h
sorry mate but as yet i have not heard anything at all from evostik but as soon as i do i will post on here

[h]

Coalville go 13 points ahead, but have played two games more after a 1-1 draw with Belper, and Kings Lynn not for the first time recently managed a last minute winner against against Romulys who they beat 2-1 to go just one point behind us with a game in hand

This could all change in the next ten days as we play Sutton Saturday which will be a real toughie, and Belper play Halesowen a week after that and if the latter win that game, which we obviously hope they do then the play off positions for fourt and fifth placed teams will get very interesting

[h]

As for Kings Lynn, next four games are Newcastle and Market Drayton which one would have to say should go their way whilst inbetween those two and I think both mid week matches are Carlton(A) which wont be easy and then two weeks today a real grudge match agaainst the leaders also away. Could all change very quickly couldn't it

I think our next four matches are Sutton(H), Newcastle (H), Belper (A) which could easily turn into a war if our last match is anything to go by and the Hucknall(H) which I am sure we all hope the team that turned up against Northwich and got thumped 10-0 last week turns up as opposed to the one that got a great 1-1 draw with Lincoln Saturday

[Deleted]

Chasetown 3-0 Loughborough
Coalville 1-1 Belper
Leek T 0-1 Sheffield
Mkt Drayton 2-3 Northwich Victoria
Romulus 1-2 King's Lynn

1. Coalville Town 30 13 2 0 10 2 3 23 4 3 92 28 64 73 0
2. Stamford 28 9 1 3 10 2 3 19 3 6 74 39 35 60 0
3. Kings Lynn Town 27 10 2 2 8 3 2 18 5 4 57 37 20 59 0
4. Sutton Coldfield Town 31 11 2 3 6 3 6 17 5 9 63 47 16 56 0
5. Belper Town 29 8 6 1 6 4 4 14 10 5 67 32 35 52 0
6. Halesowen Town 29 8 3 4 7 1 6 15 4 10 57 50 7 49 0
7. Carlton Town 29 6 3 6 7 2 5 13 5 11 51 45 6 44 0
8. Northwich Victoria 30 5 5 5 7 2 6 12 7 11 67 48 19 43 0
9. Brigg Town 29 7 3 4 5 4 6 12 7 10 50 53 -3 43 0
10. Gresley FC 30 6 2 8 6 3 5 12 5 13 55 59 -4 41 0
11. Leek Town 28 6 3 4 4 7 4 10 10 8 50 43 7 40 0
12. Chasetown 28 7 3 4 3 6 5 10 9 9 52 46 6 39 0
13. Sheffield FC 28 4 3 6 7 3 5 11 6 11 57 58 -1 39 0
14. Rainworth Miners Welfare 30 7 3 5 4 3 8 11 6 13 50 56 -6 39 0
15. Loughborough Dynamo 30 5 3 8 3 5 6 8 8 14 56 54 2 32 0
16. Newcastle Town 28 3 7 5 4 3 6 7 10 11 33 40 -7 31 0
17. Market Drayton Town 30 4 4 7 3 6 6 7 10 13 42 56 -14 31 0
18. Kidsgrove Athletic 31 5 5 5 3 1 12 8 6 17 58 74 -16 30 0
19. Lincoln United 29 4 2 8 3 5 7 7 7 15 49 69 -20 28 0
20. Mickleover Sports 30 2 4 8 3 6 7 5 10 15 37 67 -30 25 0
21. Romulus 30 1 6 8 4 1 10 5 7 18 28 63 -35 22 0
22. Hucknall Town 30 1 2 12 3 2 10 4 4 22 31 112 -81 16 0

[Dean]

I wonder if Kl fancy their chances of finishing top by the way? If we have a chance, then they do too. 3 games without a win for Coalville. Ther bums will be squeaking....

[h]

I have to say Dean you're right their old pedigree chums must surely be flapping. However and boy I would love to be wrong I still cant see them throwing the league away

We have all said, should that be hoped, that they would have a bad patch sooner or later, but up until last week, everyone was still waiting, but unfortunately for us and Kings Lynn I still think they will win it and probably with some degree of comfort as well

KL copied one of our 'I believe'threads for their forums but feel like most of us that we need more than a Caolville blip, we need an implosion

After Saturday i think thry only have five home matches left and am expecting them to drop points nearer the end of the season than now. And of course they are enjoying a good run in 2013 winning seven out of seven

In facts a lot of teams are in the middle of a good run, and all, inclcuding us will inevitably drop points in the weeks ahead, fascinating stuff and more so with the Coalville blip

[h]

If you looked at the current form tables in the last six matches the table would look like this

1. Halesowen
2. Kings Lynn
3. Stamford
4. Belper.
5. Chasetown
6. Carlton

With Kings Lynn and Belper not having lost in the last eight and Halesowen just once in the same period

[markward]

Its going to be an interesting few weeks - squeaky bum time!

[h]

Everything is changing isn't it. No doubt there will be those both here and towards the Norfolk borders who are ringing their hands not just of the play offs but of the championship itself, but to me, though I would loved to be proved wrong obviously, am still not having it, especially as I am never wrong!

Halesowen with seven victories on the bounce and Kings Lynn with eight are defintely the teams in form, but even then, though the facts don't lie, if one stops to examine just who those victories have been against (and from their own supporters, like us they have grinding many a result out) it perhaps puts a different perspective on things

Since the beat us New Years day a match in which they can count themeselves at worse 'fortunate' their victories have all come against the leagues so called lesser teams, certainly none in the play off mix, they are still all to come!!!

Then peep a look at the Halesowen run and the same applies;

Halesowen run over the last seven games

Gresley 9th, Sheffield 13th, Rainworth 14th Loughborough (twice) 15th, and Romulus 21st

Kings Lynn run since NYD;

Northwich Victoria 7th, Gresley 9th, Rainworth 14th, Newcastle 16th, Market Drayton 18th, Lincoln 19th and Romulus (ten men for over an hour and a last minute goal to boot) 21st

Both am sure will drop points over the nxt few weeks in fact I guarantee it. The sage has spoken