Top 6/Promotion Thread

[nelsonpfc]

What do we think the top 6 will look like come the end of the season?

Top 6 currently in decent, rather than spectacular form. Bolton have the most games in hand over Portsmouth, however playing 2 matches a week for a long period of time does take its toll and stretches the squad to its limit.

March in particular is a big month.

Portsmouth play Oxford,Barnsley at home and Peterborough away.
Derby play Bolton at home,
Bolton go away to Barnsley, Derby and Stevenage whilst playing Oxford at home
Peterborough host Stevenage and Portsmouth

I think the top 6 will be as it is as I can't see Stevenage falling away.

My overall thoughts trying to be non bias (Pompey fan) is that Bolton will finish top, Portsmouth 2nd, Derby 3rd Peterborough 4th, Barnsley 5th then Stevenage 6th.

Only reason I think Derby will end up above Peterborough is that Peterborough will more than likey win in the semi final of the EFL trophy and having to rearrange yet another league game will takes its toll on their squad. They don't have a a huge squad especially up front and if they aren't outscoring teams they aren't generally that good at keeping them out at the other end. By all accounts Derby haven't been at their best recently, but they will more than likely gain more points in March due to only playing Bolton out of the top 6.

Blackpool I think are too far out to make a go for 6th

Couple of stand out fixtures in April
Portsmouth v Derby
Oxford V Peterborough
Oxford V Stevenage
Last matches of the season
Barnsley V Northampton
Peterborough v Bolton
Derby V Carlisle
Exeter V Oxford
Lincoln V Portsmouth


If Oxford can get their new signings integrated and going then they could push Stevenage all the way to 6th, but Stevenage without being great just manage to win.

Tough call for playoffs winner. Peterborough concede too many goals for me, Derby not sure they have enough firepower. Could be Barnsley as they are a decent outfit. Wouldn't surprise me if Stevenage end up winning all their matches 1-0 including Wembley

 

[masi51]

View attachment 19736

What do we think the top 6 will look like come the end of the season?

Top 6 currently in decent, rather than spectacular form. Bolton have the most games in hand over Portsmouth, however playing 2 matches a week for a long period of time does take its toll and stretches the squad to its limit.

March in particular is a big month.

Portsmouth play Oxford,Barnsley at home and Peterborough away.
Derby play Bolton at home,
Bolton go away to Barnsley, Derby and Stevenage whilst playing Oxford at home
Peterborough host Stevenage and Portsmouth

I think the top 6 will be as it is as I can't see Stevenage falling away.

My overall thoughts trying to be non bias (Pompey fan) is that Bolton will finish top, Portsmouth 2nd, Derby 3rd Peterborough 4th, Barnsley 5th then Stevenage 6th.

Only reason I think Derby will end up above Peterborough is that Peterborough will more than likey win in the semi final of the EFL trophy and having to rearrange yet another league game will takes its toll on their squad. They don't have a a huge squad especially up front and if they aren't outscoring teams they aren't generally that good at keeping them out at the other end. By all accounts Derby haven't been at their best recently, but they will more than likely gain more points in March due to only playing Bolton out of the top 6.

Blackpool I think are too far out to make a go for 6th

Couple of stand out fixtures in April
Portsmouth v Derby
Oxford V Peterborough
Oxford V Stevenage
Last matches of the season
Barnsley V Northampton
Peterborough v Bolton
Derby V Carlisle
Exeter V Oxford
Lincoln V Portsmouth


If Oxford can get their new signings integrated and going then they could push Stevenage all the way to 6th, but Stevenage without being great just manage to win.

Tough call for playoffs winner. Peterborough concede too many goals for me, Derby not sure they have enough firepower. Could be Barnsley as they are a decent outfit. Wouldn't surprise me if Stevenage end up winning all their matches 1-0 including Wembley

We had a decent 18 man first team squad for the first part of the year. We added another four in January without losing anyone.

We have a lot carrying niggles etc, but i think come the end of January we will be at a good place fitness wise
Dont think anyone has stood out, but i think we will end the season better than we started and if it is the play-offs i fancy our chances this season

 

[bigfatron]

Just please, stop the ‘natural Championship side’ (copyright Darragh MacAnthony) that pollutes our fine county from getting a promotion spot…

 

[K-Win]

There are unconfirmed rumours that new signing CB Tom McIntyre broke his ankle in the challenge that he was sent off for on Saturday against Northampton, and is out for the season joining the man he replaced, Regan Poole.

The red card decision was helped by a bench-led meltdown and Mitch Pinnock rolling around , first to the right and then impressively flipping back again to the left. Obviously he was unharmed and completed the game.

We have cover in Raggett and Towler but it is a blow nonetheless.

Anything can happen in the run in but my prediction is us and Derby for the top two places. Last night's abandonment could really impact Bolton with the number of games they have to squeeze in. Peterborough can score plenty but may be letting too many in. No doubt I'll look stupid come the end of the season!

 

[Carver]

Portsmouth are away to Carlisle next match so it's top v bottom.

If Portsmouth don't win at least 5-0 then they can consider it a disappointing result.

 

[E10rifle]

I’ve been clicking on the mid-table thread but it keeps bringing me here. Is there something wrong with the link?

 

[nelsonpfc]

Portsmouth are away to Carlisle next match so it's top v bottom.

If Portsmouth don't win at least 5-0 then they can consider it a disappointing result.

I'll take a 1-0 OG in the last minute for the win

 

[nelsonpfc]

Peterborough losing at Exter and Bolton having the game called off is a big plus for us. Also see that Derby along with ourselves have more in the treatment room than on the training pitch!!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I’ve been clicking on the mid-table thread but it keeps bringing me here. Is there something wrong with the link?

It should be fixed by around 5pm on Saturday . Fair play to you guys. top of the form table!

 

[K-Win]

Now midfielders Joe Morrell and Terry Devlin are both out for the season. WTF happened to short-term injuries FFS! That's four season-ending injuries since end of December.

Devlin is a youngster who's been on the fringes so we can cope with that. Morrell is a huge loss though. Need to hope that Lowery somehow stays fit (history tells us he won't) and Owen Moxon settles in.

Tom McIntyre's red card from the weekend has been overturned. Pretty pointless as he's broken his ankle anyway.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Now midfielders Joe Morrell and Terry Devlin are both out for the season. WTF happened to short-term injuries FFS! That's four season-ending injuries since end of December.

Devlin is a youngster who's been on the fringes so we can cope with that. Morrell is a huge loss though. Need to hope that Lowery somehow stays fit (history tells us he won't) and Owen Moxon settles in.

Tom McIntyre's red card from the weekend has been overturned. Pretty pointless as he's broken his ankle anyway.

One of ours Jordan Rossiter has been out since December...........2022. Class player but another injury case Barton took a punt on

 

[nelsonpfc]

At current count we have 1 RB, 2 CBs, 3 Central Midfielders, and 2 attacking Midfielders out.

Of which 2CBs 2CM and 1 AM out for the rest of the season

 

[Luke Imp]

Top 5 are done and dusted.

Blackpool's achilles heel is their away form, which puts huge pressure on maintaining their excellent home form and unless the former changes for the better, I don't think home form will be enough.

Can't work Oxford out, it doesn't seem that Buckingham has quite got them going yet? Although I seem to recall reading something that suggested they were overachieving their metrics in the early part of the season under Manning?

 

[SF_]

Hoping Stevenage or Oxford win the play-offs, somewhere different. An Oxford away day would be good.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Been a long time since anyone has said that, enjoy Frankie & Bennies and a home crowd (good bunch in fairness) that can't wait for the day they demolish the place.

 

[K-Win]

Big win today, and one of those weekends where everything seems to go your team's way with Derby, Bolton and Peterborough all dropping points.

 

[GeneralLee]

Top 5 are done and dusted.

Blackpool's achilles heel is their away form, which puts huge pressure on maintaining their excellent home form and unless the former changes for the better, I don't think home form will be enough.

Can't work Oxford out, it doesn't seem that Buckingham has quite got them going yet? Although I seem to recall reading something that suggested they were overachieving their metrics in the early part of the season under Manning?

There’s nothing to work out.

We had something like 11 players out, most of which would typically be in the starting 11. This also culminated in no centre forward to speak of, no wingers for a couple of months and the only substitutes available were centre halves and a holding midfielder. The only offensively minded player on the bench for the last two months went out on loan to Barnet last week. That probably says it all.

It’s been an awful few months on the injury front, not helped by the change in manager. That being said, it looks like we are FINALLY getting some players back to fitness. Hopefully this should see an upturn in form.

 

[nelsonpfc]

Everyone did their part today. Still for us 7 wins from 13 is 90 points which will be probably enough for top 2. Gonna be a hell of a ride with some tasty matches coming up. Just hope we don't run out of fit players before the end of the season. Lost another central midfielder in Lowery today. Down to Pack and Moxam at the moment

 

[91SPP]

13 wins in our last 18 games. The best goal difference in the league. Fewest goals conceded, second most scored.

I’d still put every penny I own on us not finishing in the top two this season.

 

[nelsonpfc]

13 wins in our last 18 games. The best goal difference in the league. Fewest goals conceded, second most scored.

I’d still put every penny I own on us not finishing in the top two this season.

Bolton with those games in hand make it very tough for either of us, but they've looked poor recently. Whoever has the stomach for the fight I suppose. Game down at Fratton Park next month is huge

 

[valefan16]

Its similar to last season really, Portsmouth are probably like Plymouth, bit less fancied than the other two pre season but consistently churning results out at the top, Bolton and Derby your bigger powerhouses financially and chasing relentlessly.

Be interesting to see how it pans out, Bolton seem to be stuttering form wise but digging results out which is positive for them, couldn't call the top 3 as it stands but could be well over 90 points needed again.

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

Its similar to last season really, Portsmouth are probably like Plymouth, bit less fancied than the other two pre season but consistently churning results out at the top, Bolton and Derby your bigger powerhouses financially and chasing relentlessly.

Be interesting to see how it pans out, Bolton seem to be stuttering form wise but digging results out which is positive for them, couldn't call the top 3 as it stands but could be well over 90 points needed again.

Don't worry about it cos it won't involve you. Concentrate on the bottom

 

[K-Win]

couldn't call the top 3 as it stands but could be well over 90 points needed again.

I'm not so sure. Last season was a bit of a freak in terms of points and everyone has repeatedly said that the teams at the top this season aren't as good as Plymouth, Ipswich and Wednesday were.

In fact, 90 points has been good enough in 9 out of the last 10 completed seasons. I reckon it will be good enough this season as the top teams are regularly dropping points.

 

[nelsonpfc]

I'm not so sure. Last season was a bit of a freak in terms of points and everyone has repeatedly said that the teams at the top this season aren't as good as Plymouth, Ipswich and Wednesday were.

In fact, 90 points has been good enough in 9 out of the last 10 completed seasons. I reckon it will be good enough this season as the top teams are regularly dropping points.

We've dropped 9 points to the current bottom five. Bolton got beat at home by Carlisle. Peterborough beaten by Exeter the other week. Not all plain sailing against sides who are in the bottom 4 or just above. Charlton have been a train wreck this season but play the top 3 in a row needing to get some points to now drop into the bottom 4

 

[SF_]

Why are minnows Blackpool featured in the opening post, but not their superiors Leyton Orient?

 

[nelsonpfc]

Why are minnows Blackpool featured in the opening post, but not their superiors Leyton Orient?

To be fair I think Blackpool at the time a few points ahead. Orient are definitely challengers for that last 6 spot. Level with Pompey so far this year with 19 points. There's always a side that creeps in last minute.

 

[SF_]

Really enjoyed Orient away when we were in League One. Big ask considering the sides in the top 6 but they'd be a nice addition to the Championship.

 

[stevowanderer]

I’m definitely starting to get a bit worried now. Thought we were in pole position a few weeks ago before the injuries started to mount up and we accrued the extra games. The spine of our team is now injured. Baxter out for the foreseeable future, Santos injured, Dion now injured. Arguably our 3 best/most valuable players. Along with Thomason now having a 3 match ban. Toal is playing with injections. Randell Williams injured possibly for the rest of the season too. Turning into bit of a nightmare.

I know Pompey have had some rough luck with injuries this season too but I think they will win the league now. They just have that knack of winning even when they don’t play well. Derby also seem to have put together a great run. I think it’s between us and them for second.

 

[K-Win]

As expected, it was yet another hamstring tear for Tom Lowery on Tuesday night. This is a recurring injury for him and usually means 3-4 months out so he can join the other 6 season-enders. It's starting to look like a promising career will be ending prematurely for him which is a real shame.

Very few of our players return after injury, so it's encouraging to hear that Tino Anjorin and Ben Stevenson may return to fitness early March. I'd forgotten they were at the club.

Mousinho has done a pretty remarkable job getting us to where we are with so many long term injuries. If we do get over the line it will be like an F1 car passing the chequered flag running on fumes and on three wheels.

 

[Muzzle]

Why are minnows Blackpool featured in the opening post, but not their superiors Leyton Orient?

Can we please refer to them as Donkey lashers, some might get confused mate