Who will be in the top 7

[GTFCfish]

We are over 2/3rds of season's fixtures and the league table has started to settle down.
I'm almost sure Bradford will be in top 7 at season end, but I think they have left it a bit late for auto-promotion.
I am more optimistic for your club's promotion chances than Bet365
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Christ were that bad we don’t even get a price!

 

[masi51]

Christ were that bad we don’t even get a price!

Nope and you wont be getting a price either for next season in lge 2

 

[shoddycollins]

Because bookmakers never compose a book based on emotions. If you think a book is out of line then open your wallet.

Surely though you've got to admit in spite of your optimism that it's surprising some professionals still think we're more likely than Tranmere who are on-form and four points clear into the playoff places with a game in hand and only just outside the automatics.

 

[Kendalcufc]

Surely though you've got to admit in spite of your optimism that it's surprising some professionals still think we're more likely than Tranmere who are on-form and four points clear into the playoff places with a game in hand and only just outside the automatics.

I'm not saying that I agree with the current odds. I was merely pointing out that unlike us fans, bookmakers don't calculate odds based on emotions. They don't make rash judgements based on recent form. They've noticed our downturn in form because our promotion odds have started to slowly drift in recent weeks (and rightly so).

With the games in hand we're still a bit of an unknown animal in their eyes, plus our bad run is "only" 5 games long so far. Couple that with the fact that earlier in the season we've shown ourselves to be capable of a good run and they'll be rightly cautious regarding us.

Bookies tend to err on the side of caution, they're not going to be offering 5/1 about us just yet.

When you've got an emotional attachment to something it is difficult to form impartial opinions. It's why you should never bet on anything to do with your own team.

My optimism has taken a slight beating this last week but I've seen enough over the years to know that we're nowhere near the point to throw in the towel yet.

 

[Kendalcufc]

Remember this table?

How many Nottingham Forest fans at that point thought that they had no chance of claiming automatic promotion?

Sorry Carlisle fans for reminding you all of that particular nightmare.

 

[Robshep]

Nope and you wont be getting a price either for next season in lge 2

What need is there for that.

 

[Robshep]

I'm not saying that I agree with the current odds. I was merely pointing out that unlike us fans, bookmakers don't calculate odds based on emotions. They don't make rash judgements based on recent form. They've noticed our downturn in form because our promotion odds have started to slowly drift in recent weeks (and rightly so).

With the games in hand we're still a bit of an unknown animal in their eyes, plus our bad run is "only" 5 games long so far. Couple that with the fact that earlier in the season we've shown ourselves to be capable of a good run and they'll be rightly cautious regarding us.

Bookies tend to err on the side of caution, they're not going to be offering 5/1 about us just yet.

When you've got an emotional attachment to something it is difficult to form impartial opinions. It's why you should never bet on anything to do with your own team.

My optimism has taken a slight beating this last week but I've seen enough over the years to know that we're nowhere near the point to throw in the towel yet.

The only people who confidently bet are family and friends of jockeys and trainers of horses.

 

[Kendalcufc]

The only people who confidently bet are family and friends of jockeys and trainers of horses.

I know people who own horses, I know people who are related to horse racing trainers, I know people who work for horse racing trainers and I know some actual horse racing trainers.

They might be betting confidently but trust me when I say that they're generally clueless when it comes to knowing when their horses are going to win. I even know of some costly times when a horse was expected to lose but instead won at very big odds.

 

[Robshep]

If son of cod had made that statement......I would not have replied like that, but though he is not in your class as being a prick he certainly is going down that route......now jog on

Still not learned how to respond to anybody like an adult then i see.

 

[Pablosammy]

Still not learned how to respond to anybody like an adult then i see.

Don't poke him, it never ends well. Set to ignore and enjoy the peace.

 

[masi51]

Don't poke him, it never ends well. Set to ignore and enjoy the peace.

quite a few Tranmere on here i have no issues with yes i have called your team Skiprats and have been given as much back......no problem with that.

He just goes to the gutter so i have no problem joining him there

 

[Robshep]

quite a few Tranmere on here i have no issues with yes i have called your team Skiprats and have been given as much back......no problem with that.

He just goes to the gutter so i have no problem joining him there

You live in the gutter.

 

[Robshep]

Don't poke him, it never ends well. Set to ignore and enjoy the peace.

I enjoy exposing his true nature.

 

[Stripes]

We've been reasonably consistent, but when I look at the remaining fixtures, it's scary! You need strength is depth, we have more so this term, but key injuries (we've picked-up a few of those in recent games) may still unstabilise our options in some games in the coming weeks. should come back strong towards the final 6-7 games. Still a bit of a lottery given the teams challenging. Couldn't rule-out anyone from Bradford above and beyond. Another set of very interesting fixtures again tonight.

 

[Robshep]

We've been reasonably consistent, but when I look at the remaining fixtures, it's scary! You need strength is depth, we have more so this term, but key injuries (we've picked-up a few of those in recent games) may still unstabilise our options in some games in the coming weeks. should come back strong towards the final 6-7 games. Still a bit of a lottery given the teams challenging. Couldn't rule-out anyone from Bradford above and beyond. Another set of very interesting fixtures again tonight.

When you consider the size of where you are from its more than you can reasonably expect to be challenging at the top end of League 2. There are much bigger clubs with vastly bigger potential struggling.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Yes I would be signing the petition too. And I would be signing every single season as well because I much rather see my team finish just outside the play offs than actually in them.

This argument is sillier than the one that some fans come up with sometimes, the one about not wanting their sides to go up because they reckon there's a big chance they would be getting smashed game in game out were it to happen Or the one about not wanting to come up from the connie because the L2 forum is not as good as the NL one

You don't consistently see your team lose in play off finals and have to go through the heart break of it year on year. Top 3 ideally, if not, 8th, thank you very much.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Anyway, here's my revised top 3 prediction -

1. Cheltenham
2. Tranmere
3. FGR (who will only get to fill in one of those grey boxes on the back of their shirt on the final day of the season)

Carlisle have already won the league, so how's this possible?

 

[Stripes]

When you consider the size of where you are from its more than you can reasonably expect to be challenging at the top end of League 2. There are much bigger clubs with vastly bigger potential struggling.

You make reasonable points, our immediate surroundings are pretty rural, but for an area covering Gloucestershire at large and beyond, South Gloucestershire for instance, there is plenty of latent interest, probably people interested in sport for sport sake, but without undying loyalty. I would say we have been astute in a number of ways in adding value. We've built-up and good set of sponsors, even in these coved times, keeping a manager that nearly got us relegated at our first attempt in the football league has paid off. (Must be six plus seasons with us now). Investing in bringing in talent that has gone under the radar, plenty of our players have been sold for good money to Championship sides over the last three years or so. (Including arguably our best two players this January). But yes, we should be and are pretty satisfied and very grateful of what we already have. So long as we maintain the vision we can have something to look forward to, even if we got relegated.

 

[masi51]

I enjoy exposing his true nature

Weirdo Alert !

 

[Robshep]

Weirdo Alert !

We sussed you out in september. Its a bit late warning us now.

 

[FGR Stroud]

You make reasonable points, our immediate surroundings are pretty rural, but for an area covering Gloucestershire at large and beyond, South Gloucestershire for instance, there is plenty of latent interest, probably people interested in sport for sport sake, but without undying loyalty. I would say we have been astute in a number of ways in adding value. We've built-up and good set of sponsors, even in these coved times, keeping a manager that nearly got us relegated at our first attempt in the football league has paid off. (Must be six plus seasons with us now). Investing in bringing in talent that has gone under the radar, plenty of our players have been sold for good money to Championship sides over the last three years or so. (Including arguably our best two players this January). But yes, we should be and are pretty satisfied and very grateful of what we already have. So long as we maintain the vision we can have something to look forward to, even if we got relegated.

Mark Cooper was manager of team that was promoted to EFL for 1st time in history.
He signed a 5 -year contract that shortly ends in June.
During his tenure with FGR his teams have had one poor season, immediately after promotion, but brilliant for the rest:- [Okay last season was truncated so unfair comparison].
MC has led FGR to a EFL2 play-off and his team are looking good as I write.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

"I would rather finish eighth than fourth because losing would make me upset" is the most pathetic thing I've seen on this forum, and that takes some doing.

 

[Devon_Lad]

"I would rather finish eighth than fourth because losing would make me upset" is the most pathetic thing I've seen on this forum, and that takes some doing.

Easier said from afar when you dont lose yearly at the national stadium. Fans will know just how devastating it is to go and lose once. It's horrendous.

Multiple that by 3.

It's not nice.

I'd much rather we go up automatically, and we will.

 

[AmberRich]

Easier said from afar when you done lose yearly at the national stadium. Fans will know just how devastating it is to go and lose once. It's horrendous.

Multiple that by 3.

It's not nice.

I'd much rather we go up automatically, and we will.

As a Cambridge fan I can feel your pain. Finishing 2nd in the conference in two consecutive years then losing the playoff finals each time was enough for me to be absolutely sick of the playoffs.

We might have won a final since then but I still absolutely dread the playoffs, just like some Exeter fans I have no confidence in us winning another one.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Another phenomenal win tonight by our crowned champions Carlisle United away to Colchester.

 

[masi51]

I checked out game played and games to play for every team [and it hurts me to say this] but Cheltenham appear to have the best run-in to season end.
They play 4 of the 5 bottom teams at home.
Cambridge have a mixed bag but have played a couple more games than their closest rivals.
Should FGR win all games till end of season they would be become champions. But they are now in middle of an injury crisis after dropping 3 points against bottom team. [That match & result still hurts - well done Southend]
Tranmere have also got a mixed bag but with a strong possibility of auto-promotion.
Bolton's recent run of good form might be over. They've played all the lower teams and now play the top teams.

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Its easy playing those teams near the bottom lol

 

[shoddycollins]

Carlisle have already won the league, so how's this possible?

Is this seriously the only thing you log in to say?

 

[masi51]

Exeter are a small club in a largely rural area of the country that does not have any great football tradition. For a club of their size and history, a sustainable existence in Leagues One and Two, with the occasional promotion thrown in, is success.

You support a club in a football heartland that were founder members of the Football League and has spent much of its history in the top two divisions. The very presence of your club at this level tells a story of abject failure.

How ironic that you constantly patronise and demean clubs in this division that are operating succesfully at their natural level, when the only true failures in this division are Bolton Wanderers.

Failures yea right ffs

 

[masi51]

Hahaha

Face it, Bolton are destined to be L2 fodder until 2100.

line them up

 

[AldosShimmy]

Updated stats
Harrogate aren't on the list yet but feel I may need to add them as a legit leftfield option if they keep their form up.
Mansfield, Crawley, Orient and Scunthrope were on the list 2 weeks ago but seem to have fallen too far adrift to consider. Newport and Carlisle fail to find some form soon and they will disappear from the stats list as their 10 game form PPG, 20 game form PPG and mean PPG/10gameformPPG/20gameformPPG makes it look like they will be a mile off the top 7.