Realistically though

[GreasyChipBeattie]

we really could go up this season.

Even with our current poor points per game return, lots of others have been as inconsistent as us otherwise we wouldn't be within 4 or 5 points of still being able to make it.
With 14 games to go, Billy Blade in good form and possibly one or two additions when the 93 day rule kicks in, I reckon we're in with a really good chance.

After all, it would be a real pisser if we do go on a decent enough run and make it, only to look back and regret all the time we spent moaning and groaning when we could be limbering up for a party finish to the season.

I don't suppose the Dingles thought they'd be considering promotion a few weeks ago but look at them now. So come on Blades, let's try and look at things from a more positive angle and start thinking about our end of season celebrations at Wembley. Come on you red and white wizaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrdds

 

[PeteBlade]

Actually realistically though, to get in and stay in the play offs we'd have to win a large percentage of our remaining games and we've proven we aren't good enough to do that.

And as for loans, the board gave up in January, so I wouldn't expect any incomings.

Don't get me wrong, it would amazing to squeak up this season, even if record low numbers of fans would buy the season review DVD, but sensibly, this won't happen and I imagine the plays offs will be out of sight within the next 3 games.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

we really could go up this season.

Even with our current poor points per game return, lots of others have been as inconsistent as us otherwise we wouldn't be within 4 or 5 points of still being able to make it.
With 14 games to go, Billy Blade in good form and possibly one or two additions when the 93 day rule kicks in, I reckon we're in with a really good chance.

After all, it would be a real pisser if we do go on a decent enough run and make it, only to look back and regret all the time we spent moaning and groaning when we could be limbering up for a party finish to the season.

I don't suppose the Dingles thought they'd be considering promotion a few weeks ago but look at them now. So come on Blades, let's try and look at things from a more positive angle and start thinking about our end of season celebrations at Wembley. Come on you red and white wizaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrdds

Moaning and groaning?

Wait till 12 of the fuckers have taken the option to extend their contracts because we've gone up.

 

[Barney]

Moaning and groaning?

Wait till 12 of the fuckers have taken the option to extend their contracts because we've gone up.

I do hope we're not that badly run we put the players in charge of their own contracts.

 

[PeteBlade]

I do hope we're not that badly run we put the players in charge of their own contracts.

Genuinely wouldn't surprise me.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I do hope we're not that badly run we put the players in charge of their own contracts.

Keep reminding people that Higginbotham extended his, also why not reward a successful promotion team with that option when you sign them, seems sense assuming the player is not shit.

It's the last bit we seem to get wrong.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

There used to be a Blade who stood behind me on the kop [when it was terraced] and shouted COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAAAARDS at the start of the game, then everyone else would go "aaaaaaagh!", "aaaaaaagh!""aaaaaaagh!" one after another. Sometimes it went on for ages.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Actually realistically though, to get in and stay in the play offs we'd have to win a large percentage of our remaining games and we've proven we aren't good enough to do that.

And as for loans, the board gave up in January, so I wouldn't expect any incomings.

Don't get me wrong, it would amazing to squeak up this season, even if record low numbers of fans would buy the season review DVD, but sensibly, this won't happen and I imagine the plays offs will be out of sight within the next 3 games.

I fancy us to make it Pete. At least to the play-offs. Obviously, as we know, there's still a way to go if we do, but I reckon we'll be top 6. I think you're right though. In 3 game's time, things could go the other way and look very different. For at least the next 270 mins of football though, I'm going to picture myself walking back down Wembley way with a huge grin on my face.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

There used to be a Blade who stood behind me on the kop [when it was terraced] and shouted COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAAAARDS at the start of the game, then everyone else would go "aaaaaaagh!", "aaaaaaagh!""aaaaaaagh!" one after another. Sometimes it went on for ages.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

There used to be a Blade who stood behind me on the kop [when it was terraced] and shouted COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAAAARDS at the start of the game, then everyone else would go "aaaaaaagh!", "aaaaaaagh!""aaaaaaagh!" one after another. Sometimes it went on for ages.

I think that started in the 70's HB. A bloke with long hair (usually in a lumberjack type shirt I think) would walk down the steps just before kick off and shout COYRAWW

 

[PeteBlade]

I fancy us to make it Pete. At least to the play-offs. Obviously, as we know, there's still a way to go if we do, but I reckon we'll be top 6. I think you're right though. In 3 game's time, things could go the other way and look very different. For at least the next 270 mins of football though, I'm going to picture myself walking back down Wembley way with a huge grin on my face.

Genuine question, what, that you've witnessed this season makes you think we'll make the top 6?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

A lot could depend on whether the shiny new 3-5-2 system really is a proper fit for this bunch.

 

[Esablade]

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Genuine question, what, that you've witnessed this season makes you think we'll make the top 6?

As I kind of touched on in the thread PB, I think our greatest chance is with the inconsistency of others as much as us 'clicking' with either what we have or with a couple of additions. I don't think what we've seen so far will be how we finish the season with the amount of tweaking that's going on. Hopefully it will click sooner rather than later and then I'll start saving like mad for a half and half scarf and one of those rather attractive jester hats.

 

[PeteBlade]

As I kind of touched on in the thread PB, I think our greatest chance is with the inconsistency of others as much as us 'clicking' with either what we have or with a couple of additions. I don't think what we've seen so far will be how we finish the season with the amount of tweaking that's going on. Hopefully it will click sooner rather than later and then I'll start saving like mad for a half and half scarf and one of those attractive jester hats.

I agree with you about the inconsistency of others in this league however, I think ours will be our undoing.

We're a team that can beat scrape past Port Vale at home and then outplayed at Bury away.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I agree with you about the inconsistency of others in this league however, I think ours will be our undoing.

We're a team that can beat scrape past Port Vale at home and then outplayed at Bury away.

Aaahh, but the team that lost at Bury is a team of the past. We now have a team that, with a little better finishing, would have won handsomely against our last opponents. Kinell, even I'm getting a bit tired of all this positive spin now

 

[Caveblade]

I am with Pete, one win and we talk about the playoffs. I think the top 6 ain't going to change a great deal. It requires others to drop points and us to consistently win, gaining more points than the teams around us. I have seen nothing this season to suggest we have that consistency in the locker.

I would love to be proven wrong.

 

[zablade]

Despite what the top brass says they have written this season off, I think the board took a look at the squad in the transfer window and realised what all sensible fans did.... we are 4 or 5 quality first team players short of a promotion challenging side and they were not prepared to, or not able to, sign that number to make the difference so sealed up the purse strings.

What is concerning me is that when the dead woods contracts run out in June will that still free up enough money for us to bring enough quality in to challenge next season? Jim Phipps foot in mouth honesty about two or three transfer window to sort it out indicates that we probably won't.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Despite what the top brass says they have written this season off, I think the board took a look at the squad in the transfer window and realised what all sensible fans did.... we are 4 or 5 quality first team players short of a promotion challenging side and they were not prepared to, or not able to, sign that number to make the difference so sealed up the purse strings.

What is concerning me is that when the dead woods contracts run out in June will that still free up enough money for us to bring enough quality in to challenge next season? Jim Phipps foot in mouth honesty about two or three transfer window to sort it out indicates that we probably won't.

My take zab is that the top brass had given up on autos but not play offs, which is why we haven't seen any loanees come in yet.

 

[zablade]

My take zab is that the top brass had given up on autos but not play offs, which is why we haven't seen any loanees come in yet.

To keep the playoffs in sight we need seven points out of the next three games minimum, tall order with this squad.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

To keep the playoffs in sight we need seven points out of the next three games minimum, tall order with this squad.

I think 5 or 6 would still keep us up there with others around us dropping points too. Obvs at some point we're going to have to 'out-score' a few around us, but still say it's do-able.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Cov away could end up being a bit tasty.

 

[PeteBlade]

I think 5 or 6 would still keep us up there with others around us dropping points too. Obvs at some point we're going to have to 'out-score' a few around us, but still say it's do-able.

That's another thing we can't really do. Win by more than one goal.

 

[Blade56]

Whilst I would love us to go on a run like pigs did to pip us to promotion I can't believe the change in attitude from storming the directors box, walk outs etc to fancying us for promotion after one unconvincing performance resulting a win.

Hope that run comes but I remain to be convinced it's within the current squad or manager.

 

[Roygbiv]

Can't see the top 6 changing. They have all shown they are better sides than us. We are highly unlikely to go any sort of run because we are every bit as poor as the other sides who keep winning then losing then winning etc

Hope we do it but I don't even look at the results of the teams above us to be honest. I'm resigned to mid table because realistically that is the capability of this squad.

 

[Bladesway]

Genuine question, what, that you've witnessed this season makes you think we'll make the top 6?

I'm going with the fact that when we have played well we have managed to fuck up every play off to date. So by playing shit we should breeze it.

 

[Jehovah]

We have proven how useless we are this season over and over. They occasionally pick up a win and give a little hope, only to lose to shrewsbury and the likes a week later. I'm sure we will lose to Rochdale putting this all to bed. Then there will be the "why did we sack Clough" threads at full time a week on Tuesday.

 

[Dalelane01]

I keep reading the hare and the tortoise to my grandaughter. And what happened in that story? Realistic or what.the blades .sorry the tortoise was victorious in the end the moral to this story its to early to give up yet

 

[Ivanhoe]

There used to be a Blade who stood behind me on the kop [when it was terraced] and shouted COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAAAARDS at the start of the game, then everyone else would go "aaaaaaagh!", "aaaaaaagh!""aaaaaaagh!" one after another. Sometimes it went on for ages.

"A Barrrellll a Laaaaagggerrrr"