Which game is bigger?

[BanbridgeBlade]

Between this Saturday v Scummy or next weeks against Bolton??

For me it's Bolton, while it would be amazing going up as champions I would like a bigger gap to 3rd especially with their games in hand.

Heart says 6 points from the 2 games, head says if we lose to scummy but beat Bolton it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Would it??

 

[S64 Blade]

I'd say Saturday without a doubt. It's the first of the two games. Win that and if results go our way regarding Bolton, it piles the pressure on them further.

 

[bartman]

Between this Saturday v Scummy or next weeks against Bolton??

For me it's Bolton, while it would be amazing going up as champions I would like a bigger gap to 3rd especially with their games in hand.

Heart says 6 points from the 2 games, head says if we lose to scummy but beat Bolton it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Would it??

22/23 points should see us promoted. All the games are just as big as each other and it doesn't matter who we get the points against

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

22/23 points should see us promoted. All the games are just as big as each other and it doesn't matter who we get the points against

No, the next 2 games are the most important for many reasons that I'm surprised you can't see

 

[Pierre's PC]

 

[bartman]

No, the next 2 games are the most important for many reasons that I'm surprised you can't see

Why are they more important than the other games ? We could lose the next two and win the following ten. It is about getting the points any way we can.

 

[SwissBlade]

I think its an extremely obvious statement to make, but the championship won't be won or lost based on the results of the next two games. But taking the two games in isolation and ignoring the other 44 games of the season, then i think the Scunt game is more important.

If we get a decent result (draw or win) then it maintains our gap between us and Scunt. Bolton play Bradford on Saturday, which won't be easy for them either.

As for the Bolton game, as long as we don't lose, then we again maintain our advantage.

The next two games are really about maintaining the lead we have, if we lose both, things get tight again, but we have a little buffer which allows for this and its really not going to be a time to panic if we drop a possible 6 points.

I'd expect us to pick up 4 points from the next two games. Most probably a win against Scunt and a draw with Bolton.

Get the two games out of the way and then focus on pushing on again for the rest of the season

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The first one. Then the second one is the most important. One at a time. And Millwall are coming strong, we need to be wary of them.

 

[SwissBlade]

Why are they more important than the other games ? We could lose the next two and win the following ten. It is about getting the points any way we can.

Exactly. The next two games will be a bit of a distraction and will most likely be less predictable. but our overall season form will be maintained in the other games after these two.

If we win these two it makes the rest of the season a little more simple and we'd need fewer wins than if we lost... but thats obvious.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

The first one. Then the second one is the most important. One at a time. And Millwall are coming strong, we need to be wary of them.

Agree about all the games being important but I was merely focusing on the next 2 & the fact they directly impact teams next to us getting points.

Personally, I'm not worried about Millwall. If we lose a 14 point gap to them then there will be others who have gone past us & we'll be about 5th!!

 

[Kenilworth]

I think its an extremely obvious statement to make, but the championship won't be won or lost based on the results of the next two games. But taking the two games in isolation and ignoring the other 44 games of the season, then i think the Scunt game is more important.

If we get a decent result (draw or win) then it maintains our gap between us and Scunt. Bolton play Bradford on Saturday, which won't be easy for them either.

As for the Bolton game, as long as we don't lose, then we again maintain our advantage.

The next two games are really about maintaining the lead we have, if we lose both, things get tight again, but we have a little buffer which allows for this and its really not going to be a time to panic if we drop a possible 6 points.

I'd expect us to pick up 4 points from the next two games. Most probably a win against Scunt and a draw with Bolton.

Get the two games out of the way and then focus on pushing on again for the rest of the season

Pretty much what I was going to put.
The two games in isolation means a positive result in the first one is more desirable. It pushes Scunny back more and could damage their morale. If we get the 3 points then it also maintains the gap to Bolton and they have to play 2/3 of their remaining games away from home.

They'd both love to be in the position we are.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Bolton for me. Beat them and it'll knock the wind right out of their sails for the auto-promotion bid.
Although I've got my eye on the rest of the chasing pack too.

 

[metalblade]

The way I see it only the top four teams are in with a chance of automatic promotion Fleetwood 9pts behind us played 32 like us could run us close but it would be a big ask. Bolton 7pts behind but 2 games in hand but they have yet to win them. Scunthorpe 5pts behind 1 games in hand but they have yet to win it. Win our next two games and it will be very difficult for anyone to catch us, win one of our next two would make it hard for anyone to stop us finishing in the top two. All the time the others are running out of games which is just increasing the pressure on them, we are in the driving seat it really is ours to lose so not too interested in what others are going to do are what they say they are going to do.

 

[SwissBlade]

Bolton for me. Beat them and it'll knock the wind right out of their sails for the auto-promotion bid.
Although I've got my eye on the rest of the chasing pack too.

I don't think it will though, they're not going to give up on the back of a defeat to the top of the table, if thats going to happen its going to be when the mathematical possibility of catching us has all but disappeared.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

The next game is not only the most important,but it's the only game that matters,whoever theopponent is.
When that is over then the next game becomes the most important,whoever the opponent is. When that one is over then the next... I think you can see where this is going. And thankfully so does Tufty.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

I don't think it will though, they're not going to give up on the back of a defeat to the top of the table, if thats going to happen its going to be when the mathematical possibility of catching us has all but disappeared.

I can see where your coming from, but, flip it the other way & you can't say beating us wouldn't give them a huge lift for the run in having closed the gap. Likewise, if we build a bigger gap it deflates the chasing teams & gives us the cushion & lift to relieve pressure for the next few games

 

[SwissBlade]

I can see where your coming from, but, flip it the other way & you can't say beating us wouldn't give them a huge lift for the run in having closed the gap. Likewise, if we build a bigger gap it deflates the chasing teams & gives us the cushion & lift to relieve pressure for the next few games

It depends when the game falls in the season, still 14 games to go, more than a quarter of the season left, by the time we get to the end of the Bolton game there will STILL be 12 games left, again, a quarter of the season left.

Of course if we win both games and they lose both thats a bigger gap than today, but its not impossible and they can still believe they have a chance of promotion.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I don't think it will though, they're not going to give up on the back of a defeat to the top of the table, if thats going to happen its going to be when the mathematical possibility of catching us has all but disappeared.

Oh I agree, but it'd still give us a significant advantage, psychologically if nothing else.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

The Scunthorpe game is fractionally more important.

Lose and we (as supporters) will panic about the Bolton game. Win and it gives us the luxury of not necessarily having to beat Bolton for it to have been a good return.

It's similar to the Peterborough and Bristol Rovers scenario. Take maximum points from the first game and then you can afford to make changes/drop points.

 

[Rusty view]

My feeling is Bolton may stay the pace longer than Scunny. Therefore we need as much a gap as possible over 3rd. With this thinking I'd rather us beat Scunny and draw to Bolton (presuming I'm not allowed to say win both). IF we were to beat Scunny and Bolton win Sat, Bolton would move above Scunny.

Suppose the main aim is get through the next 2 without losing and it won't be too bad.

I've got a feeling we may see BDTBL rocking again on Saturday. (and that's not due to the piles being drilled for the new apartments.)

 

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

lots more twists and turns to come yet, keep an eye on Millwall chaps

 

[TJB.]

I'm firmly in the 'every game is a big game' camp. A slip against Scunny is equally as plausible as a slip against Oxford or Millwall.

One thing I do know is that I'm VERY much looking forward to both games, and brings 'em on is what I says. I couldn't say that about any games around this time last year.

Cheers, Chris.

 

[Esablade]

Scunny for me. It's the next game and they seem to be stumbling a bit....could be a turning point either way for them, not been out of the top two for ages.

UTB!

 

[SwissBlade]

Oh I agree, but it'd still give us a significant advantage, psychologically if nothing else.

I'm the opposite, i think it will give us a points buffer, nothing else

 

[Barney]

Why are they more important than the other games ? .

Because wins would directly prevent our closest rivals in the table from getting any points in a way that wins in any of the other games would not?

 

[frechyblade]

One game at a time. Next one is the most important one, though I'm not confident of us winning either as we haven't managed to beat any of the top 6 this season. As others have said, 2 draws would do to maintain the gap and then pick up the points against the lower placed teams.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Between this Saturday v Scummy or next weeks against Bolton??

For me it's Bolton, while it would be amazing going up as champions I would like a bigger gap to 3rd especially with their games in hand.

Heart says 6 points from the 2 games, head says if we lose to scummy but beat Bolton it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Would it??

Both over 90 minutes?

Same size?

 

[Revolution]

Scunthorpe have 1 point in 9. Beating them on Saturday would give them 1 point in 12 and put us 8 points clear of them - and they might drop to 3rd.

To me, that would be a huge result.

Plus if we win Saturday and Bolton lose, there is less pressure on us the following week.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Scunthorpe have 1 point in 9. Beating them on Saturday would give them 1 point in 12 and put us 8 points clear of them - and they might drop to 3rd.

To me, that would be a huge result.

Plus if we win Saturday and Bolton lose, there is less pressure on us the following week.

You must be a Vulcan.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Why are they more important than the other games ? We could lose the next two and win the following ten. It is about getting the points any way we can.

Because if we lose those two, our nearest rivals automatically each gain 3 points on us (and possibly 6 if they each win their game when we’re playing the other). If we win the next 2, we also guarantee that our nearest rivals lose that week. Hence the term “6 pointer”. If we win any other game, we don’t affect how many points Scunny and Bolton pick up, in these games we do.


That’s before all of the psychological elements that can come with it. Beat these 2 and it will be extremely difficult for them to pick themselves up and believe that they can catch us whilst we will be absolutely buzzing after seeing off our biggest threats. Lose them both, then they have momentum and we’re under a lot of pressure all of a sudden.