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Post by worthingwire on Dec 14, 2023 21:38:09 GMT
After 21 games this season, we sit 6th, with 34 points, W10 D4 L7 F39 A34.
After 21 games last season, we were 8th, with 35 points, W9 D8 L4 F F33 A28, level on points but with two games in hand on Oxford City, who ended up getting promoted.
Plus we got further in the FA Cup this season than we have for donkey's years.
Just thought I'd put this out there as a bit of perspective for the doom and gloom merchants.
Plus it's widely accepted that 'the league is tougher this season'.
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Post by Worthing Scottish on Dec 15, 2023 11:31:55 GMT
After 21 games this season, we sit 6th, with 34 points, W10 D4 L7 F39 A34. After 21 games last season, we were 8th, with 35 points, W9 D8 L4 F F33 A28, level on points but with two games in hand on Oxford City, who ended up getting promoted. Plus we got further in the FA Cup this season than we have for donkey's years. Just thought I'd put this out there as a bit of perspective for the doom and gloom merchants. Plus it's widely accepted that 'the league is tougher this season'. It's such a strange one, but it definitely "feels" like we're doing worse somehow! I can only rationalise it by thinking last year took us all by pleasant surprise, whereas this year we started on fire (eg thrashing Torquay at Plainmoor, luckier results in other early games) before suffering some spectacular heavy defeats (as evidenced by the Goals Against figure). It's great to see it put in perspective by the raw statistics though!
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Post by Phil on Dec 15, 2023 11:58:04 GMT
You also have to factor in last year the sides who joined the league 4 came up and the 2 that joined down were Dover and Weymouth, which as we no neither challenged
Factor that in this year with 3 coming up and 3 down, out of the 3 down - Yeovil/ Maidstone and Torquay who make up 3 of the top 4 this season.
The above shows the league is a hell of a lot stronger this time around, so upon reflection on paper we are not having a bad season at all!!
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Post by Keithsson on Dec 15, 2023 13:03:12 GMT
After 21 games this season, we sit 6th, with 34 points, W10 D4 L7 F39 A34. After 21 games last season, we were 8th, with 35 points, W9 D8 L4 F F33 A28, level on points but with two games in hand on Oxford City, who ended up getting promoted. Plus we got further in the FA Cup this season than we have for donkey's years. Just thought I'd put this out there as a bit of perspective for the doom and gloom merchants. Plus it's widely accepted that 'the league is tougher this season'. It's such a strange one, but it definitely "feels" like we're doing worse somehow! I can only rationalise it by thinking last year took us all by pleasant surprise, whereas this year we started on fire (eg thrashing Torquay at Plainmoor, luckier results in other early games) before suffering some spectacular heavy defeats (as evidenced by the Goals Against figure). It's great to see it put in perspective by the raw statistics though! It does, and that's reason. Sure we had lower and much more reasonable expectations last season but out trajectory was that of a slow unbeaten build with loads of draws ( didn't get our first home win for example until Cheshunt... late Sept/early Oct?... and didn't get our first home Saturday league win until the new year!!). The momentum built gradually and steadily to a crescendo in the play-offs. This season our blistering start then faltering flip/flopping results means the perception of ( and positivity about) our season is vastly different. We may be in and around the same point relatively but the journeys have been so very different... frustrating stop/start as opposed to a growing momentum. Some consistency would therefore be very welcome. Not only to improve our position but to give the fanbase some confidence....confidence that any good results and performances we have are not just another false dawn, that we're not just a game or two away from another capitulation. Its much easier to counter the "doom and gloom merchants" once the doom laden and gloomy results stop reoccurring every few games 😉
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Post by portlandred on Dec 15, 2023 15:14:27 GMT
An interesting debate. I feel that a lot of the ‘disappointment’ of our position and overall performances in the first half of the season are borne out of the higher expectations we had at the start of the season. Hinsh himself openly stated that his signing of a contract extension was due to the clubs ever increasing ambition. Talks with Barry Hunter would no doubt have included how far the playing budget could be stretched in order that we could make a concerted attempt at promotion, whether it be directly or via the playoffs. It goes without saying given the signings that have been made that the playing budget will have increased considerably (maybe by a good 30/40 % I would hazard a guess). Cashman, Luque, Luer, Klass and until recently Rae are not playing for pocket money. All are, or have been quality players who have underperformed greatly so far this season I would suggest. The bench we have fielded this season has more often than not been filled with players who would walk into most NLS sides. We have some what I would call big name players for this level and with that comes the inevitable rise in fans expectations. Player for player I believe that we have the strongest squad outside of the big 3 who came down. That understandably doesn’t always equate to improved league position. I fully believe that Hinsh will ultimately strike upon his strongest chosen line up, as and when he has the whole squad fit and firing. It goes without saying that a consistent line up will boost performance levels and confidence within the team. I can’t remember us playing the same team in consecutive games and there lies the problem IMHO. I fully expect that Hinsh will find the right formula and that we will finish comfortably within the play off places. I understand those who reflect on the club as it was 10 years ago but that was then and this is now. Whether we have the infrastructure to support a national league side or not, the playing squad has most certainly been upgraded with a view to going up this year.
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Post by Keithsson on Dec 15, 2023 17:21:43 GMT
Very well put Portland 👍🏻
No-one should feel bad about having raised expectations this season either... a play-off Semi Final in NLS year one and the pedigree (on paper!) of the summer squad enhancements will inevitably do that.
It's entirely reasonable to feel short changed from that investment too. Sure we are only one point worse off at this stage but context is absolutely everything... for that "30-40% budget increase" and a whole season more NLS experience than we had last time round... we should be doing better than simply matching last season.
If we can say we over achieved last season, which I think we can with a squad very light on NLS experience, then it's surely fair to observe that we're underachieving with a squad now well stocked with NLS experience.
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Post by worthingwire on Dec 15, 2023 18:16:23 GMT
I agree that we probably 'should' be doing better than we did last season, given the investment in the squad over the summer.
But, as people have correctly pointed out, several of the new signings are yet to really show us that they are worth the outlay.
I get the sense from some of Hinsh's post-match interviews that he is frustrated that he hasn't yet got what he paid for, as it were.
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Post by broadwaterred82 on Dec 16, 2023 14:00:07 GMT
The the manager can only do as much he can. . It's up to the players come match to do the business on the field.
Yes it's more of a competitive league this year but lot of the poor results have been of own doing unfortunately.
We still have a hell of a lot of work still to do if we want to go the next level.
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Post by Phil on Dec 29, 2023 11:27:31 GMT
Interesting to see that last season after 24 we were in 7th with 39 points!
So at the turn of year we are in fact better off.
It feels strange as if we are not doing as well somehow, i think its down to last sept/oct we had an awful spell of 6 games 3 draws and 3 defeats, and then we went on a few decent runs. Compared to this year feels like we get beat every few weeks so i guess with them spaced out feels worse somehow.
Anyway we find ourselves in a great position and who knows what will happen in 2024, i for one hope it see's at least 1 3pm Play off game at woodside....
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