The Hotel End
February 07, 2025, 16:27:07 pm
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with username, password and session length
News:
 
  Home Help Search Arcade Downloads Gallery Links Staff List Calendar Login Register Chat  

Play-off watch

Pages: 1 ... 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 28   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Play-off watch  (Read 21600 times)
DavCobb
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2745


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #240 on: February 21, 2024, 11:00:39 am »

I think we will be safe with more than half a dozen games to play.

In real terms I think we are safe now.
Report Spam   Logged
Terryfenwickatemyhamster
Administrator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 6008


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #241 on: February 21, 2024, 11:13:49 am »

In real terms I think we are safe now.

And to say that at this stage of the season, is a testament to the hard work put in by Brady, his coaching/fitness staff, the team, and of course the other staff at NTFC.
Report Spam   Logged

When it comes to advice. I’m the only one to Trust
EB Claret
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1459


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #242 on: February 21, 2024, 11:21:50 am »

It will be a great achievement I agree and all anyone realistically expected.
Is it the limit of our expectations though?
As fans can we not hope for investment to keep us progressing in the right direction?
If we fail to invest and follow the same old story of not being a sustainable league one club with ambitions of progress , what then?
We know what happens
It’s happened before and David bower hasn’t come out with a rallying call telling the fans that things will be different this time and we will show ambition rather than have our usual relegation.
Mind you they haven’t asked for the season ticket money yet.
I’m certainly not getting carried away by staying up as it’s usually the lack of further investment needed (as detailed by KT) that leads us to go in ever decreasing circles.
Il stand by my opinion that if David bower fails to invest in his club or fails to get outside investment and/or business partners to help we will be relegated within the next two campaigns.
Can anyone disagree and if so why?

Can't disagree with much of that and I'm sure most fans harbour the dream of us hitting the heady heights of The Championship.

But... at the moment we are in the third season running where we are probably over achieving. I'm too busy enjoying that to look too far ahead.
Report Spam   Logged
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #243 on: February 21, 2024, 11:29:46 am »

Well lets face it we will never know as we didn't strengthen in January. We could have signed a striker who got 15 goals between January and the end of the season and got us in the play-offs or we could have signed a striker who didn't score a single bloody goal. Like I said, we'll never know. It would be nice to think we will be in the same position again next season but history says otherwise. Plenty of time and games before then.
Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
DavCobb
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2745


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #244 on: February 21, 2024, 11:36:00 am »

And to say that at this stage of the season, is a testament to the hard work put in by Brady, his coaching/fitness staff, the team, and of course the other staff at NTFC.

...and dare I say the owners. You don't get an engaged, high performing set of employees if the owners are sh*t.

They'll have their work cut out again close season with losing a few keys faces, which should be cancelled out with one of them being Hylton.  Tongue
It is going to be an interesting summer break and revised line-up for 2024/25. It'd be great if we can replicate/improve on this season.
Report Spam   Logged
Bingers
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 6904



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #245 on: February 21, 2024, 18:58:47 pm »

Sometimes when you take a girl out for the first time you're hoping if you're lucky you might get a goodnight kiss. It's only as the night develops you'd wish you'd bought some condoms.

There speaks the voice of experience.
Report Spam   Logged

The Hotelend Grand National Sweepstake Champion 2015
WasRambo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3098


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #246 on: February 21, 2024, 21:45:58 pm »

Well lets face it we will never know as we didn't strengthen in January. We could have signed a striker who got 15 goals between January and the end of the season and got us in the play-offs or we could have signed a striker who didn't score a single bloody goal. Like I said, we'll never know. It would be nice to think we will be in the same position again next season but history says otherwise. Plenty of time and games before then.

It's totally reasonable to want more, especially with our history of having /achieving very little.

Putting myself in the owners shoes though, I'd want a few years proven stability in this division. At the same time, sort the ground and periphery out. Once that's all in place Id be more inclined to invest on the playing side to push on.

Imagine this scenario.... We gatecrash the playoffs and go up. I can't imagine many, if any Championship sides with a worse physical infrastructure. It'd be embarrassing off the pitch and probably more so on it as said insufficient infrastructure wouldn't generate the revenue to fund a competitive side
Report Spam   Logged
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #247 on: February 22, 2024, 06:42:35 am »

Yes but a season in the Championship, imagine that, it would be worth it.
Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
Terryfenwickatemyhamster
Administrator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 6008


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #248 on: February 22, 2024, 06:49:56 am »

It's totally reasonable to want more, especially with our history of having /achieving very little.



You could apply that logic to any aspect of life. In fact, I could take your remarks quite personally. Grin Are people as harsh on themselves for not excelling. Or are they more inclined to do so when they haven't got to lose money, or put more time and effort into something. Where do the comparisons stop. As I have said. Taking into account mine and others thoughts about our potential this season. I am more than happy with the current situation.
Report Spam   Logged

When it comes to advice. I’m the only one to Trust
Winslow Lee
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3561


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #249 on: February 22, 2024, 08:15:31 am »

It will be a great achievement I agree and all anyone realistically expected.
Is it the limit of our expectations though?
As fans can we not hope for investment to keep us progressing in the right direction?
If we fail to invest and follow the same old story of not being a sustainable league one club with ambitions of progress , what then?
We know what happens
It’s happened before and David bower hasn’t come out with a rallying call telling the fans that things will be different this time and we will show ambition rather than have our usual relegation.
Mind you they haven’t asked for the season ticket money yet.
I’m certainly not getting carried away by staying up as it’s usually the lack of further investment needed (as detailed by KT) that leads us to go in ever decreasing circles.
Il stand by my opinion that if David bower fails to invest in his club or fails to get outside investment and/or business partners to help we will be relegated within the next two campaigns.
Can anyone disagree and if so why?

Firstly when we have been relegated back to league 2 in the recent past it hasn’t been down to finances making it impossible for us to be competitive. The likes of Accrington, Crewe, Morecambe and Roachdale who we have a significant advantage over managed to stay up at our expense.

In relative terms this season has been a harder campaign as there are none of those very small teams in the league, we are part of a large group of about probably 8-10 teams that have in around the same level of resources. Probably to the extent that potential transfers are as much about location and how the club is sold to the player as finance between this group.

As we proved in the past with the Chinese money, spending significantly beyond our income is still no guarantee of anything as we were relegated anyway. You just need to look at the league table this season with Charlton struggling to survive and Fleetwood bottom of the table despite having/had players including Marriott, Stockley, Broom, Mayor, Vela and Tshimanga, the sort of bigger name, bigger wage, ‘league 1 players’ that many of our fans were envious of and would have wanted us to sign.

The truth is next season is likely to be even harder. Does that mean we should be demanding the owners spunk away a load of their own money so the club runs beyond it means, pay wages that can’t be covered by income, even though this guarantees nothing. We know this isn’t going to happen anyway and the owners are going nowhere until the development is complete so people can constantly whine about it as much as they like and call out anyone who doesn’t agree as lacking ambition but it’s all pointless.

We are where we are this season because the club has done a lot of things right. We have assembled a hard working team with good character. For once we kept a promotion team together with the club being proactive with contracts and developed a reputation for bringing on loan players. We have kept faith with a manager when at various times there have been odd calls for his head. There have been way too many teams throwing money at things and just expecting success but that’s when the focus goes away from being a well run club and making those numerous small gains. My focus now would be on why we are getting so many injuries and how we can bring through more youth players.

We might go down in the next two seasons, it won’t be easy but there is no reason it should be inevitable and the more things we continue do right the less likely it is.
Report Spam   Logged
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #250 on: February 22, 2024, 09:06:19 am »

Firstly when we have been relegated back to league 2 in the recent past it hasn’t been down to finances making it impossible for us to be competitive. The likes of Accrington, Crewe, Morecambe and Roachdale who we have a significant advantage over managed to stay up at our expense.

In relative terms this season has been a harder campaign as there are none of those very small teams in the league, we are part of a large group of about probably 8-10 teams that have in around the same level of resources. Probably to the extent that potential transfers are as much about location and how the club is sold to the player as finance between this group.

As we proved in the past with the Chinese money, spending significantly beyond our income is still no guarantee of anything as we were relegated anyway. You just need to look at the league table this season with Charlton struggling to survive and Fleetwood bottom of the table despite having/had players including Marriott, Stockley, Broom, Mayor, Vela and Tshimanga, the sort of bigger name, bigger wage, ‘league 1 players’ that many of our fans were envious of and would have wanted us to sign.

The truth is next season is likely to be even harder. Does that mean we should be demanding the owners spunk away a load of their own money so the club runs beyond it means, pay wages that can’t be covered by income, even though this guarantees nothing. We know this isn’t going to happen anyway and the owners are going nowhere until the development is complete so people can constantly whine about it as much as they like and call out anyone who doesn’t agree as lacking ambition but it’s all pointless.

We are where we are this season because the club has done a lot of things right. We have assembled a hard working team with good character. For once we kept a promotion team together with the club being proactive with contracts and developed a reputation for bringing on loan players. We have kept faith with a manager when at various times there have been odd calls for his head. There have been way too many teams throwing money at things and just expecting success but that’s when the focus goes away from being a well run club and making those numerous small gains. My focus now would be on why we are getting so many injuries and how we can bring through more youth players.

We might go down in the next two seasons, it won’t be easy but there is no reason it should be inevitable and the more things we continue do right the less likely it is.

The one thing I would add to this, the examples of Accrington, Crewe, Morecambe and Rochdale are good ones, we would expect to be above them all and indeed we now are. So in our rightful place in that regard.

The example of Charlton, well they are undoubtedly a bigger club and we would expect them to be higher than us in the football echelon. This season they are not, indeed they may even get relegated. However what I have learnt studying the history of football, you can pretty much guarantee that in the not too distant future, Charlton will once again be above us. It's all about being in your traditional rightful place. We are at our peak now or at the top of the roller-coaster if you like. Inevitably we will descend again, hopefully on a gentle slope and Charlton will climb. The ONLY way these things change are massive investment. Bournemouth would be the perfect example, we were pretty much on their level throughout most of our history, Brentford too. Without that investment we're destined to stay where we are and continue the ride between tiers 3 & 4 of the football league. If you were frozen today and was brought back in 50 years time and they gave you the football league tables, I bet you would notice hardly any difference.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2024, 09:15:21 am by TPFKA Marvo » Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
Winslow Lee
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3561


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #251 on: February 22, 2024, 09:33:31 am »

The ONLY way these things change are massive investment.
Luton?
Report Spam   Logged
DavCobb
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2745


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #252 on: February 22, 2024, 09:38:02 am »

The one thing I would add to this, the examples of Accrington, Crewe, Morecambe and Rochdale are good ones, we would expect to be above them all and indeed we now are. So in our rightful place in that regard.

The example of Charlton, well they are undoubtedly a bigger club and we would expect them to be higher than us in the football echelon. This season they are not, indeed they may even get relegated. However what I have learnt studying the history of football, you can pretty much guarantee that in the not too distant future, Charlton will once again be above us. It's all about being in your traditional rightful place. We are at our peak now or at the top of the roller-coaster if you like. Inevitably we will descend again, hopefully on a gentle slope and Charlton will climb. The ONLY way these things change are massive investment. Bournemouth would be the perfect example, we were pretty much on their level throughout most of our history, Brentford too. Without that investment we're destined to stay where we are and continue the ride between tiers 3 & 4 of the football league. If you were frozen today and was brought back in 50 years time and they gave you the football league tables, I bet you would notice hardly any difference.

You're right on the money element but I'm not sure the tables will necessarily resemble the ones around 50 years ago in 50 years time.
Leeds and Derby winning the 'Prem', Carlisle and Man Utd relegated, QPR chasing the title, Orient in the 'Championship' play off positions. Plenty of teams such as Workington and Southport.

Let's hope we are more 'Orient' than 'Workington'.

Throw enough money at anything and it will be successful...maybe not Salford....that's the only thing we really have, a big town and catchment area. The are ample big and successful clubs we could replicate.
Examples of Luton achieving it on a relative shoe string are few and far between.
Report Spam   Logged
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #253 on: February 22, 2024, 09:52:43 am »

You're right on the money element but I'm not sure the tables will necessarily resemble the ones around 50 years ago in 50 years time.
Leeds and Derby winning the 'Prem', Carlisle and Man Utd relegated, QPR chasing the title, Orient in the 'Championship' play off positions. Plenty of teams such as Workington and Southport.

Let's hope we are more 'Orient' than 'Workington'.

Throw enough money at anything and it will be successful...maybe not Salford....that's the only thing we really have, a big town and catchment area. The are ample big and successful clubs we could replicate.
Examples of Luton achieving it on a relative shoe string are few and far between.

If you go back exactly 50 years, of the 44 clubs in the top two divisions, 37 are still there. 6 are in League 1 and one (Swindon) are in league 2. Of the 6 that are in league 1, Derby & Portsmouth could well return this season (even Oxford) making the figures even more static. Clubs rise and fall but overall stay where they are/belong.
Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
EB Claret
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1459


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #254 on: February 22, 2024, 10:16:54 am »

If you go back exactly 50 years, of the 44 clubs in the top two divisions, 37 are still there. 6 are in League 1 and one (Swindon) are in league 2. Of the 6 that are in league 1, Derby & Portsmouth could well return this season (even Oxford) making the figures even more static. Clubs rise and fall but overall stay where they are/belong.

Interesting. A little dose of realism for us all there!
Report Spam   Logged
DavCobb
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2745


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #255 on: February 22, 2024, 10:36:32 am »

If you go back exactly 50 years, of the 44 clubs in the top two divisions, 37 are still there. 6 are in League 1 and one (Swindon) are in league 2. Of the 6 that are in league 1, Derby & Portsmouth could well return this season (even Oxford) making the figures even more static. Clubs rise and fall but overall stay where they are/belong.

So 7 out of 44 weren’t. Not bad odds on our chances again one day. Without the likes of non-league Luton dipping in/out of the Prem and Leicester winning the title. It’s what makes football unpredictable and great.
Report Spam   Logged
Winslow Lee
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 3561


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #256 on: February 22, 2024, 10:45:18 am »

So 7 out of 44 weren’t. Not bad odds on our chances again one day. Without the likes of non-league Luton dipping in/out of the Prem and Leicester winning the title. It’s what makes football unpredictable and great.

I love that Chelsea continue to keep pillaging Brighton but remain below them.
Report Spam   Logged
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #257 on: February 27, 2024, 22:28:25 pm »

They can talk all they like but Orient won’t make the playoffs.

You 100% certain? Up to 8th and just 5pts off the play-offs now having beaten a play-off rival tonight. I hope they do it because we were ahead of them when everybody wrote us off as having no chance.
Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
TPFKA Marvo
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2796



View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #258 on: February 27, 2024, 22:58:03 pm »

Lincoln City, after making several signings in January, are another side on a surge, 13pts from a possible 15. They are also hoping for sides to slip up above them. Bolton & Derby both lost tonight, their second defeats on the bounce. It's hotting up.
Report Spam   Logged

Managers like Bowen and Wilder* are rare to come by! Whether we like it or not Jon Brady is the only recent Manager who can possibly follow in their* footstops!

We should stick with him, as at the moment he is our only hope of survival as a EFL Club!
GrangeParkCobbler
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 9947


View Profile
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #259 on: March 12, 2024, 21:39:33 pm »

Lincoln City, after making several signings in January, are another side on a surge, 13pts from a possible 15. They are also hoping for sides to slip up above them. Bolton & Derby both lost tonight, their second defeats on the bounce. It's hotting up.

January 1st, we were 9th, Lincoln were 11th.....4 points behind us having played a game more. Tonight as they currently sit 6-0 up against Cambridge they are 8 points ahead of us now having picked up 26 points from their last 12 games, unbeaten since New Years Day.
Report Spam   Logged

The Hotel End GTA Champion 2006/07, 2007/08, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2018/19 and 2023/24
Pages: 1 ... 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 28   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Parental guidance is urged as this messageboard may not be suitable for all persons especially those under the age of 16 as the forums may contain words, phrases and expressions not considered appropriate for a younger audience so please express caution. If any posts in the forums offend you, please let us know and we will look at them and if we agree with your complaint, we will remove them. You are personally responsible and potentially liable for the contents of your posting and may be sued should your posting contain content of a defamatory or other illegal nature. Every message posted leaves a traceable IP number. We check the forums at various times of the day and remove offending posts. Other supporters are welcome but abusive or silly posts will be removed and the offenders potentially barred from future access to the site. We advise that you never reveal any personal information about yourself or anyone else (for example: telephone number, home address or email address), and please do not include postal addresses of any kind. This messageboard is not endorsed or in any way affiliated with Northampton Town FC. All postings on this board become copyright of The Hotel End & may not be reproduced without the permission of the board administrator. By signing up to this message board you agree to this. The Hotel End cannot be held liable for the actions or postings of its members. The Hotel End reserve the right to edit, delete, move or close any thread for any reason. The Hotel End may disclose user information to government authorities at their discretion or when required by law. The Hotel End may also disclose user information when The Hotel End has reason to believe that someone is causing injury to or interference with its rights or property, other The Hotel End users, or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities. By registering for The Hotel End, you agree to indemnify The Hotel End its representatives, and agents, and hold them harmless from any and all claims (including claims for legal fees) which may arise from your participation on the The Hotel End. You also agree that The Hotel End is not responsible for the materials posted by users of The Hotel End. In addition, you grant The Hotel End and its affiliates, worldwide, royalty-free perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display any message or content posted on The Hotel End and/or e-mail sent by you to The Hotel End (in whole or in part). The Hotel End reserves the right to make the rules up as it goes along. Thank you - The Hotel End I love Quidco
Bookmark this site!
Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy