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Post by Amber Aleman on Feb 10, 2011 10:38:12 GMT
We've now played 28 of our 42 league fixtures, and the two-thirds stage in the season sees us sitting eight points clear at the top of the table, with the best goal difference to boot. We've got 58 points. At the same stage last season we had 47, while Dartford had 64.
Our success has been built on a great start to 2010/11. We drew our first match 0-0 at Concord Rangers but then won our next seven league games, conceding only four goals. We led the table after our 3-0 win at Tooting on 30 August. Our form did dip during October and November as we lost at Kingstonian and Margate and drew at home against Cray and Tonbridge, although the goalless draws at Lowestoft and Harrow now look decent results. We lost the league leadership after the 1-0 defeat at Kingsmeadow but regained it after another 3-0 away win, this time against Maidstone. That was in early November and we've held the lead since then. We remain undefeated at home.
We had a rather shaky January, dropping five points against Tooting and Horsham, then again against Concord and Bury Town, but four straight wins since have seen us strengthen our position. The defence has tightened up again with only one goal (a penalty) conceded in those four games.
Dos has said he's targeting 10 wins from our last 14 matches. If achieved, those 30 points plus a couple from draws would give us my target of 90 points at the season's end. We've got tough matches coming up against Lowestoft and Tonbridge, sandwiching a trip to free-scoring Hendon. But if we can avoid defeat against the two title challengers, the championship will surely be ours to lose. Of our last eleven games only one is against a side currently higher than eighth (Bury at home) and four are against sides in the bottom five.
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Post by Andy K on Feb 10, 2011 11:15:38 GMT
Bearing in mind this time last season, the title race looked all but over with Dartford having 6 more points than we do shows how well we are doing this season, and how much tighter the league is this year. If we'd beaten K's and Bury (two games we should never have lost due to varying reasons) we'd be on the same points total.
I think AA has raised a good point about our defence recently - we've not let a goal in in open play since Bury on 21 Jan and we've started scoring more. In terms of scoring we're not in the same league as Harrow at the moment, but then we don't need to be. Winning by single goal margins will do us. Regardless of who we play, and you may think i've lost it, but we could actually win ALL our remaining games. We already know that teams are going to come to GGL and 'shut up shop' - getting a draw against us is a good result for any team at the moment, especially those mid table and below. Going away, we have a good record at Tonbridge, and them aside and potentially Hornchurch, a lot of the others are winnable (including away games at relegation threatened Folkstone and Aveley). And barring weird weather, next Wednesday sees our final evening kick off of the season, which could have a great effect on performances - one game a week will allow time for the inevitable knocks to heal, and players not to burn out.
I'm still convinced we will win come the end of April. Like I have been all season.
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Post by garethl on Feb 10, 2011 11:55:00 GMT
You're right, I think you've lost it!
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Post by os on Feb 10, 2011 12:55:38 GMT
The way I see it, is that every 3pts we take now is 10% towards the title. I also feel that the arrival of my little mascot Jenny holding baby may also be spurring the side on to a new level
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Post by manchesteru on Feb 10, 2011 13:13:02 GMT
Great post again AA. Personally speaking, the reaction to the Bury game could be the turning point to the season, re-setting our title charge something that was stumbling. But the nest 10 days are key. 6 points from Lowestoft and Hendon and a point at Tonbridge well leave us with a strong run at the title.
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Post by dontpanic on Feb 10, 2011 16:29:47 GMT
Please, one game at a time. I cant stand all this pressure!
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frakey
1st team Player
Posts: 1,757
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Post by frakey on Feb 10, 2011 19:01:57 GMT
FFS, there's a quarter of the season to go yet - anything could happen. Far too early to start talking about being champions. Anyone who remebers the '81/2 season, will not even be considering this yet.
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Post by Del on Feb 10, 2011 19:13:31 GMT
Soooooooooooooooo negative!
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frakey
1st team Player
Posts: 1,757
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Post by frakey on Feb 10, 2011 19:38:00 GMT
I call it being realistic. It's not a wonder that so many other clubs in the RPL think we're arrogant.
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Post by garethl on Feb 10, 2011 19:55:37 GMT
I think it's unrealistic to expect fans not to get excited given the position we are in. If we can't enjoy being in the running then what is the point?!
Who cares what any other side in this league think? We are not popular in the Rymans and that is not going to change.
Some comments I agree are a bit OTT mind! No names mentioned!
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Post by Andy K on Feb 11, 2011 1:54:49 GMT
If thats aimed towards me, theres only one comment i've made that you could consider OTT but that is we could win all our remaining games. I'm pretty sure Dos will be going out to win every single game remaining, and some teams will be doing their level best to stop that. But its aspirational rather than a statement of fact. I've got enough faith in the team to believe they can do that, and thats something I've not felt at Sutton for a long time. If the side turns up and plays like they did at home to Concord then it won't happen. But if its the side going out to play like they did against Hornchurch, Cray, Carshalton, Maidstone, Wealdstone etc then its possible. The players are there, and most of the time that attitude is there.
But frakey is right. Its not our title yet. And it won't be our title until its mathematically impossible for any team to catch us. Its not arrogance, and yes we can be beaten, its happened already. I'm personally convinced we will win the title. And I have been all season. Thats a personal opinion, and all else I've said is a statement of fact.
In the meantime, i'm going to carry on doing what I've been doing all season - being positive about United as a team and a club, impressed with our squad, taking each game as it comes, and most of all enjoying this. With the possible exception of 1999, I've not enjoyed a whole season this much, and I can't wait for the next game.
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taz
Top Performer
Posts: 3,760
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Post by taz on Feb 11, 2011 10:06:19 GMT
To anyone getting ahead of themselves, I'll remind you we were 10pts clear in 1998, before collapsing inexplicably and finished 3rd behind K's & Boreham Wood.
It can still go all Devon Loch. Until we're mathematically there, it's one game at a time.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Feb 11, 2011 10:30:05 GMT
I don't think anybody's counting chickens. But with the momentum built up over the last twelve months, it would be a big disappointment if we were to lose the leadership in the final third of the season.
After the play-off debacle last April, most of us realised that if we want to get back into Conference South then we've simply got to win the Ryman League. The play-offs are too much of a lottery. Finishing top is a real challenge, but one everybody at the club seems up for.
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frakey
1st team Player
Posts: 1,757
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Post by frakey on Feb 11, 2011 12:26:15 GMT
Who says I'm not enjoying it. I haven't felt like this in a long time but I've seemna few disapointments since watching U's in 1969 (many highs too) and I think taking one match at a time is a far safer approach than gazing into a crystal ball.
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Post by Del on Feb 11, 2011 17:37:32 GMT
I seem to have completely forgotten 1998 and don't remember it at all!Was it Ryman or Conference South?
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