Post by Amber Aleman on Jan 20, 2010 23:10:56 GMT
We've now reached the halfway point in our league programme, though thanks to the weather it's taken until the second half of January to get there. 
Last season we were at this stage after the 2-0 win at Colston Avenue on 27 December.
Many people at the club may think that this season's team is better than last season's. Unfortunately the statistics tend to suggest the opposite - although the picture is not clear-cut.
Let's start with the numbers that matter most. After 21 games last season we were 7th with 35 points. This season we're 9th with 30 points. So no sign of progress there.
More alarming is our home form. A year ago we had yet to lose a league match at GGL (and only lost one all season). This season we've already lost five at home. And we've lost nine league games in total, three more than a year ago.
Last season there had only been three matches in which we'd failed to score. This season there have been six.
But there is some evidence of improvement. One area where we're ahead of last season is goal difference, then +3 and now +9. You may think that's because we've been scoring more goals, but in fact our goal tally at the halfway point is only one higher than in 08/09 (32 then, 33 now). The main difference has been in goals conceded (29 then, 24 now).
We are winning more games decisively; this season we've already won 4-0, 4-1, 5-0 and 3-0. Last season our best result was a solitary 3-0.
In summary, we've been more inconsistent this season, capable of turning on the style in some matches but struggling to find the net in others. In 08/09 we were more of a solid side, unable to win spectacularly but quite difficult to beat.
So what are the prospects for the second half of the season? One thing is clear - if we want to make the play-offs then we have to get more points than in the first half. I'd say we need a minimum of 36 points from the next 21 matches - that's at least 12 points from every seven games.
There are three teams that we've already played twice (Hornchurch, Wealdstone and Carshalton), and you might say they're collectively a tougher bunch than the three we've yet to play (Billericay, Cray and Harrow).
We do have a difficult run of fixtures in February, when we play the top two over the first two Saturdays, and later face trips to Tooting and Ashford, two other teams currently above us in the table. But our run-in doesn't look too challenging. As things stand, eight of our last ten matches are against sides now in the bottom half of the table (though with Boreham Wood away still to arrange). That looks encouraging - but will this still evolving Sutton team be good enough to take advantage?
Last season we were at this stage after the 2-0 win at Colston Avenue on 27 December.Many people at the club may think that this season's team is better than last season's. Unfortunately the statistics tend to suggest the opposite - although the picture is not clear-cut.
Let's start with the numbers that matter most. After 21 games last season we were 7th with 35 points. This season we're 9th with 30 points. So no sign of progress there.
More alarming is our home form. A year ago we had yet to lose a league match at GGL (and only lost one all season). This season we've already lost five at home. And we've lost nine league games in total, three more than a year ago.
Last season there had only been three matches in which we'd failed to score. This season there have been six.
But there is some evidence of improvement. One area where we're ahead of last season is goal difference, then +3 and now +9. You may think that's because we've been scoring more goals, but in fact our goal tally at the halfway point is only one higher than in 08/09 (32 then, 33 now). The main difference has been in goals conceded (29 then, 24 now).
We are winning more games decisively; this season we've already won 4-0, 4-1, 5-0 and 3-0. Last season our best result was a solitary 3-0.
In summary, we've been more inconsistent this season, capable of turning on the style in some matches but struggling to find the net in others. In 08/09 we were more of a solid side, unable to win spectacularly but quite difficult to beat.
So what are the prospects for the second half of the season? One thing is clear - if we want to make the play-offs then we have to get more points than in the first half. I'd say we need a minimum of 36 points from the next 21 matches - that's at least 12 points from every seven games.
There are three teams that we've already played twice (Hornchurch, Wealdstone and Carshalton), and you might say they're collectively a tougher bunch than the three we've yet to play (Billericay, Cray and Harrow).
We do have a difficult run of fixtures in February, when we play the top two over the first two Saturdays, and later face trips to Tooting and Ashford, two other teams currently above us in the table. But our run-in doesn't look too challenging. As things stand, eight of our last ten matches are against sides now in the bottom half of the table (though with Boreham Wood away still to arrange). That looks encouraging - but will this still evolving Sutton team be good enough to take advantage?