Assuming the City are a realistic candidate for an automatic promotion slot (8 Viewers)

[Otis]

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

 

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[Londonccfcfan]

Swindon, mansfield and us will fight for the remaining 2 Autonatic slots.

Swindons business recently has been excellent.

Elsnick returned for then too scored two stunning goals as substitute (on loan from Derby) didnt play vs us.

Richards was excellent business. But again their defence is dodgy.

 

[bawtryneal]

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

Wouldn't it be easier to list who is not in contention.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Yeah, Luton already won it unless something goes drastically wrong, then it's us, Swindon and Mansfield for the other two sports with Notts and Exeter in the playoffs with one of Wycombe Accrington Lincoln and Newport.

If you pushed me now I'd go for final standings of

Luton
Swindon
Cov
Mansfield
Notts
Exeter
Wycombe

 

[stevefloyd]

If we win all of our games nobody will be a threat PUSB

 

[JWC]

Sod it, I think we're gonna win it. Luton will fall off a bit (you heard it here first!)

Top 3

Cov
Luton
Mansfield

 

[smileycov]

Yeah, Luton already won it unless something goes drastically wrong, then it's us, Swindon and Mansfield for the other two sports with Notts and Exeter in the playoffs with one of Wycombe Accrington Lincoln and Newport.

If you pushed me now I'd go for final standings of

Luton
Swindon
Cov
Mansfield
Notts
Exeter
Wycombe

Not sure I agree about Luton, dropped a few points in the last 5/6 games haven't they? We are 10 off them with a game in hand, add in we still have them to play here and we are potentially right up amongst them. Notts, I think will continue to stumble, Wycombe look solid though, and I agree about Swindon and Mansfield.Still too close to call, but we must surely be a good bet for top 3.

 

[Nick]

I'm more confident now for top 3 than I was pre season.

 

[matesx]

Luton score freely and will win the league.

They've scored 66 to our 34!!

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I don't think we will catch Luton, but I believe we can get into the top 3.

Wycombe look strong, as do Mansfield. It's going to be a right old scrap.

 

[rob9872]

Swindon have RCC in goal, so I'm readily dismissing them.

1) Luton
2) Us
3) Mansfield

 

[smileycov]

Last 6 games on current form, still don't think Luton have it sown up as yet.
Pts
1 Wycombe Wanderers 15
2 Crawley Town 15
3 Swindon Town 15
4 Mansfield Town 14
5 Accrington Stanley 12
6 Coventry City 12
7 Exeter City 12
8 Newport County 11
9 Carlisle United 10
10 Lincoln City 9
11 Luton Town 9

 

[mds]

Most are 30 games into the season anyone in the top 10 now is currently a threat.
Dont think anyone is nailed on for promotion (apart from us ) including Luton, game in hand on them plus yet to play them at home, could be within 4 pts of them altho this game is going to be rearranged for later in the season so the 4pts may be irrelevant by the time we play. Feb will be telling we have 5 league games 4 away, all against teams most of us would think we should be winning barring maybe Wycombe, even them we are starting to look to good for.
Worried about no-one but ourselves and how consistant we are, if we dont fail against the weaker sides as we so often have we`ll be laughing at the end of the season!

 

[covcity4life]

love how early in season posters on here rubbished any of talk of auto promotion and now see threads like this

and thats not trolling, its heart warming*




*also shows covcity4life is always right

 

[covcity4life]

mansfield swindon luton and notts country i would say

lincoln,exeter and wycombe playoffs(with 1 of the above joining them obviously!)

likes of accrington,newport etc could easily miss out.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

That top 10 will chop and change so much. I think this will go down to the last day and we have to keep winning. If we win our game in hand then we are only 7pts behind them.

 

[matesx]

it seems you have to keep winning just to tread water

 

[Otis]

I'm more confident now for top 3 than I was pre season.

Weirdly, I am the opposite.

First time today when I am a bit worried. Am usually very optimistic, but we have now been on a very, very good run at home and keep winning. You would therefore expect us to maybe have put a little bit of distance at least from a few clubs, but when you look at the table there are so many clubs right there breathing down our necks. We could still drop several places with a single defeat.

I still think Luton are enough points ahead and will gain one of the top three places and probably the top spot. They are having a bit of a wobble, but are enough points ahead for them to easily turn that round.

I am very concerned about Mansfield. I get the feeling they will be top 3 too.

I do think we need to up our game and have a winning run, a consistent winning run and completely turn our away form around.

At the moment I am a little worried, cos I am not convinced we can keep winning just in order to keep neck and neck with everyone else.

After we went third I thought we could maintain that and put a bit of a cushion between other clubs, but the likes of Mansfield and Swindon have come up on the rails and right into the mix.

I wonder what the state of play was this time last season in the league table. Was it as close a run thing then?

Not saying we cannot get top 3, cos I do think we can, but if it stays this right right up to the wire one defeat could send us plummeting and if that was in the final match we could possibly drop from 3rd to playoffs or even outside.

 

[Otis]

it seems you have to keep winning just to tread water

Yeah. Exactly my feelings.

 

[steve82]

Weirdly, I am the opposite.

First time today when I am a bit worried. Am usually very optimistic, but we have now been on a very, very good run at home and keep winning. You would therefore expect us to maybe have put a little bit of distance at least from a few clubs, but when you look at the table there are so many clubs right there breathing down our necks. We could still drop several places with a single defeat.

I still think Luton are enough points ahead and will gain one of the top three places and probably the top spot. They are having a bit of a wobble, but are enough points ahead for them to easily turn that round.

I am very concerned about Mansfield. I get the feeling they will be top 3 too.

I do think we need to up our game and have a winning run, a consistent winning run and completely turn our away form around.

At the moment I am a little worried, cos I am not convinced we can keep winning just in order to keep neck and neck with everyone else.

After we went third I thought we could maintain that and put a bit of a cushion between other clubs, but the likes of Mansfield and Swindon have come up on the rails and right into the mix.

I wonder what the state of play was this time last season in the league table. Was it as close a run thing then?

Not saying we cannot get top 3, cos I do think we can, but if it stays this right right up to the wire one defeat could send us plummeting and if that was in the final match we could possibly drop from 3rd to playoffs or even outside.

Today's table

Last years table at this point

Final standings

 

[Johhny Blue]

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

Agree

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

Agree 100% with teams and threats.
February has 14 games featuring the current top 10 facing off (I included city v luton) with Mansfield and Swindon having arguably the toughest month each with 4 games against top 10 oppnents. Let's revisit this thread st the end of Feb

 

[steve82]

Portsmouth closed a 14 point gap.

Nothing is certain in this league yet.

Carlise sold Charlie Wyke and they just managed to climb back into the play offs in time.

It's a fine margins league

 

[Otis]

Portsmouth closed a 14 point gap.

Nothing is certain in this league yet.

Carlise sold Charlie Wyke and they just managed to climb back into the play offs in time.

It's a fine margins league

It is. Last season's table at this point is a lot more clearer though with more daylight between the top teams.

This season between 2nd and 8th the gap is just 3 points. This time last season the gap between 2nd and 8th was 13 points.

So much closer this season.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

It is. Last season's table at this point is a lot more clearer though with more daylight between the top teams.

This season between 2nd and 8th the gap is just 3 points. This time last season the gap between 2nd and 8th was 13 points.

So much closer this season.

As more points have been distributed to teams around 6th to 11th! ie more teams in it.

This season you could get an automatic slot from 79/80 points. Not the usual 84 plus for third place.
We just have to concentrate on ourselves and continue picking up the wins.

Win 2 lose 1 scenario gives us 2ppg and will get us to 84 points which should be enough.

Also we havnt drawn a game in a long time (Crawley at home) which I think helps unless you playing a rival its imperitive you don't lose to another top 10 team.

This week sees Luton vs Exeter. Win Win scenario for us. If Exeter Win it drags Luton right into it! and vice versa if Luton wins, its important we stay above Exeter.

 

[Otis]

As more points have been distributed to teams around 6th to 11th! ie more teams in it.

This season you could get an automatic slot from 79/80 points. Not the usual 84 plus for third place.
We just have to concentrate on ourselves and continue picking up the wins.

Win 2 lose 1 scenario gives us 2ppg and will get us to 84 points which should be enough.

Also we havnt drawn a game in a long time (Crawley at home) which I think helps unless you playing a rival its imperitive you don't lose to another top 10 team.

This week sees Luton vs Exeter. Win Win scenario for us. If Exeter Win it drags Luton right into it! and vice versa if Luton wins, its important we stay above Exeter.

Exeter play tonight too, against the City's Saturday opponents, Forest Green.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Exeter play tonight too, against the City's Saturday opponents, Forest Green.

FGR fan tonight. Draw wouldn't be too bad. as long as they drop points.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Exeter play tonight too, against the City's Saturday opponents, Forest Green.

Perfect, they go all out to get 3 points against Exeter and are exhausted for our easy win on Saturday

 

[Otis]

FGR fan tonight. Draw wouldn't be too bad. as long as they drop points.

But then would we want Forest Green to win tonight and boost their confidence for Saturday against us?

 

[rupert_bear]

I think it’s in our hands to be in top three or should I say our owner if MR is allowed to add a couple to our squad as he hopes our squad is as good as any winning yesterday proved that to me let’s be honest we were shite second half but doggedly ground the result out.

 

[Otis]

I think it’s in our hands to be in top three or should I say our owner if MR can add a couple to our squad as he hopes our squad is as good as any winning yesterday proved that to me let’s be honest we were shite second half but doggedly ground the result out.

More shattered than shite Is would say.