Anyone else starting to worry about fixture pile-up ?

[alpine_saint]

We've played 3 or 4 games less than most of our promotion competitors. And we still have to play most of them as well.

 

Taking someone like Lallana out for a 3 or 4 week stretch could pay huge dividends for one of our promotion competitors.

 

We need to be careful here. The next two months are going to be like a minefield...

[Saint_clark]

Wasn't it you that suggested we don't play as well on the weekend when we don't have a midweek game? Apologies if not.

[scott_saints]

No.

[farawaysaint]

I agree with Alps, and it's not just me, a few of our rivals are rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of us playing two games a week for the rest of the season. If one of our key players gets injured instead of missing 3 games, all of a sudden it's six and at the wrong end of the season to.

[aintforever]

I don't think the pile up will help.

[SNSUN]

Depends. Hit form straight away and the games can't come soon enough. Struggle for form initially, and confidence could be dented, and then we'd be desperate for a break.

 

We have a good squad, no reason why we can't rotate it a bit to give tired legs a break. Jaidi, for instance, would almost definitely struggle to play 4 matches in 11 days.

[S-Clarke]

It's not ideal, but if any squad is equipped to deal with it - it's us.

 

So let's see what happens.

[Turkish]

I think people need to stop getting themselves at it. You are talking about 2 or 3 games over a two and a half month period. The squad is big enough to cope, provided NA rotates to keep everyone fit and fresh, which he is capable of doing. If you get on a good run everyone is desperate to play all the time, it's called momentum. Brighton have exactly the same amount of games to play as us, do you think their fans are sh*tting themselves about it?

[Leicestersaint]

I am getting quite concerned about the log jam - we are liable to pick up injuries with an intensive run of matches.

[alpine_saint]

I think people need to stop getting themselves at it. You are talking about 2 or 3 games over a two and a half month period. The squad is big enough to cope, provided NA rotates to keep everyone fit and fresh, which he is capable of doing. If you get on a good run everyone is desperate to play all the time, it's called momentum. Brighton have exactly the same amount of games to play as us, do you think their fans are sh*tting themselves about it?

 

They already have a jump on everyone else points-wise of approximately 2 or 3 games. The analogy (as many of yours are) is completely wide of the mark.

 

In my opinion we cannot afford to drop points very often from now on, and we are going to play more games than any other team chasing 2nd place over the next two months.

[skintsaint]

I've got more important things to worry about. I've got a yoghurt to finish by today.....the expiry date is today.

[alpine_saint]

Wasn't it you that suggested we don't play as well on the weekend when we don't have a midweek game? Apologies if not.

 

No it wasnt, but its all good; you are not the first person the throw other people's mud at me.

[benjii]

I would rather be in our position that Bournemouth's, Charlton's or Huddersfield's.

 

It's in our hands.

[eastleighhalo]

worry ye not .. as long as we get into a winning habit the points will come thick and fast... we will be like a well oiled machine ...the strength in depth thing will hopefully show its worth as well . I once managed a side in the old Hampshire league div 1 and we had 17 games to play in 6 weeks .. we won 14 and drew 3 of them to win the title coming behind from about 7th place pipping the likes of Netley Central , Blackfield and Langley, Fleetlands and Moneyfields in the process .. ah they were the days lol

[alpine_saint]

I would rather be in our position that Bournemouth's, Charlton's or Huddersfield's.

 

It's in our hands.

 

Yes it is, but the other teams arent going to make it easy for us.

 

For example, we still play Bournemouth - how much could they benefit if they try to take Lallana or Rickie out ?

[Saint_clark]

Yes it is, but the other teams arent going to make it easy for us.

 

For example, we still play Bournemouth - how much could they benefit if they try to take Lallana or Rickie out ?

 

Jason Pearce goes in two footed on Lambert, injures him for a couple of weeks and gets sent off. Bournemouth have to play a youngster at CB in their next 3 games and lose all of them.

Meanwhile we replace 37 goal Rickie Lambert with 25 goal Lee Barnard.

[benjii]

Yes it is, but the other teams arent going to make it easy for us.

 

For example, we still play Bournemouth - how much could they benefit if they try to take Lallana or Rickie out ?

 

I agree. That is a very astute observation. Likewise, how much we will benefit if we take one of their players out?

 

As usual your view is completely skewed and lacking any sensible justification.

[farawaysaint]

I agree. That is a very astute observation. Likewise, how much we will benefit if we take one of their players out?

 

As usual your view is completely skewed and lacking any sensible justification.

 

What's with jumping on Alps guys? I agree with the man, where's my online beat down?

[Appy]

Not worried as we can't do much about it.

[Turkish]

Yes it is, but the other teams arent going to make it easy for us.

 

For example, we still play Bournemouth - how much could they benefit if they try to take Lallana or Rickie out ?

 

Obviously not, they aren't going to roll over for us, i dont really see what you are trying to say. All teams that want to be successful and win things have to contend with playing other teams who want to win the same thing as them. Do you think Man utd fans are worrying that when they play Chelsea they might break Rooneys leg because it will benifit them to do so? Very much doubt it.

[Toadhall Saint]

Tis a good point Alps but we should have enough in the squad to overcome. My concern is that everyone thinks the points are in the bag and thats a very dangerous mind set.

[Turkish]

They already have a jump on everyone else points-wise of approximately 2 or 3 games. The analogy (as many of yours are) is completely wide of the mark.

 

In my opinion we cannot afford to drop points very often from now on, and we are going to play more games than any other team chasing 2nd place over the next two months.

 

Well done you for spotting that teams that win things dont drop points very often. It's an extra 3 games over a 2 1/2 month period, we have your cover players you pleaded for to deal with exactly this scenario, what's the problem?

[benjii]

What's with jumping on Alps guys? I agree with the man, where's my online beat down?

 

Don't even get me started on you. You big smelly fanny.

[rallyboy]

not worried yet, there are swings and roundabouts to postponed fixtures.

Rochdale may lose their current momentum and be an easier game, Charlton won't be looking forward to two games against us now that their form has slipped, Bournemouth will reflect on two dropped points yesterday and they all know we are right behind them - that brings pressure.

 

And we have planned for this scenario, we have depth in the squad for when things get busy, and most important of all, Lallana is enjoying extra recovery time.

 

I couldn't believe how everyone has been winning at the top and we just couldn't make progress - well some of them have cracked now.

 

Win a couple on the trot and we could become an unstoppable steamroller - 6 points a week would change the look of the table very quickly.

It won't be easy, but our position has improved in two games without us having to do anything.

 

Happier with the table than I was a fortnight ago.

[Thedelldays]

not that bothered seeing as many of the results have gone our way lately......we have to make the most of it...

we have some VERY winnable games coming up...sooooooo

 

also, we might actually beat swindon in a couple of games time..which will be nice (at last)

 

now, how do wrap lallana up in cotton wool so he does not get injured again..keep him fit and we will win many more games..he is so good

[NickG]

games in hand are looking better as other teams drop points

 

we seem to play very very well in midweek

 

we seem to play better on Saturday when play in midweek

 

we have strongest squad in division

 

Lallana, Schneiderlin are only just back and hopefully will be fitter and in better form when play re-arranged games

[Saint_clark]

games in hand are looking better as other teams drop points

 

we seem to play very very well in midweek

 

we seem to play better on Saturday when play in midweek

 

we have strongest squad in division

 

Lallana, Schneiderlin are only just back and hopefully will be fitter and in better form when play re-arranged games

 

Not forgetting our away form is better than our home, and most of our remaining games are away.

[um pahars]

Get on a run, get some confidence and a feeling of invincibility and move quickly through the games picking up points.

 

Of course the worry is injuries, travelling etc could see us bogged down.

 

Personally think it is a bad thing, but not much we can do about it.

[VectisSaint]

The plus side is that Lallana was out for several weeks but missed less games than he would have done if games had not been called off. Spiderman should also be fit and DC is also apparently fit agian after a hernia op. I think that means we have a fully fit squad apart from Bart who we have replaced temporarily anyway. Doubt many other teams who have played the extra games have a fully fit squad and one of such depth as ours. All teams should be more than capable of playing twice per week at this stage in the season, especially those who have had more rest recently.

 

Incidentally currently we only have 5 "double game weeks", but I suspect that some fixtures are still to be rearranged, including Rochadal of course. When you look at that the backlog is not that significant.

[trousers]

Not worried about playing 2 games a week as we seem to thrive on it.

 

I am however slightly concerned that Saint Clark mixed me up with poor old Alps.... ;-)

[Charlie Wayman]

I have a number of issues about this.

 

First of all. it is not equitable that we have to play teams who cannot guarantee the preparation of a pitch suitable for a game in any weather conditions when these same clubs have the exceptional benefit of being able to visiting SMS in confidence that neither they nor their fans will have a wasted expensive journey to the other end of the country and then being treated to what is probably the best playing surface in the UK. The FA must act on this even if necessary to the point of fining these errant clubs out of business. Guaranteeing a playable pitch in all conditions should be a very minimum standard for entry into the Football League. How many times would you invite friends to dinner if all they ever did in reciprocation was to buy some fish & chips from the local grease station. Yu get my point!

 

Second, yes I am worried about the piling up of away fixtures as the season draws to a close. When players are naturally exhausted as the season wears on and injuries take their toll, the last thing we need is a running sequence at 3-day intervals of long distance energy sapping away days in the far north. This will most definitely put us at an extreme disadvantage to those around us who are pacing themselves nicely through their fixtures and putting points and goals into the bank. I don't want us to be in the situation where we are (say) 14 points behind second place with 5 games in hand all away at the end of the season. It would be surely a recipe fraught with disaster.

 

Right now we are in a bad run of form so a postponement does at least offer respite to allow Schneiderlin, Lallana and Hammond to regain full match fitness. On the other hand match fitness usually depends on playing matches: and ****ing around at Staplewood on sun-beds with a beach ball is no substitute for real action and it will be easy for us to go rusty and have to start the old engine up from cold all over again.

[trousers]

I have a number of issues about this.

 

First of all. it is not equitable that we have to play teams who cannot guarantee the preparation of a pitch suitable for a game in any weather conditions when these same clubs have the exceptional benefit of being able to visiting SMS in confidence that neither they nor their fans will have a wasted expensive journey to the other end of the country and then being treated to what is probably the best playing surface in the UK. The FA must act on this even if necessary to the point of fining these errant clubs out of business. Guaranteeing a playable pitch in all conditions should be a very minimum standard for entry into the Football League. How many times would you invite friends to dinner if all they ever did in reciprocation was to buy some fish & chips from the local grease station. Yu get my point!

 

 

Simple solution to that....don't mix with the riff raff in the first place...now, back to your analogy... ;-)

[VectisSaint]

I have a number of issues about this.

 

First of all. it is not equitable that we have to play teams who cannot guarantee the preparation of a pitch suitable for a game in any weather conditions when these same clubs have the exceptional benefit of being able to visiting SMS in confidence that neither they nor their fans will have a wasted expensive journey to the other end of the country and then being treated to what is probably the best playing surface in the UK. The FA must act on this even if necessary to the point of fining these errant clubs out of business. Guaranteeing a playable pitch in all conditions should be a very minimum standard for entry into the Football League. How many times would you invite friends to dinner if all they ever did in reciprocation was to buy some fish & chips from the local grease station. Yu get my point!

'Twas ever thus, I'm sure in the past we had plenty of games postponed at The Dell. The Football League (not the FA anyway) will never do any such thing. I think (please correct me if wrong) some of our postponements this season have been at home anyway (due to snow) so should we have been fined? Charlton away was postponed, hardly the other end of the country or some tin pot club. Is Rochdale actually the first postponement for us this season due to waterlogged pitch?

Second, yes I am worried about the piling up of away fixtures as the season draws to a close. When players are naturally exhausted as the season wears on and injuries take their toll, the last thing we need is a running sequence at 3-day intervals of long distance energy sapping away days in the far north. This will most definitely put us at an extreme disadvantage to those around us who are pacing themselves nicely through their fixtures and putting points and goals into the bank. I don't want us to be in the situation where we are (say) 14 points behind second place with 5 games in hand all away at the end of the season. It would be surely a recipe fraught with disaster.

Given our players haven't played that much recently why would they be exhausted? Unless Hartlepool is also postponed I don't see any reason why we would be 5 games in hand of anyone, and all of our rivals are dropping points left, right and centre. We also don't have a huge sequence of long distance 2 games a week fixtures. Our away trips include such northern outposts as Charlton and Plymouth!! Although we do still have to go to Hartlepool (oh hang on the players are already up there) and Rochdale. Walsall is hardly the frozen north (probably closer than Plymouth)

Right now we are in a bad run of form so a postponement does at least offer respite to allow Schneiderlin, Lallana and Hammond to regain full match fitness. On the other hand match fitness usually depends on playing matches: and ****ing around at Staplewood on sun-beds with a beach ball is no substitute for real action and it will be easy for us to go rusty and have to start the old engine up from cold all over again.

I must have missed some of our bad results, where is this bad run of form? Lost 1 and drawn 2 of our last 9 league games, 20 points from possible 27, 2.22 points per game, if that is bad form then bring it on.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about our run-in

[Ewell]

I would rather be in our position that Bournemouth's, Charlton's or Huddersfield's.

 

It's in our hands.

 

In a nutshell.

 

The pile up is a slight concern and nothing more.

[Hamilton Saint]

We've played 3 or 4 games less than most of our promotion competitors. ...

 

Well, no.

 

If you look at the top 8, we've played the same number of games as Brighton; one less than Charlton; and two less than Huddersfield and Peterborough.

 

We've played three less than Bournemouth and Oldham; and four less than MK Dons.

 

So that's not "3 or 4 games less than most of our promotion competitors". It's three out of seven teams - so that's some , not most of our competitors.

 

Just to be exact about this!

[MarkSFC]

Why worry about something toy have no influence over or can't be changed?

 

The players and coaches will have to deal with it. I've heard many players over the years comment that playing Sat/Tues Sat/Tues is actually a benefit, especially when you are winning and in order to gain promotion , whenever the games happen to fall Saints have to win at least 11 or 12 out of 18 I imagine.

 

We have a good squad so as long as we don't lose 2 or 3 "main" players at once for a few games we will definitely finish top 2.

 

Chillax and enjoy it Alpine!

[VectisSaint]

Chillax and enjoy it Alpine!

Interesting and very unusual use of the words "enjoy" and "Alpine" in the same sentence

[Window Cleaner]

In a nutshell.

 

The pile up is a slight concern and nothing more.

 

Agreed, especially as some of the others are giving us a hand up with awful results just now.

[simo]

Not really we still have a chance to take points off both Bompey and Brighton

[Window Cleaner]

Bookies aren't anyway. They seem to have decided that it's all over bar the shouting.

 

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one/promotion

[The9]

Just so we're actually arguing about the facts, the dashes indicate free midweek slots (one of which will be Rochdale Away) :

 

Tu 22Feb 2011 Hartlepool A

Sa 26Feb 2011 Swindon H

Tu 01Mar 2011 Walsall A

Sa 05Mar 2011 Colchester A

Tu 08Mar 2011 Yeovil H

Sa 12Mar 2011 Bournem'th A

Tu 15Mar 2011 -

Sa 19Mar 2011 Sheff Wed H

Tu 22Mar 2011 Charlton A

Sa 26Mar 2011 Plymouth A

Tu 29Mar 2011 -

Sa 02Apr 2011 MK Dons H

Tu 05Apr 2011 Charlton H

Sa 09Apr 2011 L Orient A

Tu 12Apr 2011 -

Sa 16Apr 2011 Bristol R H

Tu 19 Apr 2011 -

Sa 23Apr 2011 Brighton A

Mo 25Apr 2011 Hartlepool H

Sa 30Apr 2011 Brentford A

Tu 03May 2011 -

Sa 07May 2011 Walsall H

 

As there's no "good" time to go to Rochdale away, personally I'd be angling for April 12th, sandwiched between a not-so-far trip to Orient and lowly Bristol Rovers at home...

 

And far from "every" midweek, we've got 4 free midweek slots left even after Rochdale's rearranged.

[Window Cleaner]

Just so we're actually arguing about the facts, the dashes indicate free midweek slots (one of which will be Rochdale Away) :

 

Tu 22Feb 2011 Hartlepool A

Sa 26Feb 2011 Swindon H

Tu 01Mar 2011 Walsall A

Sa 05Mar 2011 Colchester A

Tu 08Mar 2011 Yeovil H

Sa 12Mar 2011 Bournem'th A

Tu 15Mar 2011 -

Sa 19Mar 2011 Sheff Wed H

Tu 22Mar 2011 Charlton A

Sa 26Mar 2011 Plymouth A

Tu 29Mar 2011 -

Sa 02Apr 2011 MK Dons H

Tu 05Apr 2011 Charlton H

Sa 09Apr 2011 L Orient A

Tu 12Apr 2011 -

Sa 16Apr 2011 Bristol R H

Tu 19 Apr 2011 -

Sa 23Apr 2011 Brighton A

Mo 25Apr 2011 Hartlepool H

Sa 30Apr 2011 Brentford A

Tu 03May 2011 -

Sa 07May 2011 Walsall H

 

As there's no "good" time to go to Rochdale away, personally I'd be angling for April 12th, sandwiched between a not-so-far trip to Orient and lowly Bristol Rovers at home...

 

And far from "every" midweek, we've got 4 free midweek slots left even after Rochdale's rearranged.

 

12th April is the most likely date, Rochdale don't have anything that day either, plus they're at home on the 16th .

[RobM]

I am. If you look through the teams we have to play, we should do fairly well against most on our day. But two games a week, almost every week until the end of the season is a lot. Fortunately, we have a good sized and very competitive squad. But then on the flip side, we have all been crying out for a consistent team selection for the last few years, so it's going to be very hard to achieve that.

 

The other thing to consider is it's far more likely that we will pick up injuries when games are so regular, with so little recovery time inbetween. As we saw with Lallana, in some positions we are one injury away from a bad spell and with the fixture list looking as it does, a two week injury could mean four games out.

[sandwichsaint]

Just so we're actually arguing about the facts, the dashes indicate free midweek slots (one of which will be Rochdale Away) :

 

Tu 22Feb 2011 Hartlepool A

Sa 26Feb 2011 Swindon H

Tu 01Mar 2011 Walsall A

Sa 05Mar 2011 Colchester A

Tu 08Mar 2011 Yeovil H

Sa 12Mar 2011 Bournem'th A

Tu 15Mar 2011 -

Sa 19Mar 2011 Sheff Wed H

Tu 22Mar 2011 Charlton A

Sa 26Mar 2011 Plymouth A

Tu 29Mar 2011 -

Sa 02Apr 2011 MK Dons H

Tu 05Apr 2011 Charlton H

Sa 09Apr 2011 L Orient A

Tu 12Apr 2011 -

Sa 16Apr 2011 Bristol R H

Tu 19 Apr 2011 -

Sa 23Apr 2011 Brighton A

Mo 25Apr 2011 Hartlepool H

Sa 30Apr 2011 Brentford A

Tu 03May 2011 -

Sa 07May 2011 Walsall H

 

As there's no "good" time to go to Rochdale away, personally I'd be angling for April 12th, sandwiched between a not-so-far trip to Orient and lowly Bristol Rovers at home...

 

And far from "every" midweek, we've got 4 free midweek slots left even after Rochdale's rearranged.

 

'Never let the facts ....' etc.

[The9]

we are one injury away from a bad spell and with the fixture list looking as it does, a two week injury could mean four games out.

 

The flipside being the injuries we've already had have already caused players to miss fewer games than they might have.

 

Something else I've just noticed, in 4 of the 5 available Tuesdays we've got a home game on the following Saturday (and an away game the weekend before).

Edited 20 February, 2011 by The9

[Window Cleaner]

I am. If you look through the teams we have to play, we should do fairly well against most on our day. But two games a week, almost every week until the end of the season is a lot. Fortunately, we have a good sized and very competitive squad. But then on the flip side, we have all been crying out for a consistent team selection for the last few years, so it's going to be very hard to achieve that.

 

The other thing to consider is it's far more likely that we will pick up injuries when games are so regular, with so little recovery time inbetween. As we saw with Lallana, in some positions we are one injury away from a bad spell and with the fixture list looking as it does, a two week injury could mean four games out.

 

2 points a game is all we need, 36 points from 18 games is very,very do-able, we can even afford to lose a few.

The opposition have shot themselves in the ass of late so they've really handed it to us on a plate.

 

Can't see us not winning any of our home games so that's 24 points already.12 points from 10 away games should really be a piece of p*ss.Provided we thump the crap we could even afford to lose 4/5 of those games.Far too much is being made of Bournemouth, sure they're up there but only because they've played so many more games, 54 points from 31 games just ain't great

plus they're dodgy away from home. I wouldn't be surprised if Sheff W tonked them on Tuesday and put and end to their automatic promotion hopes.

[Professor]

More games at the end of the season could be to Saints' advantage if some of the other clubs we play may no longer have anything to play for.

[Turkish]

We have the probably the biggest and best squad in the division, the most money, the biggest fan base and promotion in our own hands. It's not like our games in hand are against teams far superior to us, it's not like a premier league side fighting relegation having two games in hand but them being away to Chelsea and Man United, we should win them all. If we dont go up, then it wont be because of playing a couple more games than our rivals over the final three months of the seaon, it'll be our own fault.

[Deppo]

I am literally sh*tting myself about it.

[Deppo]

Not literally, of course. But I literally am.