The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

The play-offs of course. With Wrexham (twice), Luton, Crawley, AFCW, Kidderminster, Grimsby and Mansfield games still to come, I personally don't think we'll have the quality to make the play-offs this season. We're just too inconsistent and we've had to chop and change the side too much for my liking (injuries), but if we can have a tilt at it it'll be a great effort. This has been the youngest side I've seen us put out for many a year and that inexperience has cost us. The good thing is that if we can keep the side together it can get better as it ages.
Prediction ;- 8th

Personally, i think we have a very good squad that over time will improve. It's all well beating the likes of AFC Wimbledon and Grimsby, but it counts for nothing when we lose to the likes of Barrow. If Justin buys well in the summer and keeps the core of the squad, then i think we will have a good chance next season.

This season however, no chance. After the Gateshead loss i realised our chances went from a slight possiblilty to nothing. This season has not been easy off the pitch, next season will be a fresh start with no distractions and i expect to be pushing towards the play-offs.

We have ever chance of making the Playoffs at this present time will still in the hunt for that final playoff spot, whether we go up is a different question and i fear that il be no, as if we do make it the squad could be so tired and out of it we could see a performance like Oxford away last year in the play offs where no one really turned up !!

If we can put a little run together with our games in hand mostly against the teams below us than i see us aiming for that playoff place and When it does come to the likes of AFC and Luton we may get some luck because well we deserve a little of it ..... Yes this is a young squad but we have a great Manager who can inspire them when needed

In regards to next season i see us being up there again if we sign well in the summer, i think most of us believe that it will be Wobblers and the Franchise going up this season and hopefully us and maybe Luton next season ... Depending on the teams that come down that is !!!

Have Faith in the lads ... We can make it .... We just need a good run and no more silly mistakes at the back

I think we need to believe and back the team fully game after game. We haven't been consistent this season, yes, but you never know when your luck may change.

I believe you can play a big part in shaping your own destiny by believing. Every game from now until the end of the season should become a cup final with an atmosphere to match. If we can do that, it will rub off on the players and who knows? If anything it makes for an exciting end to the season than writing off our chances as though Hill was still in charge.

CalversonDiamond wrote: In regards to next season i see us being up there again if we sign well in the summer, i think most of us believe that it will be Wobblers and the Franchise going up this season and hopefully us and maybe Luton next season ... Depending on the teams that come down that is !!

I can't understand this bit. I don't see either the Cobblers or MK Dons anywhere near the play-offs (especially in the Conference)

I read it as AFC Wimbledon and Creepy Crawley.

We won't make the play-offs and I think we as supporters need to get that out of our heads personally.

We don't have ths strength in depth, and we don't have the quality. That has been evident in pretty much every game since the start of November, Newport and Cambridge aside. We are where we are because of our early season form when we had the likes of Jamie Stuart and Rene Howe.

At the moment we are having a run of games against teams that are around the bottom end of the league. Look at our last 8 games of the season (obviously the Histon game will be in here somewhere but i'm taking it as it is currently).

Luton (H)
Wimbledon (A)
Mansfield (A)
Wrexham (H)
Gateshead (A)
Crawley (A)
Kidderminster (H)
Darlington (A)

I reckon we'll get a maximum of 5 points from that lot. You'd be hard pressed to pick a win. Mansfield maybe?

I know what you're saying but so what? The fact is that until we line up on the pitch and play those games, we can't say how they will turn out. Gateshead are now on that list because of their last three games. Prior to that we thought that we should be able to beat them.

I'm not saying it should be an expectation, far from it. That would put pressure on the team. But I do feel we need to believe in these players, especially given the nature of this league. We could unexpectedly go on a run similar to last year when we had the toughest run in of all the playoff challengers. Who knows?

Let's go down fighting even if the odds may be against us.

BartonRaz wrote:We won't make the play-offs and I think we as supporters need to get that out of our heads personally.

Each to their own BR but IMO if we put all thought of it out of our heads now, we might as well not bother turning up to the remaining games. It's not an impossible task and until such time as it is, we need to turn up and support the lads as best we can.