I've been ..........

[Pigman]

...............looking around the various messageboards of our play-off rivals and NONE of them seem to think we're up to much, they all seem fairly dismissive of our chances - I quite like that, I just hope their players feel the same.

I'd really love it if the 2 sides that gained promotion this year are those of non-league pedigree - i.e. Stevenage and ourselves. York, Luton and Oxford fans are coming over as incredibly arrogant, I really hope they all take their eye off the ball, under-estimate us and then find themselves wiping egg off their faces come the summer as they all contemplate another season in the BSP.

Personally I'm just happy to have extended the season by at least 2 games (makes up revenue wise for the lost Chester City match) and I'll honestly take anyone in the play-offs. I don't know if we can win them, we're certainly the underdogs, yet I have this funny feeling in my tummy............... ;)

Oh and its a shame about the scum isn't it? Hopefully part-time beckons for them and the inevitable slide down the table next season that they have started this year will continue next season, one can but hope eh?

[Mad Dog]

Mostly agree. I can't get on the York boards (why can't they get around to activating an account that has been ready to go for almost a year?! :evil: ).

The reason I say mostly is because there is a board where a (small) scattering have tipped us as dark horses, and where a couple of Luton and York fans don't want to play us. Seems they may be in the minority so hopefully we can justify their fears and prove the rest of them wrong.

Since the players and management read these boards I will say this; Take on board what Justin said about playing without fear. You've made it to playoffs alongside these teams. We may be the mongrel dog in their eyes, but we've earnt the right to be on the same stage as them when the playoffs come around, with the same rewards at the end of it.

Take this as another challenge, just like making the playoffs. We will be behind you all the way during the playoff games. You've done us proud this year.

[therushden]

the point is, every team that finishes in the top 5 gets there on merit.
histon last year may well have been a bunch of hoof merchants but it won them games.
we've played some good football this season and i rate us to go anywhere and get a draw.
the others should be wanting to miss us. we collect clean sheets

[BartonRaz]

I don't want K*ttering to get relegated! I'd miss the derby games and the certain 3 points.

[ID]

I don't want K*ttering to get relegated! I'd miss the derby games and the certain 3 points.

We'll be missing them anyway when we get promoted ;)

[jimbobjaw]

I don't want K*ttering to get relegated! I'd miss the derby games and the certain 3 points.

But IF we win the play-offs we won't have the derbies anyway ;)

[srusrdfc]

we will be got cobblers

[jimbobjaw]

we will be got cobblers

You're right, IF we go up we MAY get the Wobbs, but its not quite the same!

[Mad Dog]

I don't want K*ttering to get relegated! I'd miss the derby games and the certain 3 points.

But IF we win the play-offs we won't have the derbies anyway ;)

Hopefully. The derby games are great, but if given the choice right now, I'd be more than happy to trade them in for Football League status.

we will be got cobblers

You're right, IF we go up we MAY get the Wobbs, but its not quite the same!

But it is more than made up by being in the football league. We get access to the Carling Cup and JPT, which may not seem much at first, but could mean playing sides such as Southampton, Plymouth/Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton/Leed (depending on promotions and relegations) in the case of the latter, the former offers another avenue to the FA Cup to go down to try and get a big Premier League/Championship fish .

So on balance, we lose a major derby, but we gain the possibility of some interesting and big cup ties.

[sussexdiamond]

I see in the NLP that we are the outsiders to win the play offs. As expexcted they go for
Luton
Oxford
York
Rushden.

With regards to losing local derbies if we are promoted I am more concerned that we lose the games v Crawley and Eastbourne.!

I spoke with an Eastbourne player on Friday and we "agreed" to do each other a favour. Glad to say we both kept our side of the bargain.