Record points needed or just pessimisitc?

[Mo Gull]

Looking through the last few season league tables I can't help but notice that the largest point total needed to finish 3rd is 85 points, with Swindon involved again. This is at least 3/4 points ahead of the next highest tally needed in the last 10 years or so.

Now are we actually heading for a special season with 3/4 quality teams all getting stupidly high points totals or is it in fact more likely that 1 or 2 teams will fall down by the wayside. I'd like to draw you to all our vast knowledge of the cruel mistress that is the playoffs. How many times have we seen that it's not the team who just miss out on automoatic that goes up, but in fact the team that storms into the playoffs at the end of the season and is on form. I really think 2 wins and a draw will be enough. Now i think we have to beat Southend, as it'll be a massive psychological victory if we do, but whereelse the points come from, I don't care.

Crawley won't win all their games, they just won't, that's not how seasons go, it's tiring, stressfull and draining. They'll be trying their hardest, but when they realise they've been gving their all and it's still on 0-0 at half time against D&R, what else have they to give. These last few games are played in the head as much on the pitch.

Shrewsbury's home form terrifies me, but they're not top cos they haven't done away from home. They have 2 away games left. They'll be worried about that too.

It's on gentlemen and ladies.

Remember Chima Okorie, he was big.

[AustrianAndyGull]

To put this to bed, if we don't win against Southend on saturday then nothing else but a maximum points finish will do in order for us to have ANY realistic chance of automatic. Effectively we may have to win every game and if we do that then i actually think it will be enough. Whether we will or not time will tell. SOUTHEND ON SATURDAY IS HUGE!

[HeavenAndHele]

To put this to bed, if we don't win against Southend on saturday then nothing else but a maximum points finish will do in order for us to have ANY realistic chance of automatic. Effectively we may have to win every game and if we do that then i actually think it will be enough. Whether we will or not time will tell. SOUTHEND ON SATURDAY IS HUGE!

I don't think this will be put to bed until the 5th of May

If my workings are correct we can still win all our remaining games and still be 4th - if our points total is the same as Creepy we lose out on goal difference. However, I agree that they'll drop points and we've got a very good chance to win all 4 so I'm cautiously optimistic!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I know we can win all our remaining games and NOT get an auto spot, i was just saying that IMO we WILL get an auto spot if we do as i can't see Creepy bagging 5 wins out of 5 nor Shrews so it might be enough. After all, it is better to have only 4 games left to win than 5 so lets look at it that way.

[Trojan 67]

Looking through the last few season league tables I can't help but notice that the largest point total needed to finish 3rd is 85 points

Hereford in the last ten years (2004/05?) went up from the 4th tier in third place with 88pts.

This season could well see a team go up in 3rd place with more than 88pts.

That means we may well have to finish with 88+ up to our maximum achievable total of 91pts.

In season 2002/03, Rushden & Diamonds went up from the 4th tier as CHAMPIONS with only 87pts.

In season 2005/06, Carlisle went up from the 4th tier as CHAMPIONS with only 86pts.

And last season (2010/11) Chesterfied likewise, went up as CHAMPIONS with only 86pts.

The best we can do is to achieve our maximum total and then see where we finish.

Links :
http://www.torquayunited.com/page/Leagu ... 03,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.torquayunited.com/page/Leagu ... 06,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.torquayunited.com/page/Leagu ... 13,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dave]

"Poo pants crap relegation fodder" Wigan 1 " international star studded champions elect" Man.u 0 , that result just sum's it all up for me.

You just can not look at this under any scale of difficulty, and judge one teams run-in to be softer or harder than another's, not matter what league your in.

Dagenham are in red hot form right now, with 4 wins and no defeats in thier last 6 , both Crawley and Shrewsbury have to play them.

Northampton have recently beaten Oxford and picked a vital away point at Crewe, no mean feat, Crawley have to play them.

Accrington is widely regarded as the hardest away ground to play at in this league, both Crawley and Shrewsbury have to play thier.

You can analize this, put forward whatever opinion you like, as the Wigan/Man.u gane shows once the players cross that white line anything can happen, if Crawley and Shrewsbury win all thier remaining games, stand up and salute them because they will have deserved promotion.

Personaly I think if 85 points does not seal the deal, 86 will.

[oxgull]

"Poo pants crap relegation fodder" Wigan 1 " international star studded champions elect" Man.u 0 , that result just sum's it all up for me.

You just can not look at this under any scale of difficulty, and judge one teams run-in to be softer or harder than another's, not matter what league your in.

Dagenham are in red hot form right now, with 4 wins and no defeats in thier last 6 , both Crawley and Shrewsbury have to play them.

Northampton have recently beaten Oxford and picked a vital away point at Crewe, no mean feat, Crawley have to play them.

Accrington is widely regarded as the hardest away ground to play at in this league, both Crawley and Shrewsbury have to play thier.

You can analize this, put forward whatever opinion you like, as the Wigan/Man.u gane shows once the players cross that white line anything can happen, if Crawley and Shrewsbury win all thier remaining games, stand up and salute them because they will have deserved promotion.

Personaly I think if 85 points does not seal the deal, 86 will.

Completely agree with you forever There are so many twists and turns and shocks to come. At least we have a play off berth booked instead of being 2nd bottom for a change. Who turned the table upside down??? =D

[Gullscorer]

Will somebody please ensure that all dogs and police are kept away from the Hereford match..

[Mo Gull]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

have a go

[stefano]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm

have a go

Well that is a big relief as it clearly isn't going to be as difficult as I anticipated. My pot at it finished:-
1. Torquay United 91
2. Swindon Town 90
3. Southend United 79
4. Shrewsbury Town 79
5. Crawley Town 78
6. Oxford United 76
7. Cheltenham Town 76
and with Argyle avoiding relegation by 7 points and Macclesfield and Hereford going down.

Ok I didn't allow the teams around us to pick up many points but nobody said there were any rules!

[Richinns]

Final table with my guesses:

1. Swindon 99
2. Shrewsbury 89
3. Crawley 87
-----------------------
4. Torquay 86
5. Southend 80
6. Crewe 78
7. Cheltenham 75
-----------------------
8. Oxford 73

Bugger!!

(at least we would play Cheltenham who I think are the weakest of the top 8 at the moment)

[Gazzableedsgull]

i had us finishing third, JUST< on the last Day, with us being level on points with Crawley but them drawing and us winning against Hereford. Can anyone else see the same Scenario as 03/04 coming?

[cambgull]

This was actually quite nerve racking doing this, nearly had a heart attack when I saw Crawley rise above us at one point!

1. Swindon 98
2. Shrewsbury 91
3. Torquay 89
4. Crawley 87
5. Southend 83
6. Oxford 75
7. Crewe 75

Crewe to beat Crawley, Southend to beat Oxford and then Crewe to beat Southend.

[cambgull]

i had us finishing third, JUST< on the last Day, with us being level on points with Crawley but them drawing and us winning against Hereford. Can anyone else see the same Scenario as 03/04 coming?

You think we'll beat Crawley on goal difference? Have you put them for losing 8-0 at some point or have you been watching a different Torquay all season? One that wins by more than one goal, that is!

[costablancagull]

come 5 pm saturday we will be at it all over again, win draw or loose.This will go to the wire.No one will be promoted saturday unless it really goes Swindons way.Its all been about 2nd and 3rd since they beat us up there.Did that defeat finish us NO.Keep the faith boys whatever happens its been a grat season.Well done all at Plainmoor