Far n brough

[61666]

On a good run of form at the moment, though actually better away than home of late. The former includes five on the bounce at Tonbridge, WSM, Dover, Worthing and Bath -all decent scalps in their own way.
Just one home match in the midst of these a 3-1 win over Aveley. Before that, there were three home games: 1-0 over Welling, 1-3 to Yeovil and 1-1 Chelmsford.
Overall then, good but not invincible. Our away from was boosted by Eastbourne's implosion last Friday but stats suggest a draw, maybe?

[jdl]

Possibly the toughest game in our run-in. And our 4th game in just 9 days. So, realistically, a draw will be a good result, and will keep us in the playoffs, with a third place finish still a possibility.

But I think we're good enough for a win. As long as George can put out a fresh enough side and luck stays with us, we have what it takes to get a result.

[pwoodstone]

Our hardest game and Braintree have Weston. Braintree have an easy run in on paper but I reckon Eastbourne may prove hard for them to beat. Taunton less so and Havant not at all.

We will know a lot more after tomorrow. Looking at it, I think 4th is nailed on. If it is, there’s a good chance we willl see borough again on a few weeks

[Stonethecrow]

Its a tough one.
We are not as unstoppable as some think.
Looking definite for play-offs but can we grab one of those 2/3 positions ?
In my reality that FA cup run is going to prove a drain on the players.
Just too many matches being played will take a toll on fitness.
So Saturday will be tough.
A point would be a good result but it is the best we can hope for.

[jdl]

On our day, we are more than capable of beating Farnborough - we just have to hope it's our day.

We've all seen the highs and lows - and downright weird things - football can produce, so fingers crossed...

and in George we trust!

[sword65]

Looking at the bookies odds Farnborough are slight favourites at 13/10 with the Stones at 6/4,the draw is good value at 27/10. I personally think we may struggle having played so many games in such a short time against the form team and I've predicted a loss,I would bite your hand off if you offered me a draw but a win would possibly be the best league result of the season. Here's hoping😁

[deadly]

Sounds like some 'expectation management' to me.
Think about the worst, prepare for the worst, expect the worst and losing tomorrow will feel like a decent result.
Nobody is saying this is a 'Must Win' match.
Even jdl as the architect of 'Unstoppable Stones' is now sounding a shade cautious and putting hope before expectation.

[pwoodstone]

It’s got to be a game we are looking at winning. The playoffs will be a similar standard

[jdl]

Apr 5, 2024 20:00:02 GMT deadly said:

Sounds like some 'expectation management' to me.
Think about the worst, prepare for the worst, expect the worst and losing tomorrow will feel like a decent result.
Nobody is saying this is a 'Must Win' match.
Even jdl as the architect of 'Unstoppable Stones' is now sounding a shade cautious and putting hope before expectation.

"EVEN JDL"?? "Sounding a shade cautious and putting hope before expectation" is pretty much the definition of most of my posts!

No one who has seen much of our football this season would bet their house on us going up, it's been far too erratic for that. But, on the other hand, anyone who has watched us much this season also knows that we are capable of almost anything on our day.

We can go up this season, you could even argue that we should go up this season, but most - if not all - Stones fans probably think we won't. And even if we do, we won't do well in the NL.

I think we both can and should go up, and even that, with George in charge, we'll do OK in the NL. But I would also be the first to admit that I haven't seen too much on the pitch to 'prove' that. After one game, I even posted "can't defend, can't score - play offs? You're having a laugh".

But then we ARE in the playoffs and could even end up 3rd, and we knocked THREE Football League sides out of the FA Cup. Almost anything is possible - even if it doesn't feel likely.

[headstone]

Apr 5, 2024 10:01:26 GMT Stonethecrow said:

Its a tough one.
We are not as unstoppable as some think.
Looking definite for play-offs but can we grab one of those 2/3 positions ?
In my reality that FA cup run is going to prove a drain on the players.
Just too many matches being played will take a toll on fitness.
So Saturday will be tough.
A point would be a good result but it is the best we can hope for.

I’d happily forego promotion in return for that FA Cup run. Finishing in a play off position should indicate a successful league season, but our football has hardly been scintillating, apart from a couple of exceptions. Let’s stay in the NLS and produce some entertainment - it’s should not be just about the result.

[Bernie]

I remember saying I’d forego promotion for ten seasons in return for a win at Coventry.

If we go up it will almost certainly be a struggle against clubs running huge financial losses.

The only ones who will enjoy it are the Premier League supporting (Genco sponsored) barrier wankers.

But I suppose you have to go for it and try.

[jdl]

Unfortunately (or not) it's all academic. Every football team (and fan) always wants to win every game - and, by extension, we all want to do well in our league/division. And if that happens to mean we get promoted, we get promoted. There's bugger all anyone can do about it - unless we deliberately start throwing games.

We are demonstrably a very good NS team, in all three of the completed seasons we've been in the competition, we have got to the playoffs at least. And so far, we've been promoted every time. How is anyone going to stop that happening??

And why would you? Sure it's easier being in the NS, but is that what football's all about? It's easier not being in the FA Cup proper, but did anyone complain when we beat Ipswich??

The logical extension of not wanting to progress because you don't enjoy it, is to go back to the old days when teams only played by invitation - effectively exhibition football. Is that really what the anti-NL fans want??

This is how it is, chaps, there's bugger all you can do about it.

[grovergreenstone]

If fans dont want promotion, go support another team. Tonbridge don't seem to get promotion very often. Go there.

[jdl]

Talk of Tonbridge reminds me of the old 'Jason Der's Black and Amber Army ' chant - and the realisation that we've not had a similar chant since.

Have those sort of chants just gone out of fashion with the twelve year-olds, or did Hak just not inspire a personal chant? And what about George? Surely 'El-o-kobie' fits just as well as 'Ja-son-Ders'?

[Bernie]

They replaced it with another song ripped off from the Premier League.